Hillary Crawford

Lead Writer | Business software

Hillary Crawford is a small-business writer at NerdWallet, with a special focus on business software products. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She has appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. She is based in Traverse City, Michigan.

Education: B.A. with high honors in political science from University of Michigan
Credentials: QuickBooks Certified User, Responsive web design
Previous experience: Bustle Digital Group, GenFKD

Hillary's picks

How to Start a Business in 15 Steps

by Tina Orem, Rosalie Murphy

Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses

by Rick VanderKnyff, Hillary Crawford

Best Small-Business Apps

by Claire Tsosie, Alex Rosenberg, Lisa Anthony

Hillary has also nerded out in...

Other publications

MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur

The latest from Hillary

Best Invoicing Software

Invoicing software can help your business do more than create and send invoices.

Best Payment Processing Companies

When weighing payment processing companies, consider if you want an online, all-in-one solution or a niche product.

Cheapest Credit Card Processing Companies for Small Businesses

Fee structures include interchange-plus pricing and all-in-one monthly subscriptions.

Have Student Debt? You Can Still Qualify for a Business Loan

Build rapport with smaller, local lenders and make sure to include student loan payments in your budget.

Best Online Bookkeeping Services for Small Businesses

Look for an online bookkeeping service that integrates with your accounting software and doesn’t break your business’s budget.

Is Now the Right Time for Your Business to Buy Real Estate?

High interest rates make it a daunting time to buy property. But that doesn’t mean it's the wrong time in all cases.

Best Accounting Software for Nonprofits

Narrow down your choices by deciding whether you need a product made specifically for the nonprofit sector.

Best Construction Accounting Software

Complex job costing capabilities are a must for construction companies.

Best Inventory Management Software

Consider inventory management products built specifically for your industry. Usability and integrations should be top of mind.

Best Free Invoice Software for Small Businesses

Consider billable client limits, payment gateway integrations and customization options while choosing free invoice software.

5 Ways Small Businesses Can Offset High Gas Prices

Financial forecasting and energy efficiency improvements can help small businesses save money, regardless of how gas prices change.

Best Restaurant POS Systems

The best restaurant POS systems have inventory tracking features, employee management tools and strong reporting capabilities.

Best Free Accounting Software for Small Businesses

Consider free accounting products just as carefully as you would paid ones to ensure your business doesn’t grow out of them.

6 Ways Small Businesses — and Their Customers — Can Deal With Inflation

Business owners explain how they’d like to see their community show up for them as prices rise.

Can You Get a Startup Loan With No Collateral?

Unsecured startup business loans are out there, but they tend to be more expensive than loans that require collateral.