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Rachel Williams

Staff Editor

Small Business Formation, LLCs, Registered Agents, Business Licenses, DBAs

About

Rachel Williams has been an editor for nearly two decades. She has spent the last five years working on small business content to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. She’s well-versed in the intricacies of LLC formation, business taxes, business loans, registered agents, business licenses and more.

Rachel Williams is a small business editor at Forbes Advisor, bringing nearly two decades of professional editing experience to her role. Over the last five years, she has focused on small business content, helping entrepreneurs start, manage and grow their businesses. Before joining Forbes Advisor, Rachel refined her expertise by editing small business content for Incfile/Bizee, working at a digital marketing agency, serving as an editor at a book publisher and spending eight years writing and editing HR and job-search content for FlexJobs.

At Forbes Advisor, Rachel ensures small business articles are accurate, clear and helpful to readers. Her expertise spans forming LLCs, LLC service providers, registered agents, business licenses and strategies for growth. She collaborates with writers to simplify complex topics and empower readers with practical, reliable information.

Rachel’s extensive experience gives her a deep understanding of starting a business and navigating the legalities of business formation. Beyond these areas, she provides insights on software recommendations, operational strategies and actionable advice for entrepreneurs. Driven by a passion for helping small business owners succeed, Rachel’s work equips readers with the tools and confidence to achieve their goals.

Expertise

  • Small Business Formation
  • LLCs
  • Registered Agents
  • Business Licenses
  • DBAs

Other Publications

FlexJobs

Education

  • Judson University (B.A., Communications)
  • How to Start a Business With No Money

    Have you always dreamed of running your own business, but the idea of needing a hefty bank loan has kept you from moving forward? Stop waiting for that investor or that "perfect" bank balance.  This guide is your complete playbook...
    How to Start a Business With No Money
  • 10 Best Answering Services Of 2025

    Answering services handle business calls on your behalf, recording details about the caller and interaction. This saves you time while ensuring customers reach a real-life virtual receptionist whenever they dial your business number. Since providers charge per-minute rates and let...
    10 Best Answering Services Of 2025
  • PayPal Vs. Stripe (2025 Comparison)

    Stripe and PayPal are two point-of-sale (POS) systems, but they’re very different. I like to think of Stripe as the custom designer outfit, built to your exact size and proportions. PayPal POS, on the other hand, is more like an...
    PayPal Vs. Stripe (2025 Comparison)
  • 12 Ways To Make Money From Home Today

    You don’t need a cubicle, a commute or dress slacks to make money anymore. These days, your home can double as your office, studio, storefront or side hustle headquarters. Whether you are chasing a full-time income or just want a...
    12 Ways To Make Money From Home Today
  • 10 Best VoIP Apps Of 2025

    Compared to a landline phone system, cloud-based voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) are easy to set up, scalable, accessible on desktop or mobile devices and generally more cost-effective. Cloud telephony can also include advanced features for call routing, team collaboration and AI support.I...
    10 Best VoIP Apps Of 2025
  • POS System Cost Guide For 2025

    It can be tricky to estimate the cost of point-of-sale (POS) systems because they involve several components: subscription, hardware and transaction fees. Some providers charge a monthly subscription for software, while others offer free platforms. Online transaction fees differ from...
    POS System Cost Guide For 2025
  • TMDHosting Review 2025: Features, Pros And Cons

    TMDHosting gracefully walks the tightrope between powerful hosting tools and ease of use, even landing a spot on our best web hosting list. Even if a user isn’t familiar with cPanel or Plesk, it’s managed hosting with a friendly customer...
    TMDHosting Review 2025: Features, Pros And Cons
  • HostGator Review 2025: Features, Pros And Cons

    Probably the best of the Newfold Digital family, HostGator still suffers from Newfold pricing philosophies, similar to sister company Bluehost, and all too often slow server performance and spotty customer service. Any fair HostGator review has to take into account...
    HostGator Review 2025: Features, Pros And Cons
  • How To Use Square With Shopify (2025 Guide)

    If you run a small business, you’re probably familiar with Square and Shopify, especially if your company has an e-commerce component and sells products online. Two of the biggest names in point-of-sale (POS) and payment processing, these platforms offer many...
    How To Use Square With Shopify (2025 Guide)
  • 10 Best Mass Texting Services Of 2025

    Reaching your customers digitally in today’s climate is competitive and mass texting is becoming an increasingly popular way to connect with customers quickly and directly. This can result in more sales, too. In a 2024 global survey by marketing automation...
    10 Best Mass Texting Services Of 2025
  • What Is A Domain Name?

    Terms like “domain” are thrown around a lot, but what is a domain name? Domain names are a core part of your online presence and give your website a memorable name that helps visitors easily find it online. Your domain...
    What Is A Domain Name?
  • What Is Square And How Does It Work?

    Tons of companies rely on Square to process customer payments. Square serves all types of businesses: small business owners, enterprises, restaurants, retail, pop-up stores, food trucks, services and everything in between. This versatility is part of why it ranked so...
    What Is Square And How Does It Work?
  • How To Unblock YouTube Easily (5 Different Ways)

    YouTube is one of the most widely used video platforms in the world, but it’s not always accessible. Sometimes videos are unavailable or blocked, and in other cases, the platform itself is blocked entirely. Whether it’s because of licensing agreements,...
    How To Unblock YouTube Easily (5 Different Ways)
  • 7 Best Payment Gateways Of 2025

    A payment gateway service is an important component for any small business that sells to the public. Payment gateways are usually bundled and sold as part of a payment processing solution, together ensuring that your customers' card payments are deposited...
    7 Best Payment Gateways Of 2025
  • How To Host Your Own Website

    Figuring out how to host your own website means choosing either self-hosting or using a web hosting provider service plan. Both have pros and cons. For example, self-hosting usually costs more upfront, but renting hosting services can cost more in...
    How To Host Your Own Website
  • Best Google Voice Alternatives Of 2025

    Google Voice is one of the most cost-effective cloud phone systems, with unlimited calling and a user-friendly interface. However, it lacks the analytics and integrations that competitors offer, and its Starter plan has a restrictive 10-user limit.Thankfully, several alternatives fill...
    Best Google Voice Alternatives Of 2025
  • 11 Best California Registered Agent Services Of 2025

    California has a business-friendly stance, with quick processing times for business formation paperwork of one to three days (and even paid same-day processing) and a low filing fee of $70. Still, complying with guidelines from the California Secretary of State...
    11 Best California Registered Agent Services Of 2025
  • 10 Best Cheap Dedicated Server Hosting Services Of 2025

    Dedicated servers are powerful and offer a lot of freedom for customization. However, those benefits often come with higher costs than shared, VPS or cloud hosting. Finding the best cheap dedicated server hosting often adds a layer of complexity to...
    10 Best Cheap Dedicated Server Hosting Services Of 2025
  • 6 Best Credit Card Readers For iPhones Of 2025

    Many point-of-sale (POS) systems offer handheld credit card machines that sync with your iPhone by Bluetooth or plug-in, enabling you to accept card payments at food trucks, fairs, tableside, while customers are in line and elsewhere. Even more convenient, many...
    6 Best Credit Card Readers For iPhones Of 2025
  • How To Send An Anonymous Email (5 Simple Methods)

    Sending an anonymous email can be useful in sensitive situations where safety and confidentiality are essential, like sharing a tip with journalists or revealing sensitive information about a company. Many people want to reduce their digital footprint and protect sensitive...
    How To Send An Anonymous Email (5 Simple Methods)
  • 10 Best Employee Monitoring Software Of 2025

    Researching employee monitoring software might make you feel like the bad guy. No one wants to be spied on at work, but this software is about more than micromanaging. It can help you get more accurate time sheets, track which...
    10 Best Employee Monitoring Software Of 2025
  • 10 Best Dedicated Server Hosting Services Of 2025

    Dedicated server hosting gives you all the resources of a server to allocate to your web projects as you see fit. It’s more complex than shared hosting, or even VPS hosting, however, and prices can climb quickly. Many small business...
    10 Best Dedicated Server Hosting Services Of 2025
  • How Much Does A VPN Cost?

    Using a virtual private network (VPN) is an effective way to increase your online security and make your internet activity more private. Businesses use them to protect sensitive data, secure remote teams and reduce the risks that come with employees connecting...
    How Much Does A VPN Cost?
  • FreshBooks Vs. QuickBooks (2025 Comparison)

    FreshBooks and QuickBooks are two of the most popular accounting software platforms, but they’re best suited for different businesses. FreshBooks is popular for freelancers, solopreneurs and service providers who need simple, client-facing tools like customizable invoices, built-in time tracking and...
    FreshBooks Vs. QuickBooks (2025 Comparison)
  • What Is Upselling? The Ultimate Guide

    Upselling is one of the most effective ways to increase revenue without chasing new customers. By offering the right upgrade at the right time, business owners cannot only boost their bottom line but also deliver an even better experience with...
    What Is Upselling? The Ultimate Guide
  • Sales Funnel Template And Examples

    A well-designed sales funnel doesn't just attract leads, it guides prospects step by step toward becoming loyal customers. In this guide, we’ll break down what a sales funnel is, how each stage functions and how to build one that aligns...
    Sales Funnel Template And Examples
  • QuickBooks Vs. Gusto (2025 Comparison)

    Gusto and QuickBooks are two of the most popular payroll providers for small and medium businesses. While both cover the basics like automated payroll, tax filing and compliance, they have different strengths. QuickBooks Payroll is a good choice for businesses...
    QuickBooks Vs. Gusto (2025 Comparison)
  • Clover POS Review 2025: Features, Pros And Cons

    Clover is a well-rounded and feature-rich point-of-sale (POS) system that can serve virtually any type of business: restaurants, retail, service-based businesses and online stores. It does everything, including employee management features, inventory tracking tools, online delivery options and automatic appointment...
    Clover POS Review 2025: Features, Pros And Cons
  • 6 Best Places to Buy Real Estate Leads In 2025

    Finding clients in real estate is hard, especially if you’re new to the game. One way to fast-track your success is to buy real estate leads. But where should you start?To help, I’ve put together this guide on how to...
    6 Best Places to Buy Real Estate Leads In 2025
  • How To Start An Online Store In 9 Steps (2025 Guide)

    E-commerce allows businesses of all sizes to compete for bigger customer bases. Starting an online store generally requires a lower investment than a site-based store, making it possible to get started as a solopreneur or even part time. That said,...
    How To Start An Online Store In 9 Steps (2025 Guide)

About

Rachel Williams has been an editor for nearly two decades. She has spent the last five years working on small business content to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. She’s well-versed in the intricacies of LLC formation, business taxes, business loans, registered agents, business licenses and more.