These days, even very small businesses and sole proprietors can often qualify for business credit cards. Whether you’re a freelance writer or running a publishing firm employing 30 people, there will most likely be a business credit card out there that works for your business.
But choosing the right business credit card can be daunting. There’s a wide variety of cards, all offering different benefits and terms and conditions. Those differences exist for a reason: the characteristics of your business may be best suited to one business credit card’s benefits and terms, while the business across the street could be better off with an entirely different approach.
To help small business owners make an informed choice, this article offers an overview of:
- Basics to compare among all business credit cards.
- Cards with and without annual fees.
- Rewards cards, such as business travel credit cards.
- Cards that aim to help you manage the business or reduce operating costs.
There are many different types of business credit cards out there. Here’s a look at some of the most popular options. See which one’s best for you.
Tips on Comparing the Basics of Business Credit Cards
When considering which type of business credit card to choose, it’s a good idea to look first at the basic characteristics of the card including interest rates and benefits.
All business credit cards charge interest. Interest rates are typically quoted as an annual interest rate (AIR). The interest rate you will be offered depends on your business’ credit score and possibly also your personal credit score. AIR vary widely but tend to be higher on cards that offer a good range of rewards.
Business credit cards may offer a 0% intro AIR period on purchases. Provided you pay off the balance by the end of the interest-free period, using a business credit card can be an inexpensive way of smoothing your cash flow. Check the card conditions to find out how long the interest-free period is. Some cards offer an initial interest-free period of up to a year. This can be good for a startup with upfront expenses to stock up or buy essential equipment. However, sometimes the interest rate to which the card reverts at the end of the intro period may be quite high so it’s wise to keep track of your card’s terms and conditions.
When evaluating interest rates on business credit cards, you can consider how your business works and the pattern of your cash flow. If you expect to pay off your balance every month within the interest-free grace period, you could consider a card with a range of rewards that will enable you to reduce business costs. However, if you think you might often run balances from month to month, you may find a basic card with a low AIR meets your needs better than rewards cards with higher rates.
Some cards also offer a bonus on purchases made during an initial qualifying period usually from three months to a year. Again, this can be a good option for a business that needs to stock up or invest in equipment.
Most business credit cards require a good to excellent credit score. If your business doesn’t have its own credit score yet, perhaps because you’re just starting out, your card issuer may use your personal credit score. Some credit card providers may accept lower credit scores but charge higher interest rates and fees due to the greater risk that comes with lower scores.
Types of Business Credit Cards
Travel rewards cards
A travel rewards business card could be a good option for businesses that spend a lot of money on frequent travel. These cards often offer benefits like lounge access or travel insurance.
Charge cards
A charge card is a type of payment card that works similarly to a credit card. With a charge card, you don’t have a preset spending limit like most credit cards do. Instead, your purchases get approved based on factors like your previous spending and payment history.
Fee-Based vs No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards
Many business credit cards charge an annual fee and many others do not. Business credit cards without annual fees may have higher interest rates than cards with an annual fee. If you’re confident that you can usually pay your card purchases in full within the interest-free grace period, then a card without an annual fee could be a good choice. However, if you’re likely to run balances beyond the interest-free period, then a card with an annual fee and a lower interest rate might be a better value for your business.
Many business credit cards with annual fees also have an extensive range of rewards, and may also offer cash back. The benefits you gain from rewards cards depend on how you use the card, but it could be worth considering a card with an annual fee if it has a range of rewards that particularly suit your business. Consider running an analysis of the card’s benefits and usage against the annual fee to see if it may be worth paying a higher annual fee for a card that will pay for itself in benefits.
Some cards waive the annual fee for a period of time, which may be a year or more. This can be useful for a startup, particularly if it is also associated with a lower interest rate and/or an introductory bonus.
Evaluating Business Credit Card Rewards Programs
The rewards programs that business credit cards typically offer fall into three broad types:
Travel Rewards
Business travel credit cards usually offer discounts of points for purchases such as air fares, rail tickets, car hire, gasoline, hotels, and food on the go. If they are co-branded with a hotel chain, airline, or gas station chain, the points/discounts may be substantial – but your business may lose the flexibility to use the card with other providers. Some cards also offer other travel-related perks such as car rental insurance, access to airport lounges, concierge services, and no-fee foreign exchange. Obviously, business travel credit cards are great if your business involves frequent travel, but if you travel infrequently, consider whether you will make enough use of the card to benefit from the rewards.
Office Supplies and Marketing Expenditures
Cards that offer discounts on office supplies and equipment, or on marketing expenditure such as social media advertising, can be great for keeping business costs down, particularly if the business has frequent supply needs. These cards may also be co-branded. If you’re considering a co-branded card it’s worth looking at the range of goods and services offered by the partner to make sure it meets your needs.
Manager and Employee Treats
Some cards offer a range of personal treats and perks, such as weekend getaways, meals in restaurants, and theater tickets. You can use these to reward high-performing employees, or perhaps treat yourself and your long-suffering family when you have been working very hard.
Helping You Manage the Business
Many business credit card issuers offer features that can help you manage your business. For example, some cards provide itemized statements that can be downloaded directly into your accounting software. Some provide tools that can link your itemized statement with receipts.
If you have employees, you could consider a card issuer that will provide multiple cards on the same account and pool spending on all cards when calculating cash back or reward points. Some issuers allow you to set different spending limits on each employee’s card. Employee spending typically appears on your itemized statement so that you can track your expenses directly rather than having to wait for expense reports.
The Takeaway
There’s such a wide range of small business credit cards available today that choosing the right one can seem like a lot of work. But it’s well worth taking the time to evaluate the various types so that you can find the best business credit card to match your business.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an opinion on any issue. It should not be regarded as comprehensive or a substitute for professional advice.