FEATURED CREDIT CARDS

Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card

Mission Lane Visa<sup>®</sup> Credit Card
  • No Annual Fee
  • Fair Credit
  • Enjoy coverage from Visa®.
    *See Card Terms

Indigo® Mastercard® - $1,000 Credit Limit

Indigo<sup>®</sup> Mastercard<sup>®</sup> - $1,000 Credit Limit
  • Get the credit limit you deserve—$1,000 guaranteed if approved
    Rates & Fees

Milestone® Mastercard®

Destiny Mastercard
  • $700 Credit Limit
  • No security deposit
  • Less than perfect credit is ok
    Rates & Fees

Choosing the Right Business Credit Card

For a business owner, a credit card is more than a way to pay for things—it’s a powerful financial management tool. Using a dedicated business credit card is a fundamental step toward organizing your finances, tracking expenses, and potentially building your business’s own credit history. This guide will walk you through the key considerations for choosing the right business card, ensuring it supports your company's growth rather than hindering it. For a general review of how to match a credit card to your specific spending habits, see our Guide to Using Credit Cards for Specific Spending Habits.

Business cards vs. personal cards: A crucial distinction

While you can technically use a personal card for business expenses, it is not recommended. Separating your business and personal finances is a crucial step for any business, regardless of its size.

  • Simplified accounting: A dedicated business card makes bookkeeping and tax preparation significantly easier. Your business expenses are all in one place, avoiding the tedious process of sifting through personal transactions.

  • Protection for personal assets: For LLCs and corporations, mixing personal and business finances can "pierce the corporate veil," potentially putting your personal assets at risk if your business is sued.

  • Establish business credit: While many business cards report to personal credit bureaus, they also report to business credit bureaus. This allows you to build a business credit score, which can help your company qualify for future financing with more favorable terms.

  • Higher credit limits: Business cards often offer higher credit limits than personal cards, providing the financial flexibility needed to manage larger operating costs or seasonal expenses.

  • Key features to evaluate

    When comparing business credit cards, consider what features will best serve your company’s needs.

    1. Rewards structure

    Your business’s specific spending patterns should drive your choice of rewards.

  • Category-based rewards: If your business spends heavily on certain items like office supplies, internet services, or advertising, a card with elevated rewards in those categories can be highly beneficial.

  • Travel rewards: For businesses with frequent travel, a card offering travel points, airline miles, or hotel perks can offset travel costs.

  • Cash back: A simple cash back card offers a flat percentage back on all purchases, making it a straightforward option for those with varied or less predictable expenses.

  • 2. Expense tracking and management

    The best business cards offer robust tools to help you manage and report spending.

  • Detailed reporting: Look for a card that provides detailed, end-of-year spending summaries to streamline tax preparation.

  • Software integration: Many cards can sync directly with accounting software like QuickBooks, saving you hours of manual data entry.

  • Employee cards: If you have employees, choose a card that allows you to issue free employee cards and set individual spending limits. This helps you monitor spending and control costs.

  • 3. Fees and interest rates

    Never assume business cards have the same consumer protections as personal cards. Be vigilant about understanding the costs.

  • Annual fee: Evaluate whether a card's rewards and benefits outweigh its yearly cost. Some premium cards offer immense value that easily justifies the annual fee, while a no-annual-fee option may be better for a small operation.

  • APR: Business card APRs can be higher than personal cards and are not subject to the same protections. If you might carry a balance, a low-APR card is crucial.

  • Other fees: Check for foreign transaction fees, cash advance fees, and late payment penalties, which can be much higher than on personal cards. You can read more about fees in our guide on Understanding and Avoiding Common Credit Card Fees.

  • The application process

    Your personal credit history often plays a significant role in getting approved for a business card, especially for new businesses.

  • Personal guarantee: Most business cards require a personal guarantee, meaning you are personally liable for the debt if your business cannot pay. This also means the issuer will check your personal credit history. For more on what influences your creditworthiness, explore our article on How Your Credit Card Affects Your Credit Score.

  • Prepare your information: You’ll need to provide your business’s legal name, structure, revenue, and tax ID (or your Social Security Number for a sole proprietorship).

  • Build your business credit: By using your card responsibly and paying on time, you can establish your business’s own credit history, which can lead to better financing options down the road.

  • Related credit card topics

  • Guide to Using Credit Cards for Specific Spending Habits

  • A Student's Guide to Getting Their First Credit Card

  • Understanding and Avoiding Common Credit Card Fees







  • Found this guide helpful? Bookmark it for future reference as you continue your financial journey!

    Experian Boost: A Comprehensive Guide to Boosting Your Free Credit Score

    FICO® Credit Scores

    A FICO® Score is a specific, proprietary type of credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). It is the most widely used credit scoring model, with approximately 90% of top U.S. lenders using a FICO® Score to make lending decisions.

    FICO® Score Ranges:

    • Exceptional: 800–850
    • Very Good: 740–799
    • Good: 670–739
    • Fair: 580–669
    • Poor: 300–579
    While many people (and credit education websites) use "Excellent" and "Bad" as general, descriptive terms, FICO® officially categorizes its score ranges as Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Exceptional.

    What is a Credit Score?

    A credit score is a three-digit number, typically ranging from 300 to 850, that predicts your creditworthiness—how likely you are to repay borrowed money on time. Lenders use this score to assess the risk of lending to you and to determine the interest rates and terms of any credit you might receive.

    Why is a Credit Score Important?
    A credit score is important because it acts as your financial reputation. Lenders, landlords, insurers, and employers use this single number to quickly judge how reliable you are with money. A higher score helps you qualify for loans and credit cards, often securing lower interest rates that can save you significant money. Conversely, a poor credit score can lead to application denials or much higher costs for borrowing, making it a key factor in your overall financial opportunities.

    FICO® Credit Score Facts

    Key Characteristics of FICO® Scores

    • Three-Digit Number: Like other credit scores, FICO® Scores are a three-digit number that summarizes a consumer's credit risk.

    • Range: Most standard FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850. Higher scores indicate lower credit risk.

    • Data Source: FICO® Scores are calculated using data from your credit reports maintained by the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Your score may vary slightly depending on which bureau's data is used.

    • Industry Standard: Lenders rely on FICO® Scores for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards because they provide a consistent, statistically sound assessment of the likelihood that a borrower will repay their debt.

    Note: Credit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any credit card product.

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