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