8 Advantages of a Business Credit Card (That You're Missing Right Now)

If you’re part of the 30.2 million small businesses in the U.S. — good for you! Whether you’re a one-person show or have a few employees under your supervision, managing small business finances can be tricky and cumbersome.

But it doesn’t have to be. Consider opening a small business credit card to help your business thrive. There are many advantages to a business credit card beyond what you might think — like streamlining your bookkeeping, improving your business credit score, and giving you much-deserved rewards on your business purchases.

Now that we’ve got your attention, let’s explore more in-depth what these advantages are.

8 advantages you’re missing by not using a business credit card

Improve (or establish) your business credit score

If you’re just starting out, you may be struggling to figure out how to establish or improve your business credit score. The good news is you can use your personal credit history to help you open a business credit card. Once it’s open, your credit card issuer will report all activity to the business credit bureaus, thereby establishing and improving your business credit score.

Be aware that business scores also reflect public and legal records, such as bankruptcies and liens against your company. So, if you want to improve your overall business credit score due to these factors, a business credit card can help by improving your credit utilization, payment history, and mix of credit accounts.

It’s easier credit to get than a traditional business loan

Speaking of business loans, traditional business loans can be hard to come by — and it could be even harder if your business is new. Instead, getting a business credit card can be easier since it relies on your personal credit score.

Even if you’re happy with a personal credit card, getting a business card can help if you decide to get a traditional business loan down the line, as it will help establish your business credit profile. And in the meantime, you’ll have a credit line for your business should you ever need it.

Gain control over employee spending

If you have employees, a main advantage of a business credit card is that you can monitor or even control their spending. You can see in your credit card statements what’s being spent on what and how often.

Some of the best business credit cards even allow you, the business owner, to place a credit limit on an employee’s card. The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a great example. This way, you can ensure your business stays on budget.

Offers financial flexibility

No matter the size of your business, cash flow can be a concern — and credit cards can be a temporary lifesaver.

Let’s say you have an insurance bill coming up for $1,000 on the 25th and you have an outstanding invoice for $1,500 that’s set to arrive on the 22nd. But then, unfortunately, a mix-up with your client means they had to reissue the check, so you won’t get it until after the 25th.

In this case, you don’t even need to sweat it — you just whip out your business credit card, pay for the insurance bill, and then promptly pay off the balance when the client’s check finally arrives. Easy peasy.

Simplify your bookkeeping

Yup, you read that headline right — using a business credit card can simplify your bookkeeping.

The obvious part of this is that you can keep track of your business purchases all in one place — your monthly statements. That way, you can see what you’re spending without needing to look at a bunch of different accounts.

In addition, some business credit cards offer online record-keeping tools to help you manage your money, including things like a year-end account summary you can hand off to a bookkeeper.

Earn points, miles, or cash back

That’s right. Business credit cards give you the opportunity to earn some pretty sweet rewards. Depending on the card, you can also take advantage of sign-up bonuses, where you earn extra points, miles, or cash back after spending a certain amount within a specified amount of time.

And guess what? If you have employee cards, their spending can help you nab those rewards. Just think how amazing it would feel to earn free trips or cash just by going along with your normal spending routine.

Receive business-relevant perks

Business credit cards sometimes have some enviable perks compared to personal credit cards — like the ability to extend your billing cycle. For example, The Plum Card^® from American Express lets you carry a balance with no interest for up to 60 days when you pay your minimum due by the payment due date.

Other perks could include access to things like free Wi-Fi during flights, airline fee credits, or special rewards-earning rates on telecommunications or marketing expenses.

Get increased credibility as a business

A business credit card can help you seem more credible with vendors or other companies you work with. When you use it to pay for goods and services, that vendor, contractor, or company will see you as someone who is more professional and established compared to someone using a personal credit card.

Who can get a business credit card?

The good news is that almost all types of businesses can qualify for a business credit card. Yes, even that operation you’ve got selling soaps on Etsy can count as a business. Even if you don’t have an LLC (limited liability company), a sole proprietorship will work just fine as well. You’ll usually need an EIN (Employer Identification Number) — aka, a federal tax ID — to apply for a business card, but you can typically also use your Social Security number.

How to get started with a business credit card

There are no shortages of choices when it comes to taking advantage of business credit cards. If you’re just getting started, it’s best to pick ones that offer perks you’ll take advantage of.

For example, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is great for travelers because it has no foreign transaction fees, offers primary rental car insurance coverage, and allows you to combine your Ultimate Rewards points if you have other Chase cards. For cashback lovers, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is another solid choice because you earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Your business deserves to thrive, and using a business credit card can help you do that. You can save money when you redeem your credit card rewards, sleep better knowing you have your cash flow covered, and be taken more seriously as a business.

Hot Welcome Bonus

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

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Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

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Current Offer

Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Rate

3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Generous welcome offer
• High rewards rate on common business expenses
• Flexible Ultimate Rewards points
• No foreign transaction fees
• Cell phone, purchase, and travel protections

Drawbacks

• Annual fee of $95
• $150,000 annual cap on bonus category spending
• No intro APR offer

Card Details

• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Member FDIC

Author Details

Sarah Li Cain

Sarah Li Cain is an experienced content marketing writer specializing in FinTech, credit, loans, personal finance, alternative investments, real estate, banking, international business and travel. Her work has appeared in Fortune 500 companies, publications and startups such as Transferwise, Wordpress, Pearson Teachability and KeyBank.