How to Apply for a Business Credit Card: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learning how to apply for a business credit card is vital for business owners aiming to streamline their financial management. If you’re a business owner, understanding how to apply for a business credit card can be beneficial.

You can apply for a card specifically designed for business use, enhancing your capacity to manage expenses efficiently. Even as a sole proprietor, you have a good chance of getting approved for a card.

The following guide will explore deeper, providing you with a step-by-step walkthrough to navigate the application process efficiently. From understanding the prerequisites to managing your finances adeptly with separate business and personal cards, we’ve got you covered.

6 Simple Steps to Apply for a Credit Card for Your Small Business

1. Check You Meet the Business Credit Card Requirements

Card issuers for businesses will look at your (personal) credit score. Good personal credit scores may get you a lower annual fee. Business credit card issuers will make a personal credit check of your financials.

2. Make Sure You Have all the Documents Needed

You’ll need proof that your business is registered. You’ll provide an EIN or use your social security number.

If you’ve been in business for a year or more, you can provide business financial reports.

Major credit card issuers may also set low credit limits for you at first. This may be based both on your personal credit report and your business report. If you make timely payments, your preset spending limit may be adjusted, and your business’s credit score will continue to improve.

3. Compare Business Credit Cards

There are many card options and it’s important to do your research and choose the right business credit card. Here are some key business categories of the card features:

Credit Limit – Credit card companies are understandably cautious and may start with low limits. But the best business credit cards adjust this number up as you make timely payments. Secured business credit cards require that you make a deposit as your personal guarantee before you can use the card. This works similarly to a rent deposit – it’s there for the card company to seize if you default on payments.

Annual Fee – Many cards advertise a 0% annual fee. The 0% fee can last as long as 15 months. However, it’s important to know that if you make a late payment, an annual fee will be assessed.

Foreign Transaction Fees – If you’re not going to travel or conduct business in foreign countries, you don’t need to worry about this one.

Perks – Most business credit cards include perks such as cash back, points or miles (to apply to air travel). You may get a sign up bonus. Choose the perk that best suits your needs.

Additional Cards – Will you need cards for your business partners? Will you need cards for employees (such as for gasoline)? Will the card company provide free employee cards or are there fees?

4. Find Out Your Credit Score Based on Your Personal Credit History

Before you apply for the card, pay off or pay down your personal card. Definitely don’t have any overdue balance amount, which would greatly impact your credit record. Your payment history for items such as a mortgage, utilities and more will be scrutinized.

Commercial credit bureaus will look at your personal finances. If your rating is “good to excellent” you’ll have lots of business credit card options. If you’re rating is “fair” you may be offered an APR as high as 25%. To get a lower APR you may only get a business credit card “secured” by a deposit.

5. Complete Your Business Credit Card Application

Fill out the application and check your work.

If you use a PO Box for mail at your home of business, make sure to also provide the physical address of each.

6. Start Using Your Small Business Credit Card

Start building your business credit score by using your small business credit cards for everyday business purchases. Building business credit leads to a favorable business credit report. Stellar business credit reports are a huge help when you apply to a lender for a loan.

Navigating the Application Without an EIN

What if you don’t possess an Employee Identification Number (EIN)? There’s no need to worry. When figuring out how to apply for a business credit card without an EIN, you’ll find that you can alternatively use your social security number on the application, a process that many business owners utilize.

Additionally, you should already have a business checking account. You’ll be asked to provide that information on the credit card application. Also, you should already have registered your business.

It makes good sense to have separate personal cards and business cards. That makes all your financial reporting much easier, whether you do that monthly, quarterly or annually.

What is a Business Credit Card?

As it sounds, the card is only used for business purchases or activities. The uses can include things like travel and supplies.

You can even use the business card to pay utilities such as phone services and electricity or buy items at office supply stores. That’s a good move if you’re using a card that issues a percentage of cash back to you as a statement credit. The cash-back credit will be issued based on the amount you pay against the balance.

Personal credit cards are only used for personal purchases, such as household items, clothing and groceries. Those items aren’t eligible purchases for a business card.

Why You Should Apply for a Business Credit Card

Understanding the benefits that come with a business credit card can be instrumental in managing your business finances more efficiently. Now that you have unraveled the answer to what business credit cards are, the natural progression is to explore why securing one would be a prudent step for your enterprise.

Here, we outline a number of compelling reasons to consider applying for a business credit card:

• Boost Business Credit Scores:
  • Credit Separation: When you apply for a business credit card, the credit assessment initially takes into account your personal score, which aids in securing the card. However, your personal score doesn’t influence your business’s credit rating over the long term.
  • Positive Impact on Business Rating: Utilizing the card wisely and ensuring timely payments on the balance can significantly enhance your business credit rating. It’s worth noting that during loan applications, many financial institutions scrutinize both personal and business credit scores to gauge your financial responsibility.

• Tax Deductions:
  • Business Expense Deductions: Expenses accrued, such as the annual fee and interest charges on a business credit card can be counted as business expenses, which are tax-deductible, potentially saving your business money during tax season.
  • Simplified Accounting: Having a business credit card simplifies the accounting process as it helps in itemizing expenses, making tax calculations more straightforward.
• Financial Tracking:
  • Year-End Summaries: One of the perks of having a business credit card is the receipt of year-end summaries for both your business and personal cards, facilitating smoother tax reporting at the end of the year.
  • Separate Finances: Maintaining distinct business and personal cards aids in keeping financial matters separate, thus simplifying financial management and reporting, particularly for small business owners.
• Line of Credit:
  • Ease of Access: Obtaining a business credit card is generally less cumbersome compared to securing a business loan, especially if your credit rating is only fair.
  • Building Credit History: Consistent and responsible usage of the card not only prevents overextension but also contributes positively to building a strong business credit history.
• Cash Back and Rewards:
  • Cash Back Rewards: Many business credit cards offer cash back rewards, where a percentage of your expenditures is returned to you, serving as a form of savings on business expenses.
  • Additional Perks: Aside from cashback, business credit cards often come with additional rewards and perks such as travel benefits, discounts with partner merchants, and access to business-related events and seminars, which can be beneficial for networking and growth.

By weighing these advantages, you can decide whether applying for a business credit card aligns with your business objectives and financial strategies.

For more information go to Why Use a Business Credit Card? Here are the Top Reasons.

Maximizing Business Credit Card Rewards

• Understand Your Spending Patterns: The first step to maximizing rewards is understanding where your business spends the most money. Whether it’s travel, office supplies, telecommunications, or any other category, choose a credit card that offers the best rewards for those specific expenses.
• Choose the Right Card: With a plethora of business credit cards available, select one that aligns with your business needs. If your business involves a lot of travel, consider cards that offer generous travel rewards, airline miles, or hotel points. For general expenses, a card that offers cashback or points on all purchases might be more beneficial.
• Leverage Sign-Up Bonuses: Many business credit cards offer sign-up bonuses that can be incredibly lucrative. To maximize rewards, aim to meet the spending requirements for these bonuses, but ensure that it aligns with your business’s budget and cash flow.
• Take Advantage of Bonus Categories: Some cards offer additional rewards on certain categories. If your card offers bonus points or cashback on categories like advertising, shipping, or dining, plan your expenses to take advantage of these bonuses.
• Use Cards for All Business Expenses: Put all possible business expenses on your credit card to accumulate rewards faster. This includes recurring bills, inventory purchases, and any other operational costs. However, always ensure that you can pay off these expenses in full to avoid interest charges.
• Redeem Rewards Wisely: When it’s time to redeem your rewards, consider the redemption value. For example, points might be worth more when redeemed for travel rather than cashback. Understand the redemption options and values to get the most out of your rewards.
• Combine Personal and Business Rewards: If you hold personal and business cards from the same issuer, look into combining your points. This can sometimes increase the value of your rewards when redeemed for travel or other perks.

Credit Card Security Measures for Businesses

• Activate Alerts and Monitoring Services: Most credit card issuers offer free alerts for transactions, which can be customized. Activate these alerts to be notified of every charge, which can help you quickly detect any unauthorized activity.
• Use EMV Chips and Contactless Payments: EMV chip cards and contactless payments add an extra layer of security compared to magnetic stripe cards. Encourage employees to use these features to reduce the risk of card cloning and fraud.
• Implement Strong Authentication Methods: For online accounts, use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication wherever available. This helps protect your account from unauthorized online access.
• Educate Employees on Security Practices: If employees are authorized to use the business credit card, educate them on safe practices. This includes safeguarding the card, regularly checking statements, and reporting any suspicious activity immediately.
• Regularly Review Statements: Make it a habit to review your credit card statements monthly. Scrutinize transactions for any that don’t seem familiar and follow up on any discrepancies right away.

How to Handle Business Credit Card Debt

• Assess Your Debt Situation: Start by consolidating all your credit card debt information. Know the total amount owed, interest rates, and minimum payments for each card. This will help you prioritize which debts to tackle first.
• Consider a Balance Transfer: If you have good credit, you might qualify for a credit card with a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers. Transferring your higher-interest credit card debt to such a card can save on interest and help you pay down the principal faster.
• Negotiate With Creditors: Reach out to your credit card issuers to negotiate lower interest rates or modified payment plans. Many issuers have hardship programs for businesses facing temporary financial difficulties.
• Implement a Debt Repayment Strategy: Adopt a repayment strategy such as the avalanche method (focusing on cards with the highest interest rates first) or the snowball method (paying off the smallest debts first to build momentum).
• Cut Costs and Increase Revenue: Look for ways to reduce business expenses and increase income. Redirecting additional cash flow towards your credit card debt can help pay it down faster.
• Seek Professional Advice: If your debt feels unmanageable, consider consulting with a financial advisor or credit counselor who specializes in debt management. They can provide guidance and potentially recommend a debt management plan.

By implementing these strategies, business owners can maximize their credit card rewards, ensure their accounts remain secure, and effectively manage and reduce credit card debt.

Here’s a word from Noelle Randall about “How To Get A Business Credit Card For A Startup” to check out after reading. It’s a nice little companion piece to the article:

Your Business Credit Card Application Checklist

Navigating through the process of applying for a business credit card can sometimes seem overwhelming. This step-by-step checklist serves as a practical guide to keep you organized and ensures you don’t miss any crucial steps while aiming to secure a credit card for your business. Simply tick off each box as you complete the corresponding steps to keep track of your progress effectively.

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This article, "How to Apply for a Business Credit Card: A Step-by-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends