Are Credit Cards Important For Small Business?

By Robert Bain

There are quite a few ways in which your small business can benefit from a credit card. Of course you can charge things you can't pay for right now but that isn't the only benefit you will get from it. You just never know what will come your way so you have to be prepared. You don't want to have to shut down business for a few days until someone pays you. Instead you can use that credit card to keep you going until the money is there.

Since your business is a separate part of your life than your person finances you need to keep it that way when it comes to what you buy as well. Always have a business checking account and credit card that you can use to pay for business related items. It will make tracking your expenses much easier.

It the eyes of other people and other lenders, the fact that you have initiated some form of credit for your small business says a lot. Statistically more than half of all small businesses will shut down during the first year. Lack of income and lack of planning are the leading reasons for this. With a business credit card it shows you plan to stay around and that you have a plan of action when you don't have money readily available to use.

Even if you don't need to use the credit card, you should for some business related expenses. This way you can build up a history of buying things and paying them off. The secret is to do so before you get any interest rates tacked on though. The issuer of the credit card will see you are responsible and offer you better deals in the way of lower interest as well as increase your credit limit.

You never want to rely on your business credit card to keep your business operational day to day though. If you are struggling to cover the basic expenses then your business is in serious trouble. Always be aware of any balance you have on your credit card and work to eliminate it. You need to be very careful about what you decide to charge on it as well.

The biggest issue to remember is that you don't want to have your personal information or assets tied to that business credit card in any way. Some credit card companies will tell you to do so in order to get a lower rate. This may be tempting but it can lead to problems with your personal finances if your business doesn't work out. You want it to be able to stand alone so work for that from the very start.

Don't just apply for the first business credit card you come across though. Find out what the eligibility criteria is for it. Find out what the rates are, fees, penalties for late payments, and incentives for being responsible with the credit you are extended. You want to find the right deal for type of business needs.

There are many different ways that your small business can benefit from having a credit card. It can take some effort to secure one but that is all part of the process. If you are going to have a very successful small business you will need to rely on various types of credit from time to time. Getting a business credit card is a great way to lay a foundation to start building on.