Why a small business card may make sense for your company s finances

These days, more and more credit card companies are offering business credit cards to small businesses. A business credit card is similar to a personal credit card in terms of it having a reward program and the ability to pay for something first and settle the bill later when the credit card statement arrives. But this is where the similarities end.

The fact of the matter is, business credit cards have a lot more perks to it than an individual credit card. Like a business banking account, business credit cards come with larger credit limits because businesses tend to spend a lot more than individuals or family units. Moreover, a business credit card has a whole slew of other perks that make it an absolute must for any small business.

Managing your business costs

With a small business card you can pay for a business expense up front without having to dip into your company’s cash account. While this can be especially useful in times of emergency, it is useful enough for day to day operations like paying for your purchases from a supplier, or footing the bill when entertaining a client.

Most credit card companies offer very low APRs for business cards, or even 0% APR for the first six months. The ability to borrow money without interest is definitely an extremely enticing prospect for businesses, especially when they can make money out of this situation.

Apart from that, a business credit card provides a company the ability to secure multiple credit cards and set different limits on them. This can be useful if you want to authorize your employees to make payments for certain items, and not overspending on their business credit cards.

Segregating your expenses

One of the hassles in business is bookkeeping. In order to keep track of your business’ finances, you would have to keep track of receipts and sort them into different categories for tax and accounting purposes. Also, you may need to separate your business and personal expenses as well.

With a business credit card, you don’t need to do all that. Most credit card companies provide detailed statements of your expenses charged to the card that are grouped accordingly, so you don’t have to sort them out. It’s like having an accountant for free!

Keeping your business and personal expenses separated is also a cakewalk – simply charge your business related payments to your business credit card and your personal ones to your personal card.

The game of business credit cards

Sometimes, when financing for your new business venture seems a little hard to find, you might want to consider the business credit cards offered by the different issuers. Business credit cards are rapidly gaining popularity among small business owners, who have seen these very useful as alternative financing sources.

Small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs are not as well connected to sources of high finance with which to bankroll their projects. Business credit cards can be their door to that opportunity or, at the very least, a much appreciated lifesaver for existing businesses from time to time. It is not unrealistic for the small business owner to anticipate that a cash flow crisis could occur at anytime. Perhaps for this reason, business credit cards are seeing wider use as a source of financing, with some of the business credit card holders learning the game of how to make things really work to their advantage.

For instance, small business owners who keep their business credit cards on file with their regular vendors can help eliminate COD charges, receive expedited delivery services, and get the chance to stretch their cash flow by a few extra yards. Your business can conserve cash for a little while longer by charging supplies to the business credit cards at the beginning of the billing cycle – which gives you a float of about 21 days.

It cannot be said too often: business credit cards can really help you manage the business better. That you can use the business credit cards for travel and client entertainment is well documented. Less well known is, that at the end of a quarter, the period expense account summaries from your business credit card companies are a big help in reconciling your transactions and preparing your quarterly tax filings. More than that, if you take the time to review the summaries, you will have the ability to uncover some potential trouble spots. You may find out where the business is incurring too much expense, and which employee is causing the financial leak.

You will also observe that due to the competition among issuers, many business credit card issuers offer you zero percent interest rate for balances transferred from another business credit card company to theirs. This presents you with a really great opportunity - if you go about it in a smart way: You can capitalize on these zero-interest offers by continually moving your balances from one business credit card to another business credit card without ever having to pay market rates. This is a perfectly legitimate strategy, and there are more than enough business credit card issuers out there asking business credit card holders to do exactly that.

You can play it as a kind of game. You would never run out of new business credit cards to jump into when the introductory period on one business credit card is about to expire. If you do take this tack, be alert about keeping on top of your statements and your expiry dates.

It will also work in your favor if you transfer your business credit cards when you observe interest rates starting to rise. As an alternative, you could speak with your existing business credit card issuer to see if they are willing to bring their rates back down. Note, though, that repeated applications for business credit cards may impact your credit report, so keep eye on acceptable periods for credit inquiries.

Why you should avoid paying income taxes with a credit card

We all agree that the credit card is very convenient. That is why the IRS allows you pay your taxes through it. To sweeten the deal, credit card companies offer rewards in the form of frequent flyer miles. So you can get a free air ticket too. But hang on, is that convenient to your pocket too? Sadly, the answer is no.

Disadvantages

The IRS has authorized third party companies to process your credit card payments. However, you, the taxpayer has to pay for it. So, every time you use your credit card to pay tax, you also have to pay a fee that is usually around 2.49 % of your tax. Thus if you are paying $18,000 in taxes, you also pay an additional fee of around $450. Now add the fee charged by travel rewards credit cards and you can drop the second letter from the word ‘free’ as in free airline ticket.

If you are in debt, the last thing you want is more debt. Annual interest charges are quite high, even going up to 30%. You could spend the rest of your life paying for the $18450 ‘convenience.’ If you are in debt with many credit cards, this additional debt can lead to bankruptcy. But even that cannot save you. As per law, you still have to pay taxes along with other payments like child support or alimony.

It is for these reasons that consumer agencies like the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCA) suggest alternative ways of paying income tax. You could dip into your savings bank account or take a loan at a lower interest rate.

There are only two conditions under which this transaction looks good. You pay the IRS with your credit card and simultaneously pay off the credit card company as well. This way, you avoid the interest payments, if it is any consolation. The other condition is that if it is impossible for you to meet the IRS deadline. While the IRS can grab most of your assets immediately, your credit card company cannot. While the case is in court, you may just win a lottery or inherit a windfall!

Rewards credit card offer sweet perks

One of the ways that credit card companies gain new customers is to set up reward systems that give customers a reason to sign up for their rewards credit cards, make purchases on those cards and shop at their affiliates’. The best rewards credit cards offer sweet perks will even come with an introductory period up to 15 months of 0% interest. This is a way to tempt people who might not normally pay with credit cards to use their rewards credit card. Frequency of use tends to go up with the amount of rewards receive. Because usage of these credit card profits the credit card companies involved, whether or not the balances are paid off monthly, the reward process benefits consumer and creditor.

Types of Reward Programs

Each rewards credit card company has a unique reward system. Some offer cash back for each purchase made using a particular card which could be done with each purchase, or on a monthly or annual basis. Cash back is the preferred choice by those who do not have time to track reward points or other reward system. Other rewards credit card programs focus on a selection of prizes, rather than cash or points.

Maximizing Your Program

The fastest way to accrue points, of course, is to use your rewards credit card, and to claim your reward when you earn it. If you pay off your balance every month, your reward will not be something that you end up paying for all over again because of your extra interest and fees. Many credit card rewards go unclaimed and unused every year by customers who forgot to claim them. Unless your program is cash-based, you would often have to contact the credit card company to redeem your awards. Depending on your preferences, you would have to shop around to find the best rewards credit cards for yourself.

Rewards credit card systems are excellent for those who have credit liquidity. If your cards are close to the limit and you are only making minimum payments each month, your rewards would almost never increase, because finance charges and late fees eat up you rewards. You would only benefit from new purchases. Rewards credit cards would not be good for those who have a problem handling credit, but they can be a way to let good money managers stretch their spending dollars.

Once, rewards credit cards were only for the high rollers, and they required high fees on a yearly basis to take part. Because of the competitive nature of the current consumer credit market, almost anyone could afford to participate, and just about every credit card has a rewards program built in. If you can handle credit, you should be able to find the best rewards credit cards available to reward yourself.

It is however, always a smarter choice to run around, comparing a number of rewards credit cards before making a decision on the one. Take into consideration, the kind of rewards that you really need or want. Businessmen that travel a lot would be greatly suited for a rewards credit card that comes with miles rewards whenever they take a flight with the company stay at partner hotels or even renting cars at selected dealers. Home makers would also do well with rewards credit cards that allow prize redemptions of household items or instant cash backs. Whoever you are, there is sure to be a card that would prove to be tailor-made just for you.

Credit cards for poor credit - secured bad credit credit cards

Getting approved for a credit card with poor credit is difficult. Because of your low credit score, or no credit history, many credit card companies consider you a bad risk. Fortunately, there are ways around this problem. Obtaining a credit card with poor credit is doable. However, it's going to require a little effort and research. Here are a few tips for getting easily approved for a credit card with bad credit.

Apply for a Retail or Gas Credit Card

If no credit history is standing in the way of you getting a major credit card, consider applying with small retail stores or obtaining a gas card. Unless you are a student, most credit card companies do not willing approve those with no credit history. However, store accounts are easier to qualify for. After approval, use the card responsibly. This will help build or improve your credit score, which makes getting approved for a major credit card effortless.

Get a Credit Card through Your Bank or Credit Union

The majority of banking institutions offer major credit cards. If you are a customer, the credit approval department may be willing to issue you a credit card with a small limit. With this said, it is important to maintain a good relationship with your bank. For example, avoid bouncing checks or incurring overdraft fees. If poor money management skills are displayed, the bank is less willing to assist you. Furthermore, attempt to build a cash reserve. This could possibly improve your odds of approval.

Apply for a Secured Bad Credit Credit Card

Many credit card companies advertise bad credit credit cards. To get approved, this usually entails opening a savings account with the company. In this case, the credit card is secured. Although secured credit cards require upfront cash, and usually involve several start-up fees, this is the easiest method for quickly improving or building a solid credit history.

The credit limit on secured credit cards varies. For the most part, the limit is equivalent to the amount placed into the savings account. As credit score improves, the company may gradually increase your limit.

Get credit for making smart financial decisions

You're faced with a dilemma. It's the end of the month and you have a stack of bills due. You were hoping to go on a special weekend getaway with friends, but don't have the money to pay all your bills and enjoy the trip. You realize something has got to give, so you decide to skip a payment on your credit card to have money for the weekend. It's only 30 days, you say to yourself, and you plan to really get serious about paying down your bills after this month.

That decision could cost you thousands of dollars.

"Making late payments is really the number-one way that consumers can damage their credit report and credit score," says Chaomei Chen, head of credit risk for the credit card division of Seattle-based Washington Mutual. "Conversely, making on-time payments is the easiest way to increase a consumer's credit score over time."

Keeping Score On Your Credit Score

Credit scores are derived from information found in your credit reports, which are maintained independently by each of the three major bureaus-TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. The data is run through a mathematical formula to produce your "FICO" score. Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) invented and popularized the methodology for determining consumer credit risk. Most FICO scores run between 300 and 850. The higher the score, the better, because consumers with high scores are offered the lowest interest rates for homes, automobiles and other consumer loans.

Even One Late Payment Can Hurt

Chen pointed out that only one late credit card payment could have a negligible effect on the score of consumers who already have a dramatically low FICO score, and conversely could drop the FICO scores of people who already have very high FICO scores up to 100 points. "That difference in FICO score can add many thousands of dollars in interest payments over the life of a loan. It's in the consumer's best interest to pay bills on time each and every month."

According to Fair Isaac, for a $250,000 home loan, based on recent interest rates, a consumer with a 700 FICO score would have a monthly payment of $1,614 for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. A consumer with a 550 credit score would pay an estimated $2,094 a month for the same loan. That's a difference of $480 a month, and $173,000 in additional interest over the life of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

That weekend getaway has become very costly.

In addition to paying bills promptly, Washington Mutual - the only credit card issuer in the U. S. that provides its credit card customers free online access to their FICO scores-recommends other simple ways to increase credit scores, including:

• Pay more than the minimum due on credit card accounts each month.

• Keep the balances on revolving credit accounts below 50% of the credit line.

• Check your credit report at least once per year to ensure that information is being correctly reported.

Don't be late in paying your bills. Even one late credit card payment can cause a credit score to fall up to 100 points.