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Showing posts with label Small Business Credit Cards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Small Business Credit Cards. Show all posts

Saturday, January 05, 2008

The Pros And Cons Of Small Business Credit Cards

A lot of small businesses are concerned with cash flow and credit cards may seem like the answer to this problem. There are a lot of them available so you will have to decide based upon your business's needs.

What Considerations Must Be Made In Way Of Small Business Credit Cards

Businesses should not depend solely upon small business credit cards as their only source of capital. Instead these should only be a way in which to pay for materials, goods and services whenever cash is a little tight.

These small business credit cards are also a practical way in which to make large purchases and track the money that you have spent. This is because they have great software for recording purchases and deals, even those that your employees make. You will also discover that a lot of creditors offer rewards for using these small business credit cards. Some of these rewards include discounts, prizes, cash-back schemes and frequent flyer miles.

On the other hand, your signature has to be on these small business credit cards, so if you ever happen to defaulted on payments, the creditors and banks will be coming after you, not your business. This is because the professional and personal finances of the business owner are considered the same for the first few years. You should also understand that these things will also be included in your credit report. However, this does not mean that you will necessarily get the same protection as consumers. For instance, many credit card companies will not allow you to dispute billing errors in the same manner nor will the credit card company lend you their assistance if you purchase bad merchandise.

So, you really should consider whether these credit cards would be beneficial to you or not. Well, if you are able to be disciplined and you are willing to take on an added responsibility, then maybe these credit cards are for you. However, you are going to need to be sure to choose and use them wisely. Otherwise they can and they will affect your credit record. With this in mind, it is important for you to be able to pay off your credit card's balance as quickly as you can. This will score you a lot of points with both your personal and your professional creditors. They can also help you to renegotiate your terms more convincingly later on.


About the Author: Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. Need more details and expert advice on Credit Cards? Then please visit our Small Business Credit Cards Resource.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Small Business Credit Cards

In today’s economy, small businesses play an important role. These days, it is easier than it ever has been to start a new small business. There are all kinds of new businesses popping up all over the United States, from department stores to gas stations. With new businesses on the rise, the owners should be looking into small business credit cards - for numerous reasons.

The best reason to get a small business credit card is for separating your personal finances from any business related finances. Once you have a small business credit card, you can start making all of your purchases via Internet, phone, or in person. Business credit cards are accepted virtually everywhere, which is great for those who need equipment or supplies in a hurry.

If you own a small business, you’ve probably experimented with using your personal cash for company purposes. This can get ugly in a hurry, which is why you should invest in a credit card for your small business. You can make purchases without having to worry about cash, then pay it back later. You won’t need to keep track of everything either - as you statement will be mailed to you at the end of the month, letting you know exactly how much you spent.

A small business credit card is also a great way to establish some credibility with your business as well. When you pay with your credit card, it looks a lot more professional than using cash to make your purchases. It will gain the respect of financial companies, and help your business build some credit as well. After you have had a credit card in good standing for a few months, you’ll be able to apply for a small business loan and get the best rates - along with the higher amounts.

Even though your business may not have a 6 figure income or budget, small business credit cards can still help your business grow and prosper. Credit cards are always great to have, simply for the fact that you never know when you need money. Your office equipment may crash and need replacing, or another emergency may come up. If you don’t have a credit card for your business, the financing alone could shatter your daily operations.

Small business credit cards will also give you plenty of rewards as well. Most cards will give you cash aback and certain rewards on just about anything you purchase. From gas to equipment, you can get rewards simply for using your credit card. You can increase your profit margin as well, which is always a great thing. If you have other workers who are authorized to use your credit card, you’ll get more rewards - and much faster as well. This is also easier on your business, as your workers will be able to get what they need, when they need it.

All in all, small business credit cards are always great to have around. They will provide your business with rewards and convenience, eliminating the need to use cash with each purchase you make. These cards will also protect the future of your business, and allow it to grow. If you own a small business, you shouldn’t hesitate to look into these credit cards. Once you have found the best credit card for your company, you shouldn’t hesitate to apply. Credit cards are always great to have around - even if your business is just getting started. Before you know it, your small business credit cards will more than pay for themselves.

You can find the best choice of credit cards and pre-paid cards at www.CreditCards.us (http://www.creditcards.us)


About the Author: John Ugoshowa. You are welcome to use this article on your website or
in your ezines
as long as you have a link back to http://www.quickregister.net/partners/
For more information on credit cards see the Credit Card section of Quickregister.net Free Search Engine Submission Service
at: http://www.quickregister.net/partners/

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Small Business Credit Cards - Does Your Business Really Need One?

One of the great things about life in America is that anyone can start and own their own small business. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people do just that. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that the major credit card companies began taking note of this in a serious manner, and began expanding their markets.

Today, every major bank and credit card company offers some form of business credit card to their customers. The question is, are they right for you?

For many, the thought process is this; I don't have employees so I can just use my regular personal credit card for my business. I really don't need a business credit card, right? You could do that, but it will make both you and your accountant pull your hair out at tax time, and it may even cost you money to boot.

Here are a few of the advantages of having a small business credit card:

Record keeping and taxes - This is one of the bigger reasons. If all of your business expenses are on one business credit card, tracking expenses and keeping track of records becomes a snap. You'll have your statements each month to give to your accountant, and your taxes will be much easier to figure.

Employees - Do you have employess in your small business? If so, a business credit card makes it possible to add one on the account and allow them to use it for business purchases when you're not there.

Building your business credit rating - By having a business credit card you are helping to build the credit rating of your small business. Don't underestimate the importance of doing this.

These are just a few of the many reasons why you may want your business to have its own separate credit card.

What type of card is right for you? It really depends on your situation. If you will be paying off your balance each month, then a card with few fees and a rewards program may be your best bet.

If you'll be carrying a balance from month to month, then look for a low interest business credit card.

I think you can see that having a business credit card offers you many advantages for your small business. The key is taking your time and finding the offer that is right for you and your situation.


About the Author: Terry Edwards is the owner of Credit Cards A-Z, a site providing great information and help with credit cards. Find out more about Business Credit Cards as well as get more information about all types of credit cards at http://www.CreditCardOffersA-z.com

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Small Business Credit Cards

by: Rudy Hadisentosa

A lot of people associate credit cards with just personal credit card which an individual posses and uses for shopping etc. However, there is another category of credit cards and that is called small business credit cards. As suggested by the name itself, the small business credit cards are meant for small businesses or people running small businesses.

So how does the small business credit card differ from the other credit cards in general?

The very obvious difference is that small business credit cards have the credit account in the name of the small business and not any individual, though the benefits indirectly accrue to the business owner. The other difference is with the terms and conditions that come with the small business credit cards. Finally, there are some subtle benefits with small business credit cards which would not be applicable to personal credit cards. Let’s check all these things one by one.

We know that the credit cards provide a lot of convenience and security for an individual and a lot of other benefits too. Most of the benefits related to personal credit cards apply here too. What is interesting here is the indirect benefits that ensue from using a small business credit card.

The indirect benefits associated with small business credit cards are so great that it makes them almost indispensable. The most important benefit is that you can easily segregate your business and personal expenses. So if you have been wasting a lot of time keeping track of your business bills and trying to keep them separate from personal bills, small business credit cards could help. You just need to ensure that you always make all your business payments using your small business credit card. When the credit card bill comes at the month end, you will have itemized account of all the business expenses as a single document. Thus small business cards reduce (and in some cases completely remove) the need for bookkeeping for a small business. The credit card company does that for you for free, although indirectly.

Another important benefit comes from rolling credit. If you have to pay for your purchases upfront and still invoice your clients later (a situation faced very often with small businesses), you can roll the credit, you are providing your client with, to your credit card. Moreover, since these purchases are mostly urgent, arranging for money immediately can sometimes be a problem. In such cases, the small business credit card is the one which can bail you out. Well, if you are thinking that your personal credit card could do the same for you, you are a bit off the track on two fronts. Firstly, you want to keep your business expenses separate from your personal expenses and secondly, the APR on business cards is generally lower as compared to personal credit cards. A lot of the small business credit cards don’t require you to pay an annual fee even.

So if you run a small business but haven’t got a small business credit card yet, it’s about time that you considered this wonderful option.

About The Author

Rudy Hadisentosa: CCN.com is a free online credit cards review and application website. We offer credit cards selection from visa, master cards, discover, american express and many others. We have quite some categories and hundreds of credit cards selection to fit your need. Apply for a credit card at CCN.com.



Benefits From Small Business Credit Cards

by: Rudy Hadisentosa

Imagine hiring an accounts keeping agent for free for your small business. This is what small business credit card does for you indirectly. However, this is not the only benefit. There are a lot of other benefits too. It’s for these benefits that the small business credit cards have gained the status of a necessity today. Let’s see what these benefits are.

1. Auto-segregation of business expenses

This is the most important benefit from using a small business credit card. You just have to ensure that you make all your business payments using your small business credit card and your monthly credit card statement will clearly and accurately reflect all your business expenses. You can use this further for accounting purposes or business planning.

2. Rolling credit

Small businesses, as any business, incur expenditures first and earnings later e.g. a business might need to make purchases, pay their staff, incur maintenance costs etc, all towards building a product or providing services to their clients. The client is, of course, going to make payments. However, there is a time lag between these expenditures and earning. A small business credit card allows you to roll-over the credit i.e. you can pay for your expense using your credit card especially when you are expecting the client to pay in a month or so. This way you are rolling-over the credit to your small business credit card supplier. Thus the money to fund those expenses doesn’t come from your cash account

3. Emergency help

This is something which every small business requires. Small businesses experience crests and troughs. You never know when an immediate need for money might arise (on account of new purchases etc for a new project). More importantly, such a need generally arises from more/new business and you would surely not want this good news to be transformed into bad news. In such situations, a small business credit card can become really handy and bail you out.

4. Rewards

As with personal credit cards, the small business credit cards too have membership rewards. When choosing a small business credit card, this factor should also be given proper importance. Based on the requirements of your business, the rewards program of one credit card might suit you better than that of another credit card e.g. if your business involves a lot of air travel, a credit card offered by an airlines might give you additional benefits in terms of how fast and how much award points you earn. You can then barter these points for other benefits or products.

5. Other benefits

There are a lot of other benefits too which apply to small business credit cards. Though some of them are similar to what you have for personal credit cards, the ones for small business credit cards generally have something extra with them. These benefits include: cash back option, discounts on certain merchandise, free travel insurance, free baggage protection, discounts on hotels and rental cars and many more. Again, since these vary from company to company, you might as well look for these when choosing a small business credit card for your business.

With so many benefits, small business credit cards are really indispensable and demand attention.

About The Author

Rudy Hadisentosa: CCN.com is a free online credit cards review and application website. We offer credit cards selection from visa, master cards, discover, american express and many others. We have quite some categories and hundreds of credit cards selection to fit your need. Apply for a credit card at CCN.com.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Business Expense Reporting Using Small Business Credit Cards

by: Rudy Hadisentosa

We know that there are multiple benefits associated with a small business credit card. However, business expense reporting is probably one of the most important benefits.

Be it for accounting purpose and tax calculations or be it for planning the future financial requirements etc of your small business, you surely need to know what expenditures you are making on the running of your business. The business expenses includes small things like paying for the brochure printing job, entertainment expenses for clients, business travel expenses or gifts etc. If you were to use your personal credit card for paying for these or just simply cash, then you would end up with a load of bills/expense-statements to sort out at the end of each month. Not only would you be spending a lot of time sorting out what is a personal expense and what a business expense is, but could also end up doing it wrongly. After all it’s only human to make errors in things like this. On the other hand, if you were using your small business credit card for the payment of all the business expenses, the need for such a sorting job is eliminated altogether. Your monthly statement for your small business credit card will clearly show all your business expenses and the monthly statement of your personal credit card will show all the personal expenses. So these are auto-segregated.

Even your accountant would be happy if you were to exercise such a methodology. The clarity obtained from such statements is much better as compared to something you would scribble or do on an excel sheet. Moreover, since the credit card companies have been doing this since long, they have developed their own terminologies and conventions which are consistent across various statements over a period of time. Some of the credit cards even group the expenses under proper headers to facilitate accounting. You could either directly use this groupings for your accounting purposes or you could map them to something else in your accounting system.

Sometimes one might use the credit card statements as the sole accounting tool. This is made easier with the credit card company offering downloads of credit card statements in a format which can be fed directly (or with some minor modifications) into accounting software. That means that you can get enhanced accounting features too by the combination of the data obtained from the monthly statement of your small business credit card and the powers of an accounting tool which is able to accept that data as a feed. Can’t think of a better thing, can you?

Moreover, since the small business credit cards separate your personal and business expenses, you can also keep track of your personal expenses and plan your budget for personal expenses too i.e. personal accounting is simplified as well. This reduces the hassles with doing your personal tax calculation too.

Thus, what can otherwise be a nightmare is turned into a simple activity by small business credit cards. This reason alone is sufficient for anyone to go for a small business credit card.

About The Author

Rudy Hadisentosa: CCN.com is a free online credit cards review and application website. We offer credit cards selection from visa,master cards, discover, american express and many others. We have quite some categories and hundreds of credit cards selection to fit your need. Apply for a credit card at CCN.com.