Business credit cards come in all shapes and forms. They have different rates, advantages, disadvantages and different fees and charges. In this article we will attempt to give you an overview of what features and benefits you can expect when searching for your next card.
Firstly we will look at what these types of cards actually are. In the majority of cases they work in much the same way as personal credit cards. They can be used to pay for goods and services in stores and over the Internet, also they have a designated limit and an annual percentage rate (APR).
Business cards will carry either the MasterCard or Visa logo. The debate of ‘which is better’ could easily fill another article by itself, but generally speaking they about the same. Both are accepted by over 20 million merchants worldwide, with the majority of merchants accepting both. So whether your card carries the Visa logo or the MasterCard logo is relatively unimportant.
The main difference compared to personal credit cards is that the business version is held in the name of the company, and costs are liable to their business – not usually the employees who are using the card(s), unless otherwise agreed between employers and employees.
A company can request as many cards as they like to be distributed amongst employees to use on business-related expenses, such as gas for work-related travel and hotel bills. The main advantage for the company is that they do not have to deal with employee expense forms, check reimbursements and petty cash, and all the charges are billed to a central account.
Some of the better providers will be able to offer higher limits on certain cards (e.g. those for top-ranking staff) and lower limits on others. This allows controlled spending. If a company is unsure about trusting staff with credit that they will be responsible for, they can opt for a prepaid business card, and only load it with a suitable amount of funds.
As with personal cards, these will charge a rate of interest, known as an Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Any rate below 10% would be considered as ‘good’, though many providers will offer an introductory rate of 0% for the first few months.
There will also be fees and charges for various transactions. These can include one-off setup fees, annual fees, monthly fees and ATM withdrawal charges. The actual amount of these can vary widely and it pays to compare a few before applying for one.
There are other benefits that vary from provider to provider. Some companies offer a two-month trial, so that you are able to test the system within your business before you sign up. Others offer a rate of cashback on certain purchases, such as office supplies, gas and airline travel.
These cards can have many benefits for a company, whether they are a newly-established outfit or a large multi-national. Either way, do your homework and shop around – you may be amazed at how much the fees, charges and benefits can vary.