As is the case with any type of credit, it is important to learn how to manage your small business credit card account wisely. Careful, prudent spending on your account can help your business grow and establish itself firmly in the big corporate world out there, allowing for the building of a sound financial future. In fact, building good credit for your business through such methods is absolutely critical to the survival of your establishment. However, improper or unwise use can literally run you and your business into the ground. The following steps will help ensure that you are one of the wise ones who reaps the many financial benefits that your account can offer.
1. Don’t Sign Up for a Multitude of Accounts
While one or two accounts that are wisely used and paid off in a timely manner can help build wonderful business credit by leaps and bounds, too many can actually wind up having the opposite effect and lower your credit rating. A preponderance of different accounts also makes it a real bear to organize your spending and keep a clear picture of your finances in your head, especially if you choose to give employees access to your various accounts. Start with one small business credit card application, use it wisely, be prudent with your choices in regards to it, and then go from there.
2. Avoid Drawing Frequent Cash Advances
Did you know that cash advances typically incur interest and other fees at a different, higher rate than other types of spending? You can save your business a lot of money in unnecessary expenses and help preserve the integrity of your credit by severely limiting your use of the cash advance option. Take advantage of this feature only when it’s critical that you obtain immediate funds via your account. Otherwise, stick to accruing all the wonderful rewards, benefits, and rebates you stand to gain through normal spending.
3. Be Religious in Regards to Your Payment Schedule
Probably the wisest decision you can make in regards to your small business credit card is to pay your bill promptly on time each and every month. Hefty late fees and the accompanying higher interest rates can really build up over time and eat away at the usefulness of your account. Spend wisely, and pay off your balance completely as often as you can. This will help you save in interest costs, greatly improve your business’s credit, and guarantee that you continue to benefit from the invaluable deals and rewards your card offers you.
4. Take Advantage of Online Payment Options
The concept of paying your bills online is probably not completely new to you. It’s actually more than just a convenient way to save on time and postage costs. It’s a great way to save on more unnecessary processing fees. It’s definitely also in your best interest to get in the habit of monitoring your account via the online account option on a regular basis as well. You’ll have access to up-to-the-minute information about your account, meaning you’ll always have a clear picture in your head of how much you and your employees are spending on your small business credit card account during a given period. It will also allow you to locate unauthorized charges or spending trends right away as well so that you can alert your creditor as soon as possible in order to have the situation rectified.
Filling out a small business credit card application has the potential to be the best decision you ever made in regards to your business. Treat your line of credit as a guarded privilege and use it wisely to guarantee a firm credit standing for your establishment that will make for one of the brightest business futures you can imagine.