Author: Sean Masterson Added: August 23, 2008
If you own a business, at some point or another using business credit cards becomes a fact of life. Unfortunately, not all business owners put their business credit cards to work for them. Are you getting as much mileage as you can from yours? Here are three things to consider... 1. Perks? What Perks? If I ask are whether or not you using your business credit card's perks and you say "what perks?" then we have a problem. It means that either your card doesn't offer any perks or you're not taking advantage of the ones they do offer. Either way, something needs to change. Understand that perks are not the same as rewards (we'll go into that later). Perks are things like concierge service, business travel discounts, free travel insurance, etc. Talk to a representative at your credit card company or read over the Terms of Service and see exactly which perks you're entitled to. Then make sure you're taking advantage of all of them. What do you do if you're not being offered any perks? It's time to look into other business credit cards. 2. Are Your Rewards Tailored To Your Needs? Not all rewards programs are created equal. Some reward you with cash back, others reward you with free business supplies and there are others that reward you with travel. And the rate at which rewards are earned varies too. Some companies offer 5-percent cash back on gas and 1-percent on all other purchases, while others offer 5-percent cash back on supplies and 1-percent back on everything else. Make sure the rewards program of your business credit cards is geared towards how you use the cards and the rewards you can most benefit from. If, for example, you never travel and you don't buy a lot of gas, a card offering 5-percent cash back on gas or free travel rewards isn't going to benefit you very much. Instead, look for one of the other rewards programs. 3. Great Interest Rates If you carry a balance on your business credit cards, make sure you're using one that offers a great interest rate. In fact, depending on the size of the balance, you might be better off going with a card that offers a very low rate in lieu of a rewards program. When it comes to profits, every single expense adds up. This includes credit card finance charges. Never pay more than you have to. Look for the card offering the lowest rate possible By carefully reviewing your business credit cards, how they work and how you use them, you can be sure you're carrying the ones that are best for your business needs.
--- For more tips on business credit cards, saving money and avoiding getting taken, check out CreditCardWhizKid.com, a website that specializes in providing credit card tips, advice and resources.
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