Imagine you’re a small business owner in search of a credit card. As you begin to browse and compare offers, you come to find that there’s no shortage. While that’s a good thing, it can also bog you down when attempting to make a final decision.
Understanding the most coveted traits in a small business credit card can help you find what you’re looking for. Here’s a list to get you started:
1. Sign-up bonus
With so much competition, most small business credit cards come with some type of sign-up bonus. For example, you could earn $500 if you make $5,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening your account.
It’s not the only reason to choose a credit card, but you should definitely consider it. There’s never a good time to turn down free money.
2. Rewards program
As you use your small business credit card, a rewards program allows you to earn points redeemable for things such as cash, gift cards, hotels, airline tickets, and more.
3. Fee structure
Is there an annual fee? Is there an additional fee for adding an employee to your account? What’s the foreign transaction fee?
Understand the fee structure inside and out so you don’t run into any surprises in the future. When you know the fees associated with your account, you can take steps to avoid them.
4. APR
There are two questions to answer in regards to APR:
- Is there an introductory APR? This could look something like 0% on purchases for the first 12 months.
- What is the regular APR? Once your introductory APR expires, the regular APR will kick in. Is it a fixed rate? Variable rate?
5. Miscellaneous perks
These vary from one small business credit card to the next, but they can be valuable tiebreakers when comparing several offers. Some of the most common perks include:
- Car rental insurance coverage
- Additional purchase protection on covered items
- Extended warranty on covered items
The more perks associated with your account, the more comfortable you’ll be when using your credit card.
Final thoughts
When you keep these traits in mind during your search, you improve the likelihood of choosing the perfect small business credit card. And when that happens, you have a financial tool by your side that can benefit you in a number of ways.
Do you have a small business credit card? What steps did you take to make a sound decision? Would you add any other traits to the list above?
