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Saturday, April 27, 2024

12 Best Personal Cards For Business Expenses (April 2024)

Best Personal Cards For Business Expenses
Eric Bank

Written by: Eric Bank

Eric Bank
Eric Bank

Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Reviewed by: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker
Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Advertiser Disclosure

By law and custom, you can use your personal credit card to cover business expenses. Which begs the question: Should you? 

For many small business owners, the answer is yes. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) of 2009 provides personal card users with legal protections that don’t apply to business cardholders. But business cards also offer advantages, including flexibility and free employee cards, an essential consideration if you plan to give your workers autonomy and access to their own company cards. 

Entrepreneurs may solve the dilemma by owning both kinds of cards. But if you want to own just one type, personal cards are the way to go. As we explain below, you shouldn’t use business cards for personal expenses. The following review ranks the best personal credit cards for business expenses by credit type and answers several questions about credit card use.

Best Personal Cards For Excellent Credit (740+ FICO)

The top echelon of personal credit cards serves consumers with FICO scores of 740 and higher. These cards reward you for achieving an excellent FICO rating. The range of annual fees these cards charge shows that you don’t need to spend much to get a superior card.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Review

at Bank Of America’ssecure website

EXCELLENT CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
  • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases.
  • If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
  • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Review

at Bank Of America’ssecure website

EXCELLENT CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

EXCELLENT CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

+ See More Cards For Excellent Credit

Personal cards for excellent credit may offer generous perks that save you money and provide other valuable benefits. Company owners will find many of our reviewed cards suitable for business use.

Best Personal Cards For Good Credit (670-739 FICO)

FICO defines good credit as a credit score above 670. This range of scores covers a large swath of cardholders. These cards may include rewards and benefits that overlap those for cards for excellent credit.

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

GOOD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

GOOD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

GOOD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

+ See More Cards For Good Credit

Whether you’re looking for a 0% intro APR, a signup bonus, handsome rewards, or plenty of benefits, you should have no problem finding an ideal card to serve your personal and business needs. 

Best Personal Cards For Fair Credit

Folks with fair credit (FICO scores 580 to 669) may have experienced financial challenges that put the best credit cards out of reach. But the following cards offer attractive features, including cash back, balance transfer transactions, and low annual fees.

FAIR CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
  • Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited
Discover it® Student Cash Back Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

FAIR CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% – 27.24% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR
$0
Fair/New to Credit

FAIR CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account. It’s that simple
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$39
Average, Fair, Limited

+ See More Cards For Fair Credit

Cards for fair credit typically have lower credit limits and higher APRs, but they can still be helpful for moderate business purchases and expenses. But be sure to compare fees, which can vary widely.

Best Personal Cards For Bad Credit

The following cards are available even if your FICO score is below 580. You may have a choice between an unsecured credit card and a secured credit card. Unsecured cards are more expensive but don’t require a deposit. Secured cards can offer better perks, but you need to deposit an amount equal to your credit line.

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

  • No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you’re approved in seconds
  • Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
  • Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$0
Limited, Bad

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
  • Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
  • Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$0
Limited, Bad
Milestone® Mastercard® Review

at Milestone Mastercard®’ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • Greater access to credit than before – $700 credit limit
  • Get a Mastercard accepted online, in store and in app
  • Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
  • $0 liability* for unauthorized use
  • Access your account online or from your mobile device 24/7
  • *Fraud protection provided by Mastercard Zero Liability Protection. If approved, you’ll receive the Mastercard Guide to Benefits that details the complete terms with your card.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
See terms
See terms
Fair/Good

+ See More Cards For Bad Credit

Even with bad credit, You may be able to establish a credit line of at least $700, and some secured cards accept deposits as high as $5,000. Be sure to read each card’s fine print to understand the costs and limitations.

Reasons to Use a Business Card For Business Expenses

Undoubtedly, having separate credit cards for personal and business expenses is the best way to manage your finances. Here are several reasons why you should consider owning a business credit card:

  • Separation of personal and business expenses: Separating personal and business expenses makes bookkeeping and tax preparation easier. A business card allows you to categorize and track your money without identifying personal expenditures.
  • Higher credit limits: Business credit cards may provide substantially higher credit limits. This can come in handy when purchasing big-ticket items, including office furniture and communications equipment.
  • Business-specific rewards and perks: Along with higher credit limits, business cards typically offer bigger signup bonuses in the form of cash back, points, or miles. They frequently skew their rewards toward typical office expenses. Some airlines provide co-branded business cards that help you accumulate frequent flyer miles on business trips.
  • Enhanced reporting features: Business cards often provide year-end reports that detail and summarize your spending. These reports can help you revise and track your budget. Several business cards offer downloads that integrate with popular accounting platforms.
  • Build business credit history: You can use a business card to establish and build your company’s credit profile. Doing so will make obtaining business loans easier and eliminate the need for personal guarantees. A solid credit profile can help you compete for business and government contracts.
  • Employee cards: You can issue credit cards to employees by making them authorized users. Many business cards offer this service free of charge and let you customize employee spending limits at the employee level. Spending management can also help you keep tabs on business expenditures.
  • Improved cash flow management: You can use a business card to optimize cash flows. For example, you may want to take advantage of early payment discounts or delay payments due to cyclical sales. Sometimes you may have to make substantial purchases for a client before receiving payment. A business card with a high credit limit helps you navigate those contingencies.
  • Eligible purchase protection and insurance: Business credit cards frequently come with eligible purchase protection, travel insurance, extended warranties, and other features that can save your business money. These features can also provide busy entrepreneurs with valuable peace of mind

The best personal credit cards may provide advantages, but we aren’t aware of any that deliver as much for businesses as dedicated business credit cards.

Best Business Cards

The following cards offer higher credit lines and first-class perks. Each provides a unique mix of rewards, signup promotions, and business-oriented benefits. Pay close attention to their travel rewards if your business requires frequent trips.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Review

at Chase’ssecure website

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 12 months
N/A 12 months
18.49% – 24.49% Variable
$0
Good/Excellent

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • 0% Intro APR for the first 12 months; 21.24% – 29.24% variable APR after that
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
  • No annual fee
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account
  • Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 12 months
N/A
21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
$0
Good

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account
  • Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
  • Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
26.24% (Variable)
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Excellent, Good

+ See More Business Cards

The best business cards don’t have to cost much, as some charge a $0 annual fee. But these cards typically require business owners to have good credit.

What Is the Difference Between a Personal and Business Card?

We’ve described some benefits of using a small business credit card for company expenses. Now let’s focus on the main differences between the two card types.

Intended Use

Not surprisingly, issuers of business credit cards intend cardmembers to use the products for business expenses. For the reasons explained earlier, you should use a personal credit card for your personal expenses, but there is no prohibition against using it to pay business bills.

Application Process

When you apply for a personal credit card, the issuer relies on credit scores and reports to make approval decisions. The card issuer may also review your income, debts, and housing costs. You must supply a Social Security Number to obtain most personal credit cards.

Issuers of business credit cards also look at the company’s credit profile, revenue, and years in operation. But if the business is small, issuers will still consider your personal creditworthiness as a critical factor. That’s because, typically, a small business credit card requires the owner to personally guarantee payment if the business can’t pay its bills.

Screenshot of personal information field on a business card application
Many business credit card applications require personal guarantees to open a credit line.

Suppose you are the responsible officer of a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or limited partnership (LP). In that case, you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS to get a business credit card. 

The card application will also require information about the type of business, company address, number of employees, and annual revenue.

Reporting to Credit Bureaus

Personal credit cards report payments to the major consumer credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Business credit cards typically report to the commercial bureaus, of which the big three are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. Some business card providers may also report to consumer credit bureaus.

Credit Building

A personal credit card helps you build an individual credit profile by reporting payments to the consumer bureaus. You can build credit by paying on time and keeping your debt levels relatively low.

The easiest way to establish a business profile is to get a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). You can visit the D&B website to obtain a unique nine-digit DUNS number. Many businesses and lenders require you to have a DUNS number before they work with your company. You also need a DUNS number to qualify for a federal grant.

Business cards reporting to consumer bureaus

D&B provides a Paydex score when you establish a profile. Paydex works differently from FICO in that your score benefits when you pay bills before their due date. Otherwise, Paydex uses standard criteria, including on-time payment and low credit utilization, to assign a score.

Equifax and Experian, the other major commercial credit bureaus, do not require a special identifier to track your business.

Once set up, your business can build credit by paying bills on or ahead of time and keeping debt levels low. A business bank account with no bounced checks or unpaid fees may also help build credit.

Your business can also build credit by opening trade lines with vendors and suppliers. Trade lines extend credit to customers who purchase supplies or inventory. If vendors don’t report payments to a credit bureau, you can add the vendors to your D&B account, which allows D&B to collect that trade line data.

Credit Limits

Given your credit score, you are more likely to get a higher limit from a business credit card because the issuer considers both business revenue and personal income. A business with more earnings will likely get a higher limit than a personal card would. 

You can maximize your business credit limit if you and your business have excellent credit profiles. By paying bills on time and keeping your debt levels low, you may also see periodic increases to your credit limit.

Introductory 0% APR Promotions

Many personal and business credit cards offer new card members a 0% APR on purchases or balance transfer transactions for a specified period after account opening. Business cards tend to have longer introductory periods, but you should compare cards based on your needs. 

Screenshot of APR example
Credit card issuers may offer 0% APR promotions to new cardholders, including businesses.

For example, startup businesses could take advantage of long intro periods after account opening by purchasing furniture and equipment immediately while paying them off at leisure.

Interest Rates

Interest rates depend more on credit scores than card type. Credit cards for applicants with high credit scores typically charge significantly lower APRs than do cards for bad credit. Improving your creditworthiness is the surest way to qualify for cards with lower interest rates.

Remember that the interest rate will always be 0% if you pay your entire balance each month. But business owners often juggle conflicting pressures, so it may make sense to finance purchases over several months despite the interest charges.

Consumer Protection Laws

Many consumer protection laws, including the CARD Act of 2009, apply to personal credit cards. But consumer regulations don’t always apply to business credit cards. 

Personal cards enjoy these protections:

  • Lower penalty fees
  • 45-day notice of APR increases
  • Payments exceeding the minimum must go first toward the balances with the highest interest rates
  • Restrictions on interest rate hikes during the first year
  • Introductory promotional rates must last at least six months
  • A clear description of a personal card’s terms and conditions

On the other hand, even the best business credit card may be subject to higher penalty fees, less transparent disclosures, and unrestricted APR increases. Some business cards may offer protections similar to those for personal cards, but business owners should read the terms and conditions to make sure.

Is It Illegal to Use a Company Card For Personal Expenses?

You’re not breaking the law if you are a sole proprietor and use your company card to pay for personal expenses. But it is not a good idea because you must ensure you don’t negatively impact the company’s books or take a tax deduction for personal expenses.

Misusing a business card for personal expenses can be problematic or potentially illegal if you own an LLC or corporation since these are legal entities separate from the owner. That means business credit card misuse may saddle you with personal liabilities for business debts and other legal complications.

Photo of business owners doing their taxes
Using a business credit card for personal expenses may make tax season a little more challenging.

The picture is worse for employees who misuse a card for personal expenses without authorization. The offense depends on the circumstances, but potential crimes include theft, embezzlement, and fraud if the employee planned to misuse the card.

On the other hand, if an employee simply makes a mistake, including pulling out the wrong card, reimbursement and a warning may be sufficient to prevent a recurrence. 

Owners should review the use of a company card when they provide one to an employee. The review should include the penalties for misuse. Company owners would be wise to equip their business cards with financial controls and audit procedures.

Do Issuers Pull Personal Credit For Business Cards?

If you run a small business, a card issuer will likely pull your personal credit file when you apply for a business card. They do this because most require you to guarantee your business card’s debts personally and want to ensure you’re up to the task, financially. 

Your personal credit score may indicate how well you can meet your financial responsibilities.

Must I Own a Business to Get a Business Credit Card?

Anyone from a corporate CEO to a freelance consultant can get a business card, but yes, you must be a business owner to acquire one. You’ll pass muster if you are self-employed, even part-time.

When you apply for a business card, the issuer will typically ask for the following:

  • Business name: If you don’t have a formal business name, use your name.
  • Business contact information: This is where you would enter your business address and phone number. Once again, you can use your personal address and phone number if you don’t have a separate address.
  • Identification: You can use your Social Security Number if you are a sole proprietor or one-person LLC. Otherwise, you’ll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to show it is a separate legal entity.
  • Industry: The government uses a coded system to identify most industries. The issuer may provide a lookup table or offer its own industry list. 
  • Business type: Choices include sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation, partnership, or limited partnership (LP). You can choose sole proprietorship if you haven’t adopted a formal business structure. The IRS treats a one-person LLC as a sole proprietorship for tax purposes.
  • Business facts: These include your annual revenues, expenses, and time in business.
  • Personal guarantee: Most business cards require you to sign a personal guarantee should the company become insolvent or otherwise unable to pay its credit card debt. Consider getting a corporate card, including Brex or Ramp, to avoid a personal guarantee.

You can declare yourself the owner of a sole proprietorship, and the credit card companies will likely never ask for proof. That means almost anyone can get a business credit card. 

But as we discussed earlier, even the best business credit card offers fewer protections than personal cards, so getting a business card to use on a few business-related purchases may not be worthwhile. 

Run Your Business Your Way

You’re the boss, so you call the shots. You can get a personal credit card to cover all your expenses — personal and business — but we’ve laid out several compelling reasons to own a separate business card for your company. 

If you do want a personal card for your business, we suggest you give our reviewed cards a close look. On the other hand, our picks for the best business cards may sway you to makes the move to keep your expenses separate. Your accountant and tax preparer will thank you — even if you fill both of those roles for your small business.

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