Personal Finance Tips

Prepaid business credit cards are a new generation of credit cards that are becoming increasingly popular amongst individuals and businesses alike. There are many advantages to using a prepaid card, so if you have yet to find a business credit card solution to suit you then here are some ideas about why prepaid cards could be the answer.

What Are Prepaid Cards?

Prepaid business credit cards work just like credit cards. Instead of being forced to carry around large sums of cash, you can make purchases (large or small) using your credit card. You can use this anywhere where you would use a traditional credit card, and you will enter your PIN number as if you were using a normal credit card. What is the difference? The fact that you are not spending money that is credited to you, because you are spending money that you have already paid into your account in advance (much like a debit card, but branded as a credit card).

The Benefits of Prepaid Credit Cards for Business

Many business like to make large purchases, so prepaid credit cards avoid the hassle of carrying around cash and offer a solution just like a regular credit card. They help in keeping track of the business funds and spending. This means you will never overdraw on your business account and never encounter interest rates, which is a big bonus!

Prepaid business credit cards are not suitable for all business, but in many cases they could save you a lot of money. All it takes is to ask the credit card issuers to see if that have a prepaid option available.

Business credit cards have become popular as a source of financing for small businesses. The banks that issue business credit cards and many industry observers have identified small business credit cards as a potential area for significant growth. The personal credit card market is saturated, and the corporate business credit card market, is relatively small.

The small business credit card market presents financial institutions with a really good business opportunity. Those banks that do offer small business credit cards noted that business owners are spending more and more every month and that they carry higher annual balances than the average personal credit card holder. This holds the promise of higher fees and interest revenue.

Generally, the business credit card carries credit limits that are double the amount of the average personal credit card. But where the personal credit card is almost pushed to the maximum on its credit limit, the business credit card’s outstanding balance is normally only about 75% of the credit limit. In spite of this, the risks on small business remain high. This is the reason why most business credit card issuers are very careful when processing and approving start-up businesses’ applications for business credit cards.

In one bank that issues business credit cards, about four fifths of their business credit card holders have been in business for at least three years. Although this particular bank places a strong focus on developing their small business customer base, they have come to realize that there are higher risks associated with extending credit to small businesses. If you think about it, when in a bind, it would only be natural for people to default on payments towards their business credit cards before they default on personal credit cards. No one would want to impact their personal credit rating, although they might be willing to suffer some negative points on their business credit.

For this reason, most business credit card issuers will require that the business and the owner of the business accept joint liability for debt repayment on the business’ credit cards. Although there may be some initial grumbling about the personal liability involved, most business owners end up agreeing to this term, because the resultant access to cash and the ability to separate personal and business finances, are of great value to them. Business owners also understand that securing a business credit card early on in the life of the business, helps it to build its credit track record; and that the sooner a track record is established, the sooner the business will be able to carry the business credit card’s liabilities on its own.

Small business credit cards are convenient for travel and entertainment expenses. That is to be expected. But besides these, small business owners use their business credit cards to stock supplies, to supplement their inventory of products, and to cover other daily expenses.

For a time, the interest rates on small business credit cards were much higher than personal cards, as banks relied on traditional risk calculation methods and the absence of competitive pressure. That is not the case anymore. Business credit cards offering zero percent interest rates and reward rich incentives are advertised widely. According to issuers, the uptake is high. After all, business owners mind their costs, and low interest rates and affordable fees will always be key selling points.

If the business does not meet these criteria, the business credit card issuers will use the credit history of the principal making the business credit card application as their basis for evaluating credit risk.

Do note that most business credit card issuers will not approve your application for a business credit card unless you agree to the personal liability provision. This essentially makes a business credit card the same as a personal credit card from a personal liability point of view. Hence, whenever your business fails to repay the business credit cards, the issuer may invoke the personal liability agreement in order to collect payment from the business credit card principal.

Because of this personal liability provision on your business credit card application, your personal credit reports will also contain a record of your business credit card history. You will therefore damage your personal credit score if you make late payments on your business credit cards. If your business accumulates a big debt, it will inflate your personal debt burden and cause you to appear overextended.

The personal liability agreement, however, is not always cast in concrete. If you can show that you diligently make your regular payments, you should be able to convince the issuer of business credit cards to remove the provision after a few years. It would really be up to the issuers whether they decide to grant you your request or not. Nonetheless, you could always try to negotiate with them. Whatever the case may be, endeavor to have the business establish its own credit history. This will eventually allow you to separate your small business credit card from your personal credit records.

You must be aware that since business credit cards are not intended to be used by consumers, the consumer protections applicable to personal credit card are not necessarily present in business credit cards. When making use of personal credit cards, the law grants you the right to dispute billing errors on your account within the specified period of time. Within this period, the card issuer cannot mark the disputed amount delinquent or cancel the card. This particular right of the consumer is not applicable to the holders of business credit cards.

When you receive ordered merchandise in poor condition, you cannot dispute the charges and in case the vendor refuses to cooperate, request the business credit card company to intervene on your behalf – as they do in the case of personal credit cards. With business credit cards, you are largely on your own.

So, should you carry a small business credit card rather than a personal credit card? The answer is: Yes. Once your business has established its track record, you can separate personal and business finances. That will work well – both for you and your business.