8 Tips for Choosing the Best Travel Small Business Credit Card
Choosing a credit card for your small business is a decision that must not be taken lightly. Some business credit cards have high annual fees or high interest rates matched with cash-back rewards programs or travel awards. Travel awards oftentimes include airport lounge access, frequent flier points, and a free checked bag per flight.
When choosing a travel small business credit card, use these tips to ensure you’re getting the best card for your business:
Rate of Interest
Before agreeing to a small business credit card, know the rate of interest on the card. If the card has an extremely high interest rate, even if matched with travel awards, it may not be in your best interest to sign up for that card. If the interest payments are too steep, the credit card will not do you any good and you’ll end up losing money.
Annual Fees
Research the annual fees when choosing a business credit card. Some companies charge upwards of $450 per year, but the travel benefits are incredible. They can include personal concierge service, waived international transaction fees, rental car insurance, and free companion tickets multiple times per year. If your business will use these rewards, the fees are worth it; if not, look elsewhere.
Location
If your business has individuals who travel or will travel internationally, make sure to select a card that is accepted in those countries. The last thing you want to happen is for you to arrive in a foreign country and not be able to pay for anything.
Your Spending Habits
What do you, as a small business, tend to spend most of your money on? If it’s gas, hotels, flights, or other traveling expenses, make sure the rewards for those items will give you the greatest return. There’s no point in getting a greater percentage of return on office supplies if you rarely buy them.
Pay All Business Expenses Using the Card
Obviously, you can use your business credit card for materials, meeting clients at restaurants, airfare, and rental cars, but you can also use your credit card to pay for business utilities each month, including rent, electricity, and water. Add up all these expenses and choose a small business card that will benefit you the most.
Additional Discounts
Most companies will offer additional discounts for redeeming your rewards points through the preferred vendors of your card issuer. Look into the preferred vendors of various credit card companies to see which will most closely meet your needs. Additional discounts really add up, so it’s important to spend some time researching which cards provide additional discounts through which vendors.
Terms and Conditions
Make sure to read the fine print. Find out if the travel award points expire, or if they will roll over to the next year. It’s important to know this information before selecting a card. If your business only travels a few times per year, you’ll want to make sure the awards carry over. Also, know the blackout dates in which you are not allowed to redeem your travel points. Knowing this in advance can save you a headache in the future.
Family and Leisurely Travel
Just because the travel awards you earn are from your small business doesn’t mean you have to spend them on business-related trips. Consider taking your family on a well-deserved, week-long getaway to relax and rejuvenate. Small business owners work hard, and there’s no law that states you must spend your awards on your business. Remember to have fun!
About the Author: Sarah Brooks is a freelance writer who covers a wide variety of topics ranging from personal finance to diet and nutrition.
Image by MIKI Yoshihito / Flickr
