Why Every Small Business Owner Should Consider a Business Credit Card

Managing your finances as a small business owner is a whole different world from dealing with your personal budget. Everything from how you bank to how you file taxes changes when you run a business.

One thing remains the same, however: credit. Just as everyone should have at least one personal credit card in good standing, I think every small business should have a credit card, too. I'll cover a few great reasons to consider a small business credit card. But first, check out this top pick if you're in the market for a small business credit card.

A small business card for everyone

You can find a lot of great small business cards out there that suit almost any kind of business you may run. But there is one business card that I think most, if not all, small business owners can benefit from: Chase Ink Business Cash.

This rewards card lets you earn big on office supplies and internet, cable, and phone services, plus you'll get bonus rewards on gas station and restaurant purchases. It has no annual fee, an awesome welcome bonus, and even offers perks like purchase protection and rental car insurance coverage.

Now, let's backtrack and talk about why a small business credit card could be a great idea for you.

Keeping finances separate makes life easier

The single best thing you can do to keep your business finances organized is ensure they're separate from your personal finances. (As much as possible -- these lines can get blurry when you run a business from home.)

Having a dedicated business credit card where you can put purchases that are firmly in that "business" category makes it so much easier to keep track of expenses. This goes double when you have a small business bank account you can also use to pay that business credit card!

Plus, many issuers won't report small business card activity to your personal credit (unless you default). This means your regular business purchases won't impact your personal credit scores.

Credit cards are reusable (free) financing

Many businesses have inconsistent income; it's rare that you'll know exactly what you're going to make every week. You may even have drought-and-deluge income that leaves you with a tiny budget in between larger paydays.

In any of these cases, your business credit cards can be there for you. You can charge necessary expenses, then pay off your balance in full when the invoices come in. If you pay your statement balance in full by your due date every month, you won't be charged interest.

Many great small business cards even come with intro 0% APR offers. These can give you months, if not a year or more, of 0% interest on new purchases.

All you need to do is make at least your minimum payment before your due date and you won't accrue interest during the promo period. (Once the intro period ends, your remaining balance will start to accrue interest at the go-to rate.)

You can earn rewards on your business purchases

Much of the reason for me opening small business credit cards is because of the awesome purchase rewards. Business rewards cards offer some bonus categories you can't get from personal cards -- categories that are tailored to your business needs.

For example, some business cards offer bonus rewards on advertising or shipping purchases. You can even get card perks for your business, like car rental insurance for business trips.

Plus, like personal cards, many business cards come with valuable welcome bonuses. This opens up a lot of extra bonuses for folks who may be running out of eligible welcome bonuses on their personal cards.

A reliable small business credit card can be a great tool for any business owner. It can help you keep your finances organized, navigate inconsistent pay, and even earn rewards on your business expenses.