If you have bad credit, it can be difficult to find a credit card. You may even be tempted to try the “plastic” trick, where you use someone else’s good credit to get a card that you can’t qualify for on your own.

But this is a risky move because there are many things that can go wrong. If the issuer finds out that you’re not the primary cardholder, or if they suspect fraud, they might close your account.

And if they do close your account, you could end up with unpaid debt and damage to your credit score. One option is to apply for a business credit card instead of an individual card.

For example, some small business owners use their personal cards as business cards by adding their company logo on the front and using them only for business expenses (and maybe opening multiple accounts).

This isn’t always possible — some issuers require that all purchases be paid off monthly — but it’s worth checking out at least once before applying for a business card specifically designed for businesses with poor credit scores.

 

Best Business Credit Cards For Bad Credit

What Are Business Credit Cards For Bad Credit

What is Best Business Credit Cards For Bad Credit Introduction

When it comes to credit cards, all other things being equal, the higher your credit score, the better your chances of approval.
However, if you have poor credit, there are still a number of options available that can get you some business-related rewards.

The best business credit cards for bad credit are those that offer rewards in the form of cash back or airline miles. This will help you build up your credit over time and also make your payments more manageable.

Here’s our list of the best business credit cards for bad or no credit:

 

 

What Are The Best Business Credit Cards For Bad Credit?

If you’re looking for an easy way to build up your business credit score, here are some of our favorite business cards for bad credit:

1. Brex Card

 The Brex Card is a new way to pay for your everyday purchases. It’s not a credit card, it’s an electronic pre-paid card that you can use wherever MasterCard is accepted.

It’s free to sign up and get your card. You’ll also get free notifications when you spend more than $100 so you can keep track of your spending.

Here are some of the benefits of having a Brex Card:

  • No credit check – Get approved in seconds and start using your card right away.
  • Use anywhere MasterCard is accepted – Pay for groceries, gas, restaurants and more with your Brex Card.

Best overall for combining all needed features in one package

If you’re looking for a credit card that combines the best of all worlds, then the Brex Card is probably your best choice. It offers the most generous rewards on all purchases, including 5% cash back on dining and entertainment, 3 points per $1 spent on travel and 2 points per $1 spent on everything else. Plus, its annual fee is waived in the first year.

The card doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees and it comes with chip-and-PIN technology, which means it can be used at ATMs overseas (although not at merchants). There’s no annual fee in the first year, either.

Other cards offer slightly better rewards on specific types of spending: The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard offers more generous travel rewards; The Chase Freedom Unlimited card gives customers 1.5% cash back on every purchase; And the Capital One Venture Rewards card gives 2 miles per $1 spent (with no caps).

But none of these cards offer as much flexibility or as many perks as the Brex Card does.

Key Features

  1. Prepaid MasterCard debit card
  2. Can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted
  3. In-app tools help you track spending and manage your account
  4. Free to sign up, but there’s an activation fee of $3.95

2. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent choice for people who need a secured credit card and have no credit history. It’s also a great option for teens, college students, and recent graduates.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a credit card designed for people with bad or limited credit. It requires an upfront security deposit, which is held as collateral in case you don’t pay your balance in full each month.

You’ll be charged interest on any money you borrow — and on any purchases you make — but it’s still worth checking out if you need to rehabilitate your financial history.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Features:

  • No annual fee
  • $200 security deposit required (minimum opening balance required)

Best for checking for approval without influencing your credit score

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a great option if you want to get a secured card without having to pay any upfront fees or security deposits. It’s also a good choice if you’re trying to rebuild your credit score, as some other secured cards may require you to pay an application fee or deposit.

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card requires a minimum security deposit of $200, which is refunded once you close the account. There is no annual fee, and there are no charges for making payments or using other features.

You can use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted, including online and over the phone (but not at ATMs). The card has no foreign transaction fees and offers 24/7 fraud monitoring with zero liability protection.

Capital One doesn’t report information about your account to any credit bureaus, so it won’t affect your credit score while you’re using this card. However, when you close your account after meeting the terms of the contract, Capital One will report that information to the credit bureaus and it could help improve your score over time if you make all payments on time every month while using this card.

Key Features

 No annual fee

Earn cash back on purchases, and get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time

Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone

A $200 credit limit, which can be increased with a deposit of at least $200 (but no more than $2,500)

24/7 customer service, including live chat with a real person

3. First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card

First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card is a credit card that offers a variety of advantages to both businesses and individuals. It’s secured by a deposit, so you can use it to make purchases with peace of mind.

You can get the First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card if you have good or excellent credit and have at least $500 in savings at one of our branches or online at fnbbusiness.com.

The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card has no annual fees, no balance transfer fees and no foreign transaction fees. You’ll also receive unlimited cash back on every purchase you make with your card, which means more money in your pocket!

Plus, there are no limits on how much cash back you can earn or how many times each month it can be used for cash back rewards!

First National Bank also offers many other valuable benefits for our business customers, including:

  1. No balance transfer fees.
  2. No annual fee .
  3. Great rewards program .
  4. Free online monthly statements .
  5. Online account access 24 hours a day 7 days a week .
  6. Mobile banking available with eBanking

Best for having the option to secure your credit limit

 First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card.  Best for having the option to secure your credit limit. The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card is a good choice if you’re new to credit and want a simple, low-fee card you can use to build or rebuild your credit. The card’s annual fee is $35, which is less than many other secured cards.

The card also has no foreign transaction fees and offers online account management, which allows you to check your balance and pay bills online. The main drawback of this card is that it doesn’t have any rewards program or any other perks, such as cash back or travel benefits.

If you want those features in addition to building your credit history, consider the Capital One Secured Mastercard instead.

The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card is best for people who are new to credit and want an easy way to build their score without paying an annual fee or interest charges on their spending.

Key Features

 Security – The card is secured by the balance in your deposit account (subject to the maximum allowed by law). You’ll also receive alerts about your balance and spending activity to help protect against unauthorized use of your card.

Flexibility – This card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, including online purchases from merchants who accept Visa debit cards as payment — and it may even earn rewards!

   

4. Navy FCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card

 Navy Federal Credit Union offers two secured credit cards: the Navy FCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card and the Navy FCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card. Both cards have a $500 minimum security deposit, which is refunded when you close your account.

If you can’t meet the minimum security deposit, you may be able to get a lower limit by providing your income information. (If you have no income or bad credit, it’s unlikely that you’ll qualify for an unsecured card.).

The nRewards Secured Credit Card has an annual fee of $39, which is waived for active-duty service members and their families. The Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card has no annual fee.

Both cards charge a 12.99% – 22.99% variable APR on purchases and cash advances, depending on how much money you owe when you apply for the card. The lower end of the APR range applies if you only owe between $1 and $99 when applying; the higher end applies if your debt is more than $99 at application time.

Best military credit card that earns you perks as you build your credit

The Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Credit Card is a great way to build credit if you’re a member of the military or related to one. This card is made for people with bad or no credit, but it also has some added perks that can benefit current cardholders.

The Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Credit Card is a secured card that requires a refundable deposit of at least $300, which will be held in an FDIC-insured account in your name. It has no annual fee and charges an APR of 17.74% (variable), which is typical for a secured card.

In addition to the security deposit, applicants must have a minimum income of $1,000 per month or $12,000 annually (or greater). If approved for this card, you’ll get access to the following features:

  • The ability to build or rebuild your credit while earning rewards on purchases. With this card, you can earn 2X points on travel and dining purchases and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases — up to 1 million points per year! This means that when using this secured credit card, you could earn up to 2% back on travel and dining expenses

Key Features

  1.  Secured credit card with no annual fee;
  2. Open to anyone who joins the Navy Federal Credit Union;
  3. No-fee access to your FICO® Score 

5. Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card

 The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is a credit card for businesses that want to build their credit. It’s designed for businesses with no credit history or poor credit, and it can help you build a better future for your company.

Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card Features

No Annual Fee.

The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card does not charge an annual fee, so there is no cost to use the card.

Business Services Available.

In addition to providing a line of credit and helping you build a better credit history, the business card also offers business services to help your business succeed:

Payroll Services

Payroll services allow you to pay your employees by check or electronic funds transfer (EFT). You can also receive electronic W2 forms from your employees through this service.

Sales Orders

Sales orders streamline the process of ordering supplies or materials from vendors by allowing you to create an order online or by fax, which will automatically be processed when received by the vendor. This allows you to place orders quickly without having to wait for them in the mail or via fax machine.

ACH Transfers

ACH transfers allow you to make payments electronically directly from your account at any time without having

Best for getting 1.5% cashback on all qualifying purchases

The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is a great way to build your business credit without spending a lot of money. This card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which is a pretty good deal if you spend a lot of money with the card.

There are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees with this card, making it a good option for small businesses who travel abroad frequently. The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card has an annual percentage rate (APR) of 19.90%.

If you pay off your balance in full each month, this APR won’t affect you much at all as long as you don’t carry a balance from month to month.

However, if you do carry a balance from month to month, then the APR will apply and will likely charge more than any other card on this list would charge for carrying that same amount of debt over time.

Key Features

  1. Introductory APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 14.24% – 24.99% Variable)
  2. Annual Fee: $25, but waived for the first year
  3. Rewards: 1 point per $1 spent on gas, dining and travel; 1 point per $5 spent on everything else
  4. Sign-up Bonus: 25,000 points when you spend $3,000 in first 3 months
  5. Foreign Transaction Fees: None

6. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

 The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a good option if you need to rebuild your credit or if you want to build up a history of on-time payments. It offers a low, fixed APR of 22.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers (for 6 months). There are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees.

You can earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, restaurants or Amazon.com purchases (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter).

There are several advantages to this card:

  • It offers an excellent interest rate for bad credit borrowers – better than most secured cards (see the chart below for more details).
  • The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees to worry about – unlike many secured credit cards (but check out our list of Best Secured Cards for more options).

Best for having improved credit scores reported to the top 3 credit bureaus

Secured cards require an upfront deposit that’s equal to your credit limit. That makes them different from unsecured cards, which don’t require a deposit but have lower limits and higher interest rates.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is our top pick because it lets you earn cash back on everyday purchases and gives you access to your FICO® Score for free — two benefits that are hard to find with other secured cards.

And it’s one of the few secured cards that reports your payment activity to all three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — which can help boost your credit score over time.

Key Features

  1. You will receive a credit limit between $200 and $3000 based on the security deposit that you put down.
  2. You can use this card to build or rebuild your credit history with responsible use.
  3. It comes with a free FICO score so you can track your progress as you pay down debt and increase your credit score.
  4. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees and no balance transfer fee for transfers made within the first 90 days of account opening.

7. Avant Credit Card

 Avant Credit Card is a credit card that offers a unique combination of features. It has some of the lowest interest rates in the industry, but also charges no annual fee and no balance transfer fees.

The Avant Credit Card has some of the lowest interest rates in the market, with an APR of 9.99% for purchases and 10.99% for balance transfers. It also doesn’t charge any annual fee or foreign transaction fees, which is rare among cards with such low interest rates.

The Avant Credit Card is available to residents of all 50 states, but it’s not available in New York because it was issued by First National Bank of Omaha, which doesn’t have a license to issue credit cards there. The company does have plans to expand into New York eventually, however, so it’s possible that you’ll be able to get this card if you live there now and are able to wait until then before applying for one.

Best for having simple and transparent credit fees

 Avant Credit Card, The best credit card for people who have a low credit score, but want a simple and transparent approach to their credit card bills. Avant is a credit card designed specifically for people with bad or no credit.

They offer 0% introductory APR on all purchases for 12 months, an annual fee of $89 and no balance transfer fees. You can also get rewards for making payments on time, but this isn’t the best feature of the Avant card.

Instead of charging high fees, Avant has a very simple, transparent structure for how much you’ll pay in interest when you carry a balance from month to month. If you pay off your balance in full each month, there are no interest charges at all.

 If you need a credit card but don’t want to pay the high interest rates charged by most banks, Avant could be a good option. The company offers an unsecured line of credit with no annual fee and no balance transfer fee.

It also has one of the lowest interest rates you’ll find on a card that isn’t secured by your savings or home equity. Avant’s rates start at just 9% APR, which is lower than the national average of 14.95%. But if you carry a balance, you’ll pay more: 14.99% – 24.99%. That may seem steep compared to other cards, but it’s still much less than most banks’ rates.

Key Features

  1.  Avant Credit Card. 
  2. Low interest rates.
  3. Convenient payment plans.
  4. No annual fee for basic cards.

What are Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit?

 If you have bad credit, it can be difficult to find a credit card that will work for you. However, there are some cards that will work for people with poor or fair credit.

Business credit cards are a great way to help build your credit history and improve your score over time. Just like personal cards, business cards come in many different varieties. Some of them require a minimum monthly payment while others do not.

The best thing about these cards is that they allow you to use your business income as collateral when applying for one. This means that if you don’t pay off your balance every month, the bank will not consider this a default on your part because it’s technically an extension of your business’ finances instead of yours alone.

Business credit cards also have different features that make them more attractive than personal ones like rewards programs, cashback programs and more flexible repayment options (including no interest charges).

Top Factors When Choosing a Business Credit Card

 If you are a small business owner, you likely spend a good deal of time thinking about how you are going to grow your business. One thing that can help you get there is getting a business credit card.

However, there are several things to consider when choosing the best card for your needs.

1.  How much do I have to spend?

The first thing that you need to take into consideration is how much money you have available to spend on a new credit card. This will determine whether or not it makes sense for you to get one in the first place.

If you’re working on a tight budget and don’t have much money lying around, then it might be better for you just to use cash or debit cards for now until things improve financially.

2. What type of rewards does it offer?

Another important factor when choosing a business credit card is what kind of rewards it offers its users. Some cards offer cash back rewards while others offer points which can be redeemed for travel or merchandise later on down the road.

Other cards may offer discounts at certain stores or hotels that you already frequent so keep this in mind as well when making your decision about which card fits your needs best!

1. Annual Fees

 The annual fee is the yearly cost for maintaining a credit card account. The annual fee can vary from $0 to hundreds of dollars, depending on the type of card and the issuer.

Annual fees are charged once per year, typically when the cardholder’s account is opened or when they activate their card. Some cards charge an annual fee each year after that date, while others may not charge an annual fee until the second year following activation.

The amount of the annual fee may depend on many factors, including whether you’re already a customer with that company and what kind of benefits you’ll receive with your new card. You should be aware that some cards charge an annual fee even if you don’t use them at all during that year (sometimes referred to as “dormancy fees”).

Some issuers require that you use your card at least once each year in order to avoid this charge. Other issuers have eliminated dormancy fees altogether due to consumer backlash over these types of charges.

   

2. Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

 The annual percentage rate is a measure of the cost of credit, expressed as a percentage. The APR reflects the interest rate on a loan or line of credit, along with other costs associated with the loan.

For example, if you take out a mortgage to buy a home, your APR will also include points and fees associated with closing the transaction. The Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose an APR that includes all fees and charges associated with a loan or line of credit.

Some lenders claim they don’t have to include certain fees in their APRs because they’re “optional.” This isn’t true — all fees must be disclosed even if they aren’t required by law.

3. Balance Transfer Fees

 Balance transfer fees are charges that you pay to your credit card company when you move the balance of a debt from one credit card to another. Balance transfer fees are usually charged either as a percentage of the amount transferred or as a flat fee.

The average balance transfer fee is 3% and the average flat fee is $10. Balance transfer fees are typically charged when you request a balance transfer between two different credit cards of the same brand (such as Chase or American Express).

They’re usually not charged when you request a balance transfer between similar cards from different brands (such as a Chase card and an American Express card). The reason for this is that most major banks have agreements with each other, known as interchange agreements, that allow them to set their own terms for transferring balances between their cards.

Not all banks participate in these agreements, however; smaller banks and credit unions may not participate in these agreements at all or may only participate in some of them.

4. A secured business credit card vs an unsecured business credit card

 A secured business credit card vs an unsecured business credit card. If you’re looking for a credit card to help your business grow, it’s important to know the difference between a secured business credit card vs an unsecured business credit card.

Secured Business Credit Card

A secured business credit card is one that requires you to put down a security deposit as collateral. The amount of the security deposit will vary from one lender to another and may be anywhere from $300 to $10,000 or more depending on the amount of debt you are looking to put on your new line of credit.

The advantage of having a secured line of credit is that you can get approved for larger amounts of debt than if you applied for an unsecured line of credit.

Unsecured Business Credit Card

An unsecured business credit card doesn’t require any collateral but instead uses factors such as your personal income and history with the bank as criteria for approval. The amount that can be borrowed using this type of card is usually much smaller than what would be available using a secured line of credit because there isn’t any collateral involved as security against repayment in case something goes wrong with your finances.

6. Credit Limit

 The credit limit is the maximum amount of money that you can borrow from an account. You can only spend what’s in your bank balance plus any amount that’s left over after using your overdraft, so it’s possible to go over your credit limit if you have a large overdraft.

The difference between your overdraft and your credit limit is called your credit limit buffer. If you have a £500 overdraft and a £750 credit limit, then the buffer is £250.

This means that even if you’ve used all of your overdraft, it’s still possible to borrow up to £250 more by tapping into this buffer before being declined for further borrowing.

7. Soft vs hard credit check inquiries

 Credit checks are used by lenders to determine whether a potential borrower is trustworthy and capable of repaying a loan. There are two types of credit checks: soft and hard.

Soft Credit Check

A soft credit check is performed by third parties to whom you have given permission. For example, when you apply for a mortgage, the lender will order a soft credit check on you from the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

A soft credit check does not affect your score and does not count as an inquiry on your report.

Hard Credit Check

A hard credit check is an actual inquiry made by a lender or landlord that appears on your credit report as a “hard” inquiry. This type of inquiry can lower your score by 5 points or more if it comes from someone who has no business checking your credit report and scores.

8. The length of time you plan on having your account open

 The length of time you plan on having your account open is an important consideration when deciding how much money you should invest in a CD. If you plan to keep the money in the CD for five years or longer, it’s worth considering locking in a higher rate of return with a longer-term CD.

If you’re planning on using the funds after just a few months, however, it’s best to avoid locking them up for such a long period of time. In addition to length of term, consider other factors such as: .

  • The amount of interest your bank pays on savings accounts and CDs. Many banks offer higher rates on CDs than they do on savings accounts; however, this isn’t always the case.
  • Some online banks offer competitive rates on both accounts so you may want to compare rates at different institutions before deciding which to use for your CD investment.
  • The minimum opening deposit required by your bank or credit union.
  • Whether there are penalties for early withdrawal.

What is needed to open a business credit card account?

 A business credit card account is a line of credit that allows you to make purchases on behalf of your business. You can then pay off the balance in full each month, or use the line of credit as needed by paying only interest on the amount you’ve used.

There are many benefits to having a business credit card account. For example, it will help build your company’s credit history and establish your brand as a responsible, reliable business owner.

A business credit card can also be handy for managing cash flow and making it easier for employees to make purchases for their jobs. The requirements for getting one vary from bank to bank, but there are some basic things you’ll need in order to open an account:

Your personal information: This includes your name and address, as well as other personal details like your Social Security number and driver’s license number (if applicable). You may also be asked about other members of your household who might be using the card or have access to it.

Business information: When applying for a business credit card account, you’ll need information about your company including its legal name and tax ID number (EIN), if applicable; its primary industry; annual revenue; annual expenses; projected monthly expenses.

Best Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit – FAQ

Is there a good business credit card for bad credit?

 Yes, there are plenty of business credit cards for bad credit that can help you get your finances back on track. In fact, there are even some business credit cards for people with no credit history or bad credit scores.

How do I apply for a business credit card with bad credit?

You can apply online or in-person at a local branch. Just like with personal applications, you’ll need to provide proof of income and photo ID to verify your identity when applying online or in-person.

Most banks will also require you to pass a test on their terms and conditions before they approve your application.

Can I apply for multiple business credit cards at once?

Yes! There’s no limit on how many business credit cards you can apply for at once, so go ahead and fill out as many applications as you think necessary. Once you’re approved, it’s important to keep track of all your accounts so that you don’t accidentally miss payments or incur late fees due to miscommunication with one bank versus another.

What’s the difference between personal credit cards and business credit cards?

 Business credit cards are not just for businesses. In fact, they can be great for individuals as well. If you need a business card, there are some things to consider before making your choice.

Business Credit Cards vs. Personal Credit Cards

One of the main differences between personal credit cards and business credit cards is that different types of credit scores are used for each type of card. For example:

  1. FICO Score 8: This score is used by most lenders when evaluating consumer loan applications (auto loans, mortgages, etc.). It’s also used by lenders to evaluate consumer credit card applications.
  2. Business FICO Score 4: This score is used by most lenders when evaluating business loan applications (business auto loans, commercial real estate loans, etc.).

Can I get a business credit card if I have bad credit?

 Credit cards are a useful tool for small businesses, and even if you have bad credit, it’s still possible to get a business credit card. There are several types of business credit cards, including charge cards (which require payment in full each month), revolving credit cards and merchant cash advance cards.

Charge cards: These cards don’t allow you to carry a balance from one month to the next. If you fail to pay off your balance in full when your statement is due, the issuer will cancel your account and charge an annual fee.

Revolving credit cards: These offer revolving lines of credit (meaning that you can borrow money over and over, as long as you don’t exceed your limit). They may also offer rewards or other features that aren’t available with personal credit cards.

Merchant cash advance (MCA) cards: MCA providers give you cash advances against future sales volume. You’re often charged an upfront fee as well as an interest rate that’s higher than most other types of business loans.

Why are business credit card issuers concerned with my credit score?

It’s true that credit scores are not always a reflection of how successful you are as a business owner. However, if you have a high personal credit score, it can help you in your quest to get a business credit card.

The reason is that the higher your personal score is, the more likely it is that you’ll be approved for a new line of credit and in some cases, approved for better terms on your existing accounts.

Your personal credit history has a direct effect on your ability to open new lines of credit and manage existing ones. If someone has good or excellent credit, they’re more likely to be approved for any new account they apply for because they’re viewed as lower risk by lenders.

Are there any benefits to having a business credit card?

 Business credit cards are a great way for small businesses to manage their finances. With a business credit card, you can track expenses and earn rewards that you can use to help offset those expenses.

There are many different types of business credit cards, but the two main types are charge cards and credit cards. A charge card does not allow you to carry a balance from month to month; instead, you must pay off your bill in full each month.

On the other hand, with a credit card you can carry a balance from one month to another, as long as you pay interest on the outstanding balance.

Some people prefer charge cards because they don’t have to worry about carrying a balance from month to month and paying interest on it. Others prefer credit cards because they offer more flexibility when it comes to spending money.

If you’re thinking about getting a business credit card, here are some things that you should consider:

  • What type of business do you have? Some cards are designed specifically for certain industries (e.g., travel or gas), while others can be used by anyone who needs financing for their business activities (e.g., cash advances).
  • If your industry is covered by one type of card but not another, then make sure that any card that is offered.

How can I improve my business credit score?

 If you’re a small business owner and you’ve been turned down for financing, or if you’ve been offered only a high interest rate, it’s possible that your credit score is the culprit. Your business credit score is calculated using the same formula that determines your personal credit score.

The difference is that it looks at different categories of information to determine where you stand.

Here are some ways to improve your business credit score:

Pay your bills on time.

Late payments will lower your credit rating. If you have trouble paying on time, set up automatic bill payments through an online banking service or your bank’s website so that payments are made when they’re due — no more than a few days before the due date.

Don’t overextend yourself by taking out loans or lines of credit beyond what you need.

If you’re approved for $50,000 in financing, don’t take out $100,000 simply because it’s available. That will raise red flags with lenders and make it more difficult for them to consider lending to you in the future.

Don’t close accounts or open new ones too often.

It may be tempting to open another store or franchise location when things are going well, but this can lead lenders to think that you’re overextended.

What are some of the benefits of having a high business credit score?

Get better interest rates on loans and lines of credit. Banks and other lenders will offer lower interest rates to businesses with a higher score. This can save you thousands of dollars over time.

Save money on insurance premiums. Insurance companies use your business credit score to determine how risky it is to insure your company.

If you have a high score, your premiums may be lower than if you have a low score.

Get approved for new business loans faster and more easily. If you want to borrow money from banks or other lenders, they’ll want to see that you have been paying your creditors on time and in full for at least three years before approving any new loans; otherwise, it could mean extra paperwork for them, which is something they try to avoid as much as possible — especially if they’re already working with lots of other businesses that are applying for loans at the same time.

Best Business Credit Cards – Wrapping Up

No matter what type of business you have, you’re probably going to need some form of credit card at some point. Whether it’s random business expenses, or chalking up those air miles!

While there are many different types of business credit cards, we’ve narrowed it down to the best ones for small businesses.

If your business has a high volume of transactions and you want to minimize the risk of fraud, then you’ll want to look at merchant cash advance cards.

These are designed specifically with businesses in mind and offer high limits that can be used as collateral against bad debts.