Using Credit Cards For Business Expenses

One of the easiest ways to track your money when you own a business is by using credit cards for business transactions. This is because many credit card companies offer business users a detailed monthly statement that automatically categorizes your transactions. This is a great and easy way to see where your money is going each month and can help you cut cost in areas that you maybe over spending. How do you get such a great tool for business owners? You just need to pick a card and apply.

As the business owner you need to spend some time and see what cards are available for business owners, and what perks actually come with the cards. A great place to start is by going to the internet and finding a site that allows you the opportunity to get comparisons of the major credit cards available. This lets you see everything each card offers. For example you will be able to see if the cards have any annual fees attached to them.

Also look to see what type of perks the card companies may be offering. Many of the credit cards for business have reward plans specifically tailored for the business person. For example you can find cards that offer air mile rewards which are helpful if you travel a lot for business purposes. There are other rewards available such as getting reward points when you shop at your favorite office supply store, these points can be used for free office supplies when you gain enough points.

When you have narrowed down your choice of credit cards you will need to get a few things together so you can apply. First you will need your EIN (employer identification number) this is needed to make sure that you are a legally operating company in the United States. Next you will need to know your business's sales for the previous year. You are also going to need to have your personal information ready such as your driver's license number and your social security number. This is because you are, more than likely, going to be required to guarantee the credit card personally.

Once you get the card now you can start tracking all your expenses more carefully. Make sure you keep all your receipts from your transaction as that will allow you to reconcile the monthly statements much more quickly. When you receive the detailed statement you can quickly look and find out exactly where your company is spending most of its money. This can give you a chance to trim excess spending as soon as you see it. Many credit card companies give you the choice of having these detailed statements sent monthly or quarterly and some charge a small fee for them so check that out before you apply.

Having a credit card is a necessity for any business owner as many transactions require a credit such as buying things online, making airline reservations, or renting a car. When you use credit cards for business expenses you will also be able to track them more cost effectively.