Each card type offers advantages based on your spending volume, business size and expense categories.
You’re a small business owner, and your operation is growing. At this time, you might be wondering whether you should stick with your personal credit card or get a business card. Both card types have advantages and disadvantages and — depending on your business — one could work far better than the other.
Compare a business vs personal card
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
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Chase Freedom®
Chase Freedom®
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5 differences between a business credit card and personal card
Credit limit.
A business credit card will probably have a higher credit limit than you’d get with a personal card. When expenses are high, you might prefer not to strain your personal credit line.
Earn rewards for different types of spending.
Personal credit cards tend to offer accelerated rewards for categories like groceries, dining and entertainment. Business credit cards also offer accelerated rewards, but usually for business categories — think shipping, advertising, office supplies, travel and more.
Spending controls.
Many business cards are designed to have employees added to your account. For that reason, your provider will probably give you extensive tools to manage spending, including downloadable purchase records, spending summaries, expense controls and more.
Build business credit.
Usually, you won’t build business credit through a personal credit card. Business credit could be helpful down the line, as it can help you obtain loans, insurance and other products.
Different benefits.
You’ll find more business-oriented benefits with a business card. One typical example is free employee cards, which makes it easier to distribute spending privileges and control expenses.
Can a business card affect my personal credit?
Can I use my personal credit card for business expenses?
You can use your personal credit card for business expenses, but you might find it more beneficial to use a business card. The latter will help you build business credit, and it’ll probably come with a higher credit limit and rewards for business categories.
| Consider a business credit card for … | Consider a personal card for … |
|---|---|
| Building business credit. | Consumer protections. |
| Higher credit limits. | Rewards for everyday categories. |
| Rewards for business categories. | A sole proprietorship with very low expenses. |
| Expense-management features. |
Compare business and personal credit cards
Some consumer protection laws don’t apply to business credit cards
Here’s one reason you might use a personal credit card over a business card: Personal cards have more consumer protections from the Credit CARD Act of 2009. These are a few advantages they have that business cards don’t:- Notifications for interest rate increases. With a personal card, your provider must notify you at least 45 days in advance if it will increase your interest rates. With a business card, it can increase your interest rates at will.
- Minimum grace period. If a personal card has a grace period on interest, the period must be at least 21 days. With business cards, the period can change each month.
- Caps on late fees. For personal cards, there are caps on late fees. These caps don’t exist for business cards, meaning providers can charge heavy fees if you pay late.
If you want a business card, gauge your ability to pay off your debt. The better prepared you are, the more likely you’ll be able to roll with the punches if your provider changes your card terms.
Bottom line
Pick a business credit card if you need a higher credit limit, want to build business credit or want rewards for specific categories. At the same time, you might have very few expenses or not need robust expense-management features. In the latter case, pick a personal credit card.
Read the Amazon Business American Express Card review