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Just as with personal credit cards, there’s a range of factors to consider before deciding if a business card is right for you. Use the table above to compare UK business credit cards with the lowest rates and fees.
Business credit cards are designed to suit the financial needs of different types of companies, ranging from small startups to major corporations. These cards allow you to keep your business and personal expenses separate, assign cards to employees, manage your cash flow, track your finances and earn rewards.
With cashback credit cards, you earn cashback every time you use your business card, no matter what for. Cashback is usually paid into your business current account, so you can use it as you wish – perhaps to take your team for lunch? These cards often come with an annual fee and may also offer added rewards or perks, such as travel insurance.
These cards reward you for paying with a credit card, usually offering reward points for every £1 spent on eligible purchases. Unlike personal credit cards, a business credit card with rewards will let you earn points on your work spending (potentially even on your PPC spending). It’s important to remember that these cards usually come with higher annual fees and interest rates though, so you’ll need to make sure that the value of the rewards outweighs the costs.
These cards can offer a credit facility to your company even if a few funding issues in the past mean that your credit score is less than ideal. Bad credit credit cards tend to have a high rate, so it’s imperative that you clear your card balance in full every month. Using a bad credit credit card correctly for a while will help your business rebuild its credit history and improve its credit score.
This type of rewards business credit card is linked to an existing frequent flyer programme, such as Avios. Some frequent flyer schemes are tied to a specific airline, while others allow you to get points which can be redeemed at a number of airlines. This kind of business credit card can be particularly lucrative for companies that do a lot of travelling.
These credit cards charge no interest on your purchases for a few months, allowing you more time and flexibility to pay them back. Unlike with personal 0% purchase cards, the introductory deal won’t usually be super long, but if you need to buy, say, a piece of equipment, it’ll give you a bit more time to even out your cash flow. Don’t forget to set an alarm for when the 0% period ends, because that’s when your balance will go back to accruing interest.
These business credit cards have low standard variable interest rates for purchases and can give companies a more affordable option if they need to pay off spending over a longer period of time. Some options even offer the same standard interest rate for purchases, cash advances and balance transfers. Many low rate business credit cards also have a low annual fee.
Foreign transaction fees can quickly amount to a small fortune if you use your business credit card abroad. They can be up to 3%, which means that if you spend, say, £500 in a currency other than sterling, you’ll be charged £15 in fees. With these cards instead, making payments abroad is free; if you’re lucky, you may be able to find a travel credit card that also gives you reward points for your spending.
With business credit cards, it’s the business entity that is responsible for managing the account. If there’s an issue with the account, the entire business will be held responsible, rather than one individual person who’s linked to the account. Likewise, rates and credit limits can be based on the turnover and credit background of the company, rather than the individual.
Unlike personal credit cards, business credit cards are designed for work spending and often include features such as additional cards for employees, customisable spending limits for different users and expense tracking. Some business credit cards may even have analytics tools to help with business reporting and budgeting.
But in most other ways, business credit cards are similar to personal credit cards. With either option, you’ll get access to funds up to a specified limit and be able to pay off what you spend over time (with interest charges). They both also have annual fees and interest rates, as well as perks such as rewards or complimentary insurance.
A charge card acts as a short-term (usually monthly) loan to a business for any purchases charged on the card. These cards defer payment until the end of the statement period, when you’re required to pay off the account in full. Interest rates do not apply as there is no revolving line of credit, but they often apply hefty late fees.
Business charge cards are designed for organisations that can clear their balance each billing cycle, which is typically between 25 and 51 days. If you are looking to borrow funds over a longer period, business credit cards may offer more flexibility.
Despite different account structures, charge cards do have similar features to traditional credit cards, including expense tracking tools, supplementary cards, rewards programmes and complimentary extras.
Full guide to business charge cards
If you or your employees regularly use company cars or hire cars as part of their day-to-day job, you may want to consider taking out a fuel card. Fuel cards are a simplified form of business charge cards that can only be used to purchase petrol and related products, and generally offer discounts on fuel. They are popular with transport companies or those with multiple company cars as they let drivers pay for their fuel costs without having to give them a full-featured credit card.
Comparing business credit cards side-by-side allows you to find an option that is suited to your business’s specific needs. Some of the core factors to compare when weighing up business credit cards include:
Choosing a card should depend, to a significant extent, on the spending habits of your business. You should aim to match these spending habits to card features. For example, if your business uses a credit card to purchase flights, and regularly pays it off, then a frequent flyer card might offer competitive value. On the other hand, if your business plans to rely on the card primarily to borrow money, a card with a low interest rate, low fee or interest-free days is likely to be the most affordable option. Business cards that offer a lot of “bells and whistles” may seem appealing, but always ask yourself if they will have a positive impact on your bottom line.
Interest rates can vary hugely from card to card. Some cards charge the same rate for all transactions and others apply different rates depending on whether the transaction is a purchase, cash advance or balance transfer.
Business credit cards feature a range of fees and charges. Some of the most common include:
Business credit cards offer an interest-free period on purchases – usually around 55 or 56 days – provided you pay your balance in full by the statement due date. This can offer valuable short-term cash flow flexibility. Note that non-sterling transactions and cash advances will usually be exempt from this perk.
Business credit cards generally have minimum payments of 2% to 4% of the outstanding balance, unless they are charge cards, in which case they need to be paid in full each statement cycle.
These may include, but are not limited to:
Card providers such as Capital on Tap have a business credit card eligibility checker on their website. You can only check your eligibility for individual cards on a specific card issuer’s site and you can’t yet check multiple card issuers in one go.
Unfortunately, while 0% balance transfer deals are very common for personal credit cards, they’re practically impossible to find when comparing business credit cards. You can still transfer your balance from one card to the other to take advantage of a better rate though.
If you’re interested in getting a business credit card, the first step is to compare a range of options to find one that is convenient and affordable for your business. Once you have found one, you can usually apply online. Before you apply for a credit card, you’ll need to make sure that you meet the following eligibility requirements and have organised the necessary documents to complete the application:
Much like personal credit cards, cardholders will need to be over 18 and residents of the UK. Some lenders will also stipulate a minimum annual turnover. While cards are available for pretty much any size and kind of company, lenders may have specific products for specific categories of businesses (for example sole traders).
The other details you will be asked to provide vary depending on the card, but generally you will need to provide:
If you’re approved, you could have your card in as few as 5-10 business days (depending on the account and issuer). You can then activate the card, and start using it for your business.
With expense tracking features, additional cards, interest free periods and reward options, credit cards can be a convenient option for both big and small businesses. Now that you know more about them, you can compare your options and find a product that suits your business’ needs.
Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
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