Paying for Business Expenses Applying for a business credit card is something a small business should seriously consider for itself. Business credit cards can provide a range of benefits to a business. They allow a company to build up credit for better borrowing conditions down the road. They’re also quite easy to apply for. In this article, we’ll go over how to apply for a business credit card and other important points to note. What Is a Business Credit Card? A business credit card is a credit card that is intended for business expenses. These cards are not meant for any individual’s personal use, but they are available to businesses of all sizes. What Is a Business Credit Card Used For? Business credit cards are meant for business expenses, and as such, they come with several perks that you wouldn’t get with a normal credit card. Business credit cards typically have far higher credit limits than normal cards, but they are also harder to qualify for. [youmaylike] As a business phenomenon, business credit cards vary their offers greatly, and certain cards are meant for certain businesses. They are also highly customizable when it comes to individual payment terms. Businesses don't always have consistent incomes like individuals do, and business credit cards handle this problem. These cards are used to gain access to a long line of credit, to control employee spending on business expenses and more. One of their other common uses is to make accounting easier, as putting all business expenses on one separate account makes reporting to the Internal Revenue Service easier. In the end, there are many uses for a business credit card. Why Would I Need a Business Credit Card? You might not need one, but if you run a business, you’ll be leaving money on the table by not at least looking into them. Business credit cards can solve many of the problems business owners face. If you need employees to make purchases for the business, a business credit card is the safest option. These cards can be given to authorized users, a status you can easily give to any of your employees. From here, these cards make it easy to monitor employee spending and spot any discrepancies. You can attach customized user privileges to each card to limit spending and place limits on where the card can be used. As mentioned, if you feel like your credit is too limited, business credit cards are a sure way around low credit. According to the American Bankers Association, the average monthly payment on a business credit card is twice as high as the average payment on a normal one. If you’ve found yourself annoyed with the Internal Revenue Service over the complicated reporting processes for business owners, you’re not alone. This is where a business credit card can solve another problem. Simply handing over your business credit card statements to your accountant will make them love you. It will also provide them with the information they need to predict future spending. Another great use for a business credit card is lifting your liability for debts. Liability for credit card debt is determined by the liability offered by the card. If you’re using a personal credit card for business expenses, you are liable for all debts. On the other hand, if you use a business credit card with commercial liability, your business is liable for any debts, which changes the game. Keep in mind that some cards offer joint liability, which leaves both you and your business liable for any debts. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before signing any paperwork. Lastly, just as personal credit cards offer rewards programs, so do business cards. The main difference here is that business credit card rewards are tailored to your business needs. How to Apply for a Business Credit Card Before you apply for a business credit card, you should make sure you’re eligible. For the most part, you only require the following to be able to apply for one: A legal name for your business. A business structure to apply with, such as a Limited Liability Corporation. An explanation of the nature of your business. You’ll typically be given a list of industry types to choose from. A tax ID number issued by the Internal Revenue Service Your roll in the business you’re representing Various business/financial information including: Annual revenue. Number of employees. Length of time in business. Estimated monthly expenses. If you have this information ready, you can apply for a business credit card. At this point, it would be wise to shop around and find the best option for your business. Your decision on the business credit card you choose will have larger ramifications than your choice of a personal credit card. Applying for a business credit card is much the same as applying for a personal one. There are a few differences, but the main thing to remember is that business credit cards are taken more seriously than normal ones, so you’ll have to face a higher bar of entry. This doesn’t mean getting a business credit card is hard, but it does mean you need to arrive more well-prepared than you normally would. To make things easier, you can prepare for certain obstacles in advance. You may need to sign a personal guarantee that you will pay off any debts. Also keep in mind that if you’re the one applying for a business credit card, and your business doesn’t already have one, they will conduct a personal credit check. It may be best to try to optimize your personal credit if you plan on applying for a business credit card in the future. Some Options at a Glance Here are some of the most popular options for small business credit cards: Chase Inc Business Preferred This is a great option for a few reasons. With the Business Preferred card from Chase Inc, you get 80,000 ultimate reward points when you spend $5,000 with the card in the first three months. The card also provides generic, but highly useful benefits for business owners. Business Platinum Card from American Express The Business Platinum is ideal for businesses that spend a lot on flights and travel. This card offers numerous rewards on flight and hotel expenses and makes sure you get something serious back if you use it for these expenses. Chase Inc Business Unlimited The Chase Inc Business Unlimited offers unlimited 1.5% cash back. While we’ve said enough already, they also offer several other perks that are overshadowed by their first one.
Budgeting for Young Adults: How to Become Financially Independent from Your Parents
Even though many American high schools now teach the basics of personal finance, most grads are ill-prepared for the real world.
There are a few different reasons why this version of personal finance education doesn’t work. Most kids don’t retain much of what they learn; they’re just there to pass the test and move on. Many assume the real world will be easy, since personal finance doesn’t seem like much more than basic math. They forget it’s the psychology of personal finance that’s the difficult part.
If you’re a young adult who’s struggling with your new real-world money responsibilities, or are a parent to one, this article is for you. Let’s take a closer look at how you can make your own budget and work towards becoming financially independent from your parents, including potential pitfalls you can’t afford to ignore.
Why Learn Now?
Many young folks have a similar attitude, especially when they’re in college. They’re worried about living life to its fullest, even if that means emerging from school with substantial debt. That’s a problem for their future selves. After all, college only comes around once. It’s best to maximize the experience.
But this attitude can impact your life for years down the road. Having student loan debt can affect everything from potential relationships to buying a house. You might want to pursue a career path that is more satisfying but doesn’t pay as much. Having a bunch of debt will make that much more difficult.
And then there’s the stress of having debt. If the economy tanks – like it is today – you’ll have enough to worry about without having to keep creditors happy. Having an emergency fund also helps in periods of economic uncertainty, and it’s hard to have that buffer if you’re also worried about paying off debt.
How Parents Can Help
Millions of American parents witness their adult children struggle with their finances, a number that would undoubtedly be much higher if these kids were completely honest about their financial picture.
Many parents help in a predictable way. They’ll simply cut a check to their child to help repay the debt. When the debt goes away, so should all the other problems associated with it.
But there are a few issues with this approach. It does nothing to address the underlying spending problem or other mismanagement that led to the debt in the first place. It also teaches a poor lesson. To really get the message, it’s much better to have children work through their money problems, rather than getting a bailout. I know many frustrated parents whose "one time" lifeline has turned into regular financial assistance.
Parents need to encourage their children to build successful money habits on their own. Once they’re confident that this new outlook has been cemented into place, then they can start giving financial rewards.
In the meantime, parents can still help in plenty of ways. They can offer to let a new graduate move back home to help them get a head start, for example. They just need to make sure their offspring are doing just that — working hard. They can offer to pay back the last 20% of their kids’ debt, a move that might give their children the motivation needed to succeed on their own. Or they can use a financial crisis as a teaching moment, cementing good habits right when they’re needed the most.
Learning these lessons is doubly important for children while they’re still at home. It’s a low stakes way to teach important financial rules that can have an impact for decades to come. Again, the same rules apply here. Parents should do their best to teach lessons, rather than simply throw money at problems. They can do things like rewarding their kids for getting a part-time job or making sure a portion of birthday money is saved.
How Young People Can Become Financially Independent from Their Parents
The part of budgeting that trips up most people is they don’t accurately separate needs from wants.
For example, you need a place to live. But the difference between spending $500/month on a bedroom with a shared kitchen and bathroom versus $2,000/month on your own luxury two-bedroom apartment is vast. It’s the same thing with food and transportation, the other big expenses.
I understand this can be difficult. Many newly graduated young adults are finally making a decent salary for the first time. They want to spend a little bit on luxuries after scrimping and saving for so many years. That’s okay, assuming your budget can afford it.
The key when making a budget is making sure you’re moving forward every month. That means putting money aside for savings and sticking to that plan. Many people have good intentions and then immediately rob the savings category as soon as something goes wrong.
One easy way to make sure you save is to pay yourself first. This is as simple as telling your bank to immediately transfer 10 to 15% of your paycheck to a savings account. Heck, you don’t even need to talk to anyone to make this happen. It’ll be an option in your online banking portal.
Maximizing your savings will ensure you pay off your debt and reach financial independence faster. The easiest way to do this is to relentlessly work at getting your three largest expenses down. Pick a cheap place to live. Take public transportation whenever possible, and if you can’t, settle on a reliable used car. The easy way to avoid spending too much on food is to pack your own lunch and eat dinner at home.
You might need to make some real sacrifices to really start getting ahead. Many 20-somethings simply can’t afford to live on their own in an expensive city. You might need to move somewhere smaller and cheaper. Or, you might have to start saying no when your friends want to go out. Lots of folks don’t want to make these tough decisions, so they suffer through years of debt and financial hardship.
The Bottom Line
In today’s tough COVID-19 affected economy, financial independence may seem like an elusive goal for a lot of young people. They can’t even find a job, never mind start to get ahead. But we will make it through this rough patch. There will be jobs waiting when the economy finally starts to reopen.
The choices made today can impact your life for years to come. A young person can choose to make smart decisions and relentlessly take steps to get out of debt (and build an emergency fund) faster. Or, they can take the easy route and continue to go backwards every month.
The choice is easy. Work relentlessly towards becoming financially independent from your parents. Your future self will thank you.