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.
Are You Planning for the Future?
Regardless of your career or experience with investing, odds are that you’ve at least heard mention of a 401(k). This tax-advantaged retirement plan is offered by many companies as a way for employees to plan for their futures and grow their savings.
But what exactly is a 401(k), how involved do you need to be in its management, and just how does it really work? Let’s take a look at this popular investment vehicle and see how it can completely transform your retirement planning.
What Is a 401(k)?
Named for the subsection of our country’s tax code that covers this type of account, a 401(k) is an investment account designed to save for one’s retirement. These accounts are offered by employers — meaning that you can’t open a 401(k) as an individual — and are designed to provide employees with a number of financial benefits while saving for their futures.
Your 401(k) account is tax-advantaged, which means it is designed to save you money on taxes that would otherwise be imposed on the funds. Depending on the type of plan you have, you will either realize these savings each year as you make deposits or once you are in retirement, when you go to withdraw the funds.
When you finally reach the end of your working career, you will be able to pull from this savings account — and the growth that it’s seen over the years — to fund your retirement.
How Does a 401(k) Work?
Let’s be honest: most people’s eyes glaze over when they begin reading their new employment offer and get to the section on retirement plans. After all, there’s plenty of confusing jargon in there, and you may have absolutely no clue what it all means.
When it comes to your workplace 401(k), though, the whats and hows are actually a lot simpler than they appear.
As we already mentioned, your 401(k) retirement plan is an investment fund established by your employer. When you are hired — assuming your workplace offers a 401(k) for employees — you will be asked whether or not you’d like to opt into this retirement savings vehicle.
Companies will typically give employees a handful of investment options for their savings, based on individual risk preferences. Most often, though, 401(k)s are invested in mutual funds, which make it easy to balance competitive returns with managed risk. Note that you may be automatically enrolled in a default investment option when you are first hired, though you can always change this to meet your preferences.
You can choose how much of your paycheck you would like to contribute to your 401(k), and your employer will automatically redirect those funds on your behalf. If you’re not very good at saving for retirement each month, this hands-off approach may be exactly what you need to prepare for the future.
Your money — and that of your colleagues — will be invested in the fund(s) offered to you, where your money will grow over time. Most workplace 401(k)s will automatically reinvest your earnings back into the investment fund, compounding your savings even more over time.
Regardless of how much your 401(k) earns in a given year, you will not need to claim the earnings on your income taxes. If you are stashing away pre-tax dollars — as is the case with a traditional 401(k) — you will pay taxes on your savings when it’s time to take distributions. However, this money will be classified as income rather than capital gains, saving you quite a bit of cash in the process.
Who Can Use a 401(k)?
A 401(k) is made available by many companies to their employees. Not all companies will offer 401(k) options, though, in which case you’ll need to put your retirement savings elsewhere.
A traditional 401(k) cannot be opened by an individual. If you do not work for a company that offers this retirement savings vehicle, you’ll instead need to opt for an individual retirement account, or IRA.
Why Is Your 401(k) Important for Retirement?
If you have the opportunity to contribute to a 401(k) while planning for retirement, you should take it! That’s because these useful accounts are incredible at growing your savings in a relatively safe, hands-off way. Plus, depending on your employer’s program, you might even get some free cash out of the deal.
The biggest benefit to a 401(k) is that it is tax-advantaged. This doesn’t mean you won’t pay taxes on your contributions or their growth, but it does mean that taxes are deferred and that you won’t pay capital gains tax on the gains earned in said account.
This can boost your current finances by lowering your annual income tax burden. It also gives you a way to bypass higher taxes on your investments’ growth. Plus, if you are in a higher tax bracket now than you will be at retirement, you’ll also save on marginal income taxes.
The next biggest reason you should absolutely invest in your 401(k) is your company match.
Now, not all companies offer a contribution match to their employees. If you are offered a match, though, you should take advantage of the opportunity down to the last cent.
A contribution match means that for every dollar you put into your 401(k), your employer will also contribute a dollar. There is usually an upper limit to this matching offer — for many, it’s somewhere around 3% of one’s annual salary.
Be sure you contribute at least enough each year to snag the maximum match offered to you. This means free money in your retirement account that you wouldn’t get elsewhere, just for investing in your own future.
Important Things to Remember About Your 401(k)
There are a few things to keep in mind about your traditional 401(k), both before you start saving and throughout the process.
You Can Continue Saving Elsewhere
Just because you’re saving in your 401(k) doesn’t mean that you need to have all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. You can also contribute to an IRA, fund a high-yield savings account, establish a CD ladder, etc. Just be sure to max out your contributions (if possible) to take advantage of the tax and contribution matching available to you.
You Can Take It with You
If you change jobs, open your own company or just decide to take some time off, don’t fret: your 401(k) can come along. If moving to a new employer, you can usually roll your current savings into your new fund. If not, your options can include keeping your 401(k) where it is, cashing out or even rolling it into an IRA elsewhere.
Don’t Touch It Until Retirement.
Having a nice little nest egg in your 401(k) might be tempting, but be sure you don’t touch that money until it’s time to retire (according to the IRS, this is anytime after 59.5 years old). The penalty for pulling funds out early is steep: 10% of the distribution, plus the income tax you were already subject to on those funds.
Having a 401(k) offered to you by an employer is a fantastic benefit. It can not only help you successfully plan for your future, but is a great way to snag free cash and grow your savings along the way.
There are a few things to remember about your 401(k), like leaving the savings alone until 59.5 and earning the limit of your company’s match. By doing so, you’ll ensure that you truly maximize the benefits of this retirement savings vehicle.