10 Benefits Of Credit Cards

10 benefits of credit cards

1. Practical and Comfortable

Credit cards provide a number of practicality and convenience to you as the holder because you do not need to carry large amounts of cash in the wallet or purse while traveling, and you don't have to bother looking for an ATM to pull cash using ATM card or debit card when you bring the money is not enough to do a purchase transaction you want. So in addition to saving you time and effort, you also get another advantage namely shopping experience easier and convenient.

2. Offers a variety of additional benefits

Company or bank credit card issuers often offers a variety of programs are available for various purposes and for many quarters. For those of you who travel often by using aircraft and always or often buy tickets with a credit card, a credit card issuer party usually offers special points or often known as the frequent flier miles or the travel points later can be gathered and exchanged for plane tickets to fly free. In addition, credit cards also offer additional benefits such as cashback, cash or discounts on purchases of a wide range of needs, free annual dues, special points, and many others. Incentive programs offered by credit card issuer is based on the amount of purchase you make, the more the purchase the more benefits you can also pick.
Many credit card companies also offer a low interest credit card for the new proposed and approved within a certain period, e.g. one year first. This offer allows you to move the balance to your old credit card bill from a credit card interest rates are lower, or commonly referred to as the transfer balance.

3. Relatively more secure

Though not free of the risk of stolen and misused, unlike cash that if stolen or lost can be directly used by anyone, credit cards are relatively safer. If your credit card is stolen or lost and you promptly report the loss to the credit card issuer, your credit card is missing can be directly blocked so anyone would not be able to use the credit card lost it and you are protected from the misuse of credit cards.

4. Give Extra Protection on your purchase

Most of the company or the issuing bank of the credit card are usually willing to help you in case of problems or disputes regarding the purchase of a product. If the seller is not willing to take back products that are defective or unsatisfactory, you can try contacting your credit card issuer, with a note that your credit card company does offer a protection facility referred to. Things like this are not possible if you bought goods in cash.
There is also a credit card that provides additional insurance or warranty for the purchased goods, the warranty period exceeds the given seller. If an item that you purchased with a credit card be damaged after the warranty period from the seller runs out, you can try contacting the credit card company to see if they can stand.

5. Help in emergencies

Anybody else definitely does not want to experience natural disasters or emergencies that harm or unpleasant. But sometimes an emergency like this you can't avoid. Credit cards can be a tool that helps you in making payment for various emergency conditions in hard cash happened to be retrieved quickly or are not available.
So that your credit card can give you an advantage like this, of course you should make sure that the limit on your credit card which is available always suffice so it can be used in all emergency situations.

6. Make it easy to set up a financial budget

Credit cards offering bill payment in full or by means of mencicil. This facility makes it easy to plan your financial budget as well as your family, especially if you intend to make a purchase in large quantities, which way the payoff you can adjust according to plan your budget and your ability.
In addition, a credit card also offers a wide range of Bills payment facility through one door, such as telephone, water, electricity, and cable television. By using all these Bills payment facility through credit cards, you can avoid forgetfulness or delay paying due will be billed together with your credit card bills each month so that the financial budget per month You more clearly.

7. It offers flexibility in Doing Purchasing

variety of stores that sell goods and services as well as shopping centers often organize special programs or promo offers or give a discount for a limited time. Credit cards give the holder more flexibility in spending the time if you happen to not hold money while you really need the goods or services offered. You can still take advantage of special offers or discounts given through the payment with a credit card, of course, with the first taking into account your ability to pay the bill at a later date.
In addition there is a credit card issuer in cooperation with retailers or certain large brands to give points or rebates, which of course also can be utilized when it is really needed.

8. Spending More Tracked

As a credit card user, you always get a record deal in your billing statement each month containing all transaction that you make using the credit card. Thus, the more you spend each month could be tracked because it has been recorded every month in a regular billing statement you received.

9. Make Online Transactions

Nowadays online shopping is fairly common thing to do and online stores were already so many and so easy to find, which offers a wide range of needs for various circles of all ages, male and female. In doing this online payment transactions, in addition to cash and debit transfers, credit cards can also be used to simplify and accelerate the process of shopping in the virtual world because almost all online shopping sites currently accept credit cards as a payment instrument. Of course, make sure the first site where you want to shop online is an online shopping site that is clear, reputable and trustworthy.

10. Can be Used Worldwide

Most major credit cards are accepted and can be used at various stores or sellers throughout the world that provide a payment using a credit card. Rather than carrying cash in large quantities at the risk of lost or stolen, better bring your credit card as an alternative means of transacting abroad. You also do not have to bother changing money into the currency of your destination country in large numbers. So for those of you who have a job that requires you to frequently travel abroad or hobby traveled around the world, the credit card can be an important thing which is quite favorable.

Business credit cards

Business credit cards Business credit card guide What is a business credit card? A business credit card is simply a credit card that is issued to a limited company or sole trader, as opposed to an individual consumer. It can be used as a way of facilitating staff spending, helping cash flow or even to temporarily finance operations. How do business credit cards work? Business credit cards work much like conventional credit cards in that borrowers will be given a credit limit and the balance can be paid off over time, subject to a minimum amount being paid each month. You can also choose how many credit cards you want on your account depending how many staff you have – or how many staff members you want to issue a card to. Just like a personal credit card, a better business credit score will usually net you a better interest rate or other benefits such as interest-free periods, reward points or cashback. But it’s worth noting that business credit card providers may also check your personal credit score which can also affect the outcome of any applications. What types of business credit card are available? As with personal credit cards, there are numerous types of business credit card available, each with different perks and interest rates. For example, there are cards available with interest-free periods on purchases, which are a great way to manage cash flow if money is tight; while cards that offer rewards points or cashback are ideal you use it regularly. Remember though, for a cashback deal to be worthwhile, you must ensure that you pay the balance off in full at the end of each month. Don’t fall foul of the interest charges which can typically vary from between a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 16% (variable) and 26% (variable). Other common incentives include; free travel cover, free purchase protection and the facility to add additional card holders free of charge. What are the advantages of business credit cards? Business credit cards offer a convenient way to pay for goods or services and can be used when placing orders over the phone or online. There is also the added convenience of allowing staff to buy work related items without having to submit an expenses form. In addition, you can use the card to monitor expenditure and specify a different credit limit for each employee that carries a card. And giving members of staff a company credit card will be seen by them as a mark of trust – which is great as long as they don’t abuse it! If used correctly, business credit cards are also a great way to build your businesses credit profile and, provided you pay off the balance at the end of each month, you will have access to interest free spending every month. Why use MoneySupermarket to compare business credit cards? As with any financial product, when looking for a business credit card it’s important to compare the different products out there to make sure that you get the right one to suit your needs. For instance, if you regularly spend on your card and clear the balance at the end of each month, then a rewards or cashback card would be more beneficial to you than a card with an interest-free period on purchases. Or if you are using the card to make a large purchase that you will not have paid off by time any interest-free periods end then you may be better going for a card with a lower standard rate. And MoneySupermarket’s business card comparison tool will instantly compare a range of business credit cards so you can make an informed decision on which card is right for you and your business. In addition, if you use the Smart Search tool, this will look for which products are best suited to you and rate your chance of acceptance so you don’t have to risk getting rejected for credit – and it won’t leave a ‘footprint’ on your credit file. By: https://www.moneysupermarket.com

Best Credit Card Deals For College Students

Best Business Credit Cards of 2018 Access to credit can be difficult to come by and expensive for small businesses. Small business credit cards can be flexible, invaluable tools for business owners facing short-term cash crunches. Interest rates can be lower than they are for other convenient sources of credit, such as advances against accounts receivable or credit card receipts and unsecured loans available from small business lenders on the Internet. Thanks to credit card incentive and rewards programs, it may make sense for business owners to route as much of their normal expenses as possible through their business credit card. If you spend a significant amount on business expenses each month, you should consider applying for a business credit card. However, it’s important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of business credit cards as well as the wide array of offerings on the market. Best Business Credit Cards of 2018 U.S. News researched 129 business credit cards from a variety of card-issuing banks and evaluated them against the key business card criteria outlined below. Benefits of Business Credit Cards Instant capital Business credit cards provide business owners and entrepreneurs instant and convenient capital they can use for any business need: Operating capital/Cash flow management: Credit cards can bridge a gap between the need for a cash outlay and the receipt of payment by the customer. Startup capital: Business owners can use credit cards to pay for initial organization and expenses, purchase signage and inventory and advertising. Growth capital: Businesses can use business credit cards to put capital equipment, such as machinery, furniture or electrical equipment, into use now to generate current income while paying off the balance over time. Frank Martien, managing partner and head of commercial payments with First Annapolis, a consulting firm that advises card-issuing banks, describes a common situation with seasonal businesses. “You could have a retail business in a tourist area, with really strong cash flow in the summer – and for the summer, you just use the card as a transactor,” he says. But in the off-season, the business carries a balance – “maybe using it to build up inventory in March, April and May, before the tourists show up.” Interest rates on business credit cards are high compared to the rates of some other forms of financing, such as a traditional bank loan, but the credit cards are very convenient. If businesses can pay off purchases before the end of the grace period, the higher interest rate is a nonissue. Separation of business and personal assets When used correctly, business credit cards can help you demonstrate a strict separation between your personal and business finances. This is critical to ensuring that you and your family, along with your business partners, are personally protected from business liabilities. If you are sued or go through bankruptcy, and your business records show that you have routinely mingled your personal and business accounts or used business assets for your personal benefit, you could endanger your limited liability protection. Without the limited liability protection you gain by operating your business as a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), your personal assets are at risk. “It’s not what you have, it’s what you have at risk,” says Gerri Detweiler, author of “Finance Your Own Business, The Ultimate Credit Handbook” and head of market education for Nav.com, a San Mateo, California-based credit service for business owners. “If you have a business that has incorporated, but they continue to use personal credit cards to make personal purchases and business credit cards to make business purchases, it could potentially lead to a situation where the corporate veil could be pierced, and their personal assets put at risk.” To avoid placing your personal assets at risk from business debts, use separate checking accounts, and do not mingle personal and business assets, debts and purchases. Detweiler suggests getting an early start at separating your business and personal assets and maintaining your business as a separate and distinct identity, wholly apart from both its parent company (if any) and its owners. Bookkeeping and accounting features Many business credit cards include the following useful accounting and expense View up-to-the-minute usage reports for each cardholder on the account Set spending limits on individual cards Cancel or suspend credit cards Instantly retrieve historical activity for each card Set up account alerts for individual cards Adjust cash advance limits Reconcile transactions against statements Send automatic data feeds to your bookkeeping/accounting software systems Automatically segregate expenses into categories to assist expense management Access to account controls via mobile devices Tax benefits Maximizing tax deductions: Using credit to fund capital equipment purchases may help you take advantage of tax planning opportunities. For example, if you fund an equipment repair via a credit card before the end of the year, you may be able to take advantage of a tax deduction in the current year while paying it off later. Tax simplification: Many of today’s business credit cards come with souped-up reporting and accounting features that make it easy to download detailed reports of all expenses charged using the card. This information can be automatically migrated to most prominent small-business accounting software programs, such as Intuit and Peachtree. It’s easy to transfer or attach credit card reports to a Schedule C and to store records of verified purchases in case of an audit. Business Credit Cards vs. Personal Credit Cards Business credit cards differ from consumer credit cards in these important ways: Business credit cards typically have higher limits. Business owners can distribute cards to employees; however, the business owner retains responsibility for repaying charges on each employee’s card. Most major business card-issuing banks report credit usage and payment information to both personal and business credit bureaus. Business credit cards are not subject to the same consumer protection laws as personal credit cards under the Credit CARD Act of 2009. This means that the card issuing bank could potentially make changes to grace periods and your APR with little or no notice. However, some major issuers have chosen to voluntarily extend some or all of the consumer protections under the Credit CARD Act to their business credit card holders via their cardholder agreements. Read your cardholder agreement and terms and conditions thoroughly before applying for your business credit card. Rewards and discounts cater to business owners, such as discounts on FedEx shipping or office supplies, or generous bonuses for frequent flying. Many small business owners use personal credit cards to finance their businesses. Personal credit cards are usually much easier for owners of small and newly established businesses to qualify for, but they don’t report to the business credit bureaus. Also, mixing business and personal purchases on the same credit card could endanger your limited liability protection, putting your personal assets at risk in the case of a lawsuit against your corporation or LLC. Before You Apply for a Business Credit Card Eligibility and requirements There are lots of different business types and business owners, and they may not always resemble a traditional view of a business. You don’t need to have a storefront or warehouse or any major facilities or hard assets to be issued a business credit card. If you have good personal and business credit and otherwise meet the issuer’s criteria, you can get a business credit card issued in any industry. So don’t be discouraged if you’re self-employed or you fall into one of these non-traditional business categories: Etsy sellers Amazon sellers eBay sellers Freelancers Independent contractors and consultants Self-published authors You also do not have to be profitable or have years in business under your belt before you can get approved for a business credit card, says Detweiler. “You don’t have to have a strong business credit rating or even necessarily have revenue for the business yet to be considered for one of these cards,” she explains. “These decisions … are usually based on the borrower’s personal credit, and whatever income is available.” For new business owners, if your personal credit is bad, and you can’t qualify for a personal credit card, you probably won’t qualify for a business credit card either. You may, however, qualify for a secured business credit card, where your credit is limited to whatever amount you have on deposit with the bank. While it’s a good idea to form a separate business entity before applying for a business credit card, it’s not necessary. It’s possible to obtain a business credit card even as a sole proprietor. However, those in sole proprietorships and general partnerships place their personal assets on the line in the event the business or even an individual business partner is sued or files bankruptcy. Building your business credit history Just as most of us have a personal FICO score, established businesses generally have one or more business credit scores that lenders use. Business credit scores generally range from 0 to 100, with higher scores going to more creditworthy companies. Scores vary from credit bureau to credit bureau. Your business creditors will report your payment history to one or more business credit bureaus, which collect your outstanding balance and payment history from the following types of sources: Banks Business credit card issuers Trade associations and organizations Vendors Manufacturers who provide merchandise or inventory in advance of payment One of the most prominent business credit bureaus is Dun & Bradstreet, the developers and proprietors of the PAYDEX score. This score compares businesses’ payment histories on credit accounts to credit terms and rewards businesses for paying early. According to Dun & Bradstreet, companies that have a track record of not just paying credit accounts on time, but paying them 30 days or more ahead of schedule have the highest scores. Like other business credit scores, the PAYDEX score ranges from zero to 100, which Dun & Bradstreet characterizes as the following: 0-49 50-79 80-100 Significant to high risk of missed credit payments or default Risk of late or missed payments on debts is moderate Good to excellent business credit and payment history and outlook; risk of future late payments or defaults low Experian’s CreditScore Report is similar to Dun & Bradstreet’s PAYDEX score, and is scaled from one to 100. Experian’s score differs from Dun & Bradstreet’s score in that Experian looks beyond payment history to include total lines of credit in use, new lines opened in the last six and nine months, accounts in collections over the last seven years, percentage of available credit used and the number of open credit lines that are subject to terms other than net-30 days, which is a common loan term where the payment is due in 30 days. Regardless of your personal credit history, th ere are some things you can do to make yourself more attractive to business credit card issuers when you are ready to apply: Get a separate employer identification number (EIN): Not every lender requires this, but many do. It also indicates to potential lenders that you’re serious about treating your business as a separate entity from your personal assets. Develop a solid business plan, including a realistic monthly budget: Your business plan helps tell creditors and other investors where your business is going and lets them take a look at how realistic your assumptions are and how detailed your planning is. Start building a business credit history: Over time, as your business demonstrates responsible credit usage, it establishes credit history separate from your personal credit. The more established your business credit history is, the less likely it is that lenders will require you to sign a personal guarantee for your business debts. Prepare beneficial owner information: Regulations require that card issuers collect personal information for anyone who directly or indirectly owns 25 percent or more of the business. Although their credit information won’t be pulled, they will keep records for informational purposes. You will need to provide names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, home addresses and percent of the business owned. Know your issuer’s credit reporting policies In order to establish a separate credit history for your business, select a credit card issuer that reports your credit activity specifically to the business credit bureaus: Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, FICO SBSS and Experian each maintain a business-specific database and sell credit background screening to various lenders of all types. All major business credit card issuers report information to at least one business credit bureau. Additionally, some card issuers will report all activity on business credit cards to your personal credit report. This can be good if your personal credit is weak and you are building credit history with on-time payments, but it can limit your access to personal credit if you have a very high debt-to-income ratio. Each card issuer has different credit reporting policies. According to research by Nav.com, a company providing business credit report tools, there are several card issuers, including American Express, Capital One, Chase and Wells Fargo, that only report negative information to your personal credit report.