Guide to Choosing the Best Small Business Credit Card
A dedicated business credit card is an indispensable tool for handling the operating expenses of your small business. A good one gives you a convenient way to make purchases for your business and provides a ready source of short-term credit. The records generated by credit purchases also provide a convenient source of tracking expense data and help for managing your business finances. Card issuers offer an extensive array of credit and debit cards designed specifically for small business. If you already own or plan to start a business, you probably get offers regularly in the mail. The competition for your credit card business means better deals for you. A good business credit card can:

1. Give you immediate buying power.
2. Be a source of interest-free short-term loans if you pay off your bills each month.
3. Help you track business expenses, including those of employees if you give them cards.
4. Give you a reward on purchases if you get a card that offers it.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know your needs
There's no such thing as a simple credit card these days, and smalls business credit cards for business are no exception. There are offers from a wide variety of companies with markedly different terms and conditions. Deciding which one is best for you requires matching a card to your needs. Do you keep a significant balance on your card? Or do you pay off your balance each month? Can you benefit more from a purchase rebate or frequent flyer miles? Could you use a card with a zero percent initial rate to make a big purchase?
I recommend: Search for small business credit cards and corporate credit cards and compare offers to determine which is best for your business at CreditCards.com. Credit Card Guide also has a handy list of business cards to compare.

Shop the small business offerings of major card companies
While there are myriad companies offering to put a business credit card in your hands, the cards themselves represent just a few brands. One way to shop for a card is to go straight to the source: the credit card companies themselves. The small business divisions of these card companies offer detailed information on available card services geared to your needs.
I recommend: Check small business credit card applications and offerings at Visa, MasterCard and the Open Network of American Express. Discover lets you apply online for a card.

Compare big national banks and smaller local banks
Much of the action in credit cards is through big national banks, such as Citibank and Bank of America, which act as issuers of major credit cards. But smaller regional banks and some local banks also issue cards. When shopping for a bank-issued card, a good place to start is with the bank that holds your business accounts. Banks like to provide multiple services to clients and may have special offers on credit cards if you do other business services with them.
I recommend: Try comparing card offers from your regional or community bank to these from Citibank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Wachovia.
You may get a favorable rate by using the same institution which provides your small business loan or provides specific small business banking services.

Check out the offers from companies you do business with
Businesses that provide goods or services sometimes also offer small business credit cards that include a bonus, such as discounts or cash back on purchases. If you do a lot of business with one particular company, for instance an office supply store, and that company offers a credit card, you might benefit by getting one.
I recommend: Among the companies that offer business credit cards are Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples and Costco.

Frequent traveler cards
If you travel a lot, consider a business credit card that offers frequent travel points. Don't forget to compare the costs of the cards to those from other issuers. Sometimes these cards carry fees and interest rates high enough to outweigh the value of the perks.
I recommend: Compare rates and programs from credit cards that offer frequent flyer miles at CreditCard.com.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Exploit special offers: Credit cards that come with initial zero interest or no fees can wind up being very expensive when the regular rates kick in. But if you have a big piece of equipment to buy, charging it at zero interest on a new business card can be like getting an interest-free equipment loan.
• Track employee spending: Issuing corporate credit cards to sales people can give you a way of effectively monitoring their business expenses.
• Finance your startup: If you can get a business credit card early in the process of forming your business, you can use it as a source of capital to buy the things you need to get up and running. Once your company starts making money, you can repay the debt.
• Start your own credit file: When you get a business credit card, the credit reporting agencies will probably start tracking your credit status with a file that others can access. You can stay ahead of the game by opening your business credit file before you even get your credit card. That strategy can help you get favorable information about your business into your file.
• Deal with problems immediately: Credit card problems can harm your business. If you discover a problem on your credit card, report it and correct it quickly. If the issue lands in your credit file at a credit bureau, it can be hard to erase and can complicate your ability to obtain needed business loans.

The official source of Choosing the Best Small Business Credit Card is Business.com