Little Known Rewards You Can Get from Business Credit Cards
Article by Debbie Dragon
Many small business owners might feel the need to shy away from credit cards, to avoid the temptation to overspend or because they prefer to pay for everything in cash. What business owners may not be aware of, however, are the often-overlooked “extras” that come with business credit card rewards programs.
Think about the typical credit card rewards program- it may offer one point per dollar spend on the card, and be rewarded in the form of cash back or points redeemable for merchandise or travel. While these can be beneficial when used correctly, credit cards can offer a whole range of additional benefits to the business owner.
Credit Card Rewards: Get Free Travel
Article by iEzine
Everyone loves the idea of free travel–that’s why hundreds of air mile credit card offers are spilling over online and elsewhere. Finding the right offer can take some time and effort, but ultimately, doing the math results in a deal that will give you free travel miles with minimal drawbacks.
Telling Good Deals from Bad Deals
Corporate Credit Cards with Travel Rewards Program
Article by Pamela Williams
Ever since the introduction of the Internet and online marketing, globalization has become more than just a dream. Truly, advancements in technology and communication have revolutionized the business industry. In response to this great change, banks and financial institutions have also sought innovation and improvement in the products and services they offer.
Just take a look at the wide variety of credit cards in the market today. In the past, credit cards were available only for individuals and with very limited features. Today, both large corporations and small business owners can get credit cards that are especially designed to meet the demands and needs of their businesses.
Credit Card Rewards Programs: What Less 10% Means
Article by SAPerillo
When we buy things at a major retailer, were often offered a free ten percent discount. However, to take advantage of the promo, you first have to sign up for a store credit card. Usually, this is free. A lot of people fall for this kind of marketing, but did you know that signing up for store cards lowers your credit score significantly? It could even affect your chances of getting a mortgage with low interest rates.Retail store credit cards are also known as limited purpose cards. They can only be used at specific locations. What they dont tell you is that by applying for a stores credit card you may be lowering your credit score, because of credit inquiries. Inquiries are posted in your file whenever you apply for a new credit card from a different company. This may cost you points on your credit score, especially if youve applied for several limited purpose cards. This could cause you to move down risk levels, potentially damaging other transactions like mortgage loans.This is a tricky situation to be in, because theres no real way to get your credit card score up instantly. Youll have to earn your scores again, and wait for time to pass before you can actually get your score up. Sure, you have the option to remove the inquiries, but this is only legal if you were scammed. Fraud is the only instance when the inquiry could be removed. When you apply for limited purpose cards, they are legal even if you did them in a hurry.All you can do is play the waiting game. Since you have slim chances of getting those inquiries removed, it would be better if you waited them out instead. It usually takes about twelve months for the inquiries to clear up, so you can do some credit score handling in the meantime. Be very strict about paying your monthly installments so your credit score does not go lower. In about twelve months, your finances should be back in shape.Keep in mind, however, that youll have a small problem getting a mortgage with low interests. As your credit score goes down, your chances of going down a risk level increases as well. Should you decide to get a mortgage during this period, youll be paying more than you should, considering that you had a pretty good credit score to begin with. If this is the case, you have two options. First, you can continue with the mortgage. Youll be given a higher interest, but when your credit score recovers a little (when it goes up 700), youll be able to refinance your mortgage for a lower interest rate. If you really need a house right now, this is the best option. Your second option is to simply wait until your credit score is higher to avoid paying unnecessarily because of the high interest rate. At this point, you have no other option if you want to save up on money. This is also the option if youre not really in a hurry to buy a home.
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How Can American Express Afford to Pay the Most Generous Credit Card Rewards?
Article by Stephanie Neruda
American Express has some of the best rewards programs out there, from Membership Awards to Starwoods Points, to simple cash back.To demonstrate why, let’s analyze two transactions at Joe’s Coffee Shop, one using your American Express card, and one using your MasterCard/Visa from one of the big issuers (Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Capital One, Wachovia).
Scenario 1: You pay using AmexJoe’s pays a ~2.4% transaction fee to Amex, on average, to process the transaction. American Express owns the network, the card company, and the sales network to sign up new shops, so they keep the entire transaction fee.Scenario 2: You pay using your local bank’s MasterCard/VisaJoe’s pays a ~1.4% fee, on average, to process the transactionThis fee is split 3 ways between: (i) the sales organization who signs Joe’s Coffee to use the MasterCard/Visa network, (ii) the MasterCard/Visa Network, and (iii) the bank who issued you the credit card.Not only does American Express charge a higher transaction fee, they also keep the entire fee instead of splitting it 3 ways.The virtuous cycle goes like this – (i) American Express has the most prestigious cardholders so they can charge merchants more, (ii) American Express charges merchants more so they can offer better rewards, (iii) American Express offers better rewards so they can attract premier cardholders. We believe this is precisely the reason why Warren Buffet owns 12% of the company. And this is also why when you pick up an American Express card, you get to enjoy extra rewards at the expense of Joe’s Coffees everywhere.We ran some numbers and found that the following no fee American Express cards rank well, based on our calculation of annualized rewards and promotions, minus any annualized fees:The Amex Blue Cash pays 5% back on your grocery and gas purchases and 1.5% on everything else after you spend ,500 in a year. For above average spenders, this can easily exceed an overall 2% reward rate.The Amex Costco True Earnings Card pays 3% back on restaurants and gas, 2% on travel, and 1% on everything else.The Amex Blue Sky is effectively a 1.33% cash back card. You get 1 point for every you spend, and you can offset travel expenses on your credit card statement at a rate of 7,500 points per 0. This is one of the highest base rewards rates available that we know of.Smart spending, and best of luck
Maximizing Gas Rebate Credit Card Rewards to Minimize Gas Prices
Article by Debbie Dragon
There are a variety of credit card companies that are trying to help you save money on gasoline. As gas prices are either holding steady at their already-too-high rate or increasing all the time; any option for saving money on gas is helpful!
Gas cards may offer cash back when you make a gas purchase (and sometimes other purchases as well). This means you get a rebate every time you fill up your car- which can help offset the pain you feel when you pay for your gas! If the card offers a 10% gas rebate, it’s the same as getting a 10% discount when you fill up your car.
