The Rock-Solid Way to Get a Biz Credit Card

A biz credit card is not out of reach.

But let’s talk about credit lines first.

Alternatives to a Biz Credit Card: Credit Lines

A credit line, or line of credit (LOC), is an agreement between a bank or private investor that sets a maximum loan balance that a borrower can access.

A borrower can get access to funds from their line of credit any time, so long as they don’t go beyond the maximum set in the agreement, and as long as they meet any other requirements of the bank or investor for instance, making timely payments.

Credit lines offer many distinct benefits to borrowers such as convenience. Borrowers can use their line of credit and merely pay interest on what they use, compared with loans where they pay interest on the sum total borrowed.

Credit lines can be re-used, so as you acquire a balance and pay that balance off, you can use that accessible credit again, and again.

A credit line is a revolving account similar to a biz credit card, and are comparable to other types of funding like installment loans. Oftentimes, lines of credit are unsecured, much the same as credit cards are. There are some credit lines which are secured, and as a result easier to qualify for.

Popularity

Credit lines are the most routinely sought after loan type in the business world despite the fact that they are very popular, legitimate credit lines are rare, and challenging to find. Many are also very hard to get approval for. They often call for good credit, good time in business, and good financials.

But there are other credit cards and lines that few people know about that are attainable for start-ups, poor credit, as well as if you have no financials.

Find out why so many companies are using a biz credit card to improve their bottom lines.

The SBA

A lot of credit line varieties which most business owners picture come from conventional banks and conventional banks use SBA loans as their key loan product for small business owners. This is due to the fact that SBA covers as much as 90% of the loan in the case of default.

These credit lines are the most challenging to get approval for because you must qualify with SBA and the bank.

There are two main forms of SBA loans you can generally get. One kind is called CAPLines. There are really five forms of CAPLines that can work for your business.

You can also get a lesser loan amount faster using the SBA Express program. Many of these programs offer BOTH loans and revolving lines of credit.

From the SBA: “CAPLines is the umbrella program under which SBA helps business owners meet short-term and cyclical working capital needs”.

Loan amounts are available up to $5 million. Loan qualification requirements are the same as for other SBA programs.

Seasonal Line

This one advances against expected inventory and accounts receivables. It was created in order to help seasonal businesses. Loan or revolving are offered.

Contract Line

Finances the direct labor and material cost associated with performing assignable contracts. Loan or revolving are offered.

Builders Line

Created for general contractors or builders constructing or renovating commercial or residential buildings. It is used to subsidize direct labor-and material costs, where the building project functions as the collateral. Loan or revolving are offered.

Standard Asset-Based Line

For businesses unable to meet credit standards associated with long-term credit. Financing for cyclical growth, recurrent and/or short-term needs. Repayment results from converting short-term assets into cash. Businesses continually draw from the LOC, based on preexisting assets. And they pay back as their cash cycle dictates. Businesses that furnish credit to other companies often use this kind of line.

Small Asset-Based Line

This asset-based revolving line of credit of right up to $200,000. This line works like a standard asset-based line except that some of the more stringent servicing requirements are foregone, providing the business can regularly show repayment capability from capital for the total.

SBA Express

The SBA Express program provides access to a credit line for well-qualified borrowers.

You can get approval for up to $350,000. Interest rates differ, with SBA allowing banks to charge as much as 6.5% over their base rate. Loans above $25,000 will necessitate collateral.

To get approval you’ll need good personal and biz credit. Plus the SBA states you must not have any blemishes on your report. You will need good bank credit; an acceptable bank score demands you have at least $10,000 in your account over the very last 90 days.

And you’ll also need a resume showing you have market experience and a well put together business plan.

You will need three years of business and personal tax returns, and your business returns should show a profit. And, you’ll need a recent balance sheet and income statement, thereby showing you have the finances to repay the loan.

Approval Details

To get approval you’ll need account receivables, but just if you have them. As for the collateral to make up for the risk, generally all business assets will be taken as collateral, and some personal assets including your residence.

It’s not unusual to need collateral equal to 50% or more of the loan amount. You also need articles of incorporation, business licenses, and contracts with all third parties, and your lease.

Alternatives to a Biz Credit Card: Private Investors and Alternative Lenders

Private investors and alternative lenders also grant credit lines. These are less complicated to get approval for than conventional SBA loans. They also necessitate much less documentation for approval. These alternative SBA credit lines typically call for good personal credit for approval.

Unlike with SBA, many of them don’t necessitate good bank or business credit approval. Nearly all of these sorts of programs require two years’ of tax returns. Tax returns MUST show a profit. Rates can vary from 7% or greater and loan amounts range from $25,000 into the millions.

Loan amounts are frequently based upon the revenues and/or profits shown on the tax returns. At times lenders may want other financials including a profit and loss statement, balance sheets, and income statements.

Alternatives to a Biz Credit Card: Merchant Cash Advances

Merchant cash advances have quickly turned into the most popular way to get financing, in large part as a result of the effortless qualification process. Companies with $10,000 in earnings can get approval, with the business owner having scores as low as 500. Some sources have now even begun to offer credit lines that go with their loans. You will have to have at least $10,000 in revenue for approval. You ought to be in business for a minimum of one year, though three years is preferred. Lenders often want to see a credit score of 650 or higher for approval.

Loan amounts are often around $20,000. Lenders often do pull your business credit, so you must have some credit already established and at times lenders will want to see tax returns. Rates vary based upon risk for this program, and there usually are not a lot of funding sources who offer it.

Alternatives to a Biz Credit Card: Financing with Stocks and Bonds

You can get financing regardless of personal credit if you have some type of stocks or bonds. You can also get approval if you have somebody wanting to use their stocks or bonds as collateral for your financing. Personal credit quality doesn’t matter as there are no consumer credit criteria for approval. You can get approval for as much as 90% of the value of your stocks or bonds.

Rates are commonly less than 2%, making this one of the lowest rate credit lines you’ll ever see. You can still earn interest as you generally do on your stocks and bonds.

A Biz Credit Card and Line are Very Similar to Each Other

Credit cards commonly offer 0% intro rates for up to two years – rather valuable for startups in particular. Credit lines allow you to take out more cash at a more affordable rate than do cards. These are the primary two differences which will have an effect on you between credit cards and credit line.

Investopedia even says that, “lines of credit are potentially useful hybrids of credit cards.”

Both cards and lines are revolving credit. Credit lines are tougher to get approval for as card approvals are generally very quick, many times automated, while at the same time line require an in-depth underwriting review. Lines usually offer lower rates, per Bankrate card rates average 13% while lines average 4%.

Many Banks Offer an Unsecured Biz Credit Card

Most of these unsecured biz credit cards do report to the consumer credit reporting agencies. They all call for a personal guarantee from you. You can get approval generally for one card at the most as they stop approving you when you have two or more inquiries on your report.

Most credit card providers feature business credit cards including Capital One, Chase, and American Express. These have rates much like consumer rates and limits are also similar. Some of them report to the consumer reporting agencies, some report to the business bureaus.

Approval requirements resemble consumer credit card accounts.

Inquiries

Normally, when you apply for a credit card you put an inquiry on your consumer report. When other lenders see these, they will not approve you for more credit for the reason that they do not know how much other new credit you have lately obtain. So they’ll only approve you if you have no more than two inquiries on your report within the most recent six months. Any more will get you declined.

Find out why so many companies are using a biz credit card to improve their bottom lines.

Alternatives to a Biz Credit Card: Unsecured Business Financing

With unsecured business financing, you deal with a lender who focuses on securing business credit cards. This is a very unusual, very little know about program which few lending sources offer. They can normally get you three to five times the approvals that you can get on your own. This is because they are familiar with the sources to apply for, the order to apply, and can time their applications so the card issuers won’t reject you for the other card inquiries.

Individual approvals typically range from $2,000 – 50,000.

Results

The end result of their services is that you usually get up to five cards that resemble the credit limits of your maximum limit accounts now. Multiple cards generate competition, and this means you can get your limits raised typically within 6 months or less of your initial approval. Approvals can go up to $150,000 per entity for example, a corporation.

With UBF they actually get you three to five business credit cards which report only to the business credit reporting agencies. This is significant, something the majority of lenders don’t offer or publicize.

Not only will you get cash, but you build your business credit as well. So, in three to four months, you can then use your newly established business credit to get even more money.

Rates

The lender can also get you very low introductory rates, more often than not 0% for 6-18 months. You’ll then pay normal rates after that, typically 5-21% APR with 20-25% APR for cash advances. And they’ll also get you the best cards for points, meaning you get the best rewards.

Much like with just about anything, there are huge benefits in partnering with a source who concentrates on this area; the results will be much better than if you attempt to go at it by yourself.

Requirements

You must have excellent personal credit right now, ideally 685 or higher scores, the same as with all business credit cards. You shouldn’t have any derogatory credit reported to get approval, you must also have open revolving credit on your consumer reports right now and you’ll need to have five inquiries or fewer in the last six months reported.

Fees

All lenders within this space charge a 9-15% success based fee and you only pay the cost off of what you secure. Remember, you get a number of added rewards and about three to five times more money using this program than you can get on your own. So, this is why there’s a fee, the same as all other lending programs.

Guarantors Welcome!

You can get approval making use of a guarantor and you can even use several guarantors to get even more money. There are likewise other cards you can get using this very same program but these cards only report to the consumer reporting agencies, not the business reporting agencies.

They are consumer credit cards as opposed to business credit cards.

Benefits

They deliver similar benefits such as 0% intro APRs and five times the amount of approval of a single card but they are much easier to qualify for. You can get approval with a 650 score and seven inquiries (or fewer) in the last six months and you can have a bankruptcy on your credit and other derogatory items.

These are a lot easier to get approval for than UBF corporate credit cards.

Alternatives to a Biz Credit Card: Business Credit Building

With all preceding cards discussed, you ought to have good consumer credit in order to get approval. But what happens if your personal credit isn’t really good, and you don’t have a guarantor?

This is the time when building business credit makes a ton of sense even when you have good personal credit. This is because establishing your company credit helps you get even more money, and without having a personal guarantee.

Details

Company credit is credit in a company name, that’s associated with the company’s EIN number, and not the owner’s Social Security Number. When carried out correctly, company credit can be obtained without a personal credit check and no personal guarantee – a thing all other cards brought up can’t deliver. You can get three types of business credit cards.

The vendor credit tier offers net 20 terms used to set up a business credit profile.

With the retail credit tier, get credit cards with high limits at most retailers.

With the cash and fleet credit tiers, get Visa, MasterCard, American Express cards you can use anywhere.

These may be gotten without any credit check or guarantee. Limits are commonly $5,000 – 10,000 to get started, and can exceed $50,000.

Getting a Biz Credit Card: Takeaways

Your company can get a biz credit card and financing, if you know where to look. Tell your company’s story about when you used your EIN to get a biz credit card.