How to Maximize Credit Card Best Practices for Your Business

Get the Most from Your Credit Card

Jason Walker from Capital One co-hosted a business credit card webinar with Honeycomb Credit.

As a small business owner, you know that cash flow is king. But did you know that your business credit card can be more than just an easy way to pay? Used the right way, it turns into a powerful financial tool that helps you earn rewards, manage expenses, and extend your cash flow.

Luckily, we have business credit card experts in our network. Recently, Jason Walker and Lauren McGorman from Capital One joined us for a webinar to share their insights on how business owners maximize credit card use to get the most out of their spending. Here’s what they had to say.

Why Business Credit Cards Matter

Long gone are the days when we could run a business entirely with cash. Now, you need credit and having a good business credit card is part of general operations. The right business credit cards can do more than just give that credit.

They also provide:

✅ Cashback & Rewards – Earn money back on everyday business purchases.

✅ Expense Management – Track spending, automate reporting, and simplify bookkeeping.

✅ Fraud Protection – Unlike debit cards, business credit cards offer strong fraud protections.

✅ Cash Flow Flexibility – Many cards offer up to 55 days of float, giving you time to pay.

Best Practices to Maximize Your Business Credit Card

There are a few things you can do to make sure you're getting the most out of your business credit cad. Here's where to start.

1️⃣ Put Every Possible Expense on Your Card

There’s a lot that can go on your small business credit card. Things like inventory, marketing, software subscriptions, and even vendor payments all work. Using a credit card for these regular purchases can help you earn rewards and improve cash flow.

💡 Pro Tip: Tools like Capital One’s Accounts Payable feature let you pay vendors via credit card—even if they don’t accept them—by sending checks or ACH on your behalf.

2️⃣ Choose the Right Card for Your Needs

Not all business credit cards are created equal. Some offer flat-rate cashback (like 2% on all purchases), while others reward specific categories like travel or advertising. Pick the one that fits best with your biggest spending areas.

💡 Pro Tip: Capital One’s Spark Cash Plus card offers unlimited 2% cashback with no category restrictions, making it a great option for businesses with diverse expenses.

3️⃣ Use Credit Cards for Short-Term Financing, Not Long-Term Debt

Credit cards are a parachute, not a fairy godmother. (You still need to plan for the landing.) Credit cards can be a great way to extend cash flow, but they can’t replace responsible financial management. If you can’t pay off your balance in full each month, interest charges will eat into your profits.

💡 Best Practice: Treat your business credit card like a glorified debit card—use it for spending, but make sure you can pay it off.

4️⃣ Leverage Expense Management Tools

Manually tracking receipts is a nightmare. And keeping them organized for a year, so you have them for tax season is worse. Thankfully, many business credit cards offer expense tracking features that categorize spending and integrate with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero.

💡 Pro Tip: Capital One’s expense management tool allows you to upload receipts via text message and auto-generate reports—making tax season way less stressful.

5️⃣ Optimize Your Credit Use

Many business owners worry about their credit use. Sure, you need it day-in and day-out for your business, but is it hurting your personal credit? The good news? Some business credit cards, like Capital One’s Spark Cash Plus, don’t report use to personal credit bureaus—which means you can use them heavily without hurting your credit score.

Avoid These Common Credit Card Mistakes

🚫 Letting Rewards Sit Unused – If you have thousands of points collecting dust, cash them in! They can fund business travel, pay expenses, or even give you a well-deserved break.

🚫 Using a Debit Card for Business Expenses – Debit cards don’t have fraud protection and don’t offer rewards. Switching to a business credit card should give you better security and more financial benefits.

🚫 Ignoring Vendor Payment Discounts – Some vendors offer 1-2% cash discounts for paying by check. If you’re using a credit card, compare the cashback rate to the discount to see which one benefits you more.

Final Thoughts

When used thoughtfully and strategically, business credit cards can add some muscle to your business finances—helping you earn rewards, manage cash flow, and simplify expenses. Whether you’re looking for cashback, travel perks, or better bookkeeping, there’s a card that fits your needs.

Missed the webinar but don't want to miss the action? Click here to watch the replay!