Most contractors drive around a full-size pickup truck with hundreds of pounds, and often use thousands of dollars of construction equipment. Yet one of their most important tools can be a few grams of plastic in their wallet. The right small business credit card can help contractors track business expenses, finance materials, and even earn valuable rewards.
How a Credit Card Can Benefit Construction Contractors
There are several ways that a credit card can help you to achieve your business goals:
Improve Cash Flow
One of the most important benefits of business credit cards for contractors is the way they improve cash flow. The best business credit cards offer you a line of credit that gives you extra time to pay for purchases.
Interest-Free Loans
If you pay your credit card off in full each month, you’ll avoid interest charges and can enjoy the benefits of these cards at no extra cost. Some cards even offer introductory APRs of 0% for anywhere from six months to a year or more. That interest-free period can be valuable if you need to make a large purchase and pay for it over time.
Earn Rewards
In addition, rewards programs can be very lucrative. Put the materials you purchase in your business on a rewards credit card and you can often earn thousands of dollars in cash back or reward points. (Sign-up bonuses or welcome offers can also help you boost those rewards significantly.)
Improve Accounting
Having a business credit card means that you can keep your business charges separate from your personal accounts.
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What to Consider When Choosing a Credit Card for Your Construction or Contracting Business
There are several things you want to consider when choosing a business credit card:
Types of Rewards
If your business is construction, your first priority may not be travel rewards often offered with small business cards, including airport business lounge access, rental car coverage, and other travel perks. (If you enjoy travel, whether for pleasure or business though, travel rewards can be very valuable, including Amex Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points.)
You may find cash back rewards to be a better fit. If so, make sure you carefully evaluate the card’s rewards rate. Do you earn a flat cash back rate (or points) for all business purchases or will you earn higher rewards in certain bonus categories? If the latter, make sure you choose a card that gives bonus points for the type of purchases you typically make. And ideally, contractors will look for a card that offers 2x or 3x points or cash back for the kinds of purchases that they make the most, such as gas or hardware purchases.
Business Card Features
For small business owners who need to issue employee cards, look for employee spending controls and expense tracking. You can also look for cards that offer free employee cards, along with spending controls. On the other hand, it’s unlikely that contractors will make business purchases outside the United States, so you won’t have to worry if your credit card has foreign transaction fees.
Build Business Credit
It’s also important to understand how your business credit card will impact your credit history. A few credit card issuers report all activity to the owner’s personal credit, most report to business credit (which can help build good business credit scores) and some report to both. If you know you’ll be carrying a balance frequently, for example, you may want to choose a card that will not appear on your personal credit reports, as those balances could impact your personal credit scores and impact your creditworthiness.
Enjoy Introductory Financing
Finally, if you know you will carry a balance from time to time make sure you understand the interest rates you may be charged for purchases and balance transfers. Some business credit cards offer intro 0% APR financing for several months to more than a year. This can be very valuable for financing a larger purchase or for preserving cash flow during a seasonal slowdown.
If you choose a card with a low intro APR, be sure to make a note on your calendar of when it expires, and try to pay off the balance before that happens. Otherwise, your cost can increase significantly.
Best Small Business Credit Cards for Contractors
Here are 9 of the best small business credit cards that construction contractors will find valuable in their business:
1. The Plum Card® from American Express
The Plum Card® from American Express provides outstanding rewards to contractors who open new accounts and continues to offer strong value every year. When you need to finance a job, you can take up to 60 days to pay your statement with no interest charges. Cash flow fine? Paying early pays off: earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.
This card comes with American Express’s full suite of expense management tools. There is a $250‡ annual fee.
Enjoy payment flexibility with the option to carry a balance interest-free for up to 60 days as long as you make the minimum payment on your due date.
Pros
- 60 day interest grace period or 1.5% discount.
Cons
- High annual fee.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
2. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Another solid choice from American Express is The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express which gives you the power to use your card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. This can be very helpful when jobs require unexpected additional expenses to complete. (Note: The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.) It has an appealing welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership..
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
A great business card for flexible spending and travel rewards points.
Pros
- Competitive intro APR offer and rewards rate
- No annual fee
- For a limited time, earn Membership Rewards® points on initial spending.
Cons
- Foreign transaction fee.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
3. BILL Divvy Corporate Card
Expense reports and expense management can be a huge pain point for contractors. With the BILL Divvy Corporate Card you’ll eliminate expense reports, build your business credit, and never go over budget again. If you have employees or contractors who need to make purchases, you’ll love the fact that Divvy gives admins complete control over employee spending with enforceable budgets (that can be adjusted in seconds). On Divvy’s mobile app or desktop platform, you’ll see every transaction as it happens, bringing all your spend into one place.
All charges made on this charge card are due and payable when you receive your periodic statement. There are rewards as well: Up to 7% points, based on payment settings.
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
Eligibility based more on revenue, requires full repayments monthly.
Pros
- Free and flexible expense management platform
- No annual fee.
Cons
- No early spend bonus and lower rewards than other cards
- Must pay off all balances in full each month.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
4. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers cardholders a competitive welcome bonus: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The reward program is solid, though contractors may see more benefit from higher rewards in other spending categories. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn..
All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Pros
- All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
- This card is not currently available through Nav
- To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Cons
- All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
- This card is not currently available through Nav
- To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
All information about the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit Nav’s credit card page.
5. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
With a very generous welcome offer, your business can find this card quite valuable. New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
And you can take advantage of the tiered reward structure to earn significant rewards. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Pros
- All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
- This card is not currently available through Nav
- To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Cons
- All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
- This card is not currently available through Nav
- To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
All information about the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit Nav’s credit card page.
6. Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
If you’re putting vehicles on the road to get to job sites, you no doubt already know that Costco can be a great place to save on fuel. With this card, rewards will get you even more value.
Get Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter. 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel. 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro APR
Purchase APR
Annual Fee
Welcome Offer
Checklist For Getting The Best Business Credits Card For Contractors Or Construction Businesses
Here’s a list of questions that will allow you to choose the best business credit card offer for your contractor or construction business needs:
Question to Ask | Why This Matters | Your Notes |
How much do you spend annually? | Compare spending to cost of the annual fee to determine whether rewards outweigh the fee. | |
How much will you spend in the next 3-4 months? | Consider a card with a healthy welcome bonus for spending in the first 3-6 months after account opening. | |
Do you need to finance purchases over time? | Look for a card with a 0% intro APR and/or a card with a low ongoing interest rate. | |
What are your main spending categories? | Reward cards may offer higher rewards in certain spending categories. | |
Do you prefer cash back rewards or travel points? | If you prefer cash back, you’ll get more value from a cash back card than a card with points or miles that can be converted to cash. | |
Do you have good personal credit? | If not, consider a card that doesn’t require a personal credit check. Note that you will need business revenues to qualify. | |
Do you want to build business credit? | Check which cards help build business credit here. | |
Do you make purchases outside the US? | Choose a card with no foreign transaction fee. |
How to Qualify for a Credit Card as a Construction Contractor
Most small business credit cards require you to qualify based primarily on your personal credit score. There are some, though, that won’t require a personal credit check or a personal guarantee. Those cards typically require at least two years in business and strong business revenues. (They will also likely require the business to operate as an LLC or corporation rather than a sole proprietorship.)
You’ll also need to provide information about your business. Make sure you have the following information handy when you apply:
- The legal names, addresses and Social Security numbers for all owners or the business.
- Your legal business name, address and business tax ID number (TIN) or Employer Identification number (EIN).
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Alternative Financing Options for Construction Contractors
A business credit card can provide fast and flexible financing but there are times when you need larger financing amounts or a longer-term loan. A construction business loan provides working capital to start or run a construction firm. It can be used for equipment, overhead, or labor.
Here are other business contractor loan options to consider:
Term Loans
If you need financing for a specific project that doesn’t require short-term financing. A term loan may be a good choice. You’ll borrow a fixed amount of money for a specific period of time. Some SBA guaranteed loans are term loans, and term loans are also offered by banks and online lenders.
Equipment Financing
If you need heavy equipment for your business, equipment leasing or financing may be an excellent option. The cost can be affordable and qualifications may be flexible since the equipment serves as collateral for the loan. Leasing may also offer tax advantages.
Vendor/Supplier Financing
If you regularly purchase supplies from specific suppliers, you may be able to secure those supplies with no money upfront. This is referred to as vendor or supplier financing. For example, with net-30 terms you’ll have 30 days to pay. With strong business credit and a good payment history you may be able to get even longer terms, such as net-45 or net-60 terms.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get a business credit card as a contractor?
Yes, it’s a good idea to get a business credit card as a contractor rather than relying on a personal credit card or even a business debit card— provided you don’t run up debt that can’t be repaid quickly. A business credit card separates your business and personal finances and makes accounting easier. These cards can also earn lucrative rewards.
Can I get a business credit card without business income?
Yes, many small business credit cards allow you to qualify based on income from all sources, not just the business. This can include other sources of household income.
Should I close my old construction business credit card before opening a new one?
Unless the card is charging an annual fee you don’t want to pay, there’s no need to close an old construction business credit card before opening a new one. A mentioned earlier, many small business credit cards don’t report to the owner’s personal credit unless they default.
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Gerri Detweiler
Education Consultant, Nav
Gerri Detweiler, a financing and credit expert, has been featured in 4,500+ news stories and answered 10,000+ credit and lending questions online. In addition to Nav, her articles have appeared on Forbes, MarketWatch, and Startup Nation. She is the author or co-author of six books, including Finance Your Own Business, and she has also testified before Congress on consumer credit legislation.