If you run a small business and face paying interest on a credit card balance you haven’t been able to pay down for whatever reason, consider opening a business credit card with a 0% balance transfer intro APR offer.
In addition to allowing you to avoid accruing interest on your debt during the intro offer period, these types of cards often provide business-related benefits.
The Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard®, for example, currently offers 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days on balance transfers (then 19.49% to 29.49% (variable)). This is alongside business-friendly benefits like Spend Analysis, an online tool for tracking business expenses.
Even so, there just aren’t many business cards out there with noteworthy intro APR offers. But if you’re a business owner looking to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt, one of them might be the right choice for you.
To select the business credit card with the best balance transfer offers, we compared cards from multiple credit card issuers. We assessed the details of various cards' balance transfer offers to identify the best options for business owners. We did not include all cards available.
How we evaluate products
Key takeaways
- A balance transfer could help you pay off existing credit card debt.
- Look for a long introductory period, a low annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees if employees travel internationally.
The best business credit cards for balance transfers
Card | Intro APR | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
PNC Visa® Business Credit Card | 0% intro APR for 13 billing cycles on balance transfers (then 17.24% to 27.24% (variable)) | This card does not earn rewards | $0 |
Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard® | 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days on balance transfers (then 19.49% to 29.49% (variable)) | 1.5X per dollar spent on eligible net purchases up to $40,000, then 2X per dollar on eligible net purchases over $40,000. Plus, earn 4X on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Edward Jones Rewards Travel Center (this is on top of your regular earnings) | $0 |
PNC Visa® Business Credit Card
- $0 annual fee
- Intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers
- No opportunity to earn rewards
- Has foreign transaction fee
Essentially, the PNC Visa® Business Credit Card is only useful for its intro APR offers on balance transfers and purchases. Intro APR offers include:
- Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 13 billing cycles on purchases (then 17.24% to 27.24% (variable))
- Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 13 billing cycles on qualifying balance transfers (then 17.24% to 27.24% (variable))
Beyond that, the card doesn’t have much to offer. There’s little in the way of benefits, you can’t earn rewards, and there’s even a foreign transaction fee of 3%.
But with a $0 annual fee, it’s at least a no-cost option for managing your credit card debt, provided you can pay it off during the intro APR period.
Visit PNC to learn more.
Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard®
- $0 annual fee
- Intro APR offer on balance transfers
- Earns rewards
- Has welcome offer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Relatively short intro APR period
- No intro APR offer on purchases
- Must be an Edward Jones member to apply
The Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard® is pretty bare bones, but it outpaces the PNC business card by offering the opportunity to earn rewards on spending that can then be redeemed for a statement credit.
The Edward Jones card’s intro APR period, however, is one month shorter than the PNC card and only applies to balance transfers, not purchases:
- Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days on qualifying balance transfers (then 19.49% to 29.49% (variable))
The card has a $0 annual fee with at least one purchase to your account each year; otherwise $25. That should be an easy enough requirement to hit given the extra incentive of earning Edward Jones Loyalty Points on your spending.
Specifically, you could earn 1.5X per dollar spent on eligible net purchases up to $40,000, then 2X per dollar on eligible net purchases over $40,000. Plus, earn 4X on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Edward Jones Rewards Travel Center (this is on top of your regular earnings).
Visit Edward Jones to learn more.
What is a business credit card balance transfer?
A balance transfer consists of moving debt from one credit account to another. The goal is to move high interest debt onto a card that has a lower interest rate, so you end up paying less money overall as you pay off your debt.
For credit cards with intro APR offers, you typically have a certain number of months after account opening during which you won’t be charged any interest on balances you transfer from other credit accounts.
However, you likely have to pay a balance transfer fee. So to make sure it’s a good move for you, you would need to see if the money you save on interest payments is more than the transfer fee, or, you could open a card like the Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard® which currently offers a 0% introductory fee for balances transferred within the first 60 days of account opening; after that, 3% or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
Personal balance transfer credit cards
It’s also important to note that balance transfers aren’t limited to business cards. If you compare credit cards, you’ll find there are balance transfer options available on both business and personal balance transfer credit cards.
How a balance transfer credit card could help your business
Credit cards with balance transfer offers could support your business efforts if you use them strategically. Here are a few ways a balance transfer card might help you:
Savings and cash flow
By taking advantage of a card’s 0% intro APR offer you can transfer existing debt on another card and not have to worry about interest charges for a while, thereby freeing up more cash flow.
If you’re not having to worry about paying interest on your debt, that’s more money you can put toward other things, such as inventory and additional business expenses.
However, don’t completely ignore your debt. You still want to pay it off, so making regular monthly payments before your due date is a smart move during this intro APR period. Otherwise, the 0% intro APR offer will eventually end, and you’ll be back to paying large amounts of interest on your debt.
Credit card rewards
Many credit cards offer rewards for new purchases you make. Some may even offer bonus points or rewards for specific bonus categories related to your business.
It makes sense to use rewards credit cards for business expenses because you’re getting something back for purchases you were already planning on making. Whether those rewards can be redeemed for travel, cash back, or simply statement credits, you’re at least getting a little extra for your spending.
Bookkeeping
It’s essential to stay organized as a business owner, including separating your business expenses from your personal expenses. A business credit card makes it easy to keep all your business expenses in one place.
Additionally, some cards come with complimentary access to software tools that help you track and manage your business spending.
FAQs
What is the best business credit card for a balance transfer?
The best business credit card for balance transfers is different for each person and business. Read each card's offer details to determine which card will suit your needs.
Does applying for a business credit card count as a hard inquiry?
Yes, applying for a business credit card will likely initiate a hard inquiry to your credit report. This inquiry into your credit history will often happen even if the card issuer for the business credit card doesn’t typically report credit card activity on their business cards to consumer credit bureaus.
Can LLCs get credit cards?
Most anyone who has any business-related activity can apply for a business credit card, including LLC owners.
Bottom line
Balance transfer credit cards aren’t for everyone, but they can be a lifeline if you’re struggling with debt while trying to run a business or need additional cash flow. Still, make sure you do the math to see if a balance transfer would be right for you and your business.
And do further research before choosing a credit card offer to make sure you select the best business card option for your business situation. Putting in the time to plan and prepare for a balance transfer can help you avoid costly balance transfer mistakes.
And of course, be sure to understand how a balance transfer might impact your credit score before proceeding. Some business credit cards report to personal credit, but others don’t.