Know your needs

There's no such thing as a simple credit card these days, and smalls business credit cards for business are no exception. There are offers from a wide variety of companies with markedly different terms and conditions. Deciding which one is best for you requires matching a card to your needs. Do you keep a significant balance on your card? Or do you pay off your balance each month? Can you benefit more from a purchase rebate or frequent flyer miles? Could you use a card with a zero percent initial rate to make a big purchase?

I recommend: Search for small business credit cards and corporate credit cards and compare offers to determine which is best for your business at CreditCards.com. Credit Card Guide also has a handy list of business cards to compare.

Shop the small business offerings of major card companies

While there are myriad companies offering to put a business credit card in your hands, the cards themselves represent just a few brands. One way to shop for a card is to go straight to the source: the credit card companies themselves. The small business divisions of these card companies offer detailed information on available card services geared to your needs.

I recommend: Check small business credit card applications and offerings at Visa, MasterCard and the Open Network of American Express. Discover lets you apply online for a card. 

Compare big national banks and smaller local banks

Much of the action in credit cards is through big national banks, such as Citibank and Bank of America, which act as issuers of major credit cards. But smaller regional banks and some local banks also issue cards. When shopping for a bank-issued card, a good place to start is with the bank that holds your business accounts. Banks like to provide multiple services to clients and may have special offers on credit cards if you do other business services with them.

I recommend: Try comparing card offers from your regional or community bank to these from Citibank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Wachovia.
You may get a favorable rate by using the same institution which provides your small business loan or provides specific small business banking services.

Check out the offers from companies you do business with

Businesses that provide goods or services sometimes also offer small business credit cards that include a bonus, such as discounts or cash back on purchases. If you do a lot of business with one particular company, for instance an office supply store, and that company offers a credit card, you might benefit by getting one.

I recommend: Among the companies that offer business credit cards are Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples and Costco.

Frequent traveler cards

If you travel a lot, consider a business credit card that offers frequent travel points. Don't forget to compare the costs of the cards to those from other issuers. Sometimes these cards carry fees and interest rates high enough to outweigh the value of the perks.

I recommend: Compare rates and programs from credit cards that offer frequent flyer miles at CreditCard.com.