How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card

Want to learn how to get approved for a business credit card?

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card

We researched a ton of company credit cards for you. So, here are our preferences.

Per the SBA, small business credit card limits are a whopping 10 – 100 times that of consumer credit cards!

This demonstrates you can get a lot more cash with small business credit. And it also shows you can have personal credit cards at retail stores. So, you would now have an extra card at the same shops for your small business.

And you will not need collateral, cash flow, or financials to get company credit. But you do need to be fundable.

Be Fundable to Get a Business Credit Card

The best way to get approved for a business credit card is to build fundability. But what does it mean to be fundable?

Fundable: of or capable of being funded; deserving of being funded. Fundable also suggests – able to be funded by a lending institution or a credit issuer.

Lenders and credit providers want to see if your corporation is a good credit risk. Firms which are fronting your business cash, they wish to know that you can pay them back. They want to be sure you’re not committing fraud. It all starts with your industry.

Industry

Some industries are believed to be high risk or restricted. These industries, by definition, are going to have a more difficult time getting financing of any kind. There may be high risks of injury at work. Or the industry might engage in a lot of cash transactions.

Industry Aligned on All Records

This is the idea of congruency, and it turns up repeatedly. Business credit reporting bureaus and lenders will analyze your corporation carefully. Among the major ways they do this is by strictly looking for matching records.

Because of this, if your records do not all match, it will show up as if they are missing. Missing records will trigger a rejection, as a loan provider will assume fraud on its face.

Therefore, it is crucial to make sure that every record, anywhere, is identical.

Copy/paste this info; do not chance it with retyping.

Business Name

Including a risky business type in your corporate name will cause funding rejections. Listed corporate ownership must be the same any place you list it. It is best practices to keep a record of every place where your corporation has a listing.

Website

A business needs a professional-looking site. And it must have site hosting from a provider like GoDaddy. Do not use Weebly or Wix. It needs to be your domain, not domain.wix.com. Use Upwork to employ people who can help you get set up. Get a professional logo from Fiverr.

Business Address

A business address must be a real brick and mortar building. It must be a deliverable physical address. This can never be a home address or a PO Box. Do not use UPS mailing addresses.

Never use a home address on your application.

Business Phone Number

Your corporation must have its own phone number. Do not give a personal cell or residential phone as a business telephone number. But VOIP (voice over internet protocol) is fine.

Also, your corporate telephone number must be toll-free. This is 800 exchange or such.

You must list your company phone number on 411. You can do so on http://www.listyourself.net. Your phone number has to have a 411 listing for most credit issuers, lenders, vendors, and even insurance companies to approve you. Check your record to see if you’re listed. Make sure your information is accurate.

Time in Business

Incorporation date, the business license issue date, and the date you opened your business bank account all matter.

Business Bank Account

You need a business bank account, to keep funds separate from personal accounts. Keep a good, positive balance and avoid NSFs.

Business Entity

This defines issues of liability, and it makes a difference when it comes to taxes. The best business entity for fundability is a corporation.

Corporations are legally distinct from their owners. Whether you pick a C-corporation, an S-corporation, or an LLC is your choice.

A sole proprietorship means the business owner is it when it pertains to liability and tax obligations. Nobody else is responsible. Incorporating fixes this.

Any complete company name must include any recorded DBA filing you use. This necessary for document congruency.

But no matter what, if you run a small business as a sole proprietor, the best thing to do is to incorporate. If you have already filed a DBA, you will still need to move onto a corporate business entity. You ought to only look at a DBA as an interim step on the way to incorporation.

Check with your Secretary of State to guarantee they have all the needed details for your business. Make certain that you are in good standing with them, and that your entity is active. You must submit annual reports and pay a fee each year to stay active.

EIN #

Go to the IRS website and get a free EIN for your business. This is also where you choose a business entity like corporation, LLC, etc. To open a business bank account, and file business taxes, you need an EIN, so get this out of the way first.

Email

Corporate e-mail addresses must be professional. This means something like admin@yoursite or info@yoursite. Your business e-mail must be on the exact same domain as your business. Do not use generic free email services likes Gmail, yahoo, or msn.

Business Licenses

A corporation must have all of the licenses necessary for running. These licenses all must be in the perfect, accurate name of the business. And they must have the same corporate address and telephone numbers.

This means not only state licenses, but potentially also city licenses. Check with your Secretary of State’s office.

Business Credit Bureaus

The biggest and best-known business credit reporting agencies (also called CRAs or bureaus) are D&B, Experian, and Equifax.

Business Data Agencies

These companies collect data and offer it to the business CRAs.

CreditSafe provides alternative credit, where they base some of their scoring on utility and rent payments. These payments are typically not considered by other CRAs unless they’re late. CreditSafe reports these payments whether positive or negative. Third-party payments like Credit Suite, CRM, and software can be included.

LexisNexis is where a number of lenders get their info from. They furnish info on likelihood to pay, or not. If the application and LexisNexis do not match, then loan providers will deny you funding. They will see the disparity as fraud.

The SBFE collects data on small businesses from its members, which are lending institutions. Lenders use this information to make credit decisions.

FICO uses its SBSS (Small Business Scoring Service) Score to combine consumer bureau, monetary, application, and business bureau information.

Business credit providers and the SBA use the FICO SBSS score as a tool to decide whether they should authorize a loan to your business.

Identification Numbers

CRAs use identification numbers to designate your business.

Experian’s BizSource assigns a BIN (Business Identification Number).

Begin at the D&B website and get a free D-U-N-S number. If there is no D-U-N-S number, then there is no record and no PAYDEX score. Your D-U-N-S plus three payment experiences gets you a PAYDEX score.

Business Credit History

Your company credit history is the single most important driver of your business credit scores. In turn, this influences fundability profoundly.

Late repayments will impact your business credit score for years. If you pay your business financial obligations off, as swiftly as possible and as completely as possible, you can make a very real difference in your credit scores.

UCC Filings

If the business owner has poor personal credit, lenders will typically secure a UCC blanket lien if they give your company a loan.

This is a note on your credit report. It says the financial institution has an interest in all your corporation’s assets till you pay off the loan in full. Therefore, there may be dire consequences if you default.

UCC filings are a matter of public record. Lenders and credit providers take them into consideration when determining if your business is fundable.

Judgments, Liens, and Bankruptcies

These are all a matter of public record, and they can all negatively impact fundability.

Together with UCC blanket liens are any other liens against your corporate assets. A lien is a credit provider’s right to retain possession of property belonging to until the debt owned by that person or business is discharged.

A lien isn’t quite the same thing as collateral – it’s the property which is subject to the lien is the collateral.

Total number of trade accounts and highest credit limit

These come from credit issuers which give you starter credit when you have none. Terms are usually Net 30, versus revolving.

The more trade accounts, the better. But in general, a few high credit limit accounts do more to enhance business fundability than a large number of very low credit limit accounts.

By getting trade credit ASAP, your trade accounts are as aged as they can be.

Financial data

Opening and responsibly using business credit accounts can help you increase your available credit and boost your credit rating. The key is to use your credit.

Closing accounts has a direct impact on overall credit history. If a card is closed and is in good standing, it will fall off a credit report at some point. And once it’s gone, the history which accompanied it is gone, too.

By closing accounts, you are tanking the average age of your accounts. It’s a part of fundability over which you have control – simply use your credit and pay it back quickly. In this way, your providers will not feel the need to close accounts for non-use.

Congruency is a requirement in your business CRA records, as in all other areas.

Financial Statements

Financial statements include business tax returns. It’s best if these are prepared by an accountant or an accounting company, or at least audited by them.

Tax returns should be complete and up to date. Reported income and expenses should be commensurate with those anticipated from a corporation of your size, age, and industry.

Personal Financials

In particular for newer businesses, credit issuers and lenders will want to see personal financials. This includes taxes and reported income and expenses. Banks will even look at child support and criminal records.

Just like there are business credit reporting agencies, there are CRAs for personal credit. In addition to reporting on business credit, Experian and Equifax also report on personal credit. TransUnion only reports on personal credit.

Data Agencies

There are companies which collect data and provide it to the personal credit reporting agencies. Some banks and other credit issuers use ChexSystems to get more information on your personal credit habits. They also report on insufficient funds, closed accounts, and overdrafts.

Lenders use LexisNexis information to cross-check loan applications. Your FICO score comes from your payment history, amounts of owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit.

Personal Credit History

Much like your business credit history matters for calculating fundability, so does personal credit history. Data points like accounts over limit, authorized users, and short sales loom large.

Lenders are looking at settled debt, foreclosures and late payments. They are checking opened accounts and history length. They want to see if there are any bankruptcies in your past.

More than two recent inquiries will be seen as proof of credit shopping. Credit Utilization Rate also matters. Credit Utilization Rate is credit in use, divided by total available credit. Keep this ratio at about 30% or less. Experian checks utilization rate both overall and per credit card.

Application Process

Even the process of applying can have an impact on your fundability. This includes time, negotiations, and whether your application is being made in person. Choosing a lender familiar with your industry makes a positive difference.

Establish business credit fast with our research-backed guide to 12 business credit cards and lines.

Fundability, on Balance

Keep all records consistent to ensure fundability. Set up your business legitimately, with a domain, phone numbers, an address, and more. Get all ID numbers and register with the IRS. Set up your business bank account for fundability. Keep all business financials organized and have them prepared by a competent professional. Get your personal credit ‘house’ in order.

Being fundable means your business can get financing from a credit provider or lender.

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card with 0% Introductory APR – Pay Zero!

Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Take a look at the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. It has no yearly fee. There is a 0% introductory APR for the initial 12 months. Afterwards, the APR is a variable 14.74 – 20.74%.

Get double Membership Rewards® points on day to day company purchases like office supplies or client dinners for the initial $50,000 spent each year. Get 1 point per dollar afterwards.

You will need good to outstanding credit scores to qualify.

Find it here: https://creditcard.americanexpress.com/d/bluebusinessplus-credit-card/

American Express® Blue Business Cash Card

Also take a look at the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card. Note: the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card is identical to the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. Yet its rewards are in cash as opposed to points.

Get 2% cash back on all qualified purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year. Then get 1%.

It has no annual fee. There is a 0% introductory APR for the initial one year. After that, the APR is a variable 14.74 – 20.74%.

You will need great to outstanding credit to qualify.

Find it here: https://creditcard.americanexpress.com/d/business-bluecash-credit-card/

Establish business credit fast with our research-backed guide to 12 business credit cards and lines.

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for Luxurious Travel Points

IHG ® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

Consider the IHG ® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. it earns hotel rewards worldwide. For each dollar spent at participating IHG hotels, earn 10 points. Earn two points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants.

Plus, all other purchases earn one point. New cardholders can get an 80,000-point sign-up bonus when they spend $2,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Details

This card provides a free one-night hotel stay each year. Plus, there is a variety of benefits like travel and purchase coverage and an upgrade to Platinum Elite status with the IHG Rewards Club. The club offers complimentary room upgrades when available and guaranteed room availability.

The biggest issue is that the card does not have a zero percent APR introductory rate. And the standard APR is 17.99 – 24.99% variable. Also, the yearly fee is $89.

Get it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/ihg/premiernaep

Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card

This credit card earns six points/dollar spent at participating Marriott and SPG hotels. And get two points/dollar on all other purchases.

Spend $3,000 in the initial three months from account opening and get two free night awards (each has a value of up to 35,000 points).

Cardholders get access to perks including a free one-night stay each year after account anniversary. Also get travel and purchase protection. So, this includes free standard in-room Wi-Fi and priority late checkout.

Details

Perks include baggage delay reimbursement, and lost luggage reimbursement. There is also trip delay reimbursement. And there is purchase protection. Plus, there are concierge service and automatic Silver Elite status, which includes a 20% bonus on points.

Spend $35,000 each account year and get an upgrade to Gold Elite status. So, that includes a complimentary room upgrade, free daily breakfast and 4 PM late checkout.

There is an annual fee of $95. The APR is a 17.99– 24.99% variable.

Get it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/marriott/apply

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for Low APR or Balance Transfers

Discover it® Cash Back

Look at the Discover it® Cash Back card. There is a 10.99% introductory APR for six months from date of first transfer. So, this is for transfers under this offer which post to your account by January 10, 2019.

After the introductory APR expires, your APR will be 14.99% to 23.99%. So, this is based on your creditworthiness. Your APR will vary with the market, which is based on the Prime Rate.

Details

You can get 5% cash back at different places every quarter. So, these are establishments like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs. But this is up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. Plus, automatically earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

You will get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you have gotten at the end of your first year, automatically.

Get it here: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cash-back/it-card.html

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card and Build Credit

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Be sure to look at the Discover it® Student Cash Back card. It has no annual fee. The card also has a six-month introductory period of 0% APR on purchases. And there is an APR of 14.99 – 23.99% variable on all purchases after that period.

One one-of-a-kind feature is that it offers an incentive for scholars to maintain good grades with a $20 statement credit. If scholars earn a GPA of 3.0 or better each school year, the card will award the $20 statement credit every year for up to five years.

Details

Use this credit card to build personal credit. While this is a personal card versus a company credit card, for new credit users, their FICO scores will matter. And this credit card provides an outstanding way to raise FICO while also getting rewards. Better personal credit can also, often, be the key to unlocking online lending.

You can get 5% cash back at different places each quarter like grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants or Amazon.com up to the quarterly maximum. After that, this credit card offers unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases.

In the first year, all cash back rewards are matched 100%.

Downsides include a cash advance fee of either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is more. And although they waive the first late payment fee, a fee of up to $37 applies on all other late payments. There is also a returned payment fee of up to $37.

Get it here: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cash-back/it-card.html

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for Cash Back

SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express

Look at the SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express. There is a $0 yearly fee. And there is a 0% APR on purchases. So this is for the first 15 months an account is open.

But when the introductory period ends, the APR for purchases is 14.24 to 21.24%. So, this is variable and based on creditworthiness.

Details

This credit card has several benefits. These include purchase protection, car rental loss and damage insurance. And they also include a baggage insurance plan, extended warranty coverage and a global assist hotline.

Also, get 5% cash back at US office supply stores and on wireless phone services. So, these must be purchased from US providers. But this pertains to the initial $50,000 of annual spending. Then, you earn 1% cash back.

You also earn 3% cash back on spending category of your choice. So, this is from eight distinct categories. They include airfare, gas, advertising and computer purchases. But it applies to the first $50,000 of annual spending. Then, you earn 1% cash back.

Cash-back bonuses are automatically credited to the customer’s billing statement.

Note: you cannot use this credit card for balance transfers. There is a foreign transaction fee of 2.7%. The credit card charges up to $38 in late fees. And the returned check fee is also $38. The penalty APR is 29.99%.

And, it applies if you have two or more late payments within 12 months. It can also apply if you fail to make the minimum payment on time or have a returned payment.

Get it here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/credit-cards/simply-cash-plus-business-credit-card/44279

Capital One® Quicksilver® Card

Check out the Capital One® Quicksilver® Card. It offers flat-rate rewards of 1.5% on all purchases. There are no limits to the amount of cash back rewards that cardholders can earn. Also, the card has a $0 annual fee.

New cardholders have a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after opening the account. And after that they have a 14.74 – 24.74% (variable) APR after that.

A cash bonus of $150 is on offer for those who make at the very least $500 in purchases in 3 months of account opening.

Details

Also, cash back rewards do not expire for the life of the account. And there is no limit to how much you can earn.

This credit card also offers travel accident insurance. And you get an auto rental collision damage waiver. There are no foreign transaction fees. And there is extended warranty coverage.

Downsides are the flat reward rate, not allowing for any more than that. And the higher APR after the first 15 months.

Get it here: https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/quicksilver/

Establish business credit fast with our research-backed guide to 12 business credit cards and lines.

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for No Yearly Fee/Flat Rate Cash Back

Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card

Check out the Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card. Past no annual fee, get an introductory 0% APR for the initial twelve months. After that, the APR is a variable 14.74 – 20.74%.

You can get unlimited 1.5% Cash Back rewards on every purchase made for your business. And get $500 bonus cash back after spending $3,000 in the initial 3 months from account opening. You can redeem your rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more using Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You will need exceptional credit to qualify for this card.

Find it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/business-credit-cards/ink/unlimited

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for Fair to Poor Credit, Not Requiring a Personal Guarantee

Brex Card for Startups

Take a look at the Brex Card for Startups. It has no annual fee.

You will not need to provide your Social Security number to apply. And you will not need to provide a personal guarantee. They will take your EIN.

Nonetheless, they do not accept every industry.

Additionally, there are some industries they will not work with, as well as others where they want more paperwork. For a list, go here: https://brex.com/legal/prohibited_activities/.

To determine creditworthiness, Brex checks a corporation’s cash balance, spending patterns, and investors.

You can get 7x points on rideshare. Get 4x on Brex Travel. Likewise, get triple points on restaurants. And get double points on recurring software payments. Get 1x points on everything else.

You can have poor credit scores (even a 300 FICO) to qualify.

Find it here: https://brex.com/lp/startups-higher-limits/

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for Fair Credit Scores

Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business

Check out the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business. It has no annual fee. There is no introductory APR offer. The regular APR is a variable 24.49%. You can get unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase for your business, without minimum to redeem.

While this card is within reach if you have average credit scores, beware of the APR. But if you can pay in a timely manner, and completely, then it’s a good deal.

Find it here: https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/spark-classic/

Establish business credit fast with our research-backed guide to 12 business credit cards and lines.

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for Luxurious Travel Points

Flat-rate Travel Rewards

Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business

Take a look at the Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business. It has an introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, which after that rises to $95. The regular APR is 18.49%, variable due to the prime rate. There is no introductory annual percentage rate. Pay no transfer fees. Late fees go up to $39.

This card is wonderful for travel if your costs do not fall under basic bonus categories. You can get unlimited double miles on all purchases, without limits. Get 5x miles on rental cars and hotels if you book with Capital One Travel.

Get an introductory bonus of 50,000 miles. That’s the same as $500 in travel. However you only get it if you spend $4,500 in the initial 3 months from account opening. There is no foreign transaction fee. You will need a good to superb FICO score to qualify.

Find it here: https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/spark-miles/

Bonus Travel Categories with a Sign-Up Offer

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

For a wonderful sign-up offer and bonus categories, have a look at the Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card.

Pay a yearly fee of $95. Regular APR is 17.49 – 22.49%, variable. There is no introductory APR offer.

Get 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening. This works out to $1,250 toward travel rewards if you redeem via Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Get 3 points per dollar of the initial $150,000 you spend with this card. So this is for purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, and phone services. Plus it includes advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year.

You can get 25% more in travel redemption when you redeem for travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards. You will need a great to excellent FICO score to qualify.

Find it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/business-credit-cards/ink/business-preferred

No Annual Fee

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World MasterCard® credit card

For no yearly fee while still getting travel rewards, check out this card from Bank of America. It has no yearly fee and a 0% introductory APR for purchases during the first nine billing cycles. After that, its regular APR is 13.74 – 23.74% variable.

You can get 30,000 bonus points when you make a minimum of $3,000 in net purchases. So this is within 90 days of your account opening. You can redeem these points for a $300 statement credit towards travel purchases.

Earn unlimited 1.5 points for each $1 you spend on all purchases, everywhere, every time. And this is no matter how much you spend.

Likewise earn 3 points per every dollar spent when you reserve your travel (car, hotel, airline) through the Bank of America® Travel Center. There is no limit to the number of points you can earn and points don’t expire.

You will need outstanding credit scores to get this one (as in, 700s or better).

Find it here: https://www.bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness/credit-cards/products/travel-rewards-business-credit-card/

Hotel Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card

Have a look at the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ Card from American Express. It has an annual fee of $125. There is no introductory APR offer. The regular APR is a variable 17.24 – 26.24%. You will need good to outstanding credit to get this card.

Points

You can get 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after using your card to make purchases of $3,000 in the first three months. Get 6x the points for qualified purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. You can get 4x the points at US restaurants and gasoline stations. And you can get 4x the points on wireless telephone services purchased straight from US service providers and on US purchases for shipping.

Get double points on all other qualified purchases.

Rewards

Plus, you get a free night each year after your card anniversary. And you can earn an additional free night after you spend $60,000 on your card in a calendar year.

You get Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status with your Card. Also, spend $35,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year and earn an upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status through the end of the following calendar year.

Plus, each calendar year you can get credit for 15 nights towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

Find it here: https://creditcard.americanexpress.com/d/bonvoy-business/

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card for Cash Back

Flat-Rate Rewards

Capital One ® Spark® Cash for Business

Have a look at the Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business. It has an introductory $0 annual fee for the initial year. Afterwards, this card costs $95 annually. There is no introductory APR offer. The regular APR is a variable 18.49%.

You can get a $500 one-time cash bonus after spending $4,000 in the initial three months from account opening. Get unlimited 2% cash back. Redeem any time without any minimums.

You will need good to exceptional credit to qualify.

Find it here: https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/spark-cash/

Flat-Rate Rewards and No Yearly Cost

Discover it® Business Card

Check out the Discover it® Business Card. It has no yearly fee. There is an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for year. After that the regular APR is a variable 14.49 – 22.49%.

Get unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no category restrictions or bonuses. They double the 1.5% Cashback Match™ at the end of the first year. There is no minimal spend requirement.

You can download transactions| easily to Quicken, QuickBooks, and Excel. Note: you will need good to superb credit scores to receive this card.

https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/business/

Bonus Categories

Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Check out the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card. It has no yearly fee. There is a 0% introductory APR for the initial 12 months. After that, the APR is a variable 14.74 – 20.74%. You can get a $500 one-time cash bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.

You can get 5% cash back on the initial $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on net, cable and phone services each account anniversary year.

Get 2% cash back on the initial $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Get 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is no limitation to the amount you can get.

You will need outstanding credit to get this card.

Find it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/business-credit-cards/ink/cash?iCELL=61GF

Boosted Cash Back Categories

Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards MasterCard® credit card

Check out the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards MasterCard® credit card. Get an 0% introductory APR for the first 9 billing cycles of the account. After that, the APR is 13.74% – 23.74% variable. There is no yearly fee. You can get a $300 statement credit offer.

Get 3% cash back in the category of your choice. So these are gasoline stations (default), office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services or business consulting services. Get 2% cash back on dining. So this is for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year. After that earn 1% after, with no limits.

You will need exceptional credit scores to qualify.

Find it here: https://promo.bankofamerica.com/smallbusinesscards2/

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card with Unbeatable Cards for Jackpot Rewards That Never Expire

Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business

Take a look at the Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business. It has no yearly fee. You can get 1.5% cash back on every purchase. There is no limit on the cash back you can earn. Also earn a one-time $200 cash bonus as soon as you spend $3,000 on purchases in the initial 3 months. Rewards never expire.

Pay a 0% introductory APR for 9 months. Then pay 14.49% – 22.49% variable APR after that.

You will need great to superb credit scores to qualify.

Find it here: https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/spark-cash-select/

How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card, On Balance

Your outright best business credit cards hinge on your credit history and scores.

Only you can select which features you want and need. So, make sure to do your homework. What is outstanding for you could be disastrous for other people.

And, as always, be sure to build credit in the recommended order for the best, speediest benefits.

The post How to Get Approved for a Business Credit Card appeared first on Credit Suite.

How To Build A Chatbot For E-commerce

A chatbot for e-commerce gives you the power to engage with new, existing, and potential customers with real-time, text-style messaging, without actually providing (and paying for!) a live person.

Through carefully scripted conversations, your brand can provide your customer base with support, information, and resources 24/7.

Like any conversation, chatbots are a two-way street —- and there are benefits for both brands and users.

Customers (or prospective costumes) can find information quickly, without having to wait for a human. And you can draw customers through the sales funnel, without interacting with them directly.

Chatbots leverage artificial intelligence more than any other technology, and can help you:

Identify and nurture qualified leads
Provide customer service and support
Interact with past customers, including providing shipping and return information
Gather feedback on the customer experience
Recommend related products to increase sales

If you are looking for a way to build a real relationship with your audience, improve customer service, and even increase sales, chatbots should be high on your list of priorities.

Today, I will explain exactly how to build and launch a chatbot for your e-commerce store from start to finish.

The good news is, it’s likely a lot easier than you think!

What Is the Goal of Your Ecommerce Chatbot?

Getting clear on your goals will help you avoid distractions and stay laser-focused on results.

Chatbots for e-commerce are a powerful sales and marketing tool. So before you get started, get a handle on what you want your chatbot to do for your business.

Here are a few more features to consider before digging into building your chatbot:

Where do you want the chatbot to be located?
What other platforms, such as social media, do you want it connected to?
What kind of information do you want to supply to your customers?
What are your customers looking for when they interact with your chatbot?
Do you want users to be able to request and connect with a live person?
How will your chatbot fit into your overall marketing strategy?

Getting a handle on what you want, at least initially, will help you build your chatbot efficiently, without getting distracted by the myriad of things chatbots can do. (Seriously, they can do a ton.)

I highly recommend considering the power of Facebook Messenger when it comes to chatbots. Well over a billion users are using Facebook Messenger every month, so interacting with your brand can be seamless.

Messenger can give you valuable user insights, such as their name and location, that can help you help them find what they want – and ultimately move them through your sales funnel.

One of the most useful tools for launching a Facebook messenger chatbot is Manychat, which we’ll cover below.

Building a Chatbot

Yes, it’s possible to plug-in Facebook messenger directly into your website. Still, a third-party chatbot program gives you the power to set up automated conversations through scripts, answering popular questions, or assisting customers, without human interaction.

Every program has its own interface and step-by-step plan to actually build your bot, so instructions may vary.

Not only can you build a chatbot for your e-commerce but customers can also subscribe to your content using that platform, so when you publish a blog post with a sale or new product, it’ll go right to their Facebook messenger app.

How to Set Up a Chatbot

Choose which platform you want to work with. I’ll walk you through Manychat, but there are several other options, including Chatfuel, Botsify, and Mobile Monkey. I’ve chosen Manychat for an example.
Log in from their website, using your Facebook credentials.
Give the chatbot program access to your Facebook page.
Provide some basic information about your company and your goals.

Now, it’s time to start creating the chatbot’s content, including broadcasts (like an email blast) and conversation flows — this is complex, but you only have to set it up once.

On Manychat, go to “Automation” to see your options for various flows or sequences.

Building a chatbot for e-commerce comes down to writing scripts that engage, educate, and serve your customers.

You can start editing these default messages, such as the Welcome message to include your brand information and a warm greeting.

Now it’s time to build flows that simulate real conversation with your customers, allowing them to interact with your brand.

To build flows in Manychat, the best option is the Flow Builder. This is available once you open and name a flow.

You can stay in Basic Builder mode, or click “Go To Flow Builder” in the upper right-hand corner.

This will give you a visual representation of your conversation flow, which is really helpful for making sure you don’t miss anything. Keep adding dynamic steps to simulate the conversation you want to walk your visitors through.

How to Build Flows

Add Trigger. What’s going to launch this conversation? When you click “Add Trigger,” you’ll be given dozens of options, from subscriber opt-ins to keyword triggers to pop-ups on the side of the screen. Choose the one that makes sense for the goal of this flow. How will the customer start this conversation?
Add Text. It’s time to start the conversation. A warm “Hello, How can I help you?” is good. An introduction to your chatbot persona or your brand is also an excellent place to start.
Keep going. The conversation has only begun! Add images or galleries of choices. You can choose “User Input” in the Manychat Pro version, to allow customers to choose from various options in responding back with you. Here’s a quick look at a few of the button options you’ll have for each message.

Consider looking at your customer service logs and planning conversations based on the most common questions customers or prospects ask.

6 Tips for Building an Effective Chatbot Script

Your script is the most critical part of building an effective chatbot. Here are a few tips to ensure your script is on point every time.

Start with a welcome message: Remember you are simulating a conversation. If a real person just walked up to you and started talking about a sale, it would be a little weird. Start with a “hello” and maybe an offer to help or another soft opening.
Provide a Main menu: Provide this option early in the sequence to help customers find what they need quickly and allow them to return to the menu if they need to. Use a gallery view and include pictures and links to basic information on your page.
Use personalized text tags whenever feasible: If you can use a merge tag to fill in the customer’s name, or other personalizations, you can sound more human. But be careful, because overdoing the personalization can come across as fake.
Think like the user: As you are planning the conversational flow of your chatbot, think of it as a flow chart, with various options leading to other options. If they say this, you say that. And so on. However, don’t lose sight of your ultimate goal, which is to close a sale or prompt a sign-up. Ensure each path leads to a goal or to another engagement, such as subscribing or talking to a live person.
Include a Buy Now option: If your goal is to drive sales, a buy button will make it easy for customers to convert. Allowing them to purchase right there in Facebook messenger is key.
Get the Unsubscribe option: Give users a way to opt-out of communication, either through an Unsubscribe button or a keyword such as “stop.” Provide the instructions early in the communication.

Should I Use E-commerce Chatbot Templates?

You can use templates designed to help you set up flows even faster. These templates can take some of the guesswork out of building the chatbot script.

Relying on the templates is tempting — it could save you so much time!

But be careful. Relying too heavily on templates can make your conversations feel fake and stilted. I recommend using them carefully — but remember that you know your customers best.

Consider reviewing Abandoned Cart templates and Out of Stock templates for e-commerce specifically.

These can help you drive sales to an already interested crowd.

Here’s what ManyChat’s Starter template looks like in a simulation:

Remember to use these templates as starting points. Dive in the customization options, from images and text to unique flows, to ensure the interaction sounds natural and is authentic to your brand.

Make every update you need to make sure you don’t sound like someone else or too robotic.

Building In Natural Characteristics

When we text, we move at a certain pace, as fast as our fingers or thumbs can type. It’s important that your chatbot move with the same kind of rhythm, otherwise it can become too robotic or pushy.

Here are a few tips for making your chatbot feel more natural:

Keep messages short. Use a string of two or three messages, rather than a long paragraph of text that will visually overwhelm the customer.
Create pauses between each message. This allows for those familiar three dots to animate, giving customers breathing space in between texts and simulating a more human interaction.
Attach links and photos in ways that feel human, rather than a barrage of content. It should feel like “Here this is probably what you’re looking for,” rather than “Here is our entire menu to choose from. See anything you like?”

Testing Your Chatbot for E-commerce

As you start setting up conversations in your e-commerce chatbot, you’re going to want to test the chatbot to make sure conversations feel natural and interactions are working the way you expect them to. There are a few ways you can test your flows to make sure they are working:

Set Up A Test Facebook Page

Create a new Facebook page to use internally for development. Then link your chatbot program account to that page, in addition to your brand’s pages.

Do all your development of flows, broadcasts, and other experiments in that test page.

Then you can log in to Facebook messenger and see them live for yourself and ask other team members to simulate customer interaction and make sure things look and function properly.

Make Use Of The Program’s Live Visuals

If it’s available, try the live visual simulator so you can see how your flows will play out in real-time. Watch these with scrutiny and a customer’s eye. Are things happening an even pace? Does it feel natural or like a sales blast?

Integrating Your E-Commerce Chatbot

One of the great benefits of using a chatbot program is leveraging the widget tool and embedding your chatbot on your website or other online locations.

Where can you lead customers to interact with your chatbot? Here are just a few ideas:

A pop-up box on your site, asking customers if they need help
A subscribe button to receive your newsletter or sales blasts through messenger
A sign-up for events, virtual or in-person

These “triggers” can set up conversations with users, allowing them to opt-in to your chatbot and providing you with customer data.

Available programs offer a range of widgets or buttons with code snippets you can place in the code of your website.

Tutorials are available, but if you aren’t sure, hiring a web developer for this quick project or hourly may be the way to go with this.

Conclusion

Building a chatbot for e-commerce can take your sales to the next level.

Not only can it give you access to highly qualified leads, but also allows you to position yourself as a resource and knowledge base. With an e-commerce chatbot, you can build rapport with your customers and ultimately nurture loyalty.

Using one of the built-in systems, you’re just a few clicks away from starting to engage your customers, giving them valuable information, and driving sales.

As you’re building, don’t lose sight of your brand messaging and voice. Stay on track with who you are as a company, and you’ll be on your way to building a chatbot that sounds authentic to your unique point of view.

How can you use a chatbot for your e-commerce site?

The post How To Build A Chatbot For E-commerce appeared first on Neil Patel.

Facebook Advertising Consulting

Social media dominates the present-day marketing landscape. More so, a platform like Facebook that gives you direct access to 2.6 billion people.

But is it actually worthwhile to use Facebook?

Facebook advertising has definitely increased in popularity, with an increasing number of businesses using the platform to gain new leads and stay connected to their existing customers.

Plus, there are solid stats that highlight how useful incorporating Facebook can be for your marketing strategy:

A total of 1.6 billion users see Facebook ads, out of which 1.21 billion are between the ages of 13 and 34.
An average Facebook user clicks on about 12 ads every 30 days.
Approximately 80% of social reference to e-commerce sites stems from Facebook.

Converting visitors into customers should be super easy on the platform then, right? Sadly, this isn’t the case.

You see, all your marketing efforts will backfire if you don’t have a carefully planned Facebook ad campaign in place – one that is impactful and is supported by in-depth knowledge of the platform’s best practices.

There is no shortage of gurus who will run Facebook ads for you too, so how do you find somebody who will get you actual results?

Our team at Neil Patel Digital has created this handy guide to help you find the best Facebook ad consultant who knows what he’s doing, without wasting your marketing budget or talking in circles.

5 Ways a Facebook Ads Consultant Can Help Grow Your Business

You’ve heard of multiple businesses having success with Facebook and Instagram ads, but you haven’t been able to make them work for you.

So what went wrong?

If you want to explore Facebook as a means to advertise your products and services for maximizing sales and generating leads, you need an expert.

Developing a winning Facebook ad strategy comes from experience and expertise – something that a Facebook ad consultant can offer. After all, it pays to be really good in your chosen field and have a track record of success.

Here are a few ways in which a Facebook ad consultant that help grow your business:

Extremely Advanced Audience Targeting

If you consider yourself a savvy business owner, it’s natural you would want to take full advantage of everything that Facebook marketing offers.

This is precisely what a Facebook ad consultant can help you achieve.

Since consultants are experts, they can develop ads that target people by demographics, location, gender, income level, age, interest, education level, and behavior, among other factors. In fact, the expert will know targeting options that you may not have even heard of!

For instance: Did you know Facebook permits you to target an audience based on the recent purchases made?

Additionally, a consultant has the know-how to create custom audiences, lookalike audiences, and layer targeting options, each of which allows you to get very granular with your targeting.

Easy Adherence to Strict Facebook Protocols

Facebook is like a strict teacher from school who likes to maintain discipline and decorum.

The platform’s main lookout is to protect users and their sentiments so that they continue using Facebook. They don’t want them to be annoyed by frequent ads or get insulted by any sponsored post.

Basically, creating a Facebook ad that gets approved isn’t easy – you have to remember a lot of rules.

You can end up wasting a lot of time, with a serious threat of getting your account flagged if you aren’t careful.

Facebook rejecting your ads doesn’t necessarily mean that they were offensive or irritating. It’s just that they didn’t meet the intricate rules and regulations the platform has to protect its users.

But guess who knows all these rules and regulations? An experienced Facebook ad consultant.

They can use their expertise to create attention-grabbing ads that not only force the viewer to take action but also comply with rigid Facebook policies.

Help Boost ROI Through Remarketing

If this is the first time you’re hearing of remarketing or haven’t yet utilized this excellent tactic to manage your ads, hiring a Facebook ad consultant is definitely wise on your part.

Remarketing is a powerful way to target people who have already visited your website, which, in turn, can be useful for driving up your ROI. And not only website visitors, but you can also connect with those who have used your app or given you your email address.

The consultant takes advantage of these people who are already engaged with your brand, and hence, may only need a little bit of coaxing before they take the plunge and finally place their order.

To build your remarketing audience, they develop a system to tag your website visitors with a cookie.

Trust us, remarketing on Facebook can be very useful for increasing your revenue without breaking the bank. Facebook ad experts set up the whole system so you can continue to build your business around the clock.

Help Maximize Your Facebook Ads Budget

Your Facebook ad budget is a small part of your overall marketing budget.

If you plan on using paid ads, you might also be targeting customers on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Consequently, you cannot afford to waste your money on a single channel, as it’ll reduce your funds for other initiatives.

Since a Facebook ad consultant knows the ins and outs of the platform, the possibility of errors is considerably less when compared to an amateur. The former also use intelligent tactics to maximize budgets and conversions on ads sets.

For instance, most consultants increase ad set budgets by 20% every 2 to 4 days. This warrants a gradual increase, which doesn’t trigger a new learning phase, ensuring more stable performance. While it’s true that growing the budget does take time, your ad set life will be longer with fewer performance dips.

Efficient Scaling of Facebook Ads

Scaling Facebook ad campaigns is very challenging, mainly due to the dynamism of the platform.

You need to constantly update your strategies and tactics when making changes in Facebook’s Ad Manager, and manage ad creatives. In short, it’s a continuous cycle of developing winning campaigns and fighting ad fatigue.

Any reputable consultant is well-versed in tactics that can make the process more streamlined and effective. Some of these tactics include:

Using automated rules for scaling
Duplicating successful ad sets
Securing the lowest manual bid
Adjust your ad set budget according to performance

In short, they take care of everything.

Think of the consultants as Michelin Star chefs that have their own unique recipes for their client’s campaigns. They are ready to experiment, make mistakes, analyze, and automate, which ultimately boosts your business growth.

How to Get Started With a Facebook Advertising Consultant

Now you know you can grow your business by hiring an expert with Facebook ads.

The next step is to figure out how you can get started with Facebook advertising consulting.

Just throwing money at the problem and hoping for the best isn’t a good strategy. You require a clear road map that illustrates your end goal, along with milestones that can guide you to stay on the right track.

We’ve compiled a list of steps below that can help you make sure you have the right person or people managing your account.

Find and Hire the Right Facebook Ad Consultant

Having the right person manage your ads account is like that essential puzzle piece of a puzzle that completes the whole picture – without it, it‘ll remain incomplete.

Before hiring anyone, make sure you do your best in researching and looking at the credentials of prospective candidates.

The following are a few ways to determine the capabilities of the prospect:

Ask to see their past portfolios and results they have previously achieved for other clients.
Find out whether they are familiar with your target audience and style.
Good communication skills and a pleasant personality so you can express your wants without hesitation.

Another alternative is to use online hiring platforms, such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Reddit. Here, you can either post a detailed project description of what you need to be done or choose a freelancer profile from these marketplaces.

Seasoned consultants, which we highly recommend, usually ask potential clients to fill an inquiry form, and then schedule a call for a discovery call.

Hold Meetings to Set Out Expectations

Once you’ve selected your expert consultant, you should hold frequent meetings to discuss your goals and budget. They should know what you expect from the Facebook ads, how you want them to perform, and how often you would review or tweak them.

Even the expert should be aware of your vision and budget constraints within which he has to operate. Thanks to their experience, the consultant will help you set your goals, but the overall objectives should always come from you since it’s your company at the end of the day.

Remember, your expert wants you to be crystal clear about your expectations and the amount of money you’ll be comfortable spending on your advertising.

Review the Growth Game Plan

The fact that you hired a Facebook ads consultant means you want your business to grow.

You want to use their expertise in Facebook advertising and take advantage of their knowledge. So you should give them the flexibility to come up with a game plan for your advertising campaign. Let the consultant work out the details based on your input.

You can then schedule a detailed review of the game plan before giving the go-ahead. Make sure that you’re on board with all the decisions before the campaign goes live.

Get the Ball Rolling

The learning curve is a part of advertising – be it Facebook or any other social media platform.

There is no guarantee that your first ad campaign will be successful or as lucrative as you wanted it to be.

The funny thing is that it’s a good thing.

The first few weeks after your campaign goes live is a learning stage where you and the consultant get an idea about who engages with your business and how you can adjust your strategies to increase ad appeal.

Hence, don’t be afraid to set your plan in motion. The valuable data you get after the launch is the key to future success.

Monitor Results and Adjust Budget Accordingly

Never max out your budget before reviewing your ad campaign performance.

The Facebook ad consultant will collect, analyze, and provide you with all the relevant data about the campaign. He or she will also suggest tweaks that can help your ads perform better.

After implementing the suggested adjustments, you can work on incrementally increasing your budget. Even when your ads start performing better, you should continue monitoring and making adjustments over time.

The aim is to keep improving your ad strategy always, and the expert should be able to take care of this for you.

Measuring the ROI of Facebook Advertising Consulting Services

Let’s assume you hired a Facebook ad consultant, and have launched your first campaign.

How do you know you made the right choice with the candidate? Or are the ads effective in driving leads and sales?

The only way to find out whether your campaign was a success or not is to measure the ROI.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Are you okay with only building your list with no return on your ad spend for now?
Is your strategy to just break even with your tripwire?
Do you want to prioritize building your email list for a future launch?
Do you have any return expectations? Say for every $5 you spend, do you expect to make at least $10?

Once you figure out the answers to the above, talk to your consultant about the same.

Ask the expert what increase in revenue you can expect in the first month of launching the campaign, and in case the ad performs poorly, what remedial measures would they take to ascertain a consistent ROI.

Measuring the ROI of your Facebook ads is dependent on the following data:

Spend
Clicks
Connections or leads
Cost per lead
Customers
Cost per customer

Tracking ROI from social media can be a nightmare. But having a consultant on board equips you with the right knowledge about variables and tools that can simplify tracking, cost association, and revenue measurement.

Your ROI will tell you whether you’re getting results or not, providing you a bird’s eye view of the whole campaign.

4 Point Checklist for Finding the Right Facebook Ad Consultant

Are you wondering how to hire the best Facebook ad consultant for your brand that understands your requirements and can successfully deliver results?

Below, we‘ve created a detailed checklist to help you walk through the entire hiring process.

Objective Advertising Expertise

To get results on Facebook, you need to create impactful ads that can deliver results.

Hiring a consultancy can be your first step to ensure this in case you don’t have first-hand knowledge about how things work.

Whoever you choose to be a consultant should have the skills to help you meet your goals – Whether it’s generating revenue, locking in more leads, or getting more click-throughs.

A dead giveaway for this? Having an exciting portfolio that boasts of successful companies and brands.

A Facebook advertising consultancy that has worked with diverse clients will understand the nuances of creating ads that leave a stronger impact on the viewer.

Look for Relevant Experience

As mentioned before, the marketplace is filled with freelancers claiming to be the best, but only a select few have the experience and expertise to back it up.

A Facebook advertisement consultancy should have the brain and muscle to guide you through the process and help you attain your business goals.

So whether it’s an individual or a team, make sure they have the experience and knowledge to create and maintain successful ad campaigns. Figure out the following questions:

How long has the consultant been creating Facebook ads?
Has the consultant worked with clients in your industry?
How do they handle communication and reporting of the campaign?
What do they do when the campaign results are poor?

The consultant should have a hands-on approach for advanced audience targeting, customer engagement, and eye-catching copy creation.

Well-Versed in Copy and Analysis Best Practises

Advertisement consultancies should be familiar with the latest Facebook advertising software and tools – pretty much anything required to ensure the job gets done and gets done well.

For Facebook, in particular, expert knowledge about Facebook Ad Manager, Facebook Pixel, and Power Editor is crucial. This gives better access to data that can be used to create creative and effective advertisements to increase popularity and promote growth.

Find Out What Others Say About the Consultant

Your chosen consultant should be experienced and have a good reputation.

Look for social proof like previous client reviews and testimonials to gauge the overall capabilities of the prospective candidate. This will help you understand more about their work ethic and determine their suitability for your company.

96% of customers go through testimonials before making a purchase decision since it indicates a higher possibility of a similar experience in the future.

Moreover, having plenty of testimonials means the consultancy has been consistently delivering positive results.

Wrapping Up

You’re at a higher risk of losing money when you don’t know how Facebook advertising works.

Hiring a consultancy gives you access to the right knowledge and experience. From identifying targets, running ad campaigns, and monitoring results, a Facebook ad consultant will take care of it all.

So yes, choosing to work with a reputable team of expert consultants is undoubtedly the best way to maximize results on Facebook and reduce the risks of spending thousands of dollars in vain.

The post Facebook Advertising Consulting appeared first on Neil Patel.

New comment by bmabeySN in "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2020)"

SimpleNexus|Software Engineer (full-stack)| Based in Lehi, UT.
Tech Stack: Vue.js, Ruby on Rails; Swift and Kotlin for mobile (we’re open to hiring those who don’t have experience in our tech stack as well)

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Check out our careers page at: https://simplenexus.com/sn/careers/ to apply and learn more about who we are!

New comment by ericgong in "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2020)"

Atolla | VP of Engineering | NYC | Onsite | Full-time

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For any questions, please email eric.gong@atolla.co. Thank you!

The Schumacher trait that makes Verstappen such a tough teammate

In an exclusive interview, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner gives his theory on why Max Verstappen’s teammates struggle to match him and weighs up the strengths and weaknesses of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. The post The Schumacher trait that makes Verstappen such a tough teammate appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain … Continue reading The Schumacher trait that makes Verstappen such a tough teammate

How to Get a Commercial Line of Credit Right Now

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