We have reviews and information on business credit cards that we recommend. But in this ever-tightening credit market sometimes a consumer card can be the best, if not only, option at times. Why? Well, typically, consumer credit cards are easier to qualify for than a business credit card. This is only a general rule of thumb and doesn’t apply in every instance. As a business owner relying on consumer credit cards, you would be missing out on the inherent benefits that come with a true business credit card, but in many cases, cash/capital in any form is necessary to get a business off the ground or to keep an existing business afloat.

Because business credit cards are meant to be used by companies, not consumers, they come with fewer consumer protections than a personal credit card. The same goes for asserting "claims and defenses" when you order merchandize and receive it in poor condition. With a personal credit card, you can dispute the charges, and if the vendor won’t cooperate, the credit-card company will step in on your behalf. With a business card, the credit-card company won’t get involved with the dispute.

The cards we’ve compiled include the features that would most benefit a small business owner. These would be cards that include any combination of introductory offers, balance transfers, cash back and rewards. Also, those cards that might be easiest to qualify for because, at the end of the day, a business owner with a lower credit score simply needs a cash line of credit to stay in business. Buy you some time and alleviate the size of any current payments through a balance transfers and 0% APR introductory offers. Also, the best travel card. And the best cash back, rewards cards.