Do Credit Card Hardship Programs Apply to Business Credit Cards? - NerdWallet (2024)

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A business credit card can be handy for charging travel, office supplies and other expenses for your small business. But making payments could be a struggle when a financial downturn hits.

If you're hard-pressed to pay your cards' minimums, a credit card hardship program could help. Here's what you need to know about this option if you have small-business credit cards.

Credit card hardship programs can offer payment relief

Credit card hardship programs help make your financial life easier when you're having trouble with credit card payments.

These programs, offered by card issuers and banks, can make credit card debt more manageable. Depending on the program terms and your circ*mstances, the options for credit card relief may include:

  • Waiving fees temporarily.

  • Reducing the interest rate in the short-term.

  • Lowering your monthly payment.

  • Not reporting late payments to the credit bureaus.

  • Offering help to prevent your account from going past due.

In extreme situations, such as a global pandemic like COVID-19, credit card hardship programs can go a step further. Instead of lowering your monthly payment, you may be able to defer making payments on a credit card.

Can you get a credit card hardship for a business card?

Every card issuer has different policies for hardships. But the short answer is that yes, it's possible to get financial relief for a business credit card.

Here's a list of some card issuers that currently offer credit card hardship assistance for business and personal account holders:

If you're considering credit card hardship relief, be prepared to explain the details of your situation and why you can't make your regular payments. This can help your card issuer better understand which type of credit card assistance is appropriate.

» Learn more: 7 credit card 'rules' you can break in an emergency like COVID-19

Know what you're agreeing to

Credit card hardship programs can create some financial breathing room for your business. But make sure you know what the agreement covers.

For example, say your card issuer allows you to put payments on forbearance for six months. You don't have to make your monthly minimums during that time and missed payments won't be reported to the credit bureaus.

That sounds good, but be sure to ask whether interest or fees will accrue on your balance during that time. If so, your business could come out of a credit card hardship program owing more than before.

Next, ask how your payments will be restructured once a forbearance ends. Going forward, you could have a new higher monthly minimum payment to make up for the six months of payments you missed.

Also, be aware of whether your card issuer will allow your business account to remain active during a hardship period. If your card is temporarily suspended, that could hurt your ability to make new purchases for your business to cover expenses.

If you need cash to keep your business afloat and your card is suspended, consider opening a new business credit card or applying for a business loan. But be careful: This can add to your business debt, which can make it harder to get back on your feet if you're trying to rebound from a significant sales drop.

» Learn more: 4 business credit card mistakes you can't afford to make

Consider other ways to handle business credit cards

If you're having a hard time keeping up with business credit card payments, credit card hardship programs can help, but they're not the only option.

Transferring your business credit card debt to a card with an introductory 0% APR could help lower your payments and save money on interest. You'll need to spend time researching the best small business credit cards to see which one has the best promotional offer.

Applying for a business loan to consolidate credit cards is another possibility. Small-business loans typically don't offer introductory interest rates, but if you can't find a 0% balance transfer offer, this could be the next best solution.

When comparing business loans, it's important to consider the interest rate, fees and repayment terms to make sure you can keep up with payments. Defaulting on a business loan could hurt your credit and potentially lead to other negative financial consequences, such as a creditor lawsuit.

If after looking into these options your business is still struggling with debt, don't be afraid to ask for help. Reaching out to a nonprofit business credit counselor can help you get perspective on the best solutions for managing credit during a financial crisis.

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Do Credit Card Hardship Programs Apply to Business Credit Cards? - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

Do Credit Card Hardship Programs Apply to Business Credit Cards? - NerdWallet? ›

Can you get a credit card hardship for a business card? Every card issuer has different policies for hardships. But the short answer is that yes, it's possible to get financial relief for a business credit card.

How to get out of business credit card debt? ›

How to Restructure or Cancel Your Business Credit Card Debt
  1. Consolidate your business credit card debt. Some banks will let you consolidate your business credit card debt and other business debts into a small business debt consolidation loan. ...
  2. Refinance with a balance transfer. ...
  3. Settle your debts. ...
  4. Declare bankruptcy.

What is a hardship on a credit card? ›

Common causes of financial hardship include illness, divorce, accidents or job loss. A credit card hardship program is a financial arrangement that allows those facing such situations to negotiate more manageable payments on outstanding credit card debt.

Am I liable for my LLC credit card debt? ›

Even if the credit card is issued to your corporation or LLC, you will likely need to personally guarantee payment in the event that the company can't or doesn't pay. Some corporate credit cards don't require personal guarantees, and you, as the owner, would not be personally liable for that credit card debt.

What credit score do you need for a business credit card? ›

You need a personal credit score of 700 or higher to qualify for the best business credit cards. The exception to this rule is corporate cards, which usually don't check your credit score. Instead, these cards require that you have a certain amount of capital in a business bank account.

What if I don't pay off my business credit card? ›

Most business credit cards require a personal guarantee which puts payment accountability on the cardholder. This means that if you incur unpaid debt on your business credit card, you may potentially be held personally liable for repayment.

Can an LLC write off credit card debt? ›

Credit card interest as business expense

"Business interest," meaning interest paid on any loan taken out for business purposes, is considered a legitimate business expense, and that includes interest on credit cards. However, the debt must be related to a trade or business activity.

What qualifies for hardship? ›

Understanding 401(k) Hardship Withdrawals

Immediate and heavy expenses can include the following: Certain expenses to repair casualty losses to a principal residence (such as losses from fires, earthquakes, or floods) Expenses to prevent being foreclosed on or evicted.

What is proof of hardship? ›

Acceptable Documentation

Lost Employment. • Unemployment Compensation Statement. (Note: this satisfies the proof of income requirement as well.) • Termination/Furlough letter from Employer. • Pay stub from previous employer with.

Is a hardship program worth it? ›

It can also help the credit card company or lender mitigate its losses by making it easier for you to repay the debt. Lender and credit card hardship programs vary significantly from one company to the next, but they generally provide short-term debt-relief options, including: Lower interest rates. Waived late fees.

What happens if an LLC cannot pay its debt? ›

Understanding an LLC's limited liability protection

This separation provides what is called limited liability protection. As a general rule, if the LLC can't pay its debts, the LLC's creditors can go after the LLC's bank account and other assets.

Can creditors come after your LLC? ›

The general rule in all states, including California, is that the money or property of an LLC cannot be taken by creditors to pay off the personal debts or liabilities of the LLC's owners.

Can an LLC take out a credit card? ›

Yes, you can get a business credit card with an LLC as long as you have good personal credit.

What is the minimum credit score for Chase business credit card? ›

To qualify for Chase's Ink business cards, you must have good to excellent credit, which is defined as a FICO credit score of 670 or above. Although these are business cards, Chase will use your personal credit score when considering your application.

Does your personal credit get checked for a business credit card? ›

In most cases, a card issuer will check your personal credit report and score when you apply for a new business credit card. This is known as a hard credit inquiry, and it can have a small but temporary negative impact on your credit score. Hard inquiries may impact your FICO® Score for up to 12 months.

What is the usual credit limit for business credit card? ›

The average business credit card limit in the United States is $56,100, but your limit may differ significantly from national averages. That's because a lot of data goes into calculating the credit limit your business qualifies for.

How can I get out of business debt fast? ›

How can I get out of business loan debt?
  1. Reduce expenses and/or increase income so you can put more money toward your debt payments.
  2. Explore refinancing your debts and/or business debt consolidation.
  3. Consider negotiating debt/debt settlement.
  4. Investigate a sale of business assets.
Jan 17, 2024

Can business credit card interest be written off? ›

You can only deduct the percentage of your interest that results from business expenses. If that's all you use your business credit card for, then you can deduct 100% of your interest. If not, you'll need to do some math to determine how much of your interest is tax-deductible.

What happens to credit card debt when a business closes? ›

You will still be responsible for paying off your balance, even if a retailer files for bankruptcy. Generally, retail credit cards are issued through a finance company separate from the store itself, meaning any debt you owe is held by the bank, not the store.

Can you remove business credit inquiries? ›

You can't force a credit bureau to remove a legitimate hard inquiry from your report early. But you can dispute any item on your credit report that's incorrect or that you want a credit bureau to verify.

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