Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure
Are you working a side hustle? There’s no shortage of successful business owners who began by starting their business during the evenings, weekends or whenever they had a free moment outside of their job. And just because your side hustle isn’t your full-time gig yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t open a small business credit card and enjoy all of its rewards, perks and benefits (it can also help you establish business credit).
But there are some perks that are especially well suited to those who are making a little bit of scratch on the side. Here are four credit card perks that side hustlers will love:
1. Cell Phone Protection
If you are running a side hustle in your spare time, the chances are that you are highly dependent on your smartphone, even more than most people. And while you could purchase an insurance plan with costly monthly premiums, the right card will offer you a mobile phone protection plan built in.
2. The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass
When you are trying to grow your side business, it can make sense to travel with an airline like Southwest. It doesn’t have a first class, but it does offer low fares, free checked bags and no change fees. And if you choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card from Chase, then you can earn 60,000 bonus points after using your card to spend $3,000 within three months of account opening. You can redeem these points for free flights, but they also count towards the incredible Companion Pass. Once you earn 110,000 points in a calendar year, you’ll receive your pass that will allow you to add a designated companion to any ticket in your name, including award flights. There’s a $99 annual fee for this card.
*All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card from Chase credit card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
3. No Preset Spending Limit
When you run a small business on the side, you never know what your spending needs will be. Some months, you might have few expenses, but then you get a big rush of new orders, or a new client that changes everything. Thankfully, many American Express small business cards have no preset spending limit. This means that you can make purchases above your credit limit without having to request a higher credit limit or worry about incurring over-the-limit fees. In fact, American Express will even let you check online to see if a particular charge over your limit will be approved, just to be sure.
4. Elite Rental Car Status
Getting free rental car upgrades allows you impress your clients on a shoestring budget. But even if you aren’t a frequent renter, you can get this status from your small business credit card. For example, the U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards card, is part of the World Elite Mastercard program. This program offers you elite status with Avis, National, and and Sixt. Also, the American Express Business Platinum gives you status with Hertz, National and Avis. Having elite status can offer you express service, discounts and free upgrades. There’s no annual fee for the U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards card, and as we mentioned before, there’s a $595 annual fee for the American Express Business Platinum.
*All information about the U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards card credit card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.
This article was originally written on March 22, 2018 and updated on March 16, 2022.
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