MasterCard reward programs offer a number of cards to meet your business needs. They offer rewards for cash back, airline miles or points toward merchandise and gift certificates. Most also offer a low introductory APR to get your started.

Regardless of your industry, there are a number of areas where using MasterCard reward cards can help you to keep your business more organized and make your spending beneficial. As you examine the various types of credit cards available through MasterCard business rewards, remember the following ways they can help:

1. Earn rewards faster by providing each employee with a rewards MasterCard.

2. MasterCard reward credit cards are a great way to itemize business purchases and rewards points.

3. Travel the globe for business needs using MasterCard travel rewards.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Accelerate reward earnings with a MasterCard reward card for each employee

Some companies reimburse their employees for expenses they incur while on the job. However, another option is to give your employees Master Card reward cards to use for business expenses only. This will not only give you the opportunity to limit and keep track of expenses, but it will also help your business to earn rewards much more quickly. Usable rewards balances can take a while to accumulate when only one person uses the card, so if employees make purchases on behalf of the company, it stands to reason that they should help you rack up rewards points.

I recommend: Gaebler Ventures provides recommendations for making sure your employees use their business credit cards properly. The Bank of America WorldPoints Rewards for Business MasterCard offers business owners better control over expenses.

Use MasterCard rewards cards to purchase supplies and equipment

In a similar way that a business rewards MasterCard will help you to track employees' expenses, you can also use it to purchase business supplies and equipment. This will make it easier to write off such purchases when it comes tax time, as you can refer to your credit card statements to make sure that you remembered everything. Request a year-end transaction statement from the credit card company rather than depending on a stack of receipts. It can also help you to stick with a budget for these products.

I recommend: Apply for the GM Business Card to earn rewards from vehicle purchases, gas purchases and office supply purchases. The IRS provides information on business expenses that you should watch your credit card statements for and keep track of for later.

Pay for your business trips with your MasterCard rewards program

When you travel for business, it is simply much easier to pay for your flight, lodging, meals and entertainment by using your MasterCard rewards card rather than trying to carry around cash or travelers checks. Pay for expenses on your trip with your card and pay off the total upon your return. Or, use the KeyBank KeyMiles Business Debit Card, in association with MasterCard, to use funds directly from your business checking account and earn travel rewards with your purchases. It just gives you one less thing to worry about while traveling. It also, as mentioned before, helps you to keep track of expenses for tax purposes.

I recommend: KeyBank provides a list of features for the KeyMiles Business Debit Card, including earning one mile for every two dollars in purchases and one mile for every dollar spent on Continental Airlines tickets. Visit suite101.com for business travel tips, which may include booking your travel arrangements in advance with your GE credit card.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be responsible with your MasterCard reward card. It's simply good business practice to use a credit card as a means of building credit and not as a means of building your company. You should always be able to pay off what you and your employees charge each month to avoid putting your business in a lot of debt.

MasterCard reward programs are popular with many companies because the employees using the cards receive cash, airline miles and other incentives at no direct cost to the company. It’s a win-win situation for your company and your employees.

When choosing the best MasterCard reward cards for your company, first look at what types of purchases employees make with a credit card. You might want to match the purchases to the rewards. You also may want to give employees several cards to choose from or even choose a card that offers flexibility in the type of reward. The following list displays just some of the rewards that many cards offer:

1. MasterCard travel rewards,

2. Gas rebates,

3. Rental car discounts,

4. And cash back.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a MasterCard travel rewards card if you travel often

The good news for all you frequent travelers out there is that most of the cards offered by MasterCard offer some sort of traveling incentive. Whether the offer is free flier miles after a certain amount spent, rental car discounts, or gas rebates, such cards make spending money with your MasterCard reward card a great way to save on business trips that you or your employees take.

I recommend: Check out Citi Gold/AAdvantage World MasterCard, Citi Bronze/AAdvantage World MasterCard, or Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage World MasterCard, all available at Citibank. Such cards offer free AAdvantage miles when employees make a certain amount of purchases within a specified time frame, as well as rebates on rental cars. If you need help deciding on what credit card to apply for, Your Credit Network discusses key factors to think about when selecting a card.

Select a MasterCard rewards program that offers gas rebates

One great way to save money is to choose a card that provides gas rebates. This type of card is great for when employees need to make long business trips by car.

I recommend: The BP Business Solutions Mastercard gives your company rebates on gas purchases, and allows you to set individual spending limits for each of your employees. Advanta Business Rewards Platinum Mastercard is great for small businesses, and gives back up to 5% on gas purchases.

Check out MasterCard rewards cards that give customers cash back

If you would like to see some of your money back in your business account each time you make a purchase, a MasterCard cash reward card is best for you. This way, the money does not go to anything in particular like traveling or gas. That means you can choose what to do with it, whether that includes new furniture for the office, a technology update, or even employee bonuses to serve as an incentive for using this company card when making business purchases.

I recommend: Choose from the WorldPoints Rewards for Business Mastercard from Bank of America, or Citi Professional Card with ThankYou Network. These cards are ideal for the small businesses, new business owners and freelance professionals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Choose the rewards MasterCard that will save your company the most money. Obviously, this card is different for everyone. Right now, the best choice is often the card that offers gas rebates or discounts, thanks to rising gas prices. Such cards typically offer up to 10% off the pump price at any gas station, perfect for those business trips that requiring long drives. Use the money you saved to purchase ergonomic office furniture that you otherwise might not be able to splurge on.

MasterCard reward programs are a great way to get something extra for the money your business spends. Essentially, the way a rewards program works is that you spend money and the credit card company gives you rewards points based upon a percentage rate of the dollar amount spent, typically between 1% and 5%. As your points grow, you can redeem them for merchandise, gift cards, airline miles or cash.

Making the most of MasterCard reward cards will help you to get the maximum return on the money you spend. The more free stuff you can get, the better that will be for your business budget. Consider the following ways to get the most out of your MasterCard rewards:

1. Make sure the MasterCard reward fees don’t outweigh the rewards program.

2. Go with a reward program that matches your dominate spending, such as MasterCard travel rewards if you travel a lot.

3. Wait to redeem your points based upon incentive programs to get more out of your MasterCard rewards program.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check the fees associated with the MasterCard reward card

A way that many rewards programs get you to join is by offering an amazing introductory APRs, such as 0% for the first 12 months. While this is a great deal, you need to check into what the regular APR will be once that introductory rate expires. Additionally, check to see if there are any annual fees for the program. While they may not be much (usually under $50), that's still an added expense that isn't entirely necessary unless the rewards benefits will bring you a larger return.

I recommend: Credit.com provides a list of questions you should ask yourself when looking into MasterCard rewards cards to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Sound Money Tips recommends that getting the most out of your rewards starts with how you look at the rewards program.

Choose MasterCard reward programs that fit your spending style

If you own a delivery business, then the best rewards program for you is one that gives you optimal return on gasoline and restaurant purchases. If you fly all over the country for business meetings, you will need to participate in a rewards program that gives you airline miles and hotel discounts. Then again, if your business expenses vary from month to month, it might be better for you to get a cash back rewards program.

I recommend: FiLife.com offers tips on how to choose the right rewards credit card for your business. Visit the MasterCard Find-a-Card center to locate a rewards card that’s right for you. Go to the Choose By Type section and click on “Rewards” to start your search.

Redeem MasterCard rewards cards points at the optimal time

Many rewards programs have guidelines surrounding the redemption of points. Some require you to spend a certain amount each month order to maintain your rewards. You may also have a limited amount of time, usually a year from the point of accumulation, to use your points before they expire. Earn as many points as you can by taking advantage of higher return rates, often offered during the first three months of the program. Then, make sure you redeem them at the right time, based upon the program policy, to optimize your return.

I recommend: If you get stuck and can’t redeem your MasterCard business rewards the way you would like to, try some of the websites that Real Simple recommends. Learn about swapping points between rewards programs, trading points with other individuals and other methods of getting the rewards you want on Points.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some MasterCard reward credit cards come with a cap on the number of rewards you can accumulate per month or per year. Using your MasterCard rewards cards after you've reached the cap means that you're getting nothing in return.

You might think a MasterCard reward card is a great way to save money, but you should research the rewards available to you before applying. It is also a good idea to learn about the costs and requirements associated with such cards. Before committing to a MasterCard, consider the kinds of rebates you would use, and know what to expect when it comes to rules of the MasterCard reward cards. Getting familiar with the main terms behind these types of cards will save you time and money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Gas rebate

Some MasterCard reward cards offer a gas rebate. This means that a percentage of money you spend on gas is returned to you. Usually, the more money you spend, the higher the percentage will be.

I recommend: RewardsCards.com provides in-depth information about a particular gas rewards card offered by MasterCard.

Cash back

MasterCard cash back cards allow you to earn a small percentage of the money you spend back at qualifying stores. You can apply it to your account or request a check after you spend money using the card.

I recommend: Credit-Land.com provides the details about MasterCard cash back cards.

Travel rewards

MasterCards with travel rewards allow you to save money on plane tickets, rental cars, hotel stays, cruises and more. Frequent business travelers often find that this type of card allows them to get more for their dollar during their trips.

I recommend: Learn more about travel rewards credit card programs, including the Citi PremierPass MasterCard, at CreditCardGuide.com.

Cap

Many credit cards, including some MasterCard rewards cards, include a limit on how many rewards customers can redeem. The limit can be imposed yearly or monthly, and this cap often applies to gas rebates, cash back and travel rewards.

I recommend: Check out a definition of caps, along with an example of caps on some MasterCard credit cards at AskMrCreditCard.com.

Earning tier

Many MasterCard rewards cards use earning tiers, in which the more customers spend, the higher the percentage of rebates they receive. Of course, this encourages them to spend more with their card.

I recommend: CreditCards.com explains the idea behind earning tiers, including earning tiers for MasterCard reward cards.

MasterCard Easy Savings

MasterCard Easy Savings is a free program offering another way to obtain rebates when using a card. Small business owners can earn rebates for every dollar they spend at participating retailers when they enroll their card. The rebates are often processed within a few days, which is faster than many of the other rebate cards.

I recommend: The MasterCard website offers details about the Easy Savings program.