Managing business expenses can be tricky when multiple employees are involved, which is where prepaid business cards come into their own. They allow you to preload funds onto them in advance for complete control over how and where money is spent. Prepaid business cards provide businesses, startups and nonprofits with debt risk-free solutions for budgeting purposes, overspending prevention, real-time tracking, and real-time transaction monitoring. We’ll take a look at business cards prepaid for use in business to determine if they’re suitable for your business.
In this guide, we’ll examine their function, benefits, and drawbacks, and explore which cards may be available today to best meet those goals.
What is a Prepaid Business Card?
A prepaid business credit card works like standard debit cards, but it comes with more features specifically designed for business. In contrast to business credit cards and corporate credit cards, these cards are able to only be used for the amount that they are loaded with. The traditional debit cards, in contrast, are tied to a company account; however, prepaid cards operate on their own and allow businesses to set aside certain money for specified reasons. They are a special expense card that helps businesses manage their finances and allows employees to buy the items they need.
How Do Prepaid Business Cards Work?
Business prepaid cards work like regular credit and debit cards in that they can be used anywhere that accepts transactions with credit cards, from physical shops to online retailers and ATMs. Some prepaid cards even permit cash withdrawals!
According to the card issuer, you can use your card to fund it using different methods, such as direct deposit, bank transfer, or ACH. Some issuers also offer employee cards, which you can use to fund your primary account.
Also read: What Is a Secured Business Credit Card and How to Apply
Benefits of Prepaid Business Cards
- Better Expense Control: Load only the amount you want employees to spend, preventing overspending.
- No Credit Checks Required: Easier approval process since you’re not borrowing money.
- Reduced Risk of Debt: You can’t spend more than the balance, avoiding interest charges.
- Ideal for Budget Management: Perfect for tracking business expenses and sticking to budgets.
- Improved Security: Limited funds mean reduced exposure in case of fraud or theft.
- Easy Distribution to Employees: Multiple cards can be issued with controlled spending limits.
- Convenient for Online Purchases: Works like a debit/credit card for vendors and subscriptions.
Drawbacks of Prepaid Business Cards
- No Credit Building: Does not help improve your business credit score.
- Possible Fees: Some cards have loading fees, monthly fees, or transaction charges.
- Limited Protection: May not offer the same fraud protection as credit cards.
- No Emergency Funds: Once funds are depleted, you can’t make purchases until reloaded.
- Less Perks & Rewards: Typically lacks cashback, points, or travel benefits that credit cards offer.
5 Best Business Prepaid Cards
If you’re considering using prepaid credit cards for business. There are five choices to think about:
1. EX Prepaid Expense Visa
PEX has developed its customer base within the education and nonprofit sectors. However, it is making its way to the business sector through high-tech technology and a contemporary user experience. They offer business-friendly pricing and lower annual and monthly charges for non-profit organizations. PEX is different in that there is no limit on how the amount of money you can load to your bank account, but each card comes with a maximum limit.
Pros:
- Controls employee spending
- Real-time transaction tracking
- No credit check required
Cons:
- Monthly fees apply
- Limited merchant acceptance
- No cash withdrawals
Rewards: None
Fees: $25
2. dash™ Prepaid Mastercard®
A top option for small-scale enterprises, dash(tm) offers prepaid cards that have an integrated application to monitor the amount you spend. There are no monthly fees, and it is an attractive option, but each card comes with an upper limit of $10,000, and you’re only allowed the maximum of $100,000 on your primary account. Also, it’s worth noting that you cannot utilize the Dash ™ account to take out money or check for balances at an ATM.
Pros:
- No monthly or per-card fees
- Unlimited number of cards
- Integration with accounting software
Cons:
- Maximum card balance of $10,000
- No ATM cash withdrawals
- 3% fee on international transactions
Rewards: None
Fees: Free
3. Emburse Spend
Emburse provides an expense management system that integrates with its prepaid business cards that are prepaid. It lets you monitor the amount you spend, establish spending limits, and even spin up unlimited amounts of virtual credit cards for those who work for you. However, you cannot utilize Emburse cards in ATMs, and even though the cards are completely free, you’ll need to pay for an annual subscription to the Emburse Spend expense management system. Emburse doesn’t publish pricing information.
Pros:
- Easy virtual and physical card issuance
- Customizable spending controls
- Responsive customer support
Cons:
- No ATM cash withdrawals
- Learning curve for new users
Rewards: 1% cashback
Fees: Starts at $8
Also read: Top 10 Rewards Debit Cards
4. Bento for Business Card
Bento for Business allows businesses to manage spending responsibly by setting spending limits, tracking transactions in real-time, issuing virtual credit cards for greater flexibility, and consolidating expenses more easily with accounting software such as QuickBooks or Quicken. By funding purchases directly through Bento instead of employee reimbursements and maintaining its central dashboard.
Pros:
- Customizable spending controls
- Real-time expense tracking
- Integration with accounting software
Cons:
- No international coverage
- Delayed customer support response times
Rewards: 1% cashback
Fees: Starts at $29
5. Pleo Prepaid Business Card
Although it is mainly used for use in Europe, Pleo is a well-known option for firms searching for an easier way to manage corporate spending. Transactions are automatically classified and incorporated into accounting software, eliminating the requirement for manually completing expense reports. Pleo offers automatic receipt recording and reimbursement tools, which make it an ideal solution for managing expenses for companies.
Pros:
- Automated expense tracking
- Integration with accounting software
- Customizable spending limits
Cons:
- Monthly fees per user
- Foreign transaction fees
- Occasional app performance issues
Rewards: Up to 0.75% cashback
Fees: Starts at $45
Final Remarks
Prepaid business cards provide companies with an easy, safe, and cost-effective solution for managing expenses without incurring overspending or debt. Although credit-builder cards don’t build credit or offer traditional rewards, their real-time tracking, spending controls, and ease of issuance make them invaluable tools. Financial control over credit flexibility should always be prioritized when running small businesses, nonprofits or teams.
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