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Running a business requires more than just hard work—it also requires smart financial management. Whether you’re a startup founder, freelancer, online seller, contractor, or owner of a growing SME, having the best business credit card in the Philippines can help improve cash flow, earn valuable rewards, simplify expense tracking, and even provide emergency funding when needed.

Business credit cards have become an essential financial tool for entrepreneurs because they offer benefits that personal credit cards often don’t. From cashback on office supplies to travel rewards for business trips and extended payment terms for inventory purchases, choosing the right card can save your business thousands of pesos every year.

In this guide, we’ll discuss how business credit cards work, their advantages, and the factors you should consider before applying.

Why Your Business Needs a Business Credit Card

Many Filipino entrepreneurs still rely on personal credit cards for business expenses. While this may work initially, it often creates accounting problems and makes expense tracking difficult.

A dedicated business credit card allows you to:

• Separate personal and business expenses.
• Improve bookkeeping and accounting.
• Manage company cash flow more effectively.
• Build your business credit profile.
• Earn cashback, travel miles, or reward points.
• Receive purchase protection and insurance benefits.
• Access installment plans for large purchases.

For businesses that regularly purchase supplies, pay for digital advertising, or travel frequently, these benefits can quickly outweigh the annual fees.

Benefits of Business Credit Cards

1. Better Cash Flow Management

One of the biggest advantages is extending your payment period. Instead of paying suppliers immediately, you can use your credit card and pay during the next billing cycle.

This provides additional working capital that can be used for inventory, payroll, or operational expenses.

2. Cashback Rewards

Many business credit cards offer cashback on categories such as:

• Fuel
• Office supplies
• Utilities
• Dining
• Online advertising
• Telecommunications

These savings accumulate over time and reduce overall operating costs.

3. Reward Points

Reward points can often be redeemed for:

• Gift certificates
• Office equipment
• Travel vouchers
• Airline miles
• Cash credits

For businesses with high monthly spending, rewards can become a valuable source of additional savings.

4. Travel Benefits

Business owners who travel frequently can enjoy:

• Airport lounge access
• Travel insurance
• Airline miles
• Hotel discounts
• Priority check-in

These perks improve the overall travel experience while reducing travel expenses.

Features to Look for in a Business Credit Card

Low Annual Fees

Compare annual membership fees and determine whether the benefits justify the cost. Some banks waive annual fees based on spending requirements.

High Credit Limits

Businesses with significant monthly expenses should look for higher credit limits to avoid maxing out their cards.

Flexible Installment Options

Installment conversion allows businesses to spread payments over several months without straining cash flow.

Expense Management Tools

Some banks provide online dashboards and downloadable statements that simplify accounting and tax preparation.

Fraud Protection

Choose cards with:

• Real-time SMS alerts
• Mobile app controls
• Purchase protection
• Zero liability protection

Common Business Expenses You Can Charge

• Office rent
• Utilities
• Internet subscriptions
• Software subscriptions
• Facebook Ads
• Google Ads
• Office furniture
• Laptops
• Printers
• Business travel
• Hotel bookings
• Fuel
• Inventory purchases
• Courier services
• Employee meals during meetings

How to Choose the Right Business Credit Card

Not every business has the same spending habits.

Consider these questions:

• Do you spend heavily on fuel?
• Do you travel frequently?
• Do you run online advertisements?
• Do you need installment financing?
• Do you prefer cashback over reward points?
• Will multiple employees use supplementary cards?

Answering these questions helps narrow down the most suitable option.

Tips for Using Business Credit Cards Responsibly

Pay the Full Balance Every Month

Avoid carrying balances whenever possible. Interest charges can quickly outweigh any cashback or rewards earned.

Track Employee Spending

If your company issues supplementary cards, establish clear spending limits and regularly review transactions.

Keep Receipts

Maintain receipts for accounting, tax filing, and auditing purposes.

Monitor Your Statements

Review your monthly statement to identify unauthorized transactions and billing errors.

Who Should Get a Business Credit Card?

Business credit cards are ideal for:

• Small business owners
• Freelancers
• Online sellers
• Importers
• Contractors
• Consultants
• Professionals with business expenses
• Corporations
• Partnerships
• Startups

Common Requirements When Applying

Although requirements vary by bank, applicants are commonly asked to provide:

• Government-issued IDs
• Business permits
• SEC or DTI registration
• BIR Certificate of Registration
• Latest Income Tax Return
• Bank statements
• Financial statements
• Proof of business income

Some banks may also require a minimum annual business revenue or years in operation.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Using business cards for personal shopping.
• Making only minimum payments.
• Applying for multiple cards simultaneously.
• Ignoring annual fees.
• Missing payment due dates.
• Not monitoring employee purchases.
• Exceeding your available credit limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can sole proprietors apply?

Yes. Many Philippine banks allow sole proprietors with registered businesses to apply, provided they meet income and documentation requirements.

Can freelancers get a business credit card?

Yes. Freelancers with consistent income and proper business registration may qualify depending on the bank’s underwriting policies.

Is a business credit card different from a corporate card?

Yes. Business credit cards are generally intended for small businesses and entrepreneurs, while corporate cards are designed for larger companies with multiple employees and centralized expense management.

Does using a business credit card improve credit history?

Responsible usage, such as paying on time and maintaining low balances, can strengthen your financial profile with the issuing bank and may support future financing applications.

The right business credit card is more than just a convenient payment method—it is a valuable financial tool that helps entrepreneurs manage cash flow, simplify accounting, earn rewards, and finance business growth.

Before applying, compare annual fees, interest rates, reward programs, cashback categories, travel benefits, and eligibility requirements. The best choice depends on your company’s spending habits and financial goals.

Used responsibly, a business credit card can become an important part of your company’s financial strategy while helping you save money, improve operational efficiency, and access additional purchasing power whenever opportunities arise.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Erling Haaland scored two goals in the final stretch of Sunday’s match to lift Norway past Brazil 2-1 in a Round of 16 upset at the 2026 World Cup, sending the five-time champions home earlier than they have exited in more than three decades.

The victory, secured at New York New Jersey Stadium, marks Norway’s first-ever appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal. Brazil’s exit is its earliest since 1990, extending a difficult recent pattern for the storied program: it has now been eliminated by European opposition in six consecutive World Cup tournaments.

Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland was the standout performer for much of the match, delivering a string of key saves that kept Brazil off the scoreboard for most of regulation. Early in the second half of a scoreless opening period, Nyland stopped a penalty kick from Bruno Guimaraes, diving to his left to push away a tame attempt from the Newcastle midfielder. That save came after Brazil had been awarded the penalty when defender Kristoffer Ajer collided with forward Matheus Cunha inside the box. Referee Ismail Elfath initially waved off Brazil’s appeal, but the call was overturned following a video review.

Nyland continued to frustrate Brazil’s attack throughout the match, getting a decisive touch on a low drive from Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli to deny Guimaraes an easy tap-in, and later sticking out a leg to stop a shot from Vinicius Junior after Norway captain Martin Odegaard lost possession near his own box. The goalkeeper also made a diving stop to deny a powerful strike from Rayan and reached back to prevent a scramble in his own box from turning into an own goal off Ajer late in the match.

Norway’s best chance in the first half came when Haaland, who had otherwise struggled to find space against Brazil’s central defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos, created an opening that fell to Odegaard. Brazil goalkeeper Alisson made a strong save to keep the match level heading into halftime.

Brazil made a lineup change ahead of kickoff, inserting Martinelli for the injured Lucas Paqueta, while Norway welcomed back defender Julian Ryerson, who had missed the team’s previous two matches with a thigh injury. Norway’s head coach, Stale Solbakken, made two substitutions at halftime, bringing on Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup in place of Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti, hired in part to help end the country’s lengthy wait for a sixth World Cup title, turned to teenage forward Endrick shortly after the break in search of a breakthrough. The substitution nearly paid off immediately when Vinicius Junior threaded a clever pass to Endrick with the outside of his foot, but the young striker’s effort drifted wide as Nyland rushed out to close down the angle.

The match’s deadlock was finally broken in the second half when Schjelderup rose above Brazil’s Gabriel to head home a cross delivered from the left flank, giving Norway a 1-0 lead. Brazil brought on forward Neymar in the 67th minute to a loud ovation from a crowd that skewed heavily in support of the South American side, but the hosts’ rescue effort did not immediately materialize.

Haaland put the result further out of reach in the 90th minute, driving a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-0. The goal was his second of the match and gave him seven for the tournament, pulling him level with Lionel Messi atop the World Cup’s scoring charts.

Brazil was awarded a second penalty deep into stoppage time after a physical incident involving an elbow on midfielder Casemiro, and a tense exchange followed between Neymar and Nyland before the veteran forward converted the spot kick in the 10th minute of stoppage time to pull Brazil within one. The late goal proved to be only a consolation, as Norway held on to secure the win and advance in the tournament.

Norway will now face the winner of the Round of 16 match between co-hosts Mexico and England in the quarterfinals, a game scheduled to take place in Miami on July 11. The result sets up what would be a historic run for Norway, a team long known for producing individual talent but which had never previously advanced past the Round of 16 stage at a men’s World Cup.

For Brazil, the loss raises fresh questions about the team’s ability to translate individual star power into deep tournament runs, a challenge that has now persisted across multiple coaching changes and generations of talent. Ancelotti, one of the most decorated club managers in the sport’s history, was brought in with the explicit goal of ending Brazil’s championship drought, which now stretches back more than two decades. Sunday’s defeat means that goal will have to wait at least another cycle, as the team heads home earlier than it has since a 1-0 loss to archrival Argentina in the Round of 16 36 years ago.

Norway’s win has already resonated well beyond the stadium. Video circulating from Oslo showed large crowds gathering to celebrate the result with an impromptu, viral display of synchronized cheering following the final whistle, reflecting the significance of the moment for a country making its first appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal.

With the result finalized, attention now shifts to Sunday night’s late Round of 16 match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, the winner of which will meet Norway in next weekend’s quarterfinal in Miami. The broader knockout stage continues through the coming days, with additional Round of 16 matches, including Portugal against Spain, still to be played before the tournament moves into the quarterfinal round.

The Nifty IT index has plunged to fresh multi-year lows, triggering aggressive bottom-fishing. While technical patterns like a daily Morning Star and constructive weekly MACD indicators suggest early trend stabilization, derivatives data remains mixed. With nearly 60% of tech stocks still carrying week-on-week short additions, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Investments warns this could be a tactical short-covering rebound rather than a sustainable trend reversal.

Edited excerpts from a chat:

Following 4 consecutive weeks of gains, what levels is Nifty eyeing in the July series?
Despite the consecutive weeks of gains, Nifty has only reached the April’s highest closing figure from where a multi month downtrend had begun. Friday’s pull back is good in a way, because it keeps the uptrend from premature collapse, as the oscillators had begun to show signs of exhaustion. We see the near term base getting higher from 23800 to 24170 now, thus making 23800 a strong downside marker while we chase short term upsides with an eye on 24170. Expect whip saw moves to 24600, which may not be sustainable initially. However, a close above 24400 could render the trend stable for a 24800-24250 move.

Nifty IT index hit fresh multi-year lows in the week but displayed signs of bottom-fishing in previous 2 days. Is this bounce sustainable?
The Nifty IT index may have finally found near-term support after slipping to fresh multi-year lows, but the sustainability of the rebound remains uncertain. Technically, the setup has improved meaningfully. A Morning Star pattern on the daily chart, coupled with a weekly pin-bar doji after a prolonged decline, indicates strong bottom-fishing interest at lower levels. Momentum indicators are also turning constructive, with the weekly MACD nearing a bullish signal crossover, often an early sign of trend stabilization.

However, derivatives data presents a mixed picture. Nearly 60% of IT stocks witnessed short covering on Friday, supporting the sharp rebound, but a similar proportion still carries week-on-week short additions, suggesting that bears have not completely exited their positions. This indicates that the current move could still be a combination of bargain hunting and short-covering rather than a confirmed trend reversal.

Overall, the odds favour an extension of the recovery in the coming week, particularly if follow-through buying emerges. Yet, the durability of the bounce remains clouded as long as the index trades below the 28,200 zone, which is likely to act as a key resistance. A decisive close above this level would strengthen the case for a sustainable reversal; until then, the move is best viewed as a tactical rebound within a corrective trend.
PSU banks were among the biggest losers in the week. How would you go about trading the pack?
PSU Banks were among the weakest pockets of the market this week, and the technical as well as derivative setup suggests traders should continue to maintain a cautious bias. The PSU Bank index formed a bearish Marubozu candle on Friday, highlighting aggressive selling pressure, while the daily MACD generated a bearish signal crossover earlier in the week. More importantly, a failed weekly MACD crossover attempt indicates that bullish momentum lacked conviction and sellers have regained control.The derivatives picture reinforces this weakness. Around 70% of PSU bank stock futures witnessed either short addition or long unwinding on Friday, while a similar proportion carried net short positions on a week-on-week basis. This suggests traders are not merely booking profits but are actively holding on to bearish bets, increasing the probability of further downside.

From a trading perspective, rallies should be viewed as opportunities to reduce longs or initiate selective shorts until the sector shows signs of stronger accumulation. Stocks such as Bank of Baroda, PNB, Indian Overseas Bank and Indian Bank appear particularly vulnerable and could continue to weigh on the index.

Unless the index quickly reclaims recent breakdown levels, the path of least resistance remains lower, with 8,250 emerging as the next key downside objective.

GE Vernova, Hitachi and Siemens Energy fell on Friday amid negative news flow around Chinese firms being allowed in India in the power equipment sector. Do you think that these stocks can bounce back and those who missed the rally can buy now?
Their turn lower follows an RSI negative divergence signal, suggesting that downtrend could have more legs. But as they all are near or at their respective 20 week SMA, we might expect some respite early next week However, they have all formed topping patterns, and favoured view sees them unlikely to get back to a sustainable uptrend right away.

Give us your top ideas of the week ahead.

SUMICHEM (LTP: 502)
View: Buy
Target: 540
SL: 480

Sumichem has delivered a strong bullish breakout after spending the past few weeks in a corrective phase. The stock witnessed a decisive daily Supertrend breakout, signaling a potential shift in the short-term trend from bearish to bullish. This move was further reinforced by a positive MACD signal crossover, indicating improving momentum and the possibility of sustained follow-through buying.

What stands out is the exceptional surge in volumes, with trading activity reaching multi-year highs. Such volume expansion accompanying a sharp price breakout often reflects strong institutional participation and lends greater credibility to the move.

The stock has also reclaimed the psychologically important 500 mark and closed near the day’s highs, suggesting that buyers remained in control throughout the session. If the breakout sustains, the stock could target the 540 zone over the coming weeks.

That said, given the magnitude of the single-day rally, some consolidation or profit booking cannot be ruled out in the near term. Any pullback towards the 490 could attract fresh buying interest. As long as the stock holds above the breakout zone, the bias remains bullish with scope for further upside.

AZAD (LTP: 2149)
View: Buy
Target: 2255
SL: 2090

Azad Engineering is showing early signs of a bullish turnaround after a period of consolidation. The stock has attracted strong buying interest, as evident from a multi-session volume breakout, indicating renewed participation and strengthening conviction behind the recent move.

Momentum indicators are also turning supportive. The MACD is on the verge of a bullish signal crossover, suggesting that downside momentum is fading. Additionally, the RSI has crossed above its moving average, reflecting improving relative strength and a shift in momentum in favour of the bulls.

Price action has also seen the stock reclaim the 2,100 zone, which could act as an important support area in the near term. Sustaining above this level may pave the way for a move towards the 2,255-2,300 zone.
Overall, the near-term bias appears positive, with traders likely to focus on follow-through buying and the stock’s ability to sustain above key support levels.

Wires and cable-maker V Marc India has fixed July 7 as the record date for its first-ever 5:1 bonus issue, effectively making today the last day for interested investors to buy shares of this Ashish Kacholia-backed company for bonus reward.

Only those shareholders who hold V Marc India shares in their demat accounts as of Tuesday will be eligible to receive the bonus shares. Due to SEBI’s T+1 settlement norm, investors must purchase the company’s shares at least one trading day before the record date so they are credited to their demat accounts by that date and qualify for the corporate action. This effectively makes today the final day for investors to buy the shares to be eligible for the bonus issue.

All about V Marc India’s bonus issue

V March India in May announced that its board of directors have considered and approved the plan to issue bonus shares in the ratio of 5:1. This means that an eligible shareholder will get 5 new bonus shares with a face value of Rs 10 each, for every share held in the company as on the record date.

The cable maker proposed to issue 12.21 crore shares out of its free reserves or share premium as available on March 31, 2026, which stood at more than Rs 143 crore. “The bonus issue shall be implemented within two months from the date of the meeting of its board of directors wherein the decision to announce the bonus issue was taken subject to shareholders’ approval through Postal Ballot,” the company had said.

This marks the company’s first ever bonus issue. A bonus issue consists of free shares distributed by a company from its reserves and is often seen as a sign of strong financial health and growth prospects. While the issue of bonus shares increases the total number of outstanding shares, it does not change the company’s market capitalisation. However, it can improve liquidity and affordability, allowing more investors to add shares of the company to their portfolio.

Also read: Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank pay Rs 7,023 cr dividend to govt for FY26

V Marc India shareholding pattern (6,61,000)

Ace investor Ashish Kacholia owned 2.71% stake in V Marc India, as per data on the company’s shareholding pattern as on March 31, 2026. At the previous closing price of Rs 1,546.35 apiece on NSE, his total stake in the company would be worth more than Rs 102 crore.

Around 2,331 retail shareholders held nearly 14% stake in the company as at the end of the financial year 2026. Promoters and promoters meanwhile held nearly 65% stake.

V Marc India share price

V Marc India shares have jumped around 128% in 2026 so far. In the longer term, the shares of the cable maker have delivered stellar returns of 288% in one year, 1,828% in three years and 4,691% in five years.
The shares have fallen around 3% in one week but gained around 7% in one month. The company currently has a market capitalisation of nearly Rs 3,756 crore.
Also read: Bajaj Auto’s Rs 5,633 crore buyback opens. How much profit can retail investors make by tendering shares?
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)