What is Fleet Credit? How Can it Help a Business?
To understand fleet credit, you need to understand business credit first.
Business Credit
Business credit is credit in the name of a business. When built correctly, it has no relationship to an owner’s personal credit. This is the case even if a business has but one owner, and that person is also the business’s sole employee.
Types of Business Credit
You can divide business credit into three separate categories. Vendor credit is credit you can get even if you have no other credit; often net 30 and similar terms. Store credit is often revolving terms; may require some time in business; and offered by major retailers. And cash credit is more universal credit from providers like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express; harder to qualify for; may require more time in business and more paperwork before approval.
Fleet Credit
Fleet credit has some things in common with both vendor and store credit. Terms can be either net 30 (or net 60, etc.), or they can be revolving. This is credit to buy fuel, and to repair and maintain vehicles of any type.
The kinds of vehicles a business needs to maintain can include taxicabs, trucks, vans (for deliveries or to transport workers or passengers), or company cars.
Industries Based on Vehicle Use and Risk
While any company can use vehicles, some industries solely depend on vehicles to deliver their services. Risk is denoted by SIC (Standard Industrial Classification), and NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) standards.
Typical High-Risk Industries
Normally, high-risk industries have some things in common. There can be high risks of injury on the job. Or an industry may engage in a lot of cash transactions. This is true regardless of the safety record of a particular business, or the majority of its transaction types. Trucking and many other vehicle-intense businesses come under the injury risk umbrella.
NAICS Codes for Vehicle-Based Businesses
Over the road trucking is considered a high-risk industry. See referenceforbusiness.com/industries/Transportation-Communications-Utilities/Trucking-Except-Local.html. So is local transportation. See referenceforbusiness.com/industries/Transportation-Communications-Utilities/Local-Passenger-Transportation-Elsewhere-Classified.html. And so are taxicabs. See referenceforbusiness.com/industries/Transportation-Communications-Utilities/Taxicabs.html.
Fleet Credit and Gas Cards Today
Small business credit is independent of the economy. But be aware that, as the situation continues, some of the requirements could change. Always be sure to check the links directly, to be sure to get 100% up to date information straight from the source.
The Benefits of Gas Cards for Business
Per the SBA, business credit card limits are high! They’re a whopping 10 – 100 times that of personal credit cards. You can get a lot more money with small business credit. And you will not need collateral, cash flow, or financials in order to get business credit.
Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit, even in a recession.
Get Excellent Gas Cards Via Our Business Credit Builder
Our Business Credit Builder is full of amazing business credit cards. And that includes gas cards! These cards are starter vendors. We know they report to business credit reporting agencies. Whether you’re new to business credit building, or have been at it for a while, it pays to get these cards.
Marathon
Marathon Petroleum Company provides transportation fuels, asphalt, and specialty products, throughout the United States. Their comprehensive product line supports commercial, industrial, and retail operations. This card reports to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. Before applying for multiple accounts with WEX Fleet cards, make sure to have enough time in between applying so they don’t red-flag your account for fraud.
Qualifying
To qualify, you need an entity in good standing with the applicable Secretary of State, and an EIN number with the IRS. You will need to have a business address matching everywhere. Plus you need a D-U-N-S number, and all applicable business licenses. You will need to have a business bank account, and a business phone number listed on 411.
Your Social Security number is required for informational purposes. If concerned they will pull your personal credit talk to their credit department before applying. You can give a $500 deposit instead of using a personal guarantee, if in business less than a year. You apply online. The terms are Net 15. Get it here: marathonbrand.com.
76
76 is owned by Phillips 66 Company. They sell gas in more than 1,800 retail fuel sites in the United States. This card reports to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. And it can be used at any P66, 76, or Conoco fueling location.
Qualifying
To qualify, you need an entity in good standing with the applicable Secretary of State, and an EIN number with the IRS. You will need to have a business address matching everywhere. Plus you need a D-U-N-S number, and all applicable business licenses. You will need to have a business bank account, and a business phone number listed on 411.
Your Social Security number is necessary for informational purposes. If concerned they will pull your personal credit, talk to their credit department before applying. If not approved based on business credit history or you have been in business less than 1 year, then a $500 deposit is needed or a personal guarantee (PG). You can apply online or over the phone. The terms are net 15. Get it here: 76fleet.com.
Wex Fleet Card
Wrights Express (WEX Card) offers universal fleet cards, heavy truck cards, and universally accepted business fleet cards. These cards have features that support small business, including a rewards program.
Before applying for multiple accounts with WEX Fleet cards, make sure to have enough time in between applying. This way, they won’t red flag your account for fraud. This card reports to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax.
Qualifying
To qualify, you need an entity in good standing with the applicable Secretary of State, and an EIN number with the IRS. You will need to have a business address matching everywhere. Plus you need a D-U-N-S number, and all applicable business licenses. You will need to have a business bank account, and a business phone number listed on 411.
If you’re not approved based on business credit history, or have been in business a year or less, then a $500 deposit is needed or a personal guarantee. Apply online or over the phone. The terms are net 15 (WEX Fleet Card), Net 26, or Revolving (WEX Flex Card). Get it here: wexinc.com/solutions/fleet-management.
Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit, even in a recession.
Fleet Credit Can Help with More than Fuel and Maintenance
All forms of business credit can help you build good business credit scores, as business credit is mainly based on your payment history. As a result, fleet credit can help your business eventually get funding, such as loans and other forms of financing.
But Conventional Banks are Not the Best Place to Find Funding for High Risk Industries
Over 89% of business applications are denied by the big banks. High-risk industries are subject to stricter underwriting guidelines. It is possible to get loans from conventional sources, but it’s not easy. Alternative lenders are often your best bet. Here’s some great funding we’ve found.
National Funding
You can get equipment financing for commercial truck leasing and financing. Up to $150,000 is available. Their requirements are 6 or more months in business, an equipment quote from a vendor, and a 575 personal credit score or better. See www.nationalfunding.com/industries/loans/trucking-business
Or get auto repair shop financing, via leasing. Their requirements are 6 or more months in business, an equipment quote from a vendor, and a 620 personal credit score or better. See nationalfunding.com/industries/leasing-financing/automotive-repair-equipment.
Kabbage
Kabbage offers loans specifically for truckers. Up to $250,000 is available. Their requirements are 1 or more years in business, and $50,000 or more in annual revenue. See www.kabbage.com/truck-driver-loans.
Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance, LLC
Get transportation equipment financing. Up to $750,000 is available. Poor credit is not a problem. You can get approval in as little as 24 hours. See https://crlease.com/transportation-equipment-financing.
Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit, even in a recession.
Fundbox
You can get a business line of credit. Up to $100,000 is available. No personal credit score is necessary. You must use online accounting software that can link to Fundbox. See creditsuite.com/fundbox and https://fundbox.com/truck-loans.
Credit Line Hybrid
Got good personal credit? Then a hybrid credit line could be the perfect solution. You can get up to $150,000, even if your business is a startup.
To qualify, your personal credit score should be at least 685. You can’t have any liens, judgments, bankruptcies, or late payments. In the past 6 months you should have fewer than 5 credit inquiries, and you should have less than a 45% balance on all business and personal credit cards. It’s better if you have established business credit as well as personal credit. See creditsuite.com/business-loans.
Takeaways
Business credit is credit in the name of a business. Fleet credit is used by businesses to buy fuel, and to fix and maintain all sorts of vehicles. It can help you build business credit and qualify for loans and more forms of funding. Alternative lenders are one option. And the Credit Suite Credit Line Hybrid is even better if you’ve got good personal credit.
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