A business credit card--one that's issued to your business instead of you personally--carries advantages and disadvantages compared to a personal card. When choosing a business credit card, look for one that offers you the most benefits, the most protections, and the fewest downsides.

Here are some tips to help you choose a business credit card:

• Look for a card that offers the most flexible payment options and the richest reward programs.
• Look for an issuer who won't raise the rates on your existing balance--or who at least promises to give you sufficient notice of an increase.
• Beware of teaser rates. On personal cards, by law, they have to stay in place for six months. There's no such rule for business cards.
• Find out about due dates and late fees: Due dates often fall sooner after billing for business cards, and late fees can be quite high in some cases.
• Be sure your higher-interest balances are paid off first.
• Reward programs should not be on a use-it-or-lose-it basis. Find a reward program that will let you keep your points indefinitely.
• Get a card that rewards early use--then use it early. If you put a certain minimum of purchases on the card (say, $5,000) in the first three months of use, many issuers will give you extra reward points.
• Get a card that offers discounts on purchases from vendors you're likely to use often: shipping services, supply stores, airlines, car rental companies.
• If you're going to carry a balance, look for a card with the lowest ongoing rate of interest--and see if you can get that rate locked in for a considerable period of time.