What's the best credit card deal these days ?

[moof]

Thinking of starting up a small venture out of the garage and wanted to keep all related expenses separate from the regular "family" stuff.
Don't use a credit card much and what few purchases have been made with the card are paid off every month. There will be about 6 or 8 thousand in start up inventory/supplies and even if the deal is a bust it will all be paid for in 6 to 12 months.
There seems to be cards available that allow transfers of existing balances interest free for several months and the other question is should orginal purchases be made on the old card then transfered in to take advantage of the interest free transfer deal or are there some cards that allow the first few purchases to be carried interest free for a time therefore allowing the rewards points to rack up ?

Thanks in advance for any help or info.

Just this so far. http://citi.bridgetrack.com/usc/diamond/generic/diam/default.htm?BTData=C02117A74667E6254534E4CABB0A1ACAB8B928C82F6E1E6F02910C62&app=UNSOL&sc=4D3Z67Q5&m=3CJ8000000W&langId=EN&siteId=CB&B=M&AID=10359627&PID=1508353&SID=frbsuswb&BT_TX=1&ProspectID=75145B0F2C3E4EDCA4728705C5147086

[bryant69]

1. Well I don't know very much about Credit Cards

Nor about banking roles in general. I really am pretty unqualified to answer this question on any level. That said, I think you should go with American Express if you can get it. I like the design of that card. Simple. Classic. Elegant.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[CabalPowered]

10. I'll second the call for AMEX.

I got a Blue card about 4 months ago. No interest until June 06. You also can accrue reward points with the Blue card. I also have a Gold Rewards card which will accrue double reward points for routine purchases like gas and groceries. It has to be paid off every month but you can accure a lot of points quickly. I'll have enough for a free vacaction in about a year. On top of that, they have a great website for account management. I can't think of one thing to complain about.

[imouttahere]

2. In this climate, I would avoid credit cards....

altogether, maybe just keep one with a small line around for emergencies.

[mattclearing]

3. I got a zero-interest Bank of America card recently.

Little do they know that I'm selling my place and paying it back in full in a month. Suckers! :D

[pitohui]

6. suckers how?

they get a percentage of everything you charge on yr card

don't be fooled, the interest rate is only a small part of how credit card merchants make money

ppl who pay off in full every month are NOT any kind of free rider or free loader, i'm one of them, & my credit is EXCELLENT, & i continue to get great offers all the time

[mattclearing]

15. I'm not paying off every month.

I'm paying my full balance at the end of a year of 0% interest.

Not implying a freeloader so much as a 0% loan.

[AllegroRondo]

4. shop around

banks have very different interest rates and deals. And its the bank you choose more than the card that matters.

Avoid banks in Delaware and South Dakota. These states have the most corporate biased laws in terms of what interest rates are allowed and cardholder rights. Arkansas, believe it or not, has some of the best (banks can only charge a certain percentage over prime, etc) which is why you dont see many credit card offers from Arkansas.

[pitohui]

5. my suggestion

get out the information for the cards you already own

use the card that gives you the best "cashback" and charge the 8-10K there

immediately use the free balance transfer/zero interest balance for 6-12 month card to transfer the balance to the new card of yr choice

since you won't be paying interest, you don't care abt interest rate, you care abt their promotions such as free balance transfer/zero interest balance (a must), after you have identified the cards available to you offering this, consider the other offers -- at minimum you should be getting cashback of $25 for accepting a new credit card, but depending on the card, you may be offered enough "points" to get one or two nights free hotel room or half to all of the way toward a free domestic air ticket -- important if you travel for yr business or for leisure

i like flexibility and in the end i fall back only on the cards that offer cashback w. NO annual fee charged, if you have good credit, annual fees should be a thing of the past

look at yr mail, ppl w. good credit in good zip codes get good offers every day that they throw in the trash (as well as poor offers from shady places like capital one and providian)

[MemphisTiger]

7. That look good

just make sure you pay it off before the 12 month period ends. Otherwise, you'll pay interest from it all. Good luck.

[Stephanie]

8. I got a Democratic Party card from Juniper

They donate to your state party when you use it. And I like handing it over to the cashier - very pretty.

[lonestarnot]

9. None of em. That would be the best deal.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

11. DON'T DO IT!!

Open a separate savings account and get a debit card for it.

Credit cards are the scourge of mankind.

[Kazak]

17. Ditto!

Er, I mean, I agree. ;)

[Poiuyt]

12. Check out bankrate

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/default.asp

[Touchdown]

13. Issuing one from the bank you own.

Anything else, you're owned when you owe.

[napi21]

14. Well, I have a very small operation out of my house, and I use

a CC that give cash back on each purchase. I use that cash back to reduce my cost of goods. I always pay off the balance before there's any interest accrued.

[readmylips]

16. Don't use credit card for business venture.....

Unless you have a credit rating of at least 8 and can pay your credit cards in full at the end of each month, for sure you'll get in debt for years to come.