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I have a personal credit card that I use for both personal and business purchases. Ideally, I would have a separate credit card for each. Until that is sorted out, how does my business spending on my personal credit card fit into my business accounting?

The approach I am considered is to treat the credit card as a business credit card for the purpose of the accounting (I'm a sole trader), and calling all my personal transactions on that account drawings.

Are there issues with this approach? Is there a better way?

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Who is paying the interest? – JeffO Jan 29 '10 at 17:43

3 Answers

The way to do this is to fill out a business expense report and get reimburse from your company. I know it sounds a little corporate but that is the cleanest way to do it since you want to account for the expenses in the business.

Doing it the other way is problematic. From an accounting point of view, that would technically co-mingle your company money and your personal money. That is bad. It's better to keep it clean and use the card as a personal card and have the company reimburse your expenses via an expense report.

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+1. Get it separate ASAP -- the accounting is so much easier and if you ever have an issue with the IRS it's a ton easier as well. – Jason Mar 27 '10 at 14:00

Both suggestions are great. I wouldn't necessary track your personal CC as a business credit card for now though since it tends to make a mess of things. What you can do is keep all the receipts for business expense are part of your business records. Record the expenses and book it as accounts payable to yourself. When you decided to "reimburse" your expenses, just check a check from the business checking account and close out the payables.

Gluck.

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I agree completing an expense report is the cleanest way. Another option which I use is to write two separate checks. I write a check for the business expenses from my business bank account and a personal check for my personal expenses. I make sure to keep all the business receipts in my business records.

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