Best credit card features for ecommerce businesses

For ecommerce businesses, spend patterns aren’t like those of a traditional brick-and-mortar shop. Whether you’re scaling with online ad campaigns, stocking up on inventory for a seasonal promotion, paying overseas suppliers and vendors, or handling shipping costs, your spending may be unpredictable. This makes financing ecommerce businesses a challenge. 

Choosing the right ecommerce credit card to support your company’s dynamic spending is a strategic decision. With the right credit card, you can ensure smooth cash flow, unlock hidden growth opportunities, and gain a buffer against operational risk. However, not all credit cards are built with the spending patterns of ecommerce businesses in mind. 

In this article, we break down the features that the best credit cards for ecommerce need to have, and show you how to choose a credit card that meaningfully supports your online business.

If you’re in the early-to-growth stage of your business, managing ad spend, vendor costs, and online payments can feel overwhelming. That’s why you’ll need a credit card that’s designed to address the specific challenges of running an ecommerce business and offers flexible, rewards-driven, and secure credit options.

High ad spend and frequent transactions

Ecommerce businesses spend between 10% to 20% of their revenue on marketing, which includes digital ads on platforms like Google and Meta. To operate these campaigns successfully, you’ll need a credit card that meets your spending requirements and provides clear visibility into each online transaction.

Working with multiple global vendors

If you source your products or materials from vendors, it’s likely some or all of them are located overseas. If so, credit cards that charge high foreign transaction fees will zap your profitability.

Seasonal demand spikes requiring flexible limits

Whether your ecommerce business gets increased traffic around Black Friday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or other times, seasonal demand spikes mean you’ll have to plan ahead and stock up on inventory. The best credit card for ecommerce businesses offers a flexible limit, so you can scale up warehousing and shipping systems before your seasonal revenue rolls in. 

For ecommerce businesses that are in the startup phase, your credit card needs may be slightly different. Check out the best corporate cards for startups.

Which ecommerce credit card features should you avoid compromising on? Here’s our list of must-haves for ecommerce stores.

High credit limits or dynamic spend capacity

If you spend a significant percentage of your revenue on online ads, working capital loans aren’t your only option. You can use an ecommerce credit card with a high credit limit or dynamic spend capacity that grows with your needs. Some credit cards offer revenue-based credit limits, which means you have the option to adjust your spending limits based on your sales. 

Learn more about ways to build strong business credit.

Rewards or cashback tailored to ecommerce categories

If your operating costs include SaaS solutions, online ads, and shipping, then it’s wise to go with an ecommerce credit card that offers rewards and cashback for these categories. The best business credit card for ecommerce lets you rack up the savings with every transaction.

Fraud protection and virtual cards

Just 8% of fraudulent credit card charges actually involved stolen or lost credit cards. The other 92% involved hackers accessing personal data and account information remotely. Opt for credit cards that prioritize multi-layered fraud protection and provide easy access to highly secure virtual cards, so you can make vendor payments without worry.

Integration with accounting tools

Reconciling credit card spend can be a nightmare at month’s end. To avoid the confusion and stress that comes with manually moving over data, go with a credit card that integrates directly with your accounting tools, like QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite.

Spend controls and employee cards for scaling teams

Most growing teams need multiple credit cards. That way your company’s workflows won’t get backlogged while waiting for a single credit card holder to make purchases. Choose a credit card provider that offers unlimited cards for your team and provides tight spend controls, so you can maintain oversight as your business scales.

Cross-border payments

Need to make or receive payments internationally? Go with ecommerce credit cards that have low foreign transaction fees and no or low wire transfer fees. Some credit cards also integrate with other services for lower-cost international payments.

These optional value-adds can give some ecommerce businesses a competitive advantage.

Travel rewards

Do you travel often to attend trade shows in your industry or to source products from new international vendors? Make your travel spending go further by choosing a credit card that offers travel rewards, like hotel points, airline miles, or airport lounge access.

Partner perks

When considering credit card providers, be sure to check out their partner networks. You may find some hidden deals that benefit your ecommerce business. Some partners, for example, offer exclusive discounts on ad platforms, SaaS tools, or shipping.

Transparent pricing and fees

Reading through credit card pricing and fees shouldn’t feel like you’re deciphering convoluted code. The best business credit cards for ecommerce clearly explain their terms in plain language, so there’s no question about pricing or hidden fees.

The best way to choose an ecommerce credit card for your business is to align your company's financial tools and systems with the credit card’s features.  Follow these three best practices to help you select your ideal ecommerce credit card.

Consider your top spend categories

How do your expenses shape up each month? Most ecommerce businesses spend a healthy amount on digital ads, inventory, and shipping — but it’s important to know exactly how much you spend in each category. Once you have that information, look for credit cards that offer rewards or benefits tailored to your specific expense categories. For example, if the majority of your spend is on products from international vendors, consider a card that has no or low fees for making cross-border payments.

Weigh rewards with flexibility

Some credit cards offer enticing levels of cashback or points, which can seem appealing at first. For ecommerce businesses, however, what’s more important is finding a credit card that fits your cash flow cycle and offers higher credit limits. The best credit card for an ecommerce business prioritizes flexibility, so you can keep up with the pace of business and scale during peak seasons.

Think about cash flow needs

During seasonal demand spikes, your ecommerce business may need greater purchasing power. Consider how your credit card can meet your company’s cash flow needs based on your business cycle. A charge card like Mercury IO needs to be paid in full each month, but may help you build credit and offers higher spending limits, making it ideal for growing ecommerce businesses. On the other hand, a traditional revolving credit card allows you to carry a credit balance month to month, but these may come with high interest fees, which can add up.

Juggling high digital ad spend and international vendor payments during seasonal ups and downs is no easy feat. But the right credit card can be a strategic tool that helps you scale your ecommerce business. 

Mercury IO is a powerful ecommerce credit card that offers higher credit limits, unlimited cashback, and comprehensive spend management tools. With Mercury IO, ecommerce businesses can: 

• Accelerate growth with access to higher credit limits than what’s typically offered by traditional banks. 
• Manage peak periods with ease by streamlining product purchases from vendors and suppliers around the world. 
• Scale the brand by setting up multiple credit cards and virtual cards for team members, keeping workflows moving. 
• Stay in control of spending with easy-to-use spend management tools that offer real-time insights. 
• Keep accounts secure with automated multi-layered fraud monitoring tools that stop unusual activity in its tracks. 

Plus, Mercury IO offers unlimited 1.5% cashback on all spend, with no confusing point system or manual redemption process. Simply spend and receive. Qualifying for Mercury IO is straightforward, and most U.S. businesses get approved on their first day with Mercury. 

Learn more about Mercury’s credit card.