U.S. small business owners are earning rewards from their business credit card purchases but how they are using them varies, according to the latest Citibank® Small Business Pulse. More than one in five small business owners are earning rewards points, cash back or airline miles. While airline miles and hotel rewards are both popular among small businesses, fewer than one in five are redeeming these rewards for a vacation.
“There’s no doubt that small businesses are very savvy about earning and redeeming rewards to maximize their spending – and may often use their miles for business travel,” said Lora Monfared, Director of Small Business, Citi Cards. “What’s most important is that they optimize rewards earned based on the needs of their business – whether that’s rewarding a high-performing employee with a weekend trip, offsetting the cost of business travel or taking a well-deserved vacation.”
Small business owners are also frequently on the road for business and relying on their credit card for business expenses. In fact, one in three small business owners travel at least every other month, some as much as a few times a month. While traveling the majority (62 percent) pay for airfare, hotel and car rentals with a business credit card.
The CitiBusiness®/ AAdvantage® World MasterCard® helps businesses save time and money while traveling. Benefits include first checked bag free, Group 1 priority boarding, an American Airlines Companion Certificate every cardmembership year during which they spend $30,000 and renew their cardmembership ($99 ticketing fee plus government taxes and fees apply), and 25 percent off eligible in-flight purchases when traveling on American Airlines.
More than three-quarters of small business owners (77%) say they primarily charge their business expenses on a credit card, with the majority (63%) using a business credit card. Small business owners can see how their purchases add up to more miles in the bank – which can help them save on future business travel. CitiBusiness®/ AAdvantage® cardmembers earn two AAdvantage miles for every $1 of purchases on American Airlines and on business purchases at certain office supply, telecommunications and car rental merchants while also receiving a five percent mileage bonus on purchases made each cardmembership year, provided cardmembership is renewed.
For more information on the CitiBusiness®/ AAdvantage® World MasterCard®, please visit www.miles.citicards.com or www.facebook.com/aadvantage.
About the Citibank® Small Business Pulse
This Citibank survey was conducted by telephone April 2, 2014 – April 17, 2014 among a national random sample of 802 small business owners/operators, age 18 and older throughout the United States. Split samples of approximately 400 each were used for the following sections: Business Funding and Community & Location.
The margin of error is approximately +/- 3.46 percentage points. The margin of error is higher for subgroups. Surveys are subject to other error sources as well, including sampling coverage error, recording error, and respondent error. Abt SRBI Inc. conducted all interviewing.
About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
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© 2013 Citigroup Inc. Citibank, N.A. Member FDIC. Citibank and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.
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Contacts:
Citi
Monique McKenzie, 718-248-3004
Monique.mckenzie@citi.com
