Card programs can more than pay for themselves if you get one with benefits tailored to your usage.

Here are six questions to put to potential card issuers to compare offers and make sure your company is getting the most bang for its bucks:

1. Is there any cost for participating the rewards program? (If so, ensure you’d earn enough back to make up for the additional cost.)
2. Is there a minimum charge volume you have to reach before rewards kick in? If so, is it tiered? (Example, you’d receive 0.25% back after spending $10k; 0.5% up to $25k; 1% for any amounts over 1%, etc.)
3. What criteria are used to determine rewards? Common factors include: total volume of spending; average spending per card; amount spent in certain merchant categories, etc.
4. Are there preferred vendors with whom we can earn additional rewards?
5. Will our rewards be affected if we already have negotiated discounts with participating vendors?
6. Do we have an option for choosing different types of rewards: travel vouchers, cash rebates, perks like free shipping, etc.

Any advice to share on how to get more rewards from corporate card issuers? Share ‘em in the comments.

Tags: A/P, Cutting costs, Purchasing cards, Technology, Vendor relationships