If you need a credit card for your business, don't share your social security number. You might think you need your social security number for a credit card application, but that's not the case. There are ways for you to get a business credit card without using your social security number. In fact, it's best if you don't use your social security number. Not sure how to get a business credit card without your social security number? 

You can use your employer identification number instead. Your EIN works the same as your social security number. This is especially true when applying for a business credit card. If you're not sure how using your EIN for your credit card benefits you, read the list provided below. Here are just four of the reasons to not use your social security number when applying for a business credit card. 

No Effortless Credit Tracking

When you use your social security number for your credit card applications, credit bureaus target that information. Once you use your social security number, credit bureaus can track all your credit history. This includes the use of your business credit cards. One of the benefits of using your employer identification number is that credit bureaus have a harder time tracking your credit. That means they need to work for the information they gather about your business spending habits. 

No Effects on Your Privacy

If you're going to use your social security number for your business credit card application, think about your privacy. Every time you use your social security number for personal identification, you increase your risk for identity theft. Unfortunately, that can include your business accounts as well. That's where your EIN comes into the picture. When you use your EIN for your business credit cards, criminals have a harder time stealing your personal information. 

No Hard Credit Inquiries

If you're trying to protect your personal credit, now's the time to use your EIN for your business credit cards. Each time you use your social security number on a credit application, you get a hard inquiry on your credit report. Unfortunately, those hard inquiries can lower your credit score. To avoid the hard inquiries, use your employer identification number instead of your social security number. 

No Co-Mingling Credit

If you're worried that your personal credit history will affect your business credit, don't use your social security number when applying for business credit cards. When you use your social security number for personal and business identification, you co-mingle your credit history. That won't happen when you use your EIN instead. 

Contact a company like Business Credit Works to learn more. 

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