Author: Dana Krook

Managing expenses at a non-profit can feel like a constant juggling act. Between unpredictable cash flow, strict reporting requirements and a mountain of admin tasks like chasing down receipts, there’s often a major strain on already-limited resources. 

If you’re still relying on personal credit cards and reimbursement processes to manage spend, you’re not alone, but there’s a better way.

Corporate cards for non-profits are helping to control spending, enforce financial policies and save time on admin. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how non-profits manage expenses with corporate cards, what to look for and how to get a corporate card as a non-profit.

Why expense management is harder at non-profits

Non-profits operate under tight budgets, often with lean teams and evolving expenses. You might have board-approved spending limits, project-specific funding or donor restrictions that require precise tracking. 

Unfortunately, traditional processes aren’t built for this level of transparency or control. They create delays, lost receipts and reporting headaches that make audits and financial reviews more stressful than they need to be.

That’s where spending solutions like Float’s corporate cards can provide streamlined tools that replace friction with the flexibility non-profits need.

Check out the full Ocean Wise case study to learn how this non-profit recaptured 1,200+ hours of admin time using Float cards and expense management.

What are corporate cards for non-profits?

It’s easy to assume all cards work the same. However, for non-profits, the differences between corporate, business and personal cards can have big implications for control, compliance and day-to-day operations.

• Corporate cards are issued by your organization, not tied to personal credit, and often offer better spend controls.
• Business credit cards may be designed for small businesses but often still require a personal guarantee.
• Personal credit cards aren’t ideal for non-profit purchases and can blur financial boundaries.

For many non-profits, traditional credit options aren’t accessible due to unpredictable funding cycles and limited business credit history. Float’s pre-funded model solves this by giving organizations complete control over spending without relying on credit approvals. You can fund cards as needed, in CAD or USD, and even earn interest on reserves. 

“As a conservation organization, we always have two challenges. One, maximizing every dollar in terms of shifting it to conservation and two, keep all other costs low. Float’s excellent at helping us do that.”

Lasse Gustavsson, President and CEO at Ocean Wise

Why non-profits need corporate cards

Non-profits are increasingly choosing corporate cards because of a number of key advantages, including better control, faster access to funds and simpler, audit-ready reporting.

Real-time transparency and oversight

Corporate cards let you see your spending as it happens, not weeks later in an expense report. 

Whether your team is booking last-minute travel to a conference, purchasing emergency supplies for a food bank or placing an ad to promote a local fundraiser, you can track every purchase by project, department or user in real time and catch issues early before they become budget overruns.

No more out-of-pocket costs

Staff and volunteers shouldn’t have to front their own money for fuel on outreach trips, coffee for donor meetings or snacks for youth programming. 

Corporate cards eliminate reimbursement delays and make it easier to support the people doing the work, especially in community-driven organizations where fast action is often needed.

Built-in controls and approvals

With corporate cards, managers can set spending limits by role, card, and employee.  

For example, you can set $100 per month for peer outreach workers or $2,000 for event managers. Enable pre-approvals for larger expenses like venue bookings or tech equipment. Use single-use virtual cards to prevent fraud or overages when paying new vendors, ordering printed materials or trialing new software.

Easier compliance and reporting

Float makes audit preparation and donor reporting even easier by auto-tagging transactions by fund or program, enforcing spend policies and syncing data with your accounting system. That means you can instantly pull clean, accurate records – no chasing receipts or manually reconciling restricted vs. unrestricted funds.

“This has really improved a lot of our internal controls. We now have one location where we can reference all the different receipts, all the backup support, all the right coding. It’s been really tremendous for our external auditing as well.” 

Terry Burma, Director of Finance at Ocean Wise

Need help setting up an expense policy to keep compliance and reporting clear? Check out our guide on compliance best practices.

Key features to look for in a corporate card provider

Not all non-profit corporate cards are created equal. When evaluating providers, prioritize solutions designed to support how non-profits manage expenses. 

1. Custom spend controls

Look for cards that let you set limits by user, merchant or budget. Some providers offer daily, weekly or project-based caps to give you even more control and flexibility.

2. Accounting software integrations

Sync transactions directly with tools like QuickBooks or Xero to speed up your month-end. 

3. Receipt capture and transaction matching

Choose a platform that auto-collects receipts and matches them to purchases using optical character recognition technology. No more chasing down staff at month-end.

4. Audit-friendly reporting

Non-profits often need to justify expenses to funders. Audit-ready reports with transaction notes and attachments make it easy.

5. User-friendly interface

Your team may not include full-time finance professionals. A clean dashboard and intuitive app can make a world of difference in team adoption and compliance.

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Best practices for corporate card management at a non-profit

Having the right tool is the first step. Using it effectively is what drives results. Here’s how to get the most from the best corporate cards for non-profits:

1. Set clear spending policies

Define which expenses are permitted, when approval is needed and who’s responsible for different expense-related tasks. 

2. Use pre-approvals for large or unusual expenses

Set thresholds for auto-approval and add manual checks for larger transactions. This keeps spending under control without bottlenecks.

3. Assign cards strategically

Give cards to team members who regularly make purchases, and use virtual cards for one-off needs or specific vendors.

4. Keep receipts organized (digitally!)

Paper receipts get lost. Use a system that allows employees to upload photos or email receipts directly to their card.

5. Monitor spending regularly

Use dashboards to keep tabs on budgets, identify trends and address overspending early. Make it a habit, not a once-a-month panic.

6. Train your team

Walk staff and volunteers through how to use cards, submit receipts and follow your expense policy. The more confident they are, the smoother your program runs.

A better way to manage non-profit expenses

If your organization is ready to move past messy spreadsheets and manual reimbursement, Float can help.

With Float, non-profits get:

• Pre-funded CAD and USD corporate cards—no credit checks required
• Spend controls, approval workflows and real-time dashboards for full oversight
• Audit-ready tagging and reporting by fund, program or department
• Automated receipt capture and accounting syncs to cut admin time
• Transparent FX rates for international vendors and cross-border payments
• High-Yield Accounts for liquidity and up to 4% interest on unused funds

Float is built to reduce the administrative burden that pulls your finance team away from mission-focused work. For instance, at Ocean Wise, Float helped save over 1,200 hours of administrative labour in the company’s first year using the platform.

“Float makes my life extremely easy. It’s so great, it’s so accessible and it helps us get closer to protecting the ocean, putting more time where it’s actually needed.” 

Brittany MacLean, Manager of Youth Programs at Ocean Wise

Want to know how to get a corporate card as a non-profit? With Float, there’s no complicated application process or personal credit pull. Just sign up, set your policies and start issuing cards within days.

For more on how Float compares to traditional options, check out our guide to the best business credit cards in Canada.

Tracking corporate card spend through traditional monthly statements is a little like using a typewriter in a touchscreen world. Monthly statements often make overspend hard to identify and cause delays in spotting fraud or unauthorized transactions. As a result, relying on these statements alone can lead to reactive decision-making.

Canadian businesses that want to prevent spending surprises need real-time expense tracking capabilities—and the good news is, you no longer have to wait for monthly statements. With new tools that offer live visibility into corporate card spending, automated expense tracking by category, and tighter compliance controls, you can stay agile and maintain stronger financial control as purchases happen.

Daniel Hoyles, VP of Finance at SnapTrade—a company that helps connect retail brokerage accounts to finance apps—understands all too well the importance of real-time visibility. “When I started at SnapTrade, I was coming in blind,” he says. “Float gave me the full visibility I needed into our spending, vendors and spending cadence in real time, so I had the knowledge to start making strategic decisions.” 

In this article, Daniel walks through the importance of real-time corporate card spend tracking and outlines the features Canadian businesses should look for when selecting real-time corporate card spend-tracking tools.

What is corporate card spend tracking?

Corporate card spend tracking is the process of monitoring and analyzing company card transactions to manage business budgets and enforce spending policies. 

The traditional method of corporate card spend tracking is still prevalent in many Canadian businesses and involves finance teams waiting for monthly statements for corporate cards. Teams then manually reconcile spend and make any necessary adjustments days or weeks after the spending has occurred. 

The problem is that this traditional style of credit card expense management provides limited spend visibility throughout most of the month. Finance teams lack real-time access to corporate spending, resulting in delayed insights and poor forecasting. This type of monitoring can also lead to budget overruns and cash flow blind spots, leaving businesses in a tough financial position.

Many Canadian businesses don’t notice the problem with using monthly statements for expense tracking until they start to expand. 

“As your business grows and you have more people on your team, there are new needs and wants,” says Daniel. “This leads to a spending sprawl. Team members want the ability to purchase software and tools. However, if you don’t have the proper accounting processes and procedures in place, you can get into trouble.” 

Real-time expense tracking for corporate cards: How it works

In contrast to traditional corporate card spending tracking, real-time expense tracking involves the live monitoring of card transactions as they happen. This means finance teams don’t have to wait until the end of the month for a statement. 

This type of real-time corporate card management has major perks. Canadian businesses can rely on smart corporate cards, expense management platforms and seamless accounting integrations to have up-to-date access to company corporate card spend data. This is especially helpful for businesses that want more visibility into their finances but lack the manpower to make it happen. 

“In some startups and smaller companies, you often don’t have an accountant or a finance team. Sometimes, finance isn’t given the same priority as other departments,” says Daniel. “That’s one situation where a real-time visibility tool like Float comes in handy. It allows you to execute while giving you alerts on your spending or when payments have failed.” 

The financial impact of real-time visibility into corporate card spend tracking is massive, with businesses being able to make faster decisions on budgets, enforce policies in real-time and forecast more accurately. It also allows for tighter expense control and better financial management, minimizing unauthorized spending and fraudulent spending. 

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Why real-time spend visibility matters

Canadian businesses receive several advantages when they implement corporate spend tracking tools that provide reporting and insights in real time: 

• Faster month-end closes: Your finance teams don’t need to wait until they get a monthly statement to reconcile spend. Instead, they can access data in real time and reconcile daily. 
• Reduced fraud and unauthorized spend: With up-to-the-minute spend data, your team is much more likely to catch fraud and unauthorized transactions in time to rectify the issue, compared to waiting weeks after the fact. 
• More accurate forecasting and budget control: With real-time insights into spend, you can more accurately forecast monthly budgets and keep those budgets under control. 
• Improved employee accountability: Your employees are more likely to comply with internal corporate card policies—such as sending in receipts right away instead of waiting to be chased by your finance team—when they know you can see corporate card spend in real-time. 
• Faster expense report processes: Many corporate card visibility tools enable employees to automatically submit receipts, allowing them to spend less time on expense reports. 
• Streamlined approvals and compliance: The current pace of business doesn’t allow for slow approvals on expenditures or spend limits. Real-time visibility also enables faster approvals and budgetary compliance. 
• A more strategic approach to budgets: Modern corporate card visibility tools provide detailed reporting and analytics, allowing your finance teams to move beyond reactive budgeting and adopt a more strategic approach. 

For Daniel, the real-time visibility features are a game-changer. “From time to time, your tech stack evolves,” he says. “I can see us getting a new ERP (enterprise resource planning) system or accounting software, but I can’t see us ever changing our spending partner.”

Key features of real-time corporate card spend tracking tools 

When selecting a real-time corporate card management tool, what should you pay attention to? 

“Having the ability to augment workflows in your ERP or accounting system like QuickBooks is key,” says Daniel. This helps avoid manual error and slow workflows, and is not only beneficial at month-end but all year round. 

Here are other notable features to look for: 

• Live transaction feeds: Opt for tools that show spend as it’s happening. It’s helpful to see which card is making the purchase, where and for how much. 
• Instant spend notifications: Get alerts for unusual expenses or those that are outside your company limits. 
• Department or user-level dashboards: Analyze spend on a granular level so you can more accurately forecast and assign budgets. 
• Categorization and tagging: Automatically categorize and tag expenditures to expedite reconciliation. For example, automatically tag Uber rides as transportation.

Float: Your answer to real-time corporate card spend tracking 

Float’s corporate card has live spend tracking built right into it, so your finance team can see real-time spend data for each card. Not only that, you get custom spend controls by department, budget or individual, in addition to a visual dashboard that enables fast reviews and decision making. Plus, with one click, you can sync Float with accounting tools like QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite. 

“Float provides a level of speed and efficiency that makes me enjoy accounting software like QuickBooks,” says Daniel. “It actually makes my life in QuickBooks easier.” 

Learn more about Float’s corporate card today, and get complete visibility into your company’s spending in real time.

A procurement card and corporate card are often confused with one another, but they serve different purposes in your financial management toolkit. If you’re scaling operations, tightening controls or modernizing how your company spends, knowing the difference is critical.

In this article, we’ll break down how procurement cards and corporate cards work, where each one shines and how Float offers the flexibility to do both without the tradeoffs.

What is a procurement card?

Also known as a p-card, a procurement card is a company-issued card used for lower-value, frequent purchases from vendors. It simplifies buying by removing the need for purchase orders, cheques, personal cards or petty cash. 

Instead of routing every purchase through traditional procurement workflows, approved employees can use p-cards to quickly buy items like office supplies, subscriptions or emergency materials. Typically, any vendor that accepts credit cards can accept p-cards. 

Common p-card use cases

P-cards are best used for frequent, lower-value transactions that don’t require a full procurement process. 

Typical scenarios include: 

• Office supplies and equipment
• SaaS or digital tools
• Facility maintenance or repairs
• Emergency or ad hoc purchases
• Recurring vendor payments

Procurement card advantages

The biggest strength of a procurement card is control. It helps finance teams manage spend while empowering employees to get what they need quickly. 

Here are some key benefits: 

• Simplified procurement workflows
• Lower transaction and processing costs
• Real-time spend control
• Cleaner audit trails and expense data
• Immediate vendor payment
• Reduces use of petty cash and reimbursements 

P-cards decentralize small, operational spending in a way that’s fast and controlled, but they aren’t ideal for every scenario.

What is a corporate card?

Corporate cards are designed for broader employee spending, especially for travel and entertainment. These cards are issued to individuals or departments to cover work-related expenses without dipping into personal funds and filing expense reports for reimbursement. 

Common corporate card uses 

Corporate cards shine when employees need flexibility to spend across a wide range of business needs, not just from pre-approved vendors. 

Typical uses include: 

• Travel expenses, like flights, hotels and meals
• Client entertainment
• Team offsites
• Online subscriptions
• Day-to-day business purchase

Want to take a closer look at how these cards work in Canada? Read our comprehensive guide to corporate credit cards.

Corporate card benefits

Corporate cards offer flexibility and perks that make them a great fit for growing teams with varied spending needs.

Key benefits include:

• Flexibility across spend types
• Cashback rewards and interest on deposits
• Real-time tracking and policy enforcement
• Automated expense reporting 
• Integrates with accounting tools
• Builds business credit

Because they’re not vendor-restricted, corporate cards are ideal for fast-moving teams and growing companies, but they can lead to overspending without proper controls.

P-card vs. corporate card: Side-by-side breakdown

Criteria	Procurement Card (P-card)	Corporate Card
Primary use	Vendor-specific procurement	Travel, entertainment, team expenses
Spend control	Pre-set vendor lists and category limits	General limits per user, team or department
Approval flow	Pre-approvals tied to procurement workflows	Post-purchase reporting and manager reviews
Reporting	Vendor-level detail, ERP integration	Category-based reporting, ERP integration
Risks	Misuse with unauthorized vendors	Overspending, unclear policy enforcement

Pros and cons at a glance

Not sure which card best suits your needs? Here’s a quick summary of the strengths and trade-offs of procurement cards and corporate cards to help you compare. 

Procurement cards

Procurement cards are ideal for controlled, repeatable purchases from known vendors.  Just keep in mind they work best with clearly defined use cases and vendor lists.

Pros:

• Strong pre-spend controls
• Cuts down on invoice and cheque volume
• Ideal for decentralizing approved vendor spend
• Enforces budget and category restrictions

Cons:

• Limited use outside vendor purchases
• Requires employee training and policy clarity
• Reconciliation can get messy if not automated

Corporate cards

Corporate cards enable autonomy across departments but need strong oversight to avoid overspending or policy drift.

Pros:

• Broadly usable for all types of business spend
• Perks like cashback, insurance and interest rewards
• Supports travel-heavy or fast-moving teams

Cons:

• Greater risk of misuse without pre-approvals
• Personal liability may apply depending on the card
• Often carries annual fees

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Worried about risk? Check out the best strategies to prevent corporate card misuse.

How to choose the right card for your business

To choose the best card option, ask yourself a few key questions:

1. What kind of spend are you trying to control?

If it’s mostly merchant-specific, a procurement card might be your best bet. If it’s broader employee or travel-related expenses, lean toward corporate cards.

2. What are your expense types and volumes?

High-frequency, small purchases? P-cards. Large travel or project-based expenses? Corporate cards.

3. Who needs access?

Are these ops team members buying supplies, or executives managing their own travel?

4. Do you need more control or more flexibility?

Procurement cards offer strict rules and approvals. Corporate cards offer flexibility, but often at the cost of tighter post-spend reconciliation.

5. Does the card integrate with your finance tools?

Look for financial management solutions that fit your existing workflows and scale as your team grows.

6. What’s the ROI on perks?

Are you earning meaningful cashback? Is the interest return worth it?

Need help setting policies and controls? Download our free expense policy template to get started. 

Tips for running a successful procurement card program

Whether you go with procurement cards, corporate cards or both—how you manage them makes the biggest difference. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:

Set clear policies and card limits upfront

A clear business credit card policy will reduce confusion and prevent overspending from the start.

Automate approvals and expense tracking

Manual tracking slows everyone down. Use tools that support real-time monitoring.

Train employees and run audits regularly

New employees need onboarding. Regular users need reminders.

Choose scalable financial tools

Don’t get stuck with card programs that can’t grow with you. Learn more about Float’s corporate card platform.

What if you want the best of both? 

Here’s the reality: most companies need both control and flexibility. That’s why Float corporate card solution was built to deliver the best of procurement cards and corporate cards in one powerful platform. 

With Float, you can:

• Issue cards to employees, vendors or departments
• Set pre-approved budgets and category limits
• Auto-reconcile with your accounting software
• Tracking spending in real time
• Earn cashback and earn interest on deposits

Whether it’s managing office supplies or enabling seamless travel, Float makes it easy to stay on budget without slowing anyone down.

Match the tool to the task

Both procurement cards and corporate cards serve a purpose. The key is knowing which to use and when. 

If you’re stuck between control and flexibility, Float helps you avoid the tradeoff. Issue procurement cards with built-in workflows, or roll out team cards with real-time oversight—all from one platform designed for Canadian businesses. 

Ready to modernize your company’s card program? Explore how Float works.

Corporate cards should make business spending smoother, not riskier. But without the right controls, visibility or policies, even well-meaning teams can open the door to fraud, misuse and costly mistakes.

Nobody likes the thought of fraud happening in their organization, but ignoring it is not an option. The longer a dishonest employee works for the company, the greater the impact. Median costs lost to a bad actor rocket up to a quarter of a million dollars over a decade or more, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Seb Prost, CPA and founder of LedgerLogic, has helped guide business owners through these concerns. His firm provides tax, accounting and virtual CFO services for Canadian businesses looking to modernize their finance stack and reduce the friction of traditional banking tools.

In this article, Seb walks through the risks he sees most often and the corporate card security best practices that help companies take a proactive stance in credit card fraud prevention.

What is corporate card security?

Corporate card security refers to the systems, policies and tools a business uses to protect its company-issued credit cards from misuse, fraud or data breaches. It includes everything from setting clear spending limits and permissions to monitoring transactions in real-time, to utilizing modern platforms that automate controls and flag suspicious activity.

Why does it matter?

Without strong card security, a simple mistake, such as a shared login or a missing receipt, can snowball into a costly error, reputational hit or even a red flag that triggers an audit. For small and mid-sized Canadian businesses, the stakes are especially high: they may have fewer resources to absorb fraud losses and limited time to manually track down every charge.

When corporate card security is treated as an afterthought, teams end up reacting to problems after they happen. Imagine trying to smoothly offboard an employee without a plan in place! But when it’s built into your systems from the start, you can empower employees to spend responsibly without putting your business at risk.

The importance of managing corporate card security

Corporate card fraud rarely looks like a high-stakes heist. More often, it’s unintentional misuse or a small purchase here and there. Even so, the cost adds up. And it’s even harder to spot red flags when your team shares cards or lacks oversight.

“The lack of real-time visibility into spending is a huge issue, especially with legacy banking,” says Seb. “You might not know until month-end what was actually spent.”

Delayed reconciliations, shared cards and hard-to-cancel access are all vulnerabilities that Seb’s clients face. These issues pose a risk, especially when it’s unclear who made a charge or whether the expense aligns with someone’s role. With help, these businesses can implement more effective financial management controls, which are key to preventing corporate card misuse.

Biggest safety risks

When it comes to corporate card security, the most common risks aren’t always the most obvious. Sometimes the issues are real security risks, while others are simply due to a lack of clarity. 

Here are a few of the most common risks Seb advises businesses to watch out for:  

Lack of visibility

Without real-time spend tracking and timely receipt submission, unauthorized charges can fly under the radar for weeks or even months. 

Shared cards

As soon as a card changes hands, there’s an opportunity for murky details or misuse. “If it’s just one card for multiple people, how do you even know who spent what?” asks Seb.

Orphaned cards

Former employees with lingering access can create serious exposure if cards aren’t cancelled immediately.

Receipt gaps and role mismatches

Expenses that don’t align with a person’s responsibilities or arrive without documentation should cause concern. 

5 tips to better your corporate card security management

The risks are real, but can be managed. With the right policies and financial management tools in place, you’ll be well on your way to preventing corporate card misuse while empowering your team. 

1. Develop a comprehensive corporate credit card policy

Think of your credit card policy like a seatbelt. It should click into place before anyone starts driving. It’s your first line of defence to preventing any security issues. Define who gets a card, how it should be used and what happens when someone breaks the rules.

Seb recommends setting clear eligibility criteria, pre-approval thresholds and usage guidelines tied to specific roles and responsibilities. 

“Does it make sense that this person gets a card?” he says. “If someone’s in IT, maybe they need to pay for a subscription. A salesperson might need travel funds. But not everyone needs a card that can be used for anything.” 

The policy should also list prohibited uses (like personal expenses) and the consequences for credit card misuse. And don’t let your corporate credit card policy collect dust. “Review it periodically, especially if there are changes in how the business operates,” says Seb. 

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2. Implement financial management controls

Internal controls are essential for spotting fraud early. For example, you can assign individual cards instead of shared ones for more clarity. “You want to be able to track an expense back to an individual, not a team,” Seb says.

Real-time transaction feeds help business owners or accountants flag issues quickly. “You can pop into Float and review expenses daily if you like,” says Seb.

Other smart controls include:

• Regular reviews by accountants or management
• Setting and reviewing transaction limits
• Segregation of duties so the same person isn’t both spending and approving 

3. Use technology to enhance security

Legacy systems walk. Modern solutions run, with real-time visibility, instant card controls and tech that doesn’t make you beg a banker for a call back. 

“Instant card issuance and freezing is a big one,” says Seb. “If somebody joins or leaves, you can issue or cancel a card right away with no need to call the bank.”

He also recommends category-level restrictions. “If you can limit based on what the person actually needs, that’s super helpful,” he says. 

Other features that stand out include:

• Adjustable spending limits that reflect project budgets or one-off needs
• Cloud accounting integrations that eliminate manual data entry
• Automatic receipt capture and reminders to cut down on paperwork and errors

“Automation helps catch issues early and significantly reduces the administrative burden on finance teams,” says Seb. 

4. Set appropriate corporate card limits

Card limits aren’t one-size-fits-all. “Base limits on the employee’s role and the type of expenses they might incur,” Seb says. A salesperson might need more flexibility, while admin staff might only need a small recurring amount.

He also suggests adjusting corporate card limits monthly as needed, such as during busy seasons or when attending a trade show. He also recommends enabling real-time alerts so employees know when they’re approaching their cap.

5. Educate employees on security best practices

Policies only work if people follow them. “It starts with clear communication and training,” says Seb. 

He recommends a quick onboarding session when issuing cards, including examples of acceptable and off-limits purchases. “Equally important is reinforcing that card access is a responsibility, not a perk.”

Seb also flags receipt collection as a chronic pain point. “Especially for outsourced bookkeepers, it’s hard to get clients to provide supporting documentation,” he says. That’s where Float’s automated reminders can offer help.

“When employees get a text reminder to upload their receipt right away, it makes a big difference,” says Seb. “It reinforces good habits.” Finance teams can also offer transparent feedback to help employees stay compliant without friction.

Corporate card security compliance requirements

Protecting corporate card data is not only just a best practice to reduce your risk, but it’s also essential for compliance. In Canada, finance leaders navigate multiple overlapping obligations, particularly when managing employee data, customer information or financial transactions.

Here’s what you need to know:

PCI-DSS compliance

If your business processes, stores or transmits cardholder data (even via employee-submitted receipts), you’re subject to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Float is PCI-DSS compliant, helping reduce the burden on your internal IT and finance teams.

Privacy regulations

Under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canadian companies are required to protect personal data, including information tied to identifiable financial activity. If you’re logging or tracking employee spend, proper storage and access controls are critical.

Audit trails and internal controls

Whether for Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) review or financial due diligence, businesses must maintain clear records of expenses and enforce internal controls to ensure accuracy and compliance. Segregation of duties, spend approvals and consistent documentation help satisfy audit requirements and reduce fraud risk.
Unlike legacy systems that leave gaps in compliance tracking, Float includes built-in audit logs, digital receipt storage, real-time approvals and System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type 2 certification, making it easier to stay compliant without a patchwork of manual processes.

Float’s corporate card security vs. traditional business cards

Let’s face it. Today’s fraud risks and the speed of business weren’t considered when major Canadian banks designed traditional business cards. Most offer the basics: a credit limit, one or two physical cards and a statement at month end. Beyond that, it’s mostly up to your team to chase down receipts, monitor spending, and try to spot problems after the fact.

Here’s how that compares to a modern, security-forward platform like Float.

Feature	Traditional Bank Cards	Float
Card issuance	Manual, often takes days	Instant, virtual or physical
Spending controls	Set once by bank	Custom limits per card, user, project or category
Transaction visibility	Delayed (monthly statements)	Real-time feeds, live notifications
Security features	Basic fraud detection, often reactive	Instant freezing, role-based permissions, SAML Single Sign-On for Professional Plan members, multi-factor authentication for all Float customers
Receipt management	Manual, after-the-fact	Automated matching + reminders
Compliance support	Little to no visibility	SOC 2, PCI-DSS, audit logs built in

With Float, corporate cards help enable spending while also enforcing policy, limiting exposure, and making fraud much harder to pull off. You can issue a new card, set a limit and shut it down in seconds. 

With a traditional bank, that’s a phone call, paperwork and a few days’ wait. Speed and control matter more than ever, especially when you’re growing rapidly or handling sensitive budgets.

A smarter path to corporate card security

Float works to reduce fraud, improve workflows and help finance teams sleep a little better at night.

Card security shouldn’t be a damage control measure. Build smart habits into your spend process from day one, and skip the nightly teeth-grinding and month-end panic.

Seb often recommends Float to clients because it streamlines corporate card management for everyone. “We get that visibility on credit card spend. It makes it easier for them, and makes it easier for us,” he says.

Want to see if Float is right for you? Book a demo today.

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Corporate cards might not seem like a big deal until you’re juggling receipts from three client dinners and five consultants submitting expenses for the same project. The right corporate cards for consulting firms can make the difference between clean client billing and chaos at month end.

This guide breaks down what growing consulting firms need from a corporate card program that actually works. (Spoiler: A clear view of spending can drive up confidence within companies. Why is this a good thing? Research shows that confident SMBs grow faster.)

We spoke with Mandeep Saini, Co-Founder and Head of Finance Services at BrightIron, a fractional finance partner for Canadian startups and scale-ups, to get his insights into effectively solving the pain points that slow firms down. 

If you’re ready to move on from lost receipts, spreadsheet gymnastics and clunky legacy cards, you’re in the right place.

The importance of corporate cards for consulting firms

Consultants aren’t sitting in one office swiping a single company card. They’re on the road, meeting clients, booking travel and often spending on behalf of multiple projects at once. It’s a complex ecosystem, and corporate cards for consulting firms can either add friction or remove it.

“For consulting firms, it’s really about tracking and controls,” says Mandeep. “As firms grow, they need better systems to separate reimbursable from non-reimbursable expenses and track spending by project or client. That’s nearly impossible to do with a traditional card and a spreadsheet.”

Without a clear consulting firm corporate credit card policy, reimbursable expenses can fall through the cracks. Consulting firms need structure to stay compliant, recover more reimbursable expenses and improve project profitability while maintaining control over finances.

Essential features of corporate cards for consultants

A great corporate card program does more than just authorize transactions. It should enable smooth spending and reconciliation across multiple projects, protecting your profit margins along the way.

For consulting teams, the must-haves are:

1. Expense automation and integrations

Manual expense reports are a productivity killer. Float offers receipt capture, automatic coding and accounting integrations that sync to the GL in real time.

“One of the biggest friction points we removed was automating coding,” says Mandeep. “With Float, we can assign virtual cards by project, so all transactions are pre-coded. Consultants aren’t wasting time, and finance isn’t chasing down corrections.”

2. Mobile-first tools

Consultants are always on the move. A strong mobile app makes receipt capture and submission instant. No more lost receipts or missing HST.

“The mobile app is huge,” says Mandeep. “If someone doesn’t have an easy way to capture receipts, they won’t do it. With Float, you just take a picture and go.” 

3. Configurable controls and card-level limits

Traditional tools make managing corporate credit cards a messy and manual process. Float lets firms restrict spend by category, vendor or even project, with approval workflows that reflect your consulting firm’s corporate credit card policy.

“Traditional cards don’t care if you’re over policy or missing receipts. With Float, we get alerts, set spend limits and lock things down based on what the client will reimburse,” says Mandeep. 

4. Virtual cards for project-specific spend

Do you need to issue a card for a specific client visit or event? Float makes it easy, and it’s built to scale.

“We worked with one sales team where everyone had a corporate card. It was messy. With Float, we issued virtual cards per trade show or client, each with its own limit and policy,” says Mandeep. “It cleaned everything up and increased transparency across the organization.” 

5. Travel perks that match consultant needs

Frequent flyers deserve some love. With Float’s premium card tier, firms can unlock lounge access, hotel upgrades and other corporate card benefits that make life on the road smoother.

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Evaluating corporate card options for your consulting firm

Not all corporate cards for consulting firms are created equal. The card program you choose can influence everything from operations to profitability and tax compliance.

When evaluating providers, keep these questions in focus:

• Does the card offer real-time expense tracking and project-level coding?
• Can you issue virtual cards on demand for client or event-specific spend?
• Is there a mobile app that allows receipt capture and sends automatic reminders?
• Does the platform integrate with your accounting system and simplify reconciliation?
• Are there clear controls for setting spend limits by project or person?
• What are the rewards, fees and currency options for travel-heavy teams?

“Reporting from traditional cards just isn’t enough. You don’t get context, you don’t get controls and you certainly don’t get automation,” says Mandeep. “You end up layering on multiple systems and still doing a lot manually.” 

Make sure your provider offers business credit card features that cater to professional services teams, not just general small businesses.

Best practices for corporate card management

Whether your firm is just getting started or levelling up your finance operations, these best business credit card practices will help you stay ahead:

1. Automate receipt collection

Use a platform with mobile receipt capture and automated reminders. It reduces missed reimbursements and keeps you audit-ready.

2. Set up project-level spend controls

Assign cards by project, client or event. That way, every expense is automatically categorized and limited to what’s approved.

3. Sync your spend to your accounting tools

Cut the spreadsheet gymnastics. Float integrates with leading accounting software, ensuring data flows smoothly and coding remains consistent.

4. Educate employees on card use

Even with the best tech, people matter. Implement a clear expense management software policy. Show your team how to capture receipts, follow the policy and avoid policy violations.

5. Conduct regular reviews

Track card usage and reconcile in real time rather than weeks later. That’s how you stay in control and maintain healthy margins.

“If you’re missing receipts or overspending what the client allows, you’re eating costs that should have been reimbursed,” says Mandeep. “That hits your margins and over time, it adds up.” 

Firms that fully leverage corporate card benefits can reduce admin time and protect margins on client projects. Strong controls and training are the foundation of managing corporate credit cards effectively.

Float: The right solution for the way consulting firms work

Consulting firms don’t have time for clunky admin and spreadsheet headaches. They need a streamlined corporate card program and spend platform that keeps up with how their business runs: project-based, people-driven and always moving. 

These teams benefit most from business credit card features that make it easier to focus on project work instead of paperwork.

Float makes it easy to issue cards, track spend by client, enforce policy automatically and speed up reconciliation. It’s everything you need to modernize your expense management without slowing down your team.

“With Float, we went from messy card management to real control. We could spin up cards for a project, track expenses automatically and shut them down just as easily,” says Mandeep. “It just works better for firms like ours.” 

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Credit card fraud has long been a consumer headache, but it’s also a real risk for Canadian businesses. From skimming devices at gas stations to employee misuse of company cards, fraud strikes quickly and severely. 

One in five Canadian businesses surveyed had experienced payment fraud in the past six months, compared to 13% of Canadian consumers. Credit card fraud accounted for 20% of these incidents, according to Payments Canada. 

The good news? A few smart controls and the right tools can go a long way in protecting your financial data and your business operations.

We spoke with Brian Didsbury, CPA and Senior Manager/Controller at LiveCA, to get his perspective on how companies can proactively prevent fraud without slowing down their teams.

Here’s his advice on how to stay one step ahead with business financial fraud solutions that keep you in control.

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Understanding credit card fraud in Canada

Fraud isn’t just something that happens to the big guys or people who click suspicious email links. Increasingly, Canadian SMBs are being targeted by both external scammers and internal missteps. The costs may not always make headlines, but they can definitely hit the bottom line.

“The one that catches businesses most off guard is skimming,” says Brian. “This is when cards are used physically at gas stations or ATMs where someone has installed a reader to collect your data. Then suddenly, you’ve got fraudulent charges showing up.”

While external threats such as card-not-present fraud and chargebacks are common, internal card misuse is equally risky, especially when companies lack strong controls in place. Enterprise credit card security must work to mitigate both types of threats.

Common external fraud risks that companies face include:

• Card-not-present fraud (online or over the phone)
• Chargebacks from disputed customer transactions
• Identity theft and account takeover

Common internal risks that companies face include:

• Unauthorized employee spending
• Use of a corporate card outside of policy
• Vendor kickbacks or inflated invoices

Your credit card solution should have protections in place to mitigate both of these risks, or else you risk fraud that extends far beyond a single instance. 

“One of our partners used the company card at a convenience store while travelling,” says Brian. “When the card was compromised, it impacted dozens of software subscriptions tied to that card. It created a scramble to update everything while services started failing.”

Canadian business financial security requires more than outdated tools. Understanding these types of credit card fraud and how far one issue can go is the first step in building smarter defenses.

Warning signs for businesses to look out for on credit card fraud

If you know what to look for, you don’t need to be a forensic accountant to spot signs of trouble. Many credit card fraud cases exhibit early red flags that often go unnoticed until the damage is already done.

Whether it’s an employee slipping through extra charges or a vendor pulling a fast one, the warning signs tend to repeat themselves. 

Here are a few signs to watch out for:

• Unusual spending patterns on employee cards
• Vague or missing expense documentation
• Frequent low-value charges just under approval thresholds
• Sudden changes in vendor banking details
• Duplicate or unclear invoices

“Business owners think they’re being cautious by putting everything on one card,” says Brian. “But that actually creates their biggest vulnerability. If that card is compromised, you could lose access to your entire tech stack.” 

Red flags aren’t constantly flashing in neon. That’s where fraud risk management becomes critical to spot patterns early, apply smart controls and make spend visibility a real-time priority.

Essential fraud prevention strategies for businesses

Prevention doesn’t mean locking everything down and tossing the key. Your best bet is to set smart guardrails, allowing your team to move quickly without exposing the company to unnecessary risk. Think corporate cards with built-in controls and real-time tracking.

Here’s how Canadian businesses can protect themselves on two fronts: customer payments and internal spending.

For businesses accepting customer payments: 

• Use Europay, Visa and Mastercard (EMV) chip readers to reduce in-person fraud
• Ensure your point-of-sale system is payment card industry (PCI) compliant
• Monitor for unusual customer behaviour and chargebacks

For businesses using corporate cards: 

• Set individual card controls and role-based limits
• Issue vendor-specific or one-time-use virtual cards
• Limit card use to specific merchant categories
• Enable real-time alerts and transaction approvals
• Conduct monthly audits and reconcile card activity regularly
• Train staff to understand and follow expense policies

“We segregate spend. Travel gets a physical card with limits by date and category. Software vendors get virtual cards,” says Brian. “The remaining risk is small, and they won’t disrupt our core tools.” 

Enterprise credit card security doesn’t have to be a burden. With the right platform, it becomes a built-in layer of protection that keeps your business moving and your spend secure.

What to do if your business is targeted

Even with the best controls, fraud can still happen. And when it does, time is of the essence. Knowing how to respond can mean the difference between a quick resolution and a financial mess.

If you discover internal or external fraud, pause the affected card immediately and review what was tied to it. Then, take stock of how this happened and identify the changes that can prevent a repeat.

“You probably won’t figure out exactly how it happened,” says Brian. “But you can do a quick debrief. Where did the card get used? What was tied to it? And what’s your plan if it happens again?” 

Six steps to take after fraud occurs

Credit card fraud isn’t a matter of if it might happen to you; it’s when it will happen. How you prepare today is what will make the difference if the fraud is major or if it is stopped in its tracks.

Having a plan ready can save time, money and your team’s sanity when it counts most. Here’s where to start:

1. Cancel the card and reissue new ones as needed
2. Update vendors and subscription billing details
3. Review past transactions for patterns or overlooked issues
4. Tighten controls where gaps were exposed
5. Notify affected employees or customers promptly
6. Document the incident for compliance or insurance purposes

“It’s eye-opening to realize how much of your business depends on that one card. You need a contingency plan before something goes wrong,” says Brian.

Float’s fraud-smart solution for spend control

CFO fraud risk management strategies go a long way to bolstering Canadian business financial security, helping business owners sleep better at night. 

Float offers business financial fraud solutions that help finance teams take control without adding friction. With the right tools and a little foresight, you can cut off fraud before it ever gets a foothold. 

“It removes so much friction,” says Brian. “You’re not stuck calling your bank to get new cards sent out or scrambling to cover renewals. With Float, you’ve got a backup plan built in.”

Fraud doesn’t need to be inevitable, and protecting your business doesn’t need to be painful. With fraud prevention strategies for businesses built right into the platform, Float helps you move fast, stay secure and focus on what matters.

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Handling company finances can sometimes feel like playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Every time you knock down one expense, a new one pops up. For Canadian finance teams, a lack of proper expense management can lead to frustration and a sense of never regaining control.

You already know that effective spending controls are crucial for preserving a business’s financial health and operational efficiency. The right controls allow finance teams to minimize unnecessary spending, ensure compliance and align employee expenses with company budgets and long-term goals. But how exactly can you implement them—and make them stick?

Here are five key tips to help you control employee spending effectively, as shared by the finance experts at Float.

1. Establish clear expense policies

Implementing corporate spend controls begins with developing clear and easy-to-understand expense policies for your team. Your expense policy should outline a number of key details, including:

• Permissible spending categories
• Employee expenses eligible for reimbursement
• Employees eligible for company spending
• Spending limits per category
• Processes for writing and approving expense reports
• Documentation requirements
• Employee reimbursement workflows

In addition to specifying acceptable spending, expense policies should also outline non-reimbursable expenses. Think personal expenses, meal and travel expenses with no business purpose or purchases from unapproved vendors.

Clear, relevant and current expense policies are one way to prevent unauthorized purchases and build team accountability around spending company money. Check out this free expense policy template from Float to create a comprehensive and current expense policy with ease.

2. Leverage technology for real-time monitoring

A key part of managing employee spending is knowing when, where and why employees are spending in real time. If you find out about an egregious expense three months after the fact, it can be more challenging to deal with than if you find out the same day it happens. 

Many successful Canadian finance teams implement automated expense management tools with corporate spend controls to track and analyze employee spending. These tools not only provide up-to-the-minute details on employee expenditures but also enable finance teams to spot spending patterns and anomalies. This data is essential for creating accurate budgets and managing cash flow effectively. 

Float’s expense management technology offers real-time visibility into your company’s financial data, including every transaction. This way, your finance team can view every detail of day-to-day employee spending, as well as company spending over time, for a more comprehensive understanding of your overall budget.

3. Introduce corporate cards with spend controls

This may seem like a controversial take, but when it comes to controlling spending, you have to give employees some room to breathe. One way to provide that flexibility is to introduce corporate credit cards for key team members.

You may be thinking: Isn’t giving my team credit cards going to increase their spending?

Not necessarily.

Corporate cards that come with customizable controls are a highly effective way to provide employees with spending flexibility while maintaining financial control over company expenses. For example, Float’s corporate card comes with real-time controls and role-based limits, allowing finance teams to determine the spending limits for employees using company cards. 

Float’s corporate cards also have automated expense reporting, reducing the need for manual expense submissions. With automated receipt capture, employees can instantly send receipts to the finance team, so you no longer need to hound them to send in expense reports at the end of each month.

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4. Implement approval workflows

While you can create policies and guidelines for employee spending, enforcing them to maintain compliance is a whole different game of whack-a-mole. 

Setting up multi-level approval processes for expense reports is one strategy for ensuring your teams comply with your spending policies. When there are multiple approval stages involved, employees know they can’t get away with fraudulent spending, unauthorized purchases or exceeding the spending limit. 

Structured workflows, such as those for handling reimbursements or expense reporting, ensure that there are multiple levels of checks and balances in place. 

It may seem overwhelming to add even more processes to your team’s plate, but using the right expense management tool can simplify these processes. For example, Float includes automated approval workflows to ensure expense management runs smoothly, quickly and without adding a greater admin burden onto already-stretched startups and small businesses.

5. Conduct regular audits and training

Business expense tracking is not a one-and-done job. Rather, it needs to be regularly monitored and updated for the most effective results. 

Conduct regular audits of your company’s spending to identify trends and discover potential areas for improvement. For example, you may notice employee spending for client lunches has increased month over month. This may be an opportunity to discuss with employees how to spend more efficiently to keep the budget in check. 

One of the best financial management tips is to provide ongoing training for employees. Review expense policies to ensure everyone has a detailed understanding of what type of spending is permissible and by whom, what kind of documentation is required for reimbursement and what the expense approval workflow looks like. 

You’ll also need to provide user training on your expense management tools to ensure employees are comfortable using the technology, understand how to see past spending and know how to submit expenses for reimbursement. Float is an easy-to-use solution that allows employees to submit receipts via mobile app or text in seconds.

Control employee spending with Float

Implementing effective spending controls for employees requires finance teams to take a strategic approach. By combining clear expense policies, expense management technology, structured approval processes and detailed employee training, you can keep your company’s spending in check. 

Remember that the job is never done. Continue to evaluate and refine spending controls for your business, adapting them to changing business needs and priorities. Consider a solution like Float, which provides flexibility with custom controls, allowing you to stop chasing expenses and wondering how to control spending. Book a demo with Float today.

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Does managing team or business expenses feel more chaotic than it should? If so, outdated corporate cards might be slowing you down. Clunky processes and limited visibility into spend create more friction than function for many companies.

Traditional cards typically lack the flexibility, real-time insight and granular controls modern organizations need from their expense management solutions. However, many businesses still consider these cards a must-have financial tool. The misconception that having a handful of employee cards is “good enough” ignores how today’s companies operate—with distributed teams, fast decision-making and tight financial scrutiny.

That’s why a growing number of business owners and finance leaders are exploring smarter, tech-driven corporate card alternatives that bring clarity, control and speed to company spending.

From traditional banks to fintech platforms like Float, Canadian small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) have options when it comes to expense management solutions. In this guide, we’ll review the alternatives to your traditional corporate cards and give you all the information you need to determine what’s right for your business.

Why traditional corporate cards are falling behind 

Not every new technology innovation is well-received (cue Glassholes), but when it comes to corporate card alternatives, technology is truly gold. These modern financial management tools eliminate manual processes and weak spending controls that can otherwise block startup and scale-up success. 

Businesses today prioritize agility, automation and real-time data. Traditional corporate cards simply weren’t built for that. They provide limited visibility into spending until after the fact, making it difficult to track budgets in real-time or make informed financial decisions quickly. Plus, they don’t often allow you to set dynamic limits or approvals by department, project or vendor, only offering blanket policies that don’t match the complexity of today’s operations.

As companies grow and their spending becomes more decentralized, legacy cards can’t keep up. Finance teams are left piecing together spreadsheets and chasing down receipts, rather than focusing on strategic oversight and planning. The result? More risk, more waste and less control. 

The new generation of corporate card alternatives 

Given the variety of corporate card features, comparing business credit cards may seem overwhelming. There are security considerations as well as the debate between physical and virtual corporate card options to keep in mind, along with the question of whether your business should issue cards at all. But don’t worry—our breakdown keeps things simple.

Here are five approaches to business spending for Canadian SMBs to consider:

1. Smart corporate cards 

Smart cards come with features that provide superior control, auto-categorization and real-time monitoring of company spend. They also offer fraud protection and seamless accounting integration that streamlines monthly reporting and ensures compliance.

2. Virtual cards

Tired of traditional plastic cards and want a virtual option? Virtual cards can be issued instantly upon approval and are fully customizable for vendors and projects, enabling spend tracking and tight control. These cards are ideal for online purchases, subscriptions and remote teams.

Pro tip: As a newer business, virtual credit card approvals can be challenging. Learn what steps you can take to boost your chances with this handy guide from Float.

3. Spend management platforms

Modern fintech providers like Float offer solutions that centralize tools for cards, approvals, receipts and reporting. With built in analytics, they allow businesses to optimize spend company-wide. Data-driven insights and real-time visibility enable finance teams to make informed decisions and manage cash flow more effectively. The result? More time to focus on activities that drive strategic impact.

4. Procurement cards (P-cards)

Procurement cards are designed for vendor payments with pre-set controls, enabling companies to manage their spending effectively. They offer finance teams streamlined PO matching and invoice reconciliation, saving time and resources so CFOs and owners can focus on high priority activities rather than administrative tasks.

5. Prepaid expense cards

These budget-controlled cards are ideal for teams, travel, projects and events. With real-time tracking and alert capability, they prevent overspending and ensure that teams stay within budget and on track.

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How to choose the right fit 

With numerous corporate card alternatives available, selecting the right one can be as daunting as sorting through your emails after a vacation. Here are three steps to help: 

1. Prioritize pain points

Understand and prioritize your business challenges to ensure that the spending approach you choose addresses team size, growth plans and current expense pain points.

Consider these questions:

• How big is your team, and what are your short and long-term hiring projections?
• Do all employees incur company expenses?
• What do your business growth plans look like?
• What short and long-term investments or expenses are required to support those projections?
• Do current expense challenges include overspending? Limited tracking ability?
• Is fraud a concern?
• Do employees and teams understand what qualifies as an eligible expense?

These answers will help you understand the problem and what your ideal solution must include.

2. Compare solution features  

When it comes to finance and expense management, there are several features every business should look for. Ensure the tool you select includes real-time visibility, integrations and automations. Here’s a closer look.

Real-time visibility

On-demand, live tracking of cash flow is essential. Having instant insight allows business owners and financial leaders to flag potential problems, plan efficiently and make better decisions.

Integrations

Modern fintechs like Float offer seamless integrations across internal management systems (think HR, accounting software and security tools). No more fragmented systems to block efficiency and slow you or your business down.

Automations

The technology to streamline business spending and related processes exists today, so why wait? Save time, improve visibility and regain control with automated expense and financial management.

3. Evaluate your return on investment

Bottom line—modern corporate spending approaches are an investment. But with the right corporate card alternative, you’ll see a return across different areas: you’ll gain real-time visibility and automation, helping you cut costs, boost efficiency and create a smoother experience for everyone involved.

Pro tip: If you’re new to implementing corporate cards, our guide can help you develop a policy that promotes financial control and simplicity—and that can scale with your business.

Cost-effective corporate cards that work for your business 

Modern card solutions are essential for agile and efficient spend management. Choosing the corporate card alternative that aligns with your company’s financial strategies and operational priorities can empower your team and help you grow.

Built for Canadian businesses by Canadians, Float cards lead the way with zero fees, real-time control and no personal guarantees required. Book a demo today to learn how to get started.

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Using a traditional business credit card in a Canadian startup or SMB can feel a bit like trying to launch a rocket with a flip phone. It’s simply a mismatched tool for modern spend management.

With annual fees, limited operational and financial controls, and rigid credit requirements, these legacy cards slow down teams that need to keep up with their competitors. That’s why no-fee business credit cards are gaining traction: they give startups and scaling teams the agility, transparency and flexibility they need—without lighting their budgets on fire.

In this article, we’ll explore why a no-annual-fee business card is the right way to go and how to select the best no-annual-fee business credit card for your needs.

What are no-annual-fee business credit cards?

A no-fee business credit card, charge card or corporate card is a credit card that does not carry an annual cost. Issued in the business’s name—as opposed to the business owner or an individual’s name—no-fee business credit cards are available through banks, credit unions and fintech platforms like Float. 

Some no-fee business credit cards require a personal credit check and guarantee, acting as an extension of personal credit for the business owner. Others don’t require any personal guarantees and come with higher spending limits and more automated controls. These types of cards are issued based on the company’s financial health.

Why go with a no-fee credit card?

There are plenty of business and corporate credit card options on the market, so why choose one with no annual fees? Here are just a few reasons:

• Keep your margins healthy: Recurring annual credit card fees, ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars, can eat into your margins. These savings matter for lean teams or those who are keeping a close eye on their budget. 
• Only pay for what you need: Business credit cards with annual fees typically offer a lot of bells and whistles—many of which go unused, like access to specific airport lounges. Why pay for something you’ll never take advantage of? 
• See the ROI: For most small and medium businesses, the return on investment rarely offsets the fee of the credit card. Instead of choosing a legacy corporate card with a hefty fee, opt for a modern solution like Float’s corporate card which has a $0 base cost. Float is one of the best no annual fee business credit cards in Canada because it doesn’t require a personal guarantee, doesn’t have interest charges and offers full built-in automation (all for $0 annually).

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No-fee business credit card options

Several types of small business credit card options don’t charge an annual fee, many of which benefit startups and SMBs directly: 

• Charge and prepaid cards: For Canadian businesses that want to give employees spending power without traditional debt, a charge or prepaid no-annual-fee business card is the way to go. Float’s corporate cards for small Canadian businesses offer a charge or prepaid funding model to provide a balance of flexibility and control. 
• Cashback cards: If your business frequently purchases office supplies, software subscriptions, gas and other operational expenses, you might benefit from a corporate cashback card like the BMO CashBack Business Mastercard, TD Business Select RateTM Visa* Card or the TD Business Cash Back Visa* Card. Float’s corporate card also offers cashback rewards. These types of cards give you back a percentage of your spending (on certain items). 
• Rewards cards: If you travel frequently for business, you can earn business credit card rewards like travel points and lounge access from rewards-based cards like the BMO AIR MILES® No-Fee Business Mastercard® or the RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business. 
• Combination business credit card and expense tools: Solutions like Float not only offer a no-fee business card that has cashback rewards, but also a number of consolidated services such as expense management tools and low foreign exchange fees.

Key no-annual-fee business credit card features to prioritize

Evaluating no annual fee business cards can feel like an overwhelming task, especially if you’re not sure what to consider. Here are the key features we recommend Canadian businesses pay attention to:

• Business card eligibility: Traditional no-fee credit cards require strong credit, personal guarantees and multi-step applications. Modern solutions like Float are your best option if you want startup business credit cards with no credit checks. Just connect your business bank account, verify your company and issue physical or virtual cards—often on the same-day.
• Real-time spend tracking: For those with lean budgets, seeing exactly how much your business is spending, when and where is key to staying on track. For some business cards, you have to wait 24 hours to see your transactions.
• Virtual and physical card options: Everyone offers physical business cards, but only some no-fee card providers, like Float, offer virtual options. A virtual card is ideal for recurring subscription payments, one-off employee expenses and digital purchases. Virtual cards can also be added to Apple and Android Wallets, adding convenience.
• Custom spending limits and approval flows: Your spending limits should be able to scale as your team evolves. With Float, you can easily customize spending limits and set unique approval flows to manage business spending better.
• Integrations with accounting software: Expense management can’t possibly get any more frustrating. With seamless integrations to your accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite, you can save hours when closing the books at month end.
• Automated receipt capture: Speaking of faster close cycles, Float offers automated receipt capture, enabling your team to manage expenses quickly and without headaches.

Float vs. traditional no-fee business credit cards

Looking for a business credit card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee? You’ll find it (and so much more) with Float. While the features a card offers are important, it’s also wise to consider how easy it is to use—and how easy the card provider makes expense management and month-end. Float is more than a cost-effective card; it’s a tool that helps you manage your company’s spending without overpaying or losing control. 

Take a look at this comparison between Float and traditional no-fee business credit cards. 

	Annual fees	Real-time visibility and control	Accounting-ready data	Approval workflows	Key rewards
Float Corporate Card	$0	Real-time visibility and extensive customized controls	Automatically available accounting-ready data	Built-in and highly customizable approval workflows	1.5%* cashback
BMO CashBack Business Mastercard	$0	Real-time visibility	Available through manual download	N/A	0.75-1.75% cashback
TD Business Cash Back Visa* Card	$0	Real-time visibility and some controls	Available through TD Card Management Tool	N/A	0.5%-2% in Cash Back Dollars
BMO® AIR MILES® Business Mastercard®	$0 for first year; $120 for subsequent years	Real-time visibility	Available through manual integration with accounting tools	N/A	Earn 1 Mile for every $12 you spend
RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business	$0	Real-time visibility	Available through manual download to accounting tools	N/A	Easy access to credit and earn 1 Avion Rewards point for every $2 spent in net purchases
TD Business Select RateTM Visa* Card	$0 (Option to pay annual fee to lower interest rate)	Real-time visibility and some controls	Available through TD Card Management Tool	N/A	Hundreds of cashback offers 21-day interest-free grace period

Consider Float for your no-annual-fee business card

No annual fee business cards are a smart move for lean Canadian startups, scaling small-to-medium businesses and strategic finance teams. While traditional options help you avoid recurring annual fees, modern platforms like Float take things a step further to launch your success.

With Float’s corporate card, you can not only save money but also streamline expense management, gain real-time visibility and control, and still get cash back rewards. That’s a significant step up from the outdated, legacy cards your business is used to.

Learn more about Float’s corporate cards and make your money count.

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If you’re facing tight cash flow, investing in business growth or consolidating existing debt, getting access to funding can feel like a make-or-break situation. One of the best ways to navigate challenging economic times is with a 0% interest business credit card for Canadian businesses. This tool offers a low-risk, high-flexibility solution that bridges financial gaps while saving money and providing access to valuable perks.

However, not all 0% interest business cards in Canada are the same. In this guide, we’ll discuss why a 0% APR business credit card is a smart choice for Canadian businesses. We’ll also cover selecting one that will help you avoid taking on expensive debt while enabling you to meet your business goals.

What is a 0% interest business credit card?

An interest-free business credit card does not charge any interest on purchases or balance transfers. There are two types of 0% interest business credit cards: 

• 0% intro annual percentage rate (APR) business credit card: These business credit cards don’t charge interest on purchases or balance transfers for a specific period, typically lasting for a few months to a year. If you pay off the balance before this period is over, you don’t pay any interest. However, if you have a balance remaining after the offer period is over, you may be responsible for paying interest on the full balance. 
• Always 0% interest business credit cards (no APR cards): As the name suggests, these business cards don’t have an introductory 0% interest offer. They don’t charge interest on purchases or balance transfers at any point in time. Float is a Canadian corporate card that is always interest-free. 

Both types of 0% interest business credit cards often offer additional benefits, such as travel rewards points and cash back on certain purchases.

Benefits of 0% APR business credit cards

If you’re looking for financial flexibility to make large purchases and temporarily avoid interest charges, a business credit card with no interest can offer a number of advantages: 

• Save on interest: Compared to a regular business credit card APR, 0% seems ideal. If you know you can pay off the balance before the promotional APR period ends, you can avoid paying interest entirely, which can save your business anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. 
• Earn rewards: If you take out a loan to increase your cash flow, you’ll miss out on the rewards that come with many 0% interest business credit cards. Using a credit card means you can access perks like expense management tools that make month-end less of a nightmare.
• Build business credit: Do you know you can pay off the balance within the timeframe required to avoid interest? A 0% APR business credit card is a great way to build your business credit with financial institutions. 
• Get peace of mind with consumer protections: In Canada, consumer protections for credit cards based on the Financial Consumer Protection Framework focus on transparency and fairness. All credit card agreements are clearly and plainly worded so that you understand the rules and conditions.

Drawbacks and limitations of 0% APR business credit cards

Does an interest-free credit card sound too good to be true? Be aware of potential drawbacks and limitations that could impact your business’s financial health. 

• Regular APR applies after the introductory period: If you haven’t paid off the balance before this period, that balance is subject to the regular APR on some business credit cards. However, with Float, the interest-free period lasts forever (but you cannot carry a balance month to month). 
• You may have to pay a balance transfer fee: Making a business credit card balance transfer to take advantage of zero interest? Some credit cards have balance transfer fees of 3%-5% or more. 
• Annual fees may impact your savings: Some 0% interest business credit cards have annual fees of several hundred dollars, which can offset any savings you earn with no interest. As one of the best business cards in Canada, Float’s annual fee is $0. 

Be mindful about this choice! Your company’s credit could suffer if you’re not careful when selecting the right 0% APR credit card.

How to choose the best 0% interest business credit card

When searching for the best business credit card with 0% interest, choosing from the available options can be overwhelming. Here’s what we recommend you consider: 

• Assess your business’s spending habits: To maximize value, you have to know how your business spends—and pays bills. For example, do you frequently pay off big purchases in a short amount of time? Does your business only need to make large purchases occasionally? Do you have a policy for making credit card payments? 
• Compare, compare, compare: To know what’s out there, you’ve got to do your due diligence. Compare different 0% APR offers, regular APR interest rates, card rewards and expense management tools available. 
• Check issuer requirements: Is there a minimum credit score required? Does your business need to have a certain level of income to qualify? What business information is required to apply for the card? Determine whether you’re able to get the card you want. 
• Think both short and long term: Many businesses view using a business credit card with no interest as a short-term bridge loan—which it can be. But don’t forget about the long-term impact. For example, determine how it will impact your credit score and whether you will pay more interest in the long run.

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Top  0% APR business credit cards in Canada for 2025

Ready to start shopping? Here are the best 0% interest business credit card options for 2025. 

	Provider	0% APR offer	Post-offer interest rate	Annual fees	Key rewards	Key benefits
⭐️Float Corporate Card	Float Visa and Mastercard	0%	N/A (can’t carry over balance)	$0	1% cashback on spend* 4% interest on funds held in Float	Long-term interest-free offer (no APR) Real-time visibility and expense tracking toolsNo personal guarantee Average savings of 7% on spend
BMO CashBack Business Mastercard	BMO	0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months with a 3% transfer fee	20.99% interest on purchases	$0	0.75%-1.75% cashback on certain purchases	Extended warranty protection Purchase protectionUp to 22 additional cards
Business Platinum Card® from American Express	American Express	Up to 55 interest-free days	Vary based on credit score and other factors but typically ranging from 20.99% to 29.99%	$799	Membership rewards points on your purchases	No pre-set spending limit Airport lounge accessExpense management tools
MBNA True Line Mastercard	Mastercard	0% promotional annual interest rate for 12 months on balance transfers	12.99% on purchases and 17.99% on balance transfers	$0	Up to 9 authorized users Rental car savings	This is a personal card which may suit some small businesses, but it does not offer business-specific benefits. Note that it may impact personal credit scores.
CIBC Select Visa Card	Visa	0% interest for up to 10 months with a 1% transfer fee	13.99% on purchases	$29 (first year rebated)	Insurance coverage access Up to 10 cents off per litre of gas	This is a personal card which may suit some small businesses, but it does not offer business-specific benefits. Note that it may impact personal credit scores.

Float: Interest-free and full of perks

Looking for more financial bandwidth? Float’s interest-free business credit card can provide the necessary flexibility and control. 

You not only avoid annual fees and interest but also get access to real-time visibility and automated expense management workflows without incurring any credit card debt. Explore how Float’s corporate credit card helps keep your business spending in check.

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