Opening a business credit card with Office Depot can be a great way to earn rewards and benefits for your business. The Office Depot Business Credit Card offers 5% back in rewards on qualifying purchases at Office Depot and OfficeMax, 2% back at restaurants and gas stations, and 1% back everywhere else. With no annual fee, this card can provide solid value if you frequently shop at Office Depot. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to maximize the benefits of the Office Depot Business Credit Card, including:
Overview of the Card and Its Benefits
The Office Depot Business Credit Card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank and can only be used at Office Depot, OfficeMax, and affiliated locations. Key benefits include:
- 5% rewards on qualifying purchases at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores and online
- 2% rewards at gas stations and restaurants
- 1% rewards everywhere else
No annual fee
- Access to exclusive Office Depot discounts and bonus reward offers
- Extended warranty protection and travel benefits
Rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open and can be redeemed for Office Depot merchandise or gift cards. There are no foreign transaction fees.
Who Should Consider This Card?
The Office Depot Business Credit Card is best suited for businesses that frequently shop at Office Depot and OfficeMax. You’ll earn the highest rewards rate on your Office Depot purchases. The 2% back on gas and dining also makes this a solid choice for businesses with employees who entertain clients or travel routinely. Service-based businesses like contractors, creative agencies, and consultants can benefit from 5% back on office supplies, furniture, printing, and tech purchases. Retailers can earn rewards when stocking up on essentials like paper, ink, packaging materials, etc. You’ll get the most value from the card if you spend at least $6,000/year at Office Depot and OfficeMax. Otherwise, the rewards may not offset the opportunity cost of using a different business card.
How to Earn the Most Rewards?
Taking full advantage of the perks offered by the Office Depot Business Credit Card requires some strategy. Here are some tips to maximize your rewards earnings:
- Make Office Depot your go-to for office essentials – Obviously, you’ll want to do as much of your office supply and furniture shopping at Office Depot and OfficeMax as possible to earn 5% back. Shop frequently for paper, tech gadgets, cleaning supplies, coffee, and other basics.
- Leverage bonus category promotions – Keep an eye out for extra rewards offered in categories like ink, chairs, or print services. Combining these periodic bonuses with the 5% base earn rate boosts your rewards.
- Use the card for business dining – Earn 2% back when taking clients out for meals or on employee lunch meetings. This extra earning potential really adds up.
- Fill up at gas stations – The 2% back on gas station purchases applies to fuel for company vehicles and equipment as well as employee travel reimbursements.
- Sign up for RetailMeNot – Link the card to your RetailMeNot account to receive additional coupon offers that combine with the 5% rewards.
- Buy discounted gift cards – You can purchase Office Depot gift cards at a discount through various resellers and still get full rewards when you ultimately use those gift cards for Office Depot purchases.
- Take advantage of 0% APR financing deals – Occasionally there are 0% promotional financing offers on big-ticket purchases over a certain amount. Use these to get interest-free financing.
Also Read: Business Credit Cards for Startups: A Complete Guide
Maximizing Value on Business Expenses
One of the key benefits of the Office Depot Business Credit Card is the opportunity to earn rewards on routine business expenses:
- Office supplies & furniture – Stock up on pens, paper, tech gear, coffee, furniture, and everything else you need to run your business. Get 5% back on all qualifying Office Depot purchases.
- Print & copy services – Need brochures, business cards, banners, presentations, manuals, or other printing services? Earn rewards when you utilize Office Depot’s in-house print and copy department.
- Ink & toner – Never pay full price for printer ink again. Earn 5% back on ink & toner purchases.
- Cleaning & breakroom supplies – Keep your office kitchen and bathrooms well-stocked while earning rewards on essentials like coffee, snacks, paper towels, and more.
- Tech devices – Reward employees with new laptops, phones, tablets, or other gadgets and earn 5% back.
- Marketing materials – Order branded t-shirts, pens, notepads, and other promotional items to hand out at trade shows and events.
- Packing & shipping – Save on UPS and FedEx shipping while earning rewards.
Also Read: Benefits of the United Business Credit Card for Your Company’s Success
Redeeming Rewards
The Office Depot Business Credit Card gives you a few options for redeeming earned rewards:
- Office Depot merchandise – Use rewards at checkout to reduce the price of qualifying purchases at Office Depot locations. This is the simplest option.
- Office Depot gift cards – Convert rewards to Office Depot gift cards to extend your savings. Gift cards don’t expire.
- Credit statement – Apply rewards as a statement credit to your card balance.
- Check by mail – Once you hit $25 in rewards, you can request a check by mail. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.
To maximize flexibility, your best options are usually redeeming rewards for Office Depot gift cards or crediting your statement. Check your reward balance and redeem via your online account or the Office Depot mobile app.
Tips for New Cardholders
Here are some tips to follow during your first few months as a new Office Depot Business Credit Card cardholder:
- Activate online account access – Be sure to register your card on the Wells Fargo website or app to check your balance, redeem rewards, and monitor transactions.
- Set payment reminders – To avoid late fees and interest charges, set up alerts to remind you when your payment is due each month.
- Review statements carefully – Carefully review each monthly statement to confirm valid transactions and spot any suspicious or fraudulent activity. Report any errors promptly.
- Take advantage of 0% intro APR – Make large purchases you need to finance during the 0% intro APR period to avoid interest initially.
- Sign up for alerts – Set up mobile alerts for big purchases or when you’re nearing your credit limit to avoid overspending.
- Limit employee cards – Only provide employee cards to trusted workers who make Office Depot purchases for the business. Monitor their spending activity.
- Automate payments – Set up autopay through your bank account to ensure you never miss a payment due date.
Following these tips from the start will help you safely build credit, earn the most rewards, and avoid interest charges.
Also Read: All You Need to Know about Business Credit Card Pre-Approval in the USA
Getting the Most from Your Card Long-Term
To maximize your long-term satisfaction with the Office Depot Business Credit Card, focus on continuing to earn and redeem rewards while avoiding fees and interest charges. Here are some ongoing strategies:
- Pay your balance in full each month – To avoid finance charges, always pay the full statement balance by the due date. Set up autopay as a failsafe.
- Buy discounted Office Depot gift cards – When gift cards go on sale through resellers, stock up and earn 5% rewards again when making Office Depot purchases with those gift cards.
- Keep business & personal spending separate – Use your Office Depot card only for valid business expenses. Avoid mixing personal and business spending.
- Change employee card limits as needed – Adjust the spending limits for employee cards to reflect changes in purchasing needs, personnel, etc.
- Monitor for unauthorized activity – Check statements and account activity regularly to catch unauthorized transactions promptly.
- Take advantage of Visa Signature benefits – Enjoy extended warranty protection, travel benefits, and special offers through Visa Signature services.
- Keep your credit utilization low – Using less than 30% of your total available credit limit will help maintain a good credit score.
By actively managing your account and maximizing rewards opportunities, the Office Depot Business Credit Card can continue providing value to your business for years to come.
Alternatives to Consider
While the Office Depot Business Credit Card is a solid choice for Office Depot loyalists, some other business credit cards may be worth considering:
- Ink Business Cash Credit Card – Earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores each account year. No annual fee.
- Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card – Provides 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Intro 0% APR offer available. No annual fee.
- American Express Blue Business Cash Card – 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases annually, then 1% back. 0% intro APR.
Conclusion:
The Office Depot Business Credit Card can be a beneficial tool for companies that routinely shop at Office Depot and OfficeMax locations. To recap, the key perks of this card include generous ongoing rewards on supply purchases, additional bonuses for dining and gas, and access to exclusive financing and discount deals. Carefully managing your account over time is crucial for maximizing long-term value. For even greater convenience and control over your business spending, consider using the payment processing services of 5 Star Processing. 5 Star Processing provides secure online payment solutions tailored for modern businesses. Their fully integrated platform allows for easy tracking, reporting, and management of all your expenditures and revenue in one place. With competitive processing rates and top-notch customer service, 5 Star Processing can streamline your accounting processes while also complementing the rewards you earn through your Office Depot business credit card.
