Great products and talented employees aren't the only ingredients you need to fuel sustainable growth at your company. Building a culture of responsible spending from the start also helps to ensure you have the funds available to scale your business. A well-managed commercial card program can help you develop that culture.

1. Want Better
Cost Control?
Make it part of your
company culture
May 2018

2. svb.com
To expand a thriving business,
you need great products, talented
employees and hard work.
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 2
But that’s not all…

3. svb.comWantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 3
… Sustainable growth also
requires good expense controls.
A well-managed card program can help you
build a culture of responsible spending.

4. svb.com
Implement
these 5 best
practices
along with
your card
program:
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 4
1. Draft a clear spending policy
2. Put strong controls in place
3. Mine spending data
4. Insist on receipts
5. Require management review

5. Draft a clear
spending
policy
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 5

6. svb.com
Your policy should:
 Explain allowed purchases
 Specify maximum spending levels
 Require compliance — regardless of
seniority level
A clear spending policy eliminates surprises
— for you and your employees.
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 6

7. Put strong
controls in
place
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 7

8. svb.com
 Set parameters according to job duties —
e.g., specify merchant categories for
office staff.
 Have employees sign a cardholder
agreement that references your
spending guidelines.
 Explain reporting requirements and
consequences of unauthorized card use.
Requiring employees to pay with cards
strengthens your control over spending.
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 8

9. Mine
spending
data
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 9

10. svb.com
 Flag outliers that might indicate abuse —
e.g., unfamiliar merchants or weekend
spending.
 Look for overruns within expense
categories.
 Randomly audit cardholder accounts to
ensure compliance.
Proactively review spending data to ensure
policies are followed.
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 10

11. Insist on
receipts
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 11

12. svb.com
Consider:
 A threshold for submitting receipts
 Requiring card use for even minor
expenses to prevent undocumented
cash spending
The simple step of requiring receipts improves
recordkeeping and prevents misuse.
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 12

13. Require
management
review
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 13

14. svb.com
Be sure to:
 Flag any out-of-policy spending to head
off future problems.
 Get everyone on board — including top
executives — to send a clear message.
Requiring management review and approval
enforces accountability, while allowing for
flexibility.
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 14

15. svb.com
Adopting sound
spending policies in tandem
with a well-managed card program can
protect your company now —
and as it grows.
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 15

16. svb.com
Get advice
from the experts at
svb.com/commercial-cards/
WantBetterCostControl?Makeit part ofyourcompanyculture 16
Want to know more?
Learn how the right card program can help you
control expenses and gain efficiencies.

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