For many small businesses, credit cards have become an important means of financing day-to-day operations, particularly in the current tight credit environment. The percentage of small businesses using credit cards to manage cash flow increased from 44 to 59 percent in the four months from December 2008 to April 2009 alone, an almost 33 percent increase.

The sharp increase illustrates just how many small businesses have been forced to turn to credit cards because other sources of funding have dried up.

Credit cards have long provided an easy avenue for entrepreneurs to fund start-up ventures, from businesses to movie productions. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are reported to have used credit cards to help finance their first purchase of computers and office equipment.

Small businesses are the life blood of U.S. business. There are almost 28 million small businesses in the U.S., and together they account for about half of the U.S. gross domestic product.

For years, home-builder John London of Iowa had a pretty neat business formula going. When putting up a house, he would charge the cost of materials to his credit cards, pay the minimum monthly payment for a while, and then pay the cards off in full when the home was sold.

You can also use a small business credit card to help manage and control expenses for your business.