What do you consider TCL?

E36 · ‎01-13-2026

Do you consider Business Credit Card credit limits part of your total credit limit even though it's not on the credit report?

Primary Cards (2024-Present):

Occasional-Use Cards (2024 - Present)

Credit Rebuilder Cards - $7.4K (2023 - Present):

Closed - Settled (2007-2022):

Closed - Good Standing (2009-2019):

Closed Cards: $38K (09/2022) | Settlements Completed: $20K (03/2025)
Rebuilding Since July 2023 | Goal: FICO 740+
New Accounts: 1/6, 5/12, 7/24
FICO 8 7/23:

FICO 8 3/24:

FICO 8 3/25:

FICO 8 3/26:

FICO 8 6/26:

pizzadude · ‎01-13-2026

@E36 wrote:
What do you consider TCL?

Do you consider Business Credit Card credit limits part of your total credit limit even though it's not on the credit report?

Yes, if you've personally guaranteed the cards then I would include them.

March2010 FICO® ~ 695 TU, 653 EQ, 697 EX

BrutalBodyShots · ‎01-13-2026

The word "total" by definition means all, so the answer would be all inclusive including business cards. I think it's important to disclose either way though since the actual percentage of people that have business cards is quite small relative to the whole. When someone says their TCL is (say) $300k, one of the first questions someone may as is whether or not that is just personal lines or if it includes business lines as well. To avoid that question even having to be asked or to leave ambiguity, I think it's a best practice to disclose it up front. "My TCL is $300k, which includes my business cards."

I think that since most people don't have business cards, the general assumption when someone discloses TCL without clarification is that it doesn't include business cards.

JamesS84 · ‎01-13-2026

I consider business to be separate, since the credit limits shouldn’t be used for personal stuff.

Thomas_Thumb · ‎01-13-2026

Quite a few people on the forums apply for multiple business cards. This suggests they may have side businesses.

The company business cards I received, I never applied for. The companies issued me the card(s) and were responsible for the debt. I did not consider those as part of my TCL. They were for company use only.

At one time I did own a consulting LLC as a sole proprietor. I set-up a checking account and a business CC. In that case I applied for the card directly. As company owner I also included it in my TCL.

Fico 9: .......EQ 850 TU 850 EX 850
Fico 8: .......EQ 850 TU 850 EX 850
Fico 4 .....:. EQ 809 TU 823 EX 830 EX Fico 98: 842
Fico 8 BC:. EQ 892 TU 900 EX 900
Fico 8 AU:. EQ 887 TU 897 EX 899
Fico 4 BC:. EQ 826 TU 858, EX Fico 98 BC: 870
Fico 4 AU:. EQ 831 TU 872, EX Fico 98 AU: 861
VS 3.0:...... EQ 835 TU 835 EX 835
CBIS: ........EQ LN Auto 940 EQ LN Home 870 TU Auto 902 TU Home 950

Stuart89 · ‎01-15-2026

What do I call TCL? A dyslexic fan of Left Eye, T-Boz and Chilli 😂 JK - I wouldn’t include business

Drifter73 · ‎01-19-2026

@E36 wrote:
What do you consider TCL?

Do you consider Business Credit Card credit limits part of your total credit limit even though it's not on the credit report?

Both, with transparency.

As seen in my sig, I outline personal and business separately and then combined. So its transparent which is which.

Kind of like biz apps will ask for personal and Biz revenue separately (for transparency), I laxidazily follow the beat of that drum with TCL as well.