With a focus on migrating small business purchases to plastic, the commercial credit card business is expected to continue its robust growth, with spending topping $1.2 trillion in 2010, according to Corporate Credit Cards in the U.S., a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts.

Small business, payroll and healthcare cards - projecting that the commercial cards market - including purchasing and mid- and large-sized corporate cards - will grow by a phenomenal 144% from 2004 to 2010. Healthcare cards withdrawing funds from employee healthcare accounts have experienced triple-digit growth since 2005, a trend which is expected to continue through 2009. Similarly, payroll cards, which give employees immediate access to their wages, have suddenly caught fire, with use expected to grow to $27.1 billion in spending by 2009.

Baby Boomers aged 45 to 54 are now the top commercial card users, a significant change from Packaged Facts' last examination of the market when Gen Xers led the pack. Brand preference trends show commercial card use is hard-wired to educational achievement and individual income, with race and professional affiliation also playing significant roles.

"With newcomer Discover and a re-energized American Express, commercial cards are aggressively courting businesses and professionals to welcome them to the innovative products, services, and convenience that have been transforming this market recently," notes Tatjana Meerman, Managing Editor of Packaged Facts. "Our research shows that numerous factors point towards exceptionally healthy market growth as business usage becomes more commonplace and the competition among Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and now, Discover heats up."