Flip Rental Security Deposits into Upgrade Miles for First-Time Founders

A 10-month deposit on a Bengaluru office can quietly sit in a landlord’s account for years. Route that sum through the right cards, and it becomes your international conference fund.

Signal: A ₹15 lakh deposit pushed via Axis Magnus/)/)/) + HDFC Infinia typically nets ~180k miles plus ₹30k cash-equivalent points, enough for two premium economy upgrades.

Process Overview

1. Negotiate MDR-sharing with the landlord (offer +0.25 month rent if needed).
2. Split the deposit across two cards to keep utilization healthy.
3. When the deposit returns, clear cards immediately and reroute the miles toward your next investor roadshow.

Compliance Layer

• Always capture a rent receipt + GST invoice even if the landlord is an individual.
• Track the refund timeline; if it exceeds contract terms, net dues off future rent.
• Document the exact card transaction ID in your accounting software so auditors can trace the inflow/outflow.

Playbook Table

Step	Tool	Outcome
Pay deposit	Axis Magnus/)/)/)	60k Edge Miles + lounge insurance.
Top-up difference	HDFC Infinia	50k points convertible to airlines.
Refund handling	Current account + OD	Avoids revolver interest.
Mile deployment	Virgin/KLM transfers	Premium seats for expansion trips.

Budget Example

Deposit amount	Card split	MDR	Miles earned
₹15,00,000	₹9L Axis Magnus/)/)/) / ₹6L HDFC Infinia	₹15,000	~1,80,000

Research TODOs

• Identify property management firms already familiar with card-based deposits (Manyata Tech Park, BKC coworking players).
• Check whether your lease allows partial bank guarantees to reduce cash locked.
• Build a simple calculator to compare MDR vs rewards before committing.

Next Steps

1. Add this workflow to your company playbook so future offices follow suit.
2. Share landlord contacts that accept cards with the PerkPilot community to build negotiating leverage.
3. Reinvest the freed-up cash into a short-duration debt fund so idle money still compounds.