Definition
A billing cycle is simply the interval of time in which you are billed for goods or services. If you are billed for a good or service once a month, your billing cycle is a month long. If you are billed quarterly, your billing cycle is 3 months.
Analysis
The billing cycle for credit cards and most financial products is generally a month. For credit cards, the billing cycle is usually 29-31 days, and may be different from month to month.
The length of the billing cycle has an effect on finance charges and potentially your minimum payment. For example, if your billing cycle is 29 days, then you will be charged interest for 29 days on your monthly bill. However, if your billing cycle is 31 days, you will be charged for two days more worth of interest, resulting in a higher finance charge.
