A small business credit card can completely transform your perspective on company expenses. Every dollar spent on business necessities can earn rewards toward a well-deserved vacation or extra cash in the bank. Better yet, the best options offer benefits that provide a layer of security for valuable company assets, such as extended warranty and purchase protection.
The best business credit cards for small business owners offer generous rewards on common business expenses, travel and purchase protections and benefits, and other perks that make your busy life a little bit easier.
Our expert recommendations evaluate the best credit cards for business so you can find the option that best fits your spending style, rewards preferences, and financial goals. These are the best cards available this month, as chosen by Business Insider's personal finance experts.
Best Business Credit Cards
Here are Business Insider's picks for the best business credit cards available right now:
- Best overall with generous welcome bonus: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Best for premium benefits: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best no-annual-fee Amex cash-back card: The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- Best no-annual-fee Chase cash-back card: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Best no-annual-fee card for Amex points: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- Best no-annual-fee card from Capital One Miles: Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business†
- Best for big spenders: American Express® Business Gold Card
- Best for 5% back on office supplies: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Best reward rate and generous intro 0% APR: U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
- Best for fair credit: Capital One Spark 1% Classic†
Featured Business Credit Cards
$95
N/A
20.24% - 26.24% Variable
Earn 90,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High sign-up bonus
- Offers 3 bonus points on several spending categories, including travel and advertising purchases
- Includes comprehensive travel coverage
- Welcome bonus has a very high minimum spending requirement
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers a huge welcome bonus and solid earning and benefits for a moderate annual fee. If your small-business expenses line up with the card's bonus categories and you like redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for travel, this is one of the best small-business credit cards to consider.
Ink Business Preferred Card- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening
17.49% - 25.49% Variable
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
- The rare no-annual-fee card to earn Amex Membership Rewards points
- Solid earning rate on the first $50,000 in purchases each year
- For eligible purchases above $50,000 each year, you will only earn 1 point per dollar
If you're a small-business owner looking for a credit card that offers flexible rewards points without paying an annual fee, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is an excellent option. You don't need to own a full-time business to be eligible to apply, either — even freelancers and those with side gigs can qualify for a small-business card.
Amex Blue Business Plus Card- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
$0
N/A
17.99% - 23.99% variable APR
Earn 50,000 miles
N/A
- Generous welcome bonus offer
- Earn flexible rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel partners
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Few travel benefits typical of other travel cards
- No intro APR offer
- Some small-business credit cards offer higher earning rates with no annual fee
Small-business owners who want to earn credit card rewards for free travel should consider the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business. It's offering an excellent welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee business credit card, and you can transfer the miles it earns to over a dozen airline and hotel partners.
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business†Best Overall with Generous Welcome Bonus: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is ideal if you want to earn valuable, flexible rewards points on your business spending through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program.
This card consistently offers a generous welcome bonus, although the high spending requirement on this offer may be hard for smaller businesses to meet.
If you already hold one of the best Chase cards for consumers that earn these rewards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you'll earn even more by adding this small business credit card to your wallet.
Like the Sapphire cards mentioned above, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
You can either keep the rewards you earn on your Ink card separate from the rest of your Ultimate Rewards stash, or you can transfer the points to your personal credit cards. These points can be traded for cash back or transferred to Ultimate Rewards partners such as United Airlines or Marriott Hotels.
If you transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to a personal card to purchase travel through Chase, you can get a 25% bonus if you use your personal Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or a 50% bonus if you move your Ink points to your Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
What our experts love: Generous welcome offer, cellphone protection, and great rewards on travel, shipping, and advertising spend.
What our experts don't love: This card has an annual fee, which may deter business owners who don't want to pay money to hold a credit card.
Read our Chase Ink Business Preferred card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Premium Benefits: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the business version of the famous Amex Platinum Card, and was Business Insider's former top-choice business card. However, this card's annual fee has increased since then, and it's become a bit more of a niche product.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is potentially useful for midsize businesses that spend a lot on flights and travel, but less valuable for sole proprietors and smaller companies.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express benefits include 1.5 points earning categories: U.S. construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million of these purchases per card account per calendar year.
Finally, cardholders can also enroll in annual statement credits for wireless, Indeed, Adobe purchases, and Dell.
This card offers many luxury perks including airport lounge access, generous statement credits, and 5 Amex Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels when you book through American Express Travel.
However, the annual fee is quite steep, and smaller companies may struggle to meet the spending requirement for the welcome bonus.
What the experts love: Luxury travel benefits, 5 points on flights booked through Amex Travel, and airport lounge access.
What the experts don't love: The high annual fee offsets potential benefits for smaller companies.
Read our Amex Business Platinum card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back from Amex: The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a good choice if you prefer straightforward cash-back earning without having to worry about keeping track of bonus categories. Business Insider considers it to be the best 2% cash back credit card for small business owners.
With this card, you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, on the first $50,000 spent per calendar year, then 1% back (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit).
It's hard to beat earning 2% cash back on all purchases on up to $50,000 spent per year (then 1%) with no annual fee, and a zero-interest credit card with an introductory 0% APR can give you some breathing room to pay off those big purchases over time at no additional cost.
For small businesses with big expenses on the horizon, there's a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening (then a 17.49% - 25.49% Variable APR, rates and fees) that can help you save some money on interest as well.
New cardholders can also earn $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first three months of account opening.
What the experts love: 2% cash back on everything with no annual fee (rates and fees), a solid welcome offer, and a 0% intro APR period.
What the experts don't love: Rewards are capped at 1% cash back after the first $50,000 spent each year.
Read our Amex Blue Business Cash card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back from Chase: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a simple one at first glance, earning unlimited 1.5% cash back. However, just like the consumer Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has a trick up its sleeve.
Although the card is marketed as "cash back," it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that you can redeem for cash (1 Chase point = 1 cent).
That means that you can combine points earned from the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card with the ones you earn from cards like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, or the personal Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. From there, you can redeem them at an elevated rate when you redeem them for travel through Chase, or transfer them to travel partners.
When those points are combined onto an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you'll get a guaranteed 1.5 to 3 points per dollar spent.
The card also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months on purchases, followed by a 17.49% - 23.49% Variable APR, so it's a good choice if you have expenses coming up that you want to spread out over time.
What the experts love: The welcome bonus offer is especially impressive for a no-annual-fee card.
What the experts don't love: This card isn't as valuable on its own — you need to hold another Chase card to maximize your rewards.
Read our Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Flat-Rate Amex Points with No Annual Fee: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
It's a rare points-earning business card that doesn't charge an annual fee (rates and fees). But with The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, you'll earn 2 Amex points per dollar on the first $50,000 you spend each calendar year, without any bonus categories you need to track.
According to Business Insider's points and miles valuations, Amex points are worth an average of 1.8 cents apiece, so you're getting a 3.6% return on all your business spending up to $50,000 each year.
Right now, you can earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership.
What the experts love: 2 points per dollar on up to $50,000 spent each year (then 1 point per dollar), with no annual fee.
What the experts don't love: The welcome bonus is meager compared to many other cards.
Read our Amex Blue Business Plus credit card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Flat-Rate Miles with No Annual Fee: Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business†
The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business† recently increased its welcome bonus to 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That's a rare deal from a no-annual-fee business card, and more than double the usual offer.
Cardholders earn 1.5 miles per dollar on purchases (except hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, which earn 5 miles per dollar).
There are no pesky foreign transaction fees to worry about, and you'll get a few travel benefits, including roadside assistance and secondary car rental insurance.
The redemption options on this card are similar to that of its big sibling, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business† .
Based on Business Insider's valuations, you can expect to get around $850 in travel from this card's bonus.
What the experts love: A strong welcome bonus and earning for no annual fee make the card an affordable entry point if you're interested in earning credit card rewards for travel.
What the experts don't love: The benefits are modest compared to other travel credit cards, and there is no intro APR offer.
Read our Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business review to learn more about this card.
Best for Big Spenders: American Express® Business Gold Card
If you don't want to pay the Amex Business Platinum Card's higher annual fee, the American Express® Business Gold Card is a good alternative.
Depending on your spending habits, the Amex Business Gold Card could be a more rewarding choice, thanks to the ability to earn 4 Amex points per dollar on popular business spending categories on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year in the two select categories where your business spent the most each month; then 1 point per dollar.
Eligible 4-point categories include:
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
- U.S. wireless telephone service provider
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
This card currently comes with a big welcome offer of 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership (worth $1,800 based on Business Insider's valuations).
Cardholders also receive a decent selection of travel and shopping perks, including more than $300 in annual dining credits.
What the experts love: Generous bonus categories that reward your biggest areas of spend.
What the experts don't love: This card is the only premium Amex card that doesn't offer a statement credit to offset the annual fee.
Read our Amex Business Gold Card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Office Supplies: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is another solid Chase entry.
As with the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, you can pool the "cash" you earn with points from a points-earning card, effectively converting your cash into (potentially) more valuable points.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is an especially good option if you can maximize its bonus categories, including office supply stores, internet, cable, and restaurants, among others.
The card earns 5% cash back (5 Chase points per dollar) at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services, and 2% cash back (2 points per dollar) at gas stations and restaurants.
You'll earn 5% and 2% in these categories on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year (then 1%), and 1% cash back (1 point per dollar) on all other purchases with no caps.
New cardholders can also take advantage of a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months (then a 17.49% - 25.49% Variable APR), making this card a good choice for big purchases you want to pay off over several months.
What the experts love: No annual fee and up to 5% cash back
What the experts don't love: Minimal rewards beyond the bonus categories
Read our Chase Ink Business Cash credit card review to learn more about this card.
Best Reward Rate and Generous Intro APR: U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard
If you're looking for a rewards-earning business card with a generous 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers, the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® is an excellent choice, and the best U.S. Bank credit card for small-business owners.
Cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a 19.24% - 28.24% Variable APR, which is very uncommon on business cards.
The card's welcome offer and earnings aren't anything to sniff at, either. New cardholders can earn $500 cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases on the account holder's card in the first 150 days of opening your account (authorized user purchases won't count, however).
You'll also earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the U..S Bank Rewards Center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Another unique feature of the card is an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses like FreshBooks or QuickBooks. If you already subscribe to these services, the statement credit is a nice bonus — and it's particularly unusual for a no-annual-fee card.
What the experts love: Long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, good bonus and earning rates, software subscription statement credit
What the experts don't love: Foreign transaction fees
Read our U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Fair Credit: Capital One Spark 1% Classic†
Whether you have a new business or just don't have a ton of credit history, the Capital One Spark 1% Classic† could be a good stepping stone.
It's possible to get approved for this credit card if you have fair credit, whereas most other business cards that earn rewards require a good or even excellent credit score.
The card offers 1% cash back on all purchases, which isn't spectacular, but as a starter business card, it's not bad. There are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, and employee cards are free to add (you'll earn rewards for their purchases, too).
You'll also receive a handful of good benefits, including secondary car rental insurance, purchase protection against damage or theft, extended warranty on eligible items, and travel and emergency assistance services.
What the experts love: You only need fair credit to be considered for approval, decent benefits for a starter card, no foreign transaction fees or annual fee
What the experts don't love: Card only earns 1% cash back across the board, no welcome bonus offer
Read our review of the Capital One Spark Classic for Business to learn more about this card.
Why Use Business Credit Cards? Key Advantages
There are many unique benefits and advantages to business credit cards specific to small business needs, including easier accounting and expense-tracking for your company.
Our experts recommend matching card features to your business spending and growth plans to identify the best option for you.
Many business credit cards earn generous introductory bonuses and welcome offers.
And once you understand earning and reward structures, you can also maximize your rewards across common spending categories such as shipping fees, office supplies, or travel.
You can choose from several types of business credit cards: cash-back business credit cards, business credit cards for travel, premium cards with exclusive benefits such as lounge access, insurance, and more, and business credit cards with no annual fee.
You may also be able to take advantage of zero-interest intro APRs and interest-free periods.
Consumer Insights on Business Credit Cards
In addition to providing our expert take on the best cards available right now, our credit card experts also compiled customer experiences and reviews across forums such as Reddit and FlyerTalk to see what other business owners have to say.
Cash is King
Many business owners like the flexibility of earning cash back because it's so versatile. Travel rewards are often worth more when compared to the cash value of business- and first-class flights and five-star hotel stays, but cash back is the easiest and most quantifiable way to calculate true value.
Payment Flexibility and Options
Some Redditors appreciate payment flexibility features that are unique to small business credit cards. For example, The Plum Card® from American Express offers a 1.5% discount if you pay off what you owe before it's due.
However, Business Insider's credit card experts don't recommend The Plum Card for most business owners because it has a relatively high annual fee of $250 in exchange for minimal benefits beyond the early-pay discount.
Zero-Interest Introductory Periods Help Finance Large Purchases
Many business credit cardholders mention the value of a credit card 0% intro APR, whether it's for purchases, balance transfers, or both.
Zero-interest terms allow business owners to pay down large expenses, such as new equipment or commercial rent, over a longer period of time without incurring additional costs in the form of interest.
Of course, after the initial period ends, you'll return to paying high rates of interest, so make sure you plan ahead to pay off the full amount you owe before your 0% APR term runs out.
Stacking Rewards and Cash-Back Programs
Many small business owners look for business credit cards that earn points or cash back within the same issuer "ecosystems" that they already use for personal credit cards.
For example, many people who have one or more of the best Chase cards for consumers gravitate toward the best Chase business credit cards because earning and using Chase Ultimate Rewards points is easy between business and personal accounts.
The best business credit cards often earn bonus rewards on specific purchases that pair well with benefits or bonus categories on personal cards. American Express credit cards work well together, just like Chase cards do.
For example, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express pairs well with the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express, which are two of the most popular consumer credit cards offered through Amex.
Bank of America Preferred Rewards
Business owners who bank with Bank of America have access to the Bank of America Preferred Rewards loyalty program benefits, which earns additional cash back depending on how much money you deposit with Bank of America or Merrill.
People who value cash back frequently tout the benefits of combining a cash-back credit card like the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card with other Bank of America banking accounts.
Travel and Airline Benefits
Business road warriors rave about travel-related benefits associated with certain business credit cards such as access to airport lounges, earning miles on travel purchases, and additional perks like priority boarding and free checked bags.
We've highlighted the premium benefits of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the everyday rewards from The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express in this guide.
But you may also want to consider other options if you frequently find yourself traveling for business. Many of the cards Redditors recommend are featured in our guide to the best business credit cards for travel.
Business Expense Management
Few people get excited about accounting tools and features, but they can be a lifesaver for managing and organizing business expenses.
Redditors emphasized the importance of finding business credit cards that offer authorized user and employee credit cards, or integrate with Quickbooks and other common accounting software tools for accurate cash flow management and efficient financial tracking.
Business credit cards also help users separate business expenses from personal finances, which is important for clean accounting and for establishing business credit.
Secured Business Credit Cards
Many small business credit cards rely on consumer credit scores for approval, so business owners with low personal credit may find it hard to get approved for a business credit card.
Secured business credit cards can be the solution here. The best options help businesses build credit history by reporting responsible use to business credit bureaus, and some offer the option to upgrade to an unsecured card for better credit with responsible use.
Redditors who don't otherwise qualify for business credit cards recommend looking at several of the cards in our guide to the best secured business credit cards.
These cards require a cash security deposit, which usually equates to the credit limit you want to set on the credit card.
Alternative Option for Business Benefits: FoundersCard Membership
The FoundersCard program is a paid membership that offers access to exclusive discounts and premium benefits for movers and shakers.
FoundersCard members get exclusive invitations to networking events, advance access to select shows and concerts, discounted rates on select airlines, and elite benefits at major hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG.
Joining FoundersCard doesn't come cheap, costing several hundred dollars each year depending on which membership tier you choose.
But it can be worth many times its annual fee for the right demographic: people who frequently travel for business and pleasure, and value premium experiences and top-tier service while doing so.
Our dedicated review delves deeper into what FoundersCard is and whether it's worth the investment.
Business Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the best credit cards for small businesses include the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card for earning 1.5% back on every dollar spent; The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card for earning 2 Amex points per dollar spent; the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® for a long 0% intro APR period and generous rewards rate; and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express for premium travel perks including access to the Amex Centurion Lounges in airports worldwide.
Yes, startups can qualify for business credit cards. Some cards are designed with new businesses in mind, offering features that cater to the needs of startups.
Generally, rewards are not taxable as they are considered discounts or rebates on spending. However, large sign-up bonuses may sometimes be viewed differently, so it's advisable to consult with a tax professional.
While personal credit cards are intended for any type of purchase, business credit cards are targeted toward business owners. That doesn't mean you need a large established company to apply for a business credit card. In fact, you can may qualify for a business card as long as you meet the bank's application requirements, even if you just resell household items on eBay or operate a small home baking business.
It's easier to qualify for a business credit card than you may think. If you do any freelancing or a side gig, such as driving for Uber or selling items on eBay, you can typically qualify for a business credit card as a sole proprietor. In this case, you are personally on the hook for your business' debts.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Business Credit Cards
Business Insider's personal finance experts evaluated dozens of business credit cards currently open to new applicants to determine the best options for most business owners.
We chose our top contenders based on the following criteria:
- Sign-up bonus — Does the card offer a valuable welcome bonus offer to new cardholders who meet a minimum spending requirement?
- Ongoing rewards — Beyond the welcome bonus offer, does the card offer a competitive rate of points or cash back on purchases?
- Other features — Does the card come with any additional benefits, such as travel protection, free employee cards, cell phone insurance, or primary car rental insurance?
- Annual fee — If the card has an annual fee, does it offer enough benefits to justify it?
Read more about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
