Best Business Credit Cards

All information about the Capital One Spark Classic for Business and U.S. Bank Credit Cards has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Comparing Business Credit Card Offers

For most businesses – from brick and mortar storefronts to “side-hustles” – a business credit card can be a great tool to track spending, save money on interest, and earn rewards.

Before applying, you should understand the application requirements and credit implications. Though business credit cards are very similar to personal credit cards, there are a few key differences to know about. Finally, it’s a good idea to decide what’s important to you – are you hoping to spread out payments for several large purchases? Or do you simply want to start earning cash back on the purchases you’re already making?

Once you’ve decided what you’re looking for, it’s time to start comparing credit cards. At this point, you’ll be ready to make an informed decision with your business’s unique needs in mind.

• What are the best business credit cards?
• Summary of the best business credit card offers
• What are business credit cards?
• How to choose the best card for your business
• How to apply for a business credit card
• Getting the most our of your card
• Building business credit
• Research methodology
• Frequently asked questions

Best Business Credit Cards

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Best for boosted rewards

Not only will you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but you can also transfer your rewards to a qualifying Chase Ultimate Rewards card and boost their value by 25% when you redeem for travel. It also comes with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases – it’s 13.24%–19.24% variable after that. On the flip side, some business credit cards offer a higher rewards rate, such as the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Best for cash back on office supplies

It’s one of the only cards that includes a bonus on office supply spending, offering 5% cash back on your first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores, as well as internet, cable and phone services each anniversary year (1% thereafter). If you’re working from home for the foreseeable future, this cash back reward can be a great benefit for providing your employees the services they need to stay productive online.

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for no annual fee

A cash back rate of 2% isn’t uncommon among business credit cards, but it is special when paired with no annual fee. Keep in mind, though, the 2% cash back applies only to your first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1%). This flat-rate cash back card offers some unique features, such as the possibility of spending beyond your credit limit and even earning cash back in those cases.

Capital One Spark Cash for Business: Best for cash back rewards

This card’s sign-up bonus is quite rewarding – earn $500 after a $4,500 spend within the first 3 months. Also, earn 2% cash back on all purchases, meaning you aren’t limited to certain categories. Although there’s a $95 annual fee, it’s waived the first year. You also get free employee cards, as well as quarterly and year-end summaries, no foreign transaction fees, and lost luggage reimbursement.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Best for long intro APR period on purchases

The card offers a 0% introductory APR on new purchases for 12 months (13.24% – 19.24% Variable thereafter), making it useful if you need to finance a large purchase. You’ll also earn 2X points for up to $50,000 a year on business expenses like office supplies and client dinners, and 1 point per dollar thereafter.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for business travel

A hefty sign-up bonus of 100,000 points after a $15,000 spend within the first 3 months makes this a stellar business card. And those 100,000 points are worth $1,250 toward future travel when you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The rewards rates are pretty great, too: 3X points on all travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and advertising purchases with social media and search engines on your first $150,000 in combined purchases each year (1 point per dollar thereafter). On the other hand, this isn’t the best credit card for those who want to do a balance transfer or finance a large purchase since it doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR. There’s also a $95 annual fee.

American Express® Business Gold Card: Best for no expiration on points

For a limited time, the welcome offer is 70,000 points after a quite high $10,000 spend on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership. You can also earn up to $300 in statement credits on eligible U.S. advertising and U.S. shipping purchases (Terms and cap apply). In addition to no expiration on points, earn 4X points on 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month (on up to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year, then 1X). The annual fee on this card is $295, which isn’t waived the first year.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury travel perks

Cardholders get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com. Plus, eligible purchases of $5,000 or more earn 50% more points – instead of 1 point per dollar spent, you’ll earn 1.5 points per dollar, up to 1 million additional points per year. Beyond that, your travel perks are plenty, including airport lounge access and up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. On the flip side, the annual fee is super high at $595 and isn’t waived the first year.

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business: Best for everyday purchases

This no-annual-fee business card gives you 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it more than competitive among flat-rate cash back cards. The required spend is a bit high on the sign-up bonus, though: Earn $200 after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months of card membership. There’s a short 0% intro APR offer on purchases of 9 months, then it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi: Best for everyday cash back

Business owners who are already Costco members will love this card’s rewards: 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases (for the first $7,000 in purchases annually, then 1% after that), 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, 2% on Costco purchases, and 1% on general purchases. However, be aware that the cash back rewards are only issued once a year in February and are only redeemable at Costco.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Best for rewards

Not only is the sign-up bonus worthwhile, but the ongoing rewards are also quite good. Earn 50,000 miles after a $4,500 spend within the first 3 months, and earn 2X miles on every purchase. Also, transfer your miles to more than 10 loyalty programs, including Air Canada and Jet Blue™. There’s a $95 annual fee, although it’s waived the first year.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Best for Hilton loyalists

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card’s welcome bonus is quite generous at a $150 statement credit after your first purchase on the card within the first 3 months, plus 150,000 points after a $2,000 spend within the first 3 months, which can add up to a fair number of free hotel nights if you are strategic in your redemptions. And although there’s a $95 annual fee that isn’t waived the first year, the ongoing rewards are pretty awesome, including 12X points on Hilton hotel purchases, 6X points on select travel and business purchases, and 3X points on other eligible purchases.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Best for hotel and flights redemption

After you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn a $100 Delta flight credit for future travel. Also, earn 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, on eligible U.S. shipping purchases and on dining at restaurants. Then, earn 1X mile on other eligble purchases. The annual fee is only $99 and is waived the first year.

CitiBusiness®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines flyers

As with any co-branded airline card, it only makes sense to get this card if you&’re a brand loyalist who flies often, especially since it comes with a $99 annual fee (waived the first year). Small-business owners will love the 2X AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations. Plus, the sign-up bonus is significant: Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

Comparing the best business credit cards offers:

What are business credit cards?

Business credit cards are very similar to personal cards, just tailored to meet the needs of small-business owners. You’ll need to operate some type of business in order to qualify, though it doesn’t have to be a formal business. Gig workers and freelancers can be eligible, too. Here are a few things you should know about business credit cards:

• Nearly all business credit cards require you to sign a personal guarantee before you’re approved. A personal guarantee states that the cardholder agrees to be responsible for the debt, meaning unpaid business debt will hurt your personal credit.
• The credit limits are usually higher on business credit cards than on personal credit cards.
• The protections that apply to consumer cards, like those that prevent excessive fees and interest rate hikes, do not apply to business credit cards. However, business credit cards will often offer similar protections as a courtesy.
• Rewards and benefits are usually designed to meet the needs of small businesses. You can find discounts and rewards on utility services, shipping and other common business expenses.
• The way you use a business credit card can affect both your credit and your business’s credit.

How to choose the best credit card for your business

There’s no one-size-fits-all business credit card. Credit needs can vary greatly from business to business, and that’s why credit cards come in different shapes and sizes. “Choosing the right business credit card depends on what you’re looking for (cash back, discounted travel, low interest, etc.)”, says Ted Rossman, our industry analyst. “ There are lucrative sign-up bonuses to be had, and rewards on spending categories tailored for businesses (such as travel, technology, internet, phone, shipping and online advertising purchases).” Here’s what you need to consider in choosing the best card for your needs:

What types of rewards are you interested in?

You can typically categorize credit card rewards in one of two categories: cash back or travel. You’ll need to decide which will be more rewarding for your business. If you’re looking for simplicity, a cash back card is probably your best bet. You can redeem your cash back as a statement credit or have it deposited into a bank account without having to worry about how to use rewards points. If you travel often, a points or miles card will likely be more advantageous. For a full list of pros and cons for each type of reward, read our comparison of cash back and points.

How do you plan to use the card?

Once you’ve settled on the type of rewards that you prefer, you should think about what the next year or so holds in terms of business spending. This can help you choose a card with reward categories that will work the hardest for you. For example, if you plan to spend a lot at office supply stores, you might look at Ink Business Cash Credit Card, which offers 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases annually at office supply stores and internet services.

You should also think about whether you have any large expenses on the horizon. If so, it may be helpful to split up payments over several months without worrying about interest. In that case, a business credit card with a 0% introductory APR will work in your favor. Or maybe you already have some business debt and a balance transfer card can help you minimize interest payments.

What is your credit score?

Whether or not you get approved for a business card can be widely based on your creditworthiness. So before you apply, it’s a good idea to conduct an audit of your personal credit score. Most issuers will require a good credit score (670 and above), while others may even require an excellent score (740 and above). Although there are a small number of cards that require fair credit (580-669), just like a personal card, you may increase your chances of getting approved for a business card with a higher credit score.

What kinds of benefits would you like?

While some benefits can save you money, others are aimed at saving time or headache.

• If you or your employees travel frequently, you’ll want to look for perks like no foreign transaction fees, lost luggage insurance, car rental insurance, and emergency assistance.
• If you have several employees who will be authorized users, having no fee for employee cards can help you save the most money. Some cards will also let you set custom spending limits on employee cards.
• If you could use some help with organization, look for a card that offers business management tools like quarterly and year-end summaries and Quickbooks integration ability.

Pro-tip: You can also find small-business benefits with external programs, too. For example, with Spring from Capital One you can access deals on services like FedEx, DocuSign and Squarespace, with no Capital One account required.

Applying for a business credit card

Who can apply for a business credit card?

A common misconception about business credit cards is that you have to have a formal business structure to get one. This isn’t true. Side hustles, sole proprietorships, freelance work and plenty of other money-making gigs qualify as “businesses,” when it comes to credit card applications. In fact, according to the SBA’s 2019 Small Business Profile, 37% of small businesses in the U.S. have no paid employees, aside from the business owner.

What you’ll need for a business credit card application

It varies from application to application, but here are some common required fields on business credit card applications.

• Your business’s name or your name
• Your business’s or your address and phone number
• Your business’s industry
• How long your business has been operating
• Number of employees
• Annual business revenue
• Estimated monthly expenses
• Your business’s EIN or your Social Security number

4 steps to apply for a business credit card and get approved

Before you hit “submit” on the application, make sure you’ve gone through these steps that will help you maximize your odds of approval and secure the best card for your business.

1. Check your credit score. Credit card issuers will usually look into the business owner’s personal credit before approving an application, so it’s important to check your credit score before you start shopping around. If you’ve already established business credit through a loan or other credit line, you should check your business credit score as well, since issuers may also look at that. Most business credit cards require good to excellent credit. If your credit needs some work, it’s probably in your best interest to spend time improving your score before applying.
2. Compare business credit cards. With so many offers on the market, choosing a business credit card can be overwhelming. Consider rewards type, interest rates, fees and your business’s spending habits.
3. Find out if you prequalify with our CardMatch tool. Using a soft inquiry that won’t affect your credit score, CardMatch can show you which credit cards you’re likely to be approved for in under 60 seconds. Plus, you may also get access to special offers, like a boosted welcome bonus.
4. Complete your application. Once you’ve decided on a credit card, the hard part is over. You can apply online with any major issuer, mostly using information that you’ll know off the top of your head. Those with less formal business structures can use their own information in lieu of some business information, such as address and phone number.

Understanding and building business credit

There are some differences between personal and business credit, which we go into on this page. Here are some tips on how to build business, understanding what is a good rating, and more.

How to build business credit

To build a credit history for your business, you need to establish that your business is a separate entity from yourself and take steps to make sure that your business’s spending activity is being tracked by business credit bureaus. Here are some steps you can take to create a credit history for your business:

• A business checking account will help you establish your business as a financial entity.
• Register for a DUN number through Dun and Bradstreet to establish a credit history with them. For Experian and Equifax, establish an LLC so you can get an EIN and set up a phone line with a listed number.
• If some of your vendor accounts are not making it onto your credit report, you can use D&B’s Credit Builder service to provide positive payment information to your credit report. You can provide D&B with your vendors’ contact information, then D&B will contact them to verify your payment history.
• Building your personal credit score is one of the first steps to building a credit history for your business. A good personal credit score can help you acquire your first lines of business credit.
• Apply for a small-business credit card.
• So that you make your own payments on time (and minimize your need for cash flow), make sure your own customers are paying you in a timely manner.
• Request credit line increases on your existing accounts – this will improve your credit-to-debt ratio and thus your overall credit score.

Business credit scores vs. personal credit scores

Credit scoring for businesses is a bit different (and more complicated) than scoring for consumers. Personal FICO scores range from 300 to 850, while business credit scores use different scales. There are three primary business credit score bureaus and they all structure their ratings differently.
You can find your business credit score by visiting the Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax and Experian websites. Each bureau calculates scores uniquely and offers different features.

While your business and personal credit are distinct, there is usually some overlap. Some business credit card issuers report activity to consumer credit bureaus. In those cases, your personal credit would be affected by your business credit activity. For that reason, it’s difficult to keep business and personal credit entirely separate.

Can you get a business credit card with fair or bad credit?

Though most business credit cards require good to excellent credit, there are a few business cards available for people with fair credit. These cards usually lack the hefty sign-up bonuses and travel perks of other business cards, but they can be useful as stepping stones to better credit and more lucrative business rewards cards down the line.

Currently, one of the easiest business credit cards to get is the Capital One Spark Classic for Business, a flat-rate cash back card offering 1% cash back on every purchase. While the card has its shortcomings, including a variable APR of 26.99%, which is much higher than that of the average business card, it comes with a number of useful business perks.

You may also consider paying for business expenses with a consumer card designed for people with fair credit or bad credit.

More in-depth reviews

Our business credit card reviews can help you compare offers to find the one that best suits your needs.