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The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is our pick for best credit card for small business because of its generous rewards — including one of the largest sign-up bonuses currently available.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Winner
|
1X - 3X points
| 90,000 points
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card*
|
Secured
|
1.5% cash back
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
| N/A | See website for details* | |
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
|
New business
|
1% - 2% cash back
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%
| $250 statement credit
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
| Good / Excellent | |
FNBO Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card*
|
Easiest
|
N/A | N/A | Limited / Poor / Fair | |
Ramp Visa Corporate Card*
|
No personal guarantee
|
1.5% cash back
1.5% cash back on all card spend
| N/A | N/A | |
Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard Credit Card*
|
Balance transfer
|
1.5x - 2X points
| 15,000 points
15,000 loyalty points after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening
| N/A | |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Travel card
|
1X - 5X points
| 150,000 points
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
| Good / Excellent | |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card*
|
Gas credit card
|
1% - 3% cash back
| $300 statement credit
Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
| Excellent | |
Capital One Spark Classic for Business*
|
Fair credit
|
1% - 5% cash back
| N/A | Fair | |
Synovus Business Visa® Credit Card*
|
Low ongoing APR
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | |
The New United℠ Business Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Airline miles
|
1X - 2X miles
| 100,000 miles
Limited-time offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
|
Hotel rewards
|
3X - 12X points
| 175,000 points
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus earn an additional 25,000 Hilton Honors Bonus points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on your Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 8/13/2025.
| Good / Excellent |
To bring you the list of best business credit cards, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. We rank cards based on the following criteria:
We calculate the rewards earned for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes sign-up bonuses and annual bonuses (including annual free night certificates). We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum redemption thresholds, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
We also compare a card’s benefits — such as purchase protections, travel protections, elite status benefits and travel credits — against benefits from other cards.
Note that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best rewards credit card for business. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s bonus categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: 90,000 points
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is our pick for the best small business credit card. It earns rewards on common business purchases and offers travel and purchase protections. Plus, it also comes with a competitive sign-up bonus valued at $900 ($1,125 if you redeem the points for travel through Chase’s travel portal). Earning and redeeming flexible Ultimate Rewards points will help you offset the card’s $95 annual fee. Given its travel perks, it’s also one of the best credit cards for business travel.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: $250 statement credit
The Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card offers competitive rewards for business owners who want to earn cash back while building their credit. It offers Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and a $0 annual fee, easily making it our pick for best secured business credit card. Best of all, Bank of America will conduct regular account reviews to see if you qualify to transition to an unsecured card.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: $250 statement credit
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is our pick for the best credit card for new businesses. If you’re strapped for cash while you get your business up and running, you’ll love earning cash back rewards on every purchase. Plus, rewards automatically apply as a statement credit, which means you don’t even have to remember to redeem them.
Along with No annual fee, there’s also a welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. It also offers an introductory APR — you’ll get 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that, the APR is 17.49% - 27.49% variable.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Get approved for a high credit limit based on how much you put in your security deposit.
The FNBO Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card is easy to get, since it’s accessible to business owners with limited / poor / fair credit. Cardholders must also submit a security deposit that will serve as 110% of their credit line and pay a $39 annual fee. However, with responsible use demonstrated through regular, on-time payments, small business owners can boost their credit score and apply for one of the unsecured cards on this list.
Rewards rate: 1.5% cash back
Earn 1.5% cash back on all card spend
Cash back rewards and access to best-in-class accounting software make the Ramp Visa Corporate Card the best business credit card without a personal guarantee or credit check. It’s an excellent choice if you’re an established business owner and want a high-level overview of your spending — just make sure you can afford to pay off the card in full every month.
However, because it’s a corporate credit card and doesn’t require a personal guarantee, the Ramp Visa Corporate Card has stricter eligibility requirements than the other cards on this list.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 15,000 points
Earn 15,000 loyalty points after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening
If you’re looking to transfer an existing credit card balance, few cards can rival the Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard Credit Card. There is no fee for transferring a balance within 60 days of account opening, which is an extremely unique feature. Plus, any balances transferred within this period will also enjoy a 0% introductory APR for the first 12 billing cycles for balances transferred within 60 days from account opening (followed by a 19.24%–29.24% Variable APR).
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 150,000 points
We recommend The Business Platinum Card® from American Express for frequent business travelers who want great benefits and travel credits. More than $2,000 in travel and business credits (after meeting qualifying spend thresholds) plus access to a large number of global airport lounges make this card worth its steep $695 annual fee for frequent flyers. However, those who only travel occasionally should consider other business travel cards.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: $300 statement credit
Our pick for best business gas credit card is the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card. You’ll earn a high rate of cash back on the first $50,000 you spend in the category of your choice, including gas. Plus, this card is worth keeping in your wallet for other business expenses, since you’ll earn cash back on every purchase.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Rewards rate: 1% - 5% cash back
If you’re looking for the best business credit card for fair credit, we recommend the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It’s our pick because it offers competitive cash back rates while remaining accessible to business owners with fair credit. Further, you won’t be on the hook for an annual fee, and there’s no need to worry about foreign transaction fees. All of Capital One’s other business credit cards are targeted for cardholders with good or better credit.
Intro purchase APR: 0% introductory purchase APR for the first 6 months from account opening, then 13.49%-24.99% Variable
With no balance transfer fee plus an introductory APR, the Synovus Business Visa® Credit Card can offer immediate savings if you transfer an existing credit card balance to your new account. Beyond the initial six months, you’ll enjoy a low ongoing APR that could be as low as 13.49%-24.99% Variable, depending on your credit score. This is an excellent rate when compared to the average credit card APR.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: 100,000 miles
Consider The New United℠ Business Card if you want to enjoy travel perks on your next business trip, plus earn valuable MileagePlus® miles with every purchase you make. The card provides two United Club passes each year, plus other benefits such as a free checked bag and priority boarding on United flights. To top things off, you can take this small business credit card abroad without worrying about paying foreign transaction fees.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 175,000 points
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great fit for frequent business travelers and Hilton loyalists. Cardholders get a solid rewards rate on the first $100,000 of everyday purchases each year. Plus, business owners can enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status benefits throughout the year, which provide perks like free breakfast and bonus Honors points.
Consider the following factors when evaluating the best business card options:
Rewards categories
If you spend heavily in certain categories, look for a card that offers a higher rewards rate for these purchases. For example, spending on shipping and advertising with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card will earn you 3X points rather than the standard 1X. But if your spending fluctuates, a flat-rate card might be a better choice.
Points or cash back
If you’re looking for a business rewards credit card, consider whether you want to earn cash back, points or airline miles. Points are typically flexible, and often more valuable, such as the Chase Ultimate Rewards® earned by the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. However, a cash back card, such as The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, is a solid choice if you want a simple rewards structure.
Sign-up bonus
If you know you’ve got a big purchase coming up, a card sign-up bonus or welcome offer can help offset the cost. If your business spending will be high enough, consider a card like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express with its lucrative welcome offer.
Intro APR
If you need to finance a big-ticket item over time or move debt from another card via balance transfer, you’ll want a card with a 0% intro APR period. Also consider a card without a balance transfer fee, such as the Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard Credit Card.
Travel plans
Frequent flyers should consider cards with travel protections like trip cancellation insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and lost luggage insurance. Cards such as The New United℠ Business Card provide this coverage. And if your business trips often take you to destinations abroad, choose a card with no foreign transaction fee.
Annual fee
If you’re a new business owner or are strapped for cash, consider small business credit cards that don’t charge an annual fee, such as the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card. But if you want premium benefits like airport lounge access or credits for certain types of spending, you’ll likely need to spring for a card with an annual fee.
Number of employees
If your small business has employees, consider a business card that offers free employee cards. For example, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card can have up to 99 employee cards.
The process of getting a business credit card is very similar to that of getting a personal credit card. You’ll need to research and choose the best business credit card for your situation before you submit an application, and we recommend following a clear step-by-step process.
When you apply for a business credit card, though, you’ll need to provide more information than you would on a personal credit card application. We recommend gathering the following information ahead of time:
The benefits of having a business credit card don’t stop at earning rewards. With a business credit card, you can:
Card issuers don’t always report card activity to every business credit reporting agency, so your business credit card should only be part of your strategy to build your business credit. You can also consider taking out a business line of credit. Although a business line of credit works differently than a credit card, making regular, on-time payments and keeping your balance low on your business line of credit will help you establish and build your business credit.
In order to build business credit with your business credit card, you should:
Your personal credit impacts your ability to get a business credit card, as most business cards require good to excellent credit. If you have a poor credit score, you should consider a secured business credit card. Secured credit cards require you to put down a security deposit. If you default on what you owe, the issuer can recoup the loss by confiscating the deposit, which is why it’s easier to get a good secured card with bad credit than a good unsecured card with bad credit. You may also want to consider business credit cards that don’t run personal credit checks.
If you have a fair credit score, you’ll find that you have more options. For example, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is a good no-annual-fee card for business owners with fair credit that offers cash back on every purchase.
If a business credit card doesn’t seem like the right fit, but you still need access to business funding, here are a handful of other options.
If you need access to capital as a business startup, to pay for critical business equipment, or other business needs, and don’t want to pay a hefty amount in interest, a small business loan may be a better choice than a small business credit card. Loans come in a variety of forms, and deciding which fits your business best is the first step to getting a small business loan. You’ll have to make equal monthly payments for the repayment term of the loan. Notably, the typical interest rate of a business loan can be lower than a small business credit card.
In some ways, a business line of credit is more like a business credit card than a business loan. Rather than receive all the funds upfront, you can withdraw against the line of credit as needed. You may pay a draw fee, an origination fee, or an annual fee, depending on the line of credit. As you repay your business line of credit, you can borrow again, up to your draw limit. Depending on how you manage the funds, it can be substantially cheaper than a credit card.
You can apply for a small business grant from the federal government, state government, or a corporation. Unlike a loan, line of credit, or credit card, a grant is money that you do not have to repay. The requirements for each individual grant can vary substantially. One requirement that can vary based on each grant is the identity of the owner. For example, there are business grants for women and business grants for minority-owned businesses.
Still at a loss for how to get funding to start a new business or keep an existing business in operation? Obtaining venture capital or crowdfunding are two options for funding a small business.
A broad range of small business owners — including startup owners, freelancers and independent contractors — may be eligible to apply for a business credit card. Even if you don’t have your business structured as a limited liability company (LLC), corporation or other setup, you can likely apply for a business card as a sole proprietor. Of course, all of the cards on this page are still great picks for small business owners looking for business credit cards for an LLC.
Many cards don’t require an employer identification number (EIN) to apply. When applying for a business card as a sole proprietor, your Social Security number (SSN) should be enough.
It’s okay if you don’t yet have business revenue, as long as you have a reasonable expectation of future earnings. You may be allowed to provide an estimate on your application, but it may be fine to provide an estimate of $0. That doesn’t necessarily disqualify you. Be realistic and don’t put an inflated number.
As long as you pay your bill by the due date, your business credit card generally won’t impact your personal credit score. Many issuers won’t report business credit card activity to the consumer credit bureaus if your account is in good standing.
A few issuers like Capital One and Discover do report business card activity to the consumer bureaus. In addition, many business credit cards require a personal guarantee, which means your personal credit will be on the line for any balance you accumulate with your card. Negative activity on your card will likely show up on your personal credit report. Furthermore, if your business fails, you will likely be personally responsible for repaying your credit card debt.
Business credit cards may come with higher credit limits than consumer cards, which is helpful for businesses with big expenditures. But while personal (consumer) cards have certain protections under the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act), business cards do not. This means, for instance, that the APR on your business card can be increased much more suddenly than the APR on a personal credit card.
A corporate credit card — sometimes called a company credit card — is designed for a large business operation. While business credit cards typically require a personal guarantee — meaning you are ultimately responsible for what’s charged to the card — corporate credit cards do not. Unlike business credit cards, corporate cards generally require you to have an established business with a large amount of revenue to qualify for an account. Small businesses generally won’t be eligible for a corporate credit card.
While many personal credit cards offer online tools for preapproval, it’s rare to find online preapproval tools for business credit cards. However, you can check directly with the issuer to see if you’re preapproved for offers. It may help if you have an established relationship with an issuer, such as a checking or savings account. If you’re worried about a card issuer rejecting your application, consider applying for a secured business card or a business credit card for people with fair credit.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card, FNBO Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card, Ramp Visa Corporate Card, Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard Credit Card, Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card, Capital One Spark Classic for Business, Synovus Business Travel Rewards Visa® Credit Card and Synovus Business Visa® Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
