September 11, 2023
Why use LendingTree?
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns generous cash back on purchases in common business spending categories, offers a valuable sign-up bonus, comes with an intro APR period for new purchases and charges a $0 annual fee.
There are many ways you can use a small business credit card to help your business’s bottom line. For instance, you can use it to turn everyday expenses into cash back, to offset a big purchase with a sign-up bonus, to manage employee expenses or even just to get into an airport lounge and relax during a business trip.
Before selecting a small business credit card, you need to figure out how a card will align with your expenses and what you are aiming to get out of the card. If there’s no one card that answers all of your needs, you may find it beneficial to have multiple cards. We’ve organized our recommendations by category — so here are our top picks based on our research of cards available through LendingTree, as well as top cards offered by major issuers.
Intro purchase APR: 0% for 12 months
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, followed by an ongoing regular purchase APR of 18.49% to 24.49% Variable
If your business spends a lot at office supply stores, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card provides an extremely generous cash back rate. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
You can redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more.
In addition to the rewards rate, there is a sign-up bonus: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Plus, if you need time to pay off a large purchase, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, after which a 18.49% to 24.49% variable APR will apply.
The annual fee for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is $0.
Who’s this card best for?
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is best for small business owners looking for a solid sign-up bonus, cash back rewards and an Ink Business Cash® Credit Card with a $0 annual fee.
Sign-up bonus: 100,000 points
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card comes with a very lucrative sign-up bonus — especially when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Cardholders earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Points can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, travel or merchandise. When redeeming them for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, activities or cruises through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, you’ll get 25% more value per point. You can also transfer points at a 1:1 value to a variety of airline and hotel partners.
The ongoing rewards program is generous as well: Cardholders earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.
As befits one of the top business travel cards on the market, the foreign transaction fee is $0.
There is an annual fee of $95. Also, be aware that the card doesn’t come with an intro APR, so you start out immediately at the regular 21.24% – 26.24% variable APR.
Who’s this card best for?
If you’re a small business owner looking to earn a huge rewards on company expenses that can be redeemed for travel and more, you should look at the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and its valuable sign-up bonus. The card does charge a $95 annual fee, but if you earn the sign-up bonus, you more than offset the amount of the annual fee in year one. The card also offers strong ongoing value thanks to the ability to transfer points 1:1 to travel partners, as well as numerous benefits.
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Intro purchase APR: 0% for 12 months
0% on purchases for 12 months, followed by an ongoing regular purchase APR of 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Earn a flat rate of 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel with this card. Plus, there’s an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months. After, a 21.24% - 29.24% (variable) APR applies.
The card’s annual fee is $0. And if you’re traveling abroad, don’t worry about a foreign transaction fee since the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit charges none.
Who’s this card best for?
Although many business cards require good to excellent credit, the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit is accessible if you have good credit. Plus, it earns flat cash back rewards at a competitive rate on every purchase and charges a $0 annual fee.
The card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus. But you can finance a big-ticket purchase, thanks to its intro APR period.
Intro purchase APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases, followed by an ongoing regular purchase APR of 19.24% - 28.24% variable
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® comes with a generous sign-up bonus and a lengthy 0% intro APR period on purchases.
Cardholders can earn a sign-up bonus if they meet certain conditions. Limited Time Offer: Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account. And there’s a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases, after which a 19.24% - 28.24% variable APR applies.
If you need to transfer a balance from another card, there’s also an APR of 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After, a 19.24% - 28.24% variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
For ongoing rewards: Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center. No limit on total cash back earned. The card’s annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is 3%.
Who’s this card best for?
When you need to finance a big-ticket item, you want two things — an intro APR on new purchases so you can avoid interest charges as you make payments, and a sign-up bonus that can help offset the cost of what you spent. The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® has both.
Plus, thanks to a generous rewards program that earns cash back on common business spending categories, this card offers ongoing value even after you pay off your initial purchase.
Sign-up bonus: $750 cash back
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a $0-annual-fee card that lets business owners earn cash back at a simple, flat rate.
You can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business. There’s also a decent sign-up bonus. Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
There are several ways to redeem your rewards, including statement credits, travel or gift cards you could give to employees.
Who’s this card best for?
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is best for small business owners looking for a card with flexibility and simple rewards structure. With this card, you don’t have to worry about different earning categories or spending caps, since your rewards are unlimited.
It’s also best for business owners looking for a card with an intro APR. The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months. Then, it goes to a 18.49% - 24.49% variable APR.
Intro balance transfer APR: 0% for 18 billing cycles
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, followed by an ongoing regular balance transfer APR of 17.24% to 26.24% Variable.
While the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card doesn’t come with rewards or a sign-up bonus, it does offer a long intro APR on balance transfers and purchases.
Business owners who get the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card will enjoy an exceptional 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. After, a 17.24% to 26.24% APR applies. The balance transfer fee is either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
The 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles provides new cardholders with plenty of time to pay off a big purchase. After, a 17.24% to 26.24% APR applies.
The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is 3% on each foreign transaction.
Who’s this card best for?
When it comes to business credit cards, there aren’t as many 0% intro APR offers on balance transfers as there are with consumer cards. The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card is an exception, and comes with an intro APR period close to two years long. If you need breathing room to pay off debt you’re currently carrying on another business card, this card merits your consideration.
And, thanks to a lengthy intro APR on new purchases, it’s also a solid choice for business owners looking to finance a big-ticket item (though it doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus to offset the cost).
Intro balance transfer APR: 0% for 13 months
Introductory 0% APR for the first 13 billing cycles following account opening when the balance is transferred within the first 90 days following account opening, followed by a 15.24% to 25.24% APR on balance transfers.
The PNC Visa® Business Credit Card also has a long intro APR on balance transfers as well as a low ongoing APR.
Cardholders get a Introductory 0% APR for the first 13 billing cycles following account opening when the balance is transferred within the first 90 days following account opening. The balance transfer fee is either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater. After the intro period, there will be a 15.24% to 25.24% APR on balance transfers.
There’s no intro APR on purchases; the regular purchase APR is 15.24% to 25.24%.
This card doesn’t earn rewards or a sign-up bonus. But if you’re looking for a low interest rate, this card offers the chance to get a lower one than you’d find on many competing business cards.
Who’s this card best for?
When you need more than a year to pay off a balance transferred from another card, the PNC Visa® Business Credit Card is a solid choice. Plus, the regular interest rate is quite low, particularly if your APR is set at the lower end of the 15.24% to 25.24% APR range on balance transfers. If you encounter an emergency and have to roll a balance over month to month, a low interest card can help you incur a smaller amount of interest.
Rewards rate: 1%-5% cash back
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business earns unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
You’ll pay a $0 annual fee to carry the card and you don’t have to worry about a foreign transaction fee when business takes you abroad — this card charges none.
The APR is high at 30.49% (variable).
Who’s this card best for?
Many business credit cards require good to excellent credit in order to be approved. The Capital One Spark Classic for Business is accessible with just fair credit. If you’re a business owner worried your credit file is too slim to qualify for other business cards, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business might be what you need.
Sign-up bonus: $1,200 cash bonus
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus earns 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Plus, there’s a sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months..
Note that this is a charge card. That means you have no preset spending limit — rather, what you can spend on the card adapts based on factors such as your purchase and payment history. This can come in handy if you frequently need to make big purchases.
However, because this is a charge card, you have to pay in full every month and can’t carry a balance. If you don’t pay in full, there’s a 2.99% monthly late fee.
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus charges a $150 annual fee.
Who’s this card best for?
Because of the $150 annual fee, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus isn’t ideal for everyone. But it excels in situations where you need a card that will let you spend without a hard limit and you’re able to pay off your balance in full every month. Plus, thanks to its flat cash back rate, you earn the same amount on all purchases without having to think about various rewards categories.
Welcome offer: 120,000 points
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express charges one of the highest annual fees around at $695, but comes with a long list of luxury benefits to match. For example:
Plus, get a credit to reimburse either Global Entry (up to $100 available every four years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 available every four-and-a-half years) when you pay for the application with this card.*
There’s also a valuable welcome offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also earns ongoing rewards: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Don’t worry about a foreign transaction fee; you’ll be charged none.
Who’s this card best for?
Quite simply, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is aimed at business owners who travel frequently and want top-of-the-line benefits. Plus, you’re not tied to any one airline, so you have more flexibility than you would with an airline-specific business card. However, with a steep $695 annual fee, this card probably won’t make sense for the occasional traveler.
To see rates & fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Recommended Credit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
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Winner
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Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Excellent | |
|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
|
Travel rewards
|
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Excellent | |
|
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit
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on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Flat-rate cash back
|
N/A | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | Good |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
|
Financing a big purchase
|
Limited Time Offer: Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account. | Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center. No limit on total cash back earned. | Excellent/Good | |
|
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Review Coming Soon
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No annual fee
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Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business | Excellent/Good | Review Coming Soon |
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U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card
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Balance transfers
|
N/A | N/A | Excellent/Good | |
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PNC Visa® Business Credit Card
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Low ongoing APR
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N/A | N/A | Excellent/Good | |
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Capital One Spark Classic for Business
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Limited credit history
|
N/A | Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | Fair | |
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Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Review Coming Soon
|
No preset spending limit
|
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. | 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | Excellent | Review Coming Soon |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
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Luxury business benefits
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Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. | 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. | Excellent/Good |
Getting a business credit card to manage your cash flow offers several advantages, such as:
Even if your business just consists of you, and you don’t need to worry about employee spending, having a way to easily track your business expenses can make keeping your paperwork in order much easier.
Consider the following questions when evaluating the best business card options:
Your personal credit impacts your ability to get a business credit card, as most business cards require good to excellent credit. One option if you have a poor credit score is a secured business card, which will require you to submit a security deposit to the issuer. If you default on what you owe, the issuer can recoup the loss by confiscating the deposit — which is why secured cards are more accessible with bad credit than unsecured cards.
By following the tips below, you can avoid hassle and maximize the value from your business card:
Business credit cards may come with larger credit limits than consumer cards, which is helpful for businesses with big expenditures. However, be aware that while 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 on a consumer card.
As long as you have some form of legitimate business operation, whether established or newly launched, you can likely apply for a business credit card. For example, 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.
And, if you don’t have an Employer Identification Number (EIN), don’t fret. When applying for a business card as a sole proprietor, your Social Security number (SSN) should be enough. However, if you do have an EIN, you’ll likely have the opportunity to enter it during the application.
It’s even OK 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. Just be realistic and don’t put an inflated number.
Many issuers won’t report business card activity to the consumer credit bureaus as long as your account is in good standing, meaning it won’t impact your personal credit history. However, that’s not always the case — Capital One and Discover, for example, can generally be expected to report your business card activity to the consumer bureaus. And if you pay late or don’t pay, any issuer can be expected to report you as delinquent, hurting your personal credit.
Corporate cards are geared at larger operations than small business cards. And while business cards typically require a personal guarantee (meaning you are ultimately responsible for what’s charged to the card), corporate cards do not.
In selecting the best business credit cards, we evaluated factors such as rewards programs, welcome offers, 0% intro APRs, travel protections and valuable credits.
Some of the cards on this list charge no annual fee, while others charge expensive annual fees in exchange for premium benefits. Which one is best for you will depend on factors including what you spend on, whether you want to earn cash back or points, how often you travel and whether or not you need a 0% intro APR to make carrying a balance for some time more affordable.
Finally, other useful benefits, such as free employee cards, rental car protection and purchase protection, were weighed favorably if offered.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
To see rates & fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
