How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).

Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Capital One Spark Cash Select Review: Simple Cash Back for Your Business

Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review tooltip-question

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.
4.6
Rewards Rate
1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
Sign-Up Bonus
$500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
APR
17.49% - 23.49% (Variable) on purchases and balance transfers

Key takeaway

With a $0 annual fee and flat-rate cash back on every purchase, the Capital One Spark Cash Select is a solid card for business owners with excellent credit who prefer simple rewards.

Pros and cons

  • Simple rewards rate
  • Earns sign-up bonus
  • $0 annual fee
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Free employee cards
  • Flexible card due date
  • Low earnings rate on rewards
  • Geared towards consumers with excellent credit
  • No elevated rewards on office expenditures

Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select a good card?

For business owners who value simplicity in a cash back card, the Capital One Spark Cash Select is a decent choice. With a flat rate of cash back on your purchases, this card eliminates the hassle of juggling multiple spending categories. The card’s welcome offer sweetens the deal: You can earn $500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

However, you can find business cash back cards with higher rewards rates — especially if you have excellent credit. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and Capital One Spark Cash offer even higher flat rates. And the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can be a more valuable option if you don’t mind keeping up with rewards categories.

Quick facts

Annual fee: $0

Regular purchase APR: 17.49% - 23.49% (Variable)

Foreign transaction fee: None

Sign-up bonus: Earn $500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards: Earn 1.5% - 5% Cash Back

  • Earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase
  • Earn 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site

Other benefits:

  • Free employee cards
  • Customized spending limits for employees
  • Roadside assistance
  • Extended warranty
  • $0 fraud liability

Recommended credit: Excellent

Capital One Spark Cash Select benefits

  • Simple rewards rate

    This card keeps rewards simple with a flat-rate amount you’ll earn in either of two categories: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.

    There are no rotating categories or spending caps. Additionally, there’s no limit to how much you can earn, and the rewards don’t expire as long as your account is open.

    Learn more about the best rewards credit cards of 2025

  • Valuable sign-up bonus

    With the Capital One Spark Cash Select, you can earn $500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

    This isn’t the best bonus for a business credit card, but if you regularly spend over $1,500 a month on your business expenses, you can easily achieve it. If that amount is a stretch, consider buying office supplies or stocking up on materials that you know you will use, and have cash for so you can pay your balance in full to avoid paying interest.

  • No foreign transaction fee

    If business takes you outside the United States, physically or with an online purchase, know that you won’t be hit with extra foreign transaction fees with this card.

  • Free employee cards

    You can issue cards to employees at no extra cost. You can customize their spending limits and earn cash back on every purchase for your business.

  • Flexible due date

    The Capital One Spark Cash Select lets you pick your own monthly due date to pay off your balance. This can benefit business owners with variable income flow throughout the year.

Capital One Spark Cash Select drawbacks

  • Excellent credit recommended

    The Capital One Spark Cash Select was designed for consumers with excellent credit, which is a FICO Score of over 800.

    For those with lower credit scores, the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit or Capital One Spark Classic for Business might be worth looking into. Secured business credit cards are another option if you don’t think you’ll qualify for an unsecured credit card.

  • It's possible to earn a higher cash back rate

    The card’s earning rate isn’t bad, and the simplicity is nice. However, you can earn higher rates on business cards with no annual fee.

    For example, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card lets you 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.

  • No elevated rewards on office expenditures

    While the flat-rate cash back is nice, if you spend a lot of money on office products or business travel, this card may not be the best choice for you. Other cards, like the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, offer higher cash back rates on certain categories like cable and phone services and advertising office supplies.

Alternative cards to the Capital One Spark Cash Select

Capital One Spark Cash Select vs. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

| Disclosures
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
Rates & Fees
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
17.49% - 25.49% Variable
$0
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases
  • Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after 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 purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC
720 850
Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

Depending on your business’s spending habits, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card might be the more rewarding option. It offers a tiered rewards 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.

If you max out on the card’s office supply store and other business categories each year, you’ll earn $1,250 after spending $25,000. If you spend the same amount on any category with the Capital One Spark Cash Select, you’ll only earn $375.

If you max out the lower tier that combines gas stations and restaurants with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can earn up to $500 per year compared to the Capital One Spark Cash Select‘s $375.


Capital One Spark Cash Select vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

| Disclosures
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
|Terms Apply
0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
17.49% - 27.49% Variable
No annual fee
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000
  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
  • 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
  • Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
  • From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why 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
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a no annual fee card (see rates & fees) that lets you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. It has a less valuable welcome offer than the Capital One Spark Cash Select: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

Despite the lower welcome offer, the card’s elevated rewards rate on your first $50,000 spent can help you earn more rewards overall than with the Capital One Spark Cash Select. To maximize your earnings if your business does spend over $50,000 a year, you can use The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card until you reach the spending limit, then use the Capital One Spark Cash Select as a catch-all option after.

You can also use The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card to finance a large business purchase, since it offers a generous introductory APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, then a 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR applies (see rates & fees).


Capital One Spark Cash Select vs. Capital One Spark Cash

| Disclosures
Capital One Spark Cash
Capital One Spark Cash
N/A
25.24% (Variable)
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and
  • Limited-time offer: Double your cash bonus from $750 to $1,500 once you spend $15,000 within 3 months of account opening
  • For businesses that want to earn 2% cash back on all purchases with the familiarity of a traditional credit line
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
  • $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
  • Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
  • Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 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
720 850
Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The Capital One Spark Cash is another card that offers a higher flat rate than the Capital One Spark Cash Select. You’ll earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.

The card has an annual fee of $0 intro for first year; $95 after that. How much your business spends in a year can help you decide which card will be more valuable. If you charge more than $19,000 on general purchases in a year, you’ll earn more cash back with the Capital One Spark Cash , even with the annual fee factored in.

Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select right for you?

The Capital One Spark Cash Select is a solid choice for businesses that want a cash back credit card without the hassle of categories or spending caps. It’s even better if your typical spending is high enough to meet the spending requirement to earn the sign-up bonus. The $0 annual fee helps keep your expenses low, while the free employee cards ensure you get cash back on every business purchase.

Before you apply for a business credit card, you should have a sense of how much your business spends every year across different categories. Business cards like the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card can offer you more rewards than the Capital One Spark Cash Select if you spend a lot at office supply stores, for example. Or, if you spend over $20,000 per year, cards with a higher flat rate like the Capital One Spark Cash or The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card may be better fits.

How we rate cash back 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.

We rank cards based on the following criteria:

  • Average value over two years (50% of rating): We calculate the cash back 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 bonus and annual bonuses. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
  • Flexibility of rewards (30% of rating): We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates and minimum thresholds to redeem.
  • Other features (20% of rating): We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase and travel protections, against benefits from other cards.

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 Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit and Capital One Spark Classic for Business 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.