Best Business Credit Cards for October 2022
Just like consumer credit cards that provide rewards for spending, business credit cards can also give back, usually for spending on categories like office supplies, advertising, telecommunication services or other common business expenses.
When selecting a business credit card, you’ll want to examine your expenditures and cash flow — how much and where you spend money will help determine which card will work best for you. You’ll also want a credit card that lets you add as many employees as you need to be authorized users.
Note that business credit cards are not the same thing as corporate credit cards. While corporate cards from employers are mostly used for personal work-related expenses, business credit cards are generally used by business owners and entrepreneurs and have more features designed specifically for them.
Read more: Chase Business Credit Cards
Intro OfferEarn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
APR16.24% – 24.24% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- 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.
- 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year.
Annual FeeNo annual fee
Late Payment Fee Up tp $39
Foreign Transaction Fees 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Penalty APR 29.99% Variable
- 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.
- 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year.
Our Take
The Blue Business Cash credit card from American Express has two features that stand out: It has the highest flat cash-back reward rate of all the no-annual-fee cards we evaluated, and it has automatic reward redemption. The first feature speaks for itself, but the second is sneakily awesome. Most credit cards require you to log in and manually redeem points or miles when you hit a certain threshold (such as 2,500 points or $25). The Blue Business Cash card, in contrast, automatically applies your cash rewards to your account, so you save money without even thinking about it.
This card offers all of the standard features you want in a business credit card: up to 99 employee cards for no additional charge (see rates and fees) and an account manager, spending summaries organized by category and the American Express Business App, which helps manage receipts.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
For shipping and advertising
Intro OfferEarn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
APR18.99% – 23.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Good, Excellent
- 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 – with no limit to the amount you can earn
Annual Fee$95
Balance Transfer APR18.99% – 23.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees $0
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- 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 – with no limit to the amount you can earn
Our Take
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers categorized points that may be ideal for certain business owners. This card’s large welcome bonus and high rewards rates for businesses with large ad budgets (with social media sites and search engines) and shipping expenses make this card another option worth considering. Points are valued at $0.01 each when redeemed for cash back, so you’ll earn 3% back on these categories — as well as on internet, cable and phone services, and travel purchases (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year).
Intro OfferWelcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
APR17.24% – 25.24% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month.
- 1X is earned for other purchases. **
Annual Fee$295
Penalty APR 29.99% Variable
- Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month.
- 1X is earned for other purchases. **
Our Take
If you travel often for your business, the American Express® Business Gold Card earns you 4x points on the two categories where you spend the most each billing cycle (including categories such as airfare purchased directly from airlines, U.S. gas station purchases and dining expenses at U.S. restaurants) on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1x. This card is also worth considering if your company spends a decent amount on TV or radio advertising.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Intro OfferEarn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
APR16.24% – 24.24% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® 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
Annual FeeNo annual fee
Late Payment Fee Up to $39
Foreign Transaction Fees 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Penalty APR 29.99% Variable
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® 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
Our Take
The Amex Blue Business Plus card has the same reward structure as the Blue Business Cash, you just earn Membership Rewards® points instead of cash back. And it’s worth noting that Membership Rewards points may be less flexible than cash back. You’ll earn 1 cent per point if you redeem points for a flight booked through American Express Travel or as a NYC taxi ride, but 0.6 cents as a statement credit. There is also an option to transfer points to partner travel programs.
Otherwise, the welcome offer is less than what you’ll get from the Blue Business Cash. As such, the Blue Business Plus makes the most sense for frequent business travelers who can take advantage of the point transfer option.
For more information, see our breakdown of American Express business cards.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Intro OfferEarn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening
APRN/A
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Annual Fee$150
Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer Fee N/A
Late Payment Fee 2.99% of the unpaid portion
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR N/A
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Our Take
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus* is designed for big business spenders. There is a substantial welcome bonus if you can spend enough: You can earn $500 when you spend $5,000 in the first three months and an additional $500 if you spend $50,000 in the first six months. There’s also an opportunity to earn a $200 annual cash bonus if you spend $200,000 in the year, which totally offsets the $150 annual fee.
This card has no preset spending limit or interest rate — but you’ll have to pay off your balance completely every cycle or get hit with a 2.99% monthly late fee, which can add up to much more than the APR than you’ll find on a typical credit card.
For more information about the rewards program and other features, see our Capital One Spark Cash Plus review.
Intro OfferWelcome 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.
APR17.24% – 25.24% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Good, Excellent
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
- Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year
- 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Annual Fee$695
Late Payment Fee $39 or 2.99% of any past due Pay in Full amount, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR 29.99% Variable
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
- Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year
- 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Our Take
The Business Platinum Card from American Express has one of the highest annual fees of any business card, at $695. Like its consumer-oriented counterpart, The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card offers premium travel benefits like airport lounge access and a host of travel- and business-related annual credits. Some of these include:
- Up to $360 in statement credits for Indeed purchases
- Up to $150 in statement credits for select Adobe subscriptions
- Up to $200 airline fee statement credit (incidental travel fees on one selected qualifying airline, including things like checked bags and in-flight refreshments)
- Up to $189 statement credit back on CLEAR® membership
The rewards program isn’t worth the high annual fee, but this card’s value balloons if you can take advantage of at least half of those annual credits.
For more annual credits and other card details, see our full review of The Business Platinum Card from Amex.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Business travel with Capital One
Intro OfferEarn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
APR23.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account.
Annual Fee$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer APR23.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee $0 at this Transfer APR
Late Payment Fee Up to $39
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR 32.40% (Variable)
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account.
Our Take
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business* has the same rewards program as the Spark Cash Plus for Business — but you earn 2x miles on your purchases instead of 2% cash back. It also offers other perks for travel: You can take advantage of a credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry (up to $100) and you transfer your miles to any of more than 15 travel partners. And while the annual fee is lower than the Spark Cash Plus’s, so is the welcome bonus potential.
Intro OfferGet a $300 statement credit online bonus after you make at least $3,000 in net purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening – with no annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire.
APR15.24% – 25.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 9 billing cycles for purchases
Recommended Credit Excellent Credit
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice (on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter).
- 2% cash back on dining purchases (on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter).
- 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee$0
Balance Transfer APR15.24% – 25.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee Either $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice (on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter).
- 2% cash back on dining purchases (on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter).
- 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Our Take
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card is low maintenance and flexible. There is no annual fee, an introductory APR offer and the flagship 3% rewards can be applied to your spending category of choice (on up to $50,000 in spending each calendar year on combined choice category/dining purchases, then 1%). Eligible categories include gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom and wireless, computer services or business consulting services. You have to manually select the category if you want something other than gas stations, which is the default choice.
For more information, see our analysis of Bank of America business credit cards.
FAQs
What is a business credit card?
Business credit cards are specifically geared toward small business owners. They can help you keep your business finances separate from your personal transactions, distribute and manage employee cards and earn rewards in typical small-business spending categories.
Like consumer credit cards, business credit cards most commonly come in the form of either cash-back rewards or travel rewards. Cash-back cards offer rewards in the form of cash or statement credit. A statement credit is basically a reduction of the amount you owe the issuer. A travel rewards credit card offers rewards in the form of miles or points. You can redeem miles or points either through the issuer’s travel portal for a small bonus or gift cards or you can transfer them to a partner travel affiliate, like a hotel group or airline. And, like a personal credit card, business cards must be managed carefully to ensure that a small business owner doesn’t hurt their business credit score.
What are corporate credit cards?
Corporate credit cards, also known as commercial credit cards, are designed for larger businesses — typically those with 100 or more employees or revenue of at least $10 million.
Should I get a business credit card?
If you spend in concentrated “business” categories — such as office supplies or telecom services — or want to have employee spending on a central credit account, then, yes. You may also appreciate these cards’ business-specific tools like budget trackers and account managers.
If you’re a small business owner, it’s a good idea to keep your business expenses separate from your personal finances — both for tax purposes and to make it simpler to review your spending. But you could just as easily keep your expenses separate, and track them, with a dedicated consumer credit card. As such, the typical rationale for getting a business credit card is to help manage employee cards or earn more rewards from business purchases.
A small-business credit card may not be the best option for a self-employed person, however. Self-employed individuals and sole proprietors may be better served by a consumer-oriented personal credit card from a credit card company — such as a cash-back credit card, travel credit card or student credit card. And a larger business (usually those with hundreds of employees or multiple millions in sales) will typically be able to negotiate more preferential and flexible terms with its card issuer (for example, an employee card system or business credit line not tied to someone’s personal credit) within a “corporate” or “commercial” credit card program.
What is the difference between a cash-back business credit card and a travel rewards credit card?
A cash-back rewards credit card typically offers a cash or statement credit — that is, a reduction of the amount you owe. For example, if you redeem $25 worth of cash rewards as a statement credit, your outstanding balance is reduced by $25.
A travel rewards credit card offers miles or point rewards that can be redeemed directly on an issuer’s travel website for a small bonus (usually around 25%) or with a partner affiliate such as a hotel group or airline. You usually get the best redemption value when strategically transferring points or miles, but it will always depend on the specific flight or hotel stay. Sometimes it requires some research and effort to identify maximum-value redemption opportunities. With American Express, for example, you get around 0.6 cent per point when redeeming Membership Rewards points as statement credits, about 1 cent per point when redeeming through the AmEx travel portal and up to 2 cents per point when you transfer them to a travel partner and then redeem them toward a flight or hotel stay, according to the most recent points valuations from The Points Guy.
We generally prefer cash-back rewards cards, which are often more straightforward. But if you don’t mind some extra work, travel rewards may provide a higher overall reward rate.
How many employee cards can I add to a single account?
It depends on the issuer. Wells Fargo and American Express cap it at 99. Chase doesn’t have an explicit limit. But employee cards are grouped in one central account, which has a cumulative credit limit that is typically spread evenly among the issued cards. That means the more cards on your account, the lower the individual spending limit. A credit limit of $10,000 with 100 employee cards will yield an individual card limit of $100, for example.
Do I need to have good credit to open a business credit card? What if my business doesn’t have an established credit history?
Generally, you need to have a credit rating of around 670 or higher to qualify for a business credit card, unless your business has been around for a while and has demonstrably steady and healthy revenue. As with all credit activities, if you can show that you’re a low-risk borrower, your credit score may have less of an impact.
Different issuers report business credit card activity to credit bureaus in different ways. Some report negative information to both consumer and commercial credit bureaus, some issuers don’t report to either and some report only to commercial credit bureaus. That’s why it’s a good idea to call your card issuer to ask about how it reports business credit card activity, especially if you think you may be maintaining a balance.
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card.
For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card from American Express, click here.
*All information about the Capital One Spark Cash Plus and the Capital One Spark Miles for Business has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
