If you’re a business owner, you’ll want to consider a small business rewards credit card if you haven’t already. These cards can be a great way for you to access credit to fund purchases and manage company spending, while saving money and accumulating rewards at the same time.
Keep in mind, business credit cards aren’t only for large businesses with traditional storefronts. You’ll qualify for a business card as an independent contractor or freelancer with your Social Security number as your business tax ID and your name as the business name on the application.
But not all business credit cards are created equally. Let’s dive deeper into the best business cards below.
For a more comprehensive list, see our best credit card bonuses here. For a list of other guides of best credit cards by spending category, click here.
| Capital One Spark Miles for Business | Best for everyday business spending |
| Capital One Spark Cash for Business | Best for cash back rewards |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Best for bonus categories |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Best for travel perks |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card | Best for occasional Delta flyers |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card | Best for frequent Delta flyers |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card | Best for occasional Southwest flyers |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card | Best for frequent Southwest flyers |
| United℠ Business Card | Best for United flyers |
| The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | Best for Hilton travelers |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card | Best for Marriott travelers |
| CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® | Best for American Airlines flyers |
Types of Business Rewards
The kind of rewards you earn varies from business card to business card, but the main types are:
The simplest and most straightforward type of business cards, cash back cards give a percentage back on every purchase you make. You can later redeem your rewards at a fixed value. Cash rewards have more flexibility than points and miles, yet holds value.
Transferable points are rewards currencies that are specific to the issuer and can be transferred to partner loyalty programs for maximum value. In general, this type of reward holds the most value because of its flexibility in redemption.
Examples of transferable points include American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One® Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Citi ThankYou® Rewards.
Recently, a new form of rewards have popped up. These hybrid cards earn cash back, but you can also convert their cash rewards into more valuable currencies if you hold a points-earning card in the same family.
For example, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns cash back. But if you pair it with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can convert your cash rewards into Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
These business cards earn points or miles for a specific loyalty program, usually an airline or hotel chain. They often come with brand-specific perks, like free checked bags (airline cards) or complimentary elite status (hotel cards).
Loyalty program currencies aren’t as flexible as transferable points, but they can hold a lot of value.
What We Considered
We looked at a variety of factors when we made our best business rewards cards list, including:
- Welcome bonus
- Earning potential
- Annual fees
- Point values
- Rewards flexibility
- Rewards simplicity
- Additional benefits
- Transfer partners
- Rates & fees
The Best Business Credit Cards
The Capital One Spark Miles Card is the best card for everyday business spending. It earns extra miles on every purchase and miles on hotels and rental cars when you book through Capital One Travel. Plus, the rewards you earn with your Spark Miles Card can transfer to partner airlines.
CAPITAL ONE SPARK MILES FOR BUSINESS
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business card offers a 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
Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One TravelSM using this card. Capital One has 10+ transfer partners, potentially making your miles worth even more. Using the strategy of transferring your miles to these travel partners, we estimate 50k miles to be worth around $700.
This card earns unlimited 2X miles all purchases. Another benefit is one credit, up to $100, for a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ application fee.
The annual fee is waived for the first year and is $95 after that.
The Capital One Spark Cash Card is the best business card for cash back rewards. It earns extra cash back on every purchase.
CAPITAL ONE SPARK CASH FOR BUSINESS
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business card is offering a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
The card earns unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. The annual fee is waived for the first year and $95 after that. There are no foreign transaction fees with this card.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is the best business card for bonus categories. The Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned transfer to airline partners.
INK BUSINESS PREFERRED® CREDIT CARD
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card from Chase has a new cardmember offer for 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after opening.
These bonus points are worth $1,250 towards travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Or, transfer points over to Ultimate Rewards travel partners to potentially get even more value – up to an average $2,000 for 100k points. Read more about this here.
This card earns 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. You’ll earn unlimited 1 Point Per $1 spent on all other purchases.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns Ultimate Rewards points. This makes it a great choice for pairing with the non-business Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. You’ll be able to pool points together for faster rewards.
This card has a $95 annual fee.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the best business card for travel perks. You’ll enjoy airline fee credit each year, lounge access, Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee credit, Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status, Hilton Honors Gold status and Fine Hotels & Resorts perks.
THE BUSINESS PLATINUM CARD® FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
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.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a welcome offer for 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. We value 80k points to be worth around $1,600.
This card earns 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (amextravel.com). Also earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. Cap applies.
This is a premium business card with a $695 annual fee. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is the best business card for occasional Delta flyers.
DELTA SKYMILES GOLD BUSINESS AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD
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.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is offering 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months.
This card earns 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. shipping purchases, on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Benefits include priority boarding and your first checked bag on Delta Flights for free. You’ll also earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $99. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is the best business card for frequent Delta flyers.
DELTA SKYMILES® PLATINUM BUSINESS AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD
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.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card has an offer for 60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months.
Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half point per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year.
With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 MQMs after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your new Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
Travel benefits include your first bag on Delta Flights checked for free and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding. You’ll also get a 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases.
Spend $25,000 in purchases on the Card in a calendar year and earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs); spend a total of $50,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in a calendar year and earn an additional 10,000 MQMs.
There are no foreign transaction fees and this card has a $250 annual fee. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Card is the best business card for occasional Southwest flyers.
SOUTHWEST® RAPID REWARDS® PREMIER BUSINESS CREDIT CARD
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has an offer for 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. We value these 60k points at around 1.5 cents apiece, or $900.
This card earns 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases, 2 points per $1 on rideshare, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. All other purchases receive 1 point per dollar.
Card benefits include 6,000 bonus points after every cardmember anniversary, 2 EarlyBird Check-In each year, no foreign transaction fees, and free 1st and 2nd checked bags.
This card has a $99 annual fee.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Card is the best business card for frequent Southwest flyers.
SOUTHWEST® RAPID REWARDS® PERFORMANCE BUSINESS CREDIT CARD
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card has a 80,000 bonus points offer when you spend $5,000 within the first 3 months. We value these 80k points to be worth around $1,200.
The card earns 4 points for every $1 on Southwest Airlines, 3 points for points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, and 2 points for every $1 on rideshare, social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable and phone services.
You’ll also receive perks such as:
- Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available ($30-$50 value each).
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Fee credit.
- Free 1st & 2nd checked bags.
- No change fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
The annual fee for this card is $199.
The United℠ Business Card is the best business card for United flyers.
UNITED℠ BUSINESS CARD
The United℠ Business Card has an offer for 75,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is the best business card for Hilton travelers.
THE HILTON HONORS AMERICAN EXPRESS BUSINESS CARD
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.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has an offer for 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward after you $5,000 in purchases within 3 months of Card Membership. We value these 130k points to be worth around $780. Also, earn a Free Night Reward after you spend $10,000 in the first 6 months. Limited time offer ends 12/21/22.
This card earns 12 points per $1 on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. It earns 6 points per $1 on select business purchases:
- U.S. gas stations
- Wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- U.S. purchases for shipping
- U.S. restaurants
- Flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel
- Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
All other purchases will earn 3 points per $1.
Spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year and you’ll earn a Weekend Night Reward. Earn another Weekend Night after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year. You’ll also get free Hilton Honors Gold Status with this card.
There are no foreign transaction fees and the annual fee is $95. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card is the best business card for Marriott travelers.
MARRIOTT BONVOY BUSINESS™ AMERICAN EXPRESS® CARD
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.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card has a limited time offer for 75,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. We value these 75k points to be worth around $675.
This card earns 6 points per $1 at participating hotels in the Marriott BonvoyTM program. It’s 4 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping. And 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
Every year after your account anniversary you’ll get 1 free night award. You can earn an additional free night award after spending $60,000 in purchases in 1 calendar year.
There are no foreign transaction fees and the annual fee is $125. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
The CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card is the best business card for American Airlines flyers.
CITIBUSINESS® / AADVANTAGE® PLATINUM SELECT MASTERCARD
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has a 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles offer. Make $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening to earn this bonus. See our valuation of AAdvantage miles are worth. You’ll easily receive at least $910 in value from these bonus miles.
The card earns 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, car rentals, cable and satellite providers, gas stations, and select telecommunications merchants. Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
You’ll receive expected perks like no foreign transaction fees and your first checked bag for free on domestic American Airlines flights. Up to 4 companions traveling with you on the same reservation will also receive this free checked bag perk.
The $99 annual fee for this card is waived the first year.
Additional Guides
We focused on small business credit cards in this post. For consumer cards, you’ll want to choose a card with additional earning potential that matches your spending behavior. Click here for our guide on the best credit cards by spending category or check out these other posts:
Bottom Line
There’s not one business credit card that’s a perfect fit for every company. The “right” card for your enterprise depends on your business spending habits and financial goals. If you’re looking to earn a free flight or hotel stay, go with a travel credit card. If you want a simple way to save money on everyday business purchases, opt for a cash back card.
Either way, we recommend looking at the cards’ rewards rates, benefits and fees to figure out which ones will give you the most value in the long term. Once you’ve narrowed your choices down, pick the one with the best welcome bonus.
READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.
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