We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our
goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you
with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original
and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare
information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with
confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to,
American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and
Discover.
Ryan Flanigan is a former Bankrate credit cards writer and Certified Credit Counselor. With his signature binder full of credit cards, he has used miles and points for years to help fulfill his travel goals.
Madison Hoehn is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ and editor at Bankrate. She brings over seven years of editorial expertise to her work and is passionate about making readers feel seen and meeting them where they are in their financial journey.
The advice in this article is offered by the
team independent of any bank or credit card issuer.
This article may contain
from our partners, and terms may apply to offers linked or accessed through this page.
as of posting date, but offers mentioned may have expired.
The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in
your journey — and make it one
you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros
to data analysts and, most importantly,
people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we
keep close tabs on the credit
card industry year-round to:
Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you
understand your options.
Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make
confident decisions.
Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the
right decision for you.
At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR,
and overall customer experience.
Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of
these levels. At each step of the way,
we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next.
Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first.
Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right
financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we
have
editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check
editorial
content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our
advertisers and
our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Our recommendations and card ratings are produced independently without influence by advertising
partnerships with issuers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice
to help you
make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content
is not influenced
by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is
thoroughly fact-checked
to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting
credible and
dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master
your money for over four decades.
We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to
succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict
editorial
policy,
so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and
reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial
decisions. The content created by our editorial
staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and
useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison
service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and
services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore,
this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within
listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity
and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary
website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your
self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear
on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not
include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate
The best cash back business credit cards earn bonus rewards for business spending. Many come with no annual fee and offer generous introductory offers. These cards can also build business credit while offering perks like business tools, travel insurance and consumer protections.
Business credit cards help businesses track spending more efficiently and earn more rewards over time. If you’re a business owner considering a business card to earn rewards, here are our best cash back business credit cards.
This card is a smart choice for business owners who want a straightforward card with no annual fee. You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027). The signup bonus is at an all-time high: earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and a solid intro APR offer on purchases.
However, if you want to transfer points to Chase airline and hotel partners, you must pair this card with one of Chase’s premium cards. Also, if you have higher spending and don’t mind annual fees, you can get higher rewards rates with other cards.
Pros
This card has no annual fee, making it a solid choice for small businesses.
It offers a competitive intro APR for purchases and a low APR after.
Cons
You’ll need a premium Chase card if you want to use Chase travel partners.
You can earn higher rates and bonuses with other cards.
This charge card offers heavy-spending business owners extensive buying power with no preset spending limit and an annual fee refund each year you spend $150,000 or more. You’ll earn a flat 2% cash back rate on all purchases, which can grow your earnings quickly.
The welcome offer offers a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. With such a high spending requirement and the need to pay the balance in full every month, this card is not ideal for smaller businesses or if you need to finance purchases to free up cash flow.
Pros
No preset spending limit gives extensive purchasing power to higher spenders.
This card is excellent if your business spends enough to offset the annual fee.
Cons
Charge cards must be paid in full, making this not useful for carrying a balance.
The welcome offer has very high spending requirements, which might cause you to overspend.
This is the ideal no annual fee business card if you spend heavily on cable and phone services, internet or office supplies, earning 5% cash back. You’ll also earn 2% on dining and gas each account anniversary year. However, this rate is capped at $25,000 in combined spending in both categories. This means you have a total spending cap of $50,000 among your highest rewards categories.
The welcome offer is identical to the Ink Business Unlimited, making this a better option for business owners who can maximize the top bonus categories. If your spending needs exceed the spending caps, consider a card to pair with this for a potent combination.
Pros
This card has high reward-earning potential for no annual fee.
The welcome offer is competitive and can quickly boost cash back earnings.
Cons
Spending caps may limit the usefulness of this card for higher-spending businesses.
Bonus categories might not work for some business owners.
Best for flexible bonus categories
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
This no annual fee card is for businesses that can use the card’s customizable 3% bonus categories. You can swap bonus categories each calendar month, which adds versatility in earning cash back based on your needs. However, it has an annual spending cap of $50,000 combined between your choice category and dining each calendar year.
The card offers a decent sign-up bonus and an intro APR period for purchases. You can also boost earnings with the Preferred Rewards for Business program. The more money you hold with Bank of America, the higher your earnings are boosted, for a maximum of 5.25% in your choice category. While the spending caps could be a limiting factor, this card offers excellent value and flexibility.
Pros
Flexible bonus categories allow business owners more ways to maximize their earnings.
The card offers high earnings in the choice category for no annual fee.
Cons
The spending cap might not be enough for larger-spending businesses.
The Preferred Rewards program for Business is separate from the personal cardholder program, meaning you’ll need money in business accounts to boost earnings.
This card is for small-business owners with less-than-ideal credit history, giving access to an unsecured line of credit and the chance to earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It also offers free employee cards and discounts on business essentials.
If you need to build credit, this is a great option — but if your credit is good, you’ll want to explore better cards.
Pros
Business owners with fair credit can use this card to help build credit.
This card has no annual or foreign transaction fees.
Cons
There are far superior cards for business owners with good to excellent credit.
This card has a high APR compared to rival cards.
Comparing the best cash back business credit cards
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 on dining and gas each account anniversary year.
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter).
Earn 2% cash back on dining purchases (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter).
Earn unlimited 1% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions.
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
How to choose a cash back business card
Finding the best cash back business credit card is challenging when there are so many business cards to choose from. The most significant factor is how to get the most value in return from your spending, such as welcome offers, bonus categories and additional features. Consider the following as you decide.
Evaluate the welcome offer. The best business cards offer sign-up bonuses and intro APR offers to make opening an account with them more attractive. A better initial offer can be the deciding factor between cards. However, always ensure you can meet the minimum spending requirement through your regular business spending.
Compare earning categories. Get cards that reward you where you spend the most. While there is no correct answer for all businesses, your spending needs can dictate which cards work best for you.
Look closely at cardholder benefits. Decide which cardholder perks you want the most. Some of the best business credit cards offer free employee cards, expense-tracking features, QuickBooks integration and more. Others may provide travel perks or annual fee refunds.
Consider rates and fees. Think about how much your business spends and how much it can pay off each month. If you need to carry a balance, consider a business credit card with 0% APR offers on purchases or with a low-interest rate. You’ll also want to compare annual fees, remembering that cards with the best perks and rewards often have higher fees.
Check eligibility requirements. Find the minimum credit score needed to qualify for a card, and check your credit score to see where you stand. While generally a business credit card may not impact your personal credit, there are exceptions, and issuers may consider your personal credit score when you apply.
Maximizing your cash back business card
Getting the maximum return on your cash back business card comes down to making sure you are getting the biggest return on your business spending. Here are some tips:
Take advantage of perks. Look at your card’s benefits and perks. Purchase protections, bonuses in specific categories, milestone spending incentives or any other added business or travel perks increase a card’s value, so make sure you make use of them.
Make your payments. Pay your bill in full each month to avoid interest charges and penalty fees. These add up quickly and will easily wipe out the value of any rewards you earn. This is a good rule of thumb. Also, if your card has an intro APR offer, try to pay your balance by the end of that term.
Pair cards together. See how potential cards pair with other cards you already have. Make sure cards don’t repeat the same benefits or categories. The best card portfolio functions like a team. Ideally, you want something to cover every expense with at least some bonus. A good example would be pairing a flat-rate cash back card with a card earning in specific bonus categories where your business spends frequently. That combination would cover most of your purchases with bonus earnings, giving you the best returns.
The bottom line
When looking for the right cash back business credit card, evaluating your spending needs is possibly the most important factor. But you might also consider welcome offers and other perks to assist with your initial decision. Plus, certain cards may pair better with ones you already have.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing the best card. Before signing up for a new cash back business credit card, compare the top options to find the best card for your spending needs.
Frequently asked questions about cash back business cards
Cash back rewards earned from credit card spending are not considered taxable. Since you must make a purchase to earn rewards, the IRS considers them a rebate or a discount instead of income. However, if rewards are given without any spending, those could be considered taxable. Consult a tax professional if you are unsure about any type of reward.
Using your business credit card for personal spending is technically not illegal. However, it could potentially violate the terms and conditions of your card agreement, which can come with severe consequences, such as account closure. It also makes it more challenging to track your business expenses and can have tax implications. It’s best not to make a habit of putting personal expenses on a business card.
Ideally, you’ll find a 2% cash back card with bonus categories. A flat-rate card is a simple option, but that plus bonus rewards makes for a more useful card. But what’s considered best for one might not be for another. The best overall card for your business is the one that best meets your needs.
*Information about the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® and Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business credit card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Did you find this page helpful?
Why we ask for feedback
Your feedback helps us improve our content and services. It takes less than a minute to
complete.
Your responses are anonymous and will only be used for improving our website.
Help us improve our content
Thank you for your
feedback!
Your input helps us improve our
content and services.
Quick citation guide
Select a citation to automatically copy to clipboard.
APA:
Flanigan, R. (2026, May 27). Best cash back business credit cards. Bankrate. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/business/best-cash-back-business-credit-cards/
Copied to clipboard!
MLA:
Flanigan, Ryan. "Best cash back business credit cards." Bankrate. 27 May 2026, https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/business/best-cash-back-business-credit-cards/.
Copied to clipboard!
Chicago:
Flanigan, Ryan. "Best cash back business credit cards." Bankrate. May 27, 2026. https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/business/best-cash-back-business-credit-cards/.