17 best small-business credit cards of January 2023

Ink Business Cash Credit Card: Best for bonus categories

• What we love about the Ink Business Cash Credit Card: The bonus categories, which include office supply stores, cable, internet and phone services, are uniquely valuable to a wide variety of businesses.
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners, e-retailers and Etsy store owners who spend a lot on office supplies or internet and phone services.
• Alternatives: If most of your monthly business expenses go beyond routine office supplies, you may find that a flat-rate card like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card offers more value.

Learn more: Ink Business Cash Benefits Guide.
Read our full Ink Business Cash Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card: Best for unlimited cash back

• What we love about the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card: It’s not uncommon for business credit cards to charge fees for additional employee cards, but the Ink Business Unlimited provides them for no additional cost. Plus, you can set individual spending limits for employee cards.
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners who are new to rewards and prefer simplicity will find a lot to like about the Ink Business Unlimited.
• Alternatives: The Capital One Spark Cash Select – $500 Cash Bonus offers the same rewards rate, but its sign-up bonus comes with a much lower spending requirement ($500 bonus when you spend $4,500 within the first three months).

Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Ink Business Unlimited Card.
Read our full Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Best for business travel rewards

• What we love about the Capital One Spark Miles for Business: While some travel credit cards have complicated rewards structures, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business keeps it simple. You can book travel through Capital One or use your miles to cover travel-related purchases made on your card within the last 90 days, including airfare, hotel bookings, transit and more.
• Who this card is good for: Budget-conscious business travelers. If you’re looking for even more rewards, free employee cards make it easy for your business to rack up miles on every purchase.
• Alternatives: The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card charges the same annual fee but comes with a broader range of travel benefits, including trip protection.

Learn more: Capital One Spark Miles for Business vs. Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Read our full Capital One Spark Miles for Business review or jump back to offer details.

Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card: Best for large general purchases

• What we love about the Ink Business Premier: This card earns unlimited cash back at a solid flat rate for general purchases with a slight boost for larger purchases over $5,000. It’s a great change of pace from tiered categories because it opens up better earning opportunities for business owners who purchase outside of traditional categories. Not every business functions similarly, and not every business uses office supply stores.
• Who this card is good for: This card is an excellent option for independent contractors, freelancers or business owners with high cash flow who regularly make large purchases. The card’s rates give any cardholder a chance to earn favorable rewards while giving those who make large purchases a notable boost they might not receive with another card.
• Alternatives: A rewards card with tiered categories may be a better fit if your business spending is more aligned with specific business categories. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card charges no annual fee and offers 5 percent back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (up to a combined $25,000 spent each year, then 1 percent). If those categories fit your business’ spending habits, this is a great opportunity to earn twice as much (or more) on your purchases as you would with the Ink Business Premier card.

Read our full Ink Business Premier℠ review or jump back offer details.

Revenued Business Card: Best for no credit check

• What we love about the Revenued Business Card: Approvals and finance charges are based on your business revenue and history, not your personal credit, so this prepaid card and flex spending line combo could be a big help if you have a growing business but struggle to find affordable financing. The card’s 3 percent flat cash back rate is also one of the best out there.
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners who’ve had a hard time qualifying for business credit cards and are looking for a chance at rewards and a high spending limit based on their business revenue.
• Alternatives: Since the Revenued Flex Line uses a purchase of future sales financing model, you can’t avoid finance charges. If you have a good enough credit score to qualify and can avoid carrying a balance, a traditional business card could be a cheaper option. The Capital on Tap Business Credit Card carries a lower rewards rate but offers credit limits up to $50,000 with no annual fee. Plus, applying won’t impact your credit score.

Read our full Revenued Business Card review or jump back to offer details.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express: Best for luxury travel

• What we love about the Business Platinum Card from American Express: Business travelers can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide with this card. In addition, cardholders can receive up to $200 annually in airline fee statement credits with a select airline and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, along with other notable perks.
• Who this card is good for: Big spenders who frequently travel and want access to the most premium travel benefits.
• Alternatives: The American Express Business Gold Card may be a better match if your business does not require much traveling.  Not only will you spend a lot less on annual fees, but you stand to earn a higher rewards rate on your top expense categories.

Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the American Express Business Platinum card.
Read our full The Business Platinum Card from American Express review or jump back to offer details.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express: Best for everyday business expenses

• What we love about the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express: Besides its travel redemption options, the Blue Business Plus comes with rental car insurance and access to the Global Assist® Hotline, which can help with emergencies such as a lost passport or missing luggage.
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners who want to redeem rewards for travel purchases.
• Alternatives: Business owners with high monthly expenses may get more value from the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card, which also offers 2 percent cash back but does not put a cap on rewards.

Learn more: Amex Blue Business Plus vs. Amex Blue Business Cash.
Read our full The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express review or jump back to offer details.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus: Best for no-hassle cash back

• What we love about the Capital One Spark Cash Plus: The 2 percent flat-rate cash back on this card is significant. Your rewards won’t expire for the life of the account and you can redeem your cash back for any amount. Plus, you can earn an annual cash bonus of $200 every year you spend $200,000 or more.
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners who are new to the world of rewards will find a lot to like about the Ink Business Unlimited.
• Alternatives: Like the Spark Cash Plus, The Plum Card® from American Express also has no preset spending limit. The Plum Card lets you carry a balance for 60 days, which is especially attractive for business owners who may need a little extra time to pay off their bill.

Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card.
Read our full Capital One Spark Cash Plus review or jump back to offer details.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Best for flexible travel options

• What we love about the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: The rewards rates make this card valuable for business travelers, but the real icing on the cake is the wealth of redemption options. You can redeem your points for 25 percent more value for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, but you also have the option to transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to big-name airline and hotel partners like United, Southwest, British Airways, Marriott and Hyatt.
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners seeking travel rewards and an impressive sign-up bonus.
• Alternatives: The American Express Business Gold Card offers 4X points on spending in your top two categories where your business spent the most each month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year). Though the Ink Business Preferred wins out on travel, the Amex Business Gold’s rewards rate may be a better value for businesses with somewhat predictable expenses.

Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Ink Business Preferred Card.
Read our Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card: Best for choice of cash back category

• What we love about the Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard: Cardholders can choose where they can earn the most cash back in select categories for their spending, a rarity in business rewards cards.
• Who this card is good for: Business owners who can benefit from boosted rewards rates on purchases at gas stations, office supply stores and travel, as these are aligned with this card’s cash back choice categories.
• Alternatives: Businesses with consistent monthly spending categories that prefer a cash back option may prefer the Ink Business Cash Credit Card. You’ll earn a hefty 5 percent cash back on office supplies, phone and internet services, and 2 percent cash back at U.S. gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year). Also, you may want to consider other Bank of America Business credit card options.

Learn more: Is the Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard worth it?
Read our full Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card review or jump back to offer details.

American Express Blue Business Cash Card: Best for startups

• What we love about the Blue Business Cash Card: This card offers Expanded Buying Power, a potential game-changer for new businesses. This benefit also allows you to exceed your credit limit without paying an over-limit fee (see terms).
• Who this card is good for: The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a great match for new businesses, freelancers and vendors looking for a versatile flat-rate cash back option.
• Alternatives: Small businesses that prefer the value of points over the convenience of cash back may prefer the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express. It’s also worth noting that Amex Membership Rewards points can be transferred to partnering hotels and airlines, often boosting their value.

Learn more: American Express Blue Business Cash Card benefits guide.
Read our full American Express Blue Business Cash review or jump back to offer details.

American Express Business Gold Card: Best for a variety of rewards categories

• What we love about the American Express Business Gold Card: American Express offers six valuable, business-oriented rewards categories. Each billing cycle, you’ll be rewarded 4 points per dollar in whichever two categories your business spent the most within (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year).
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners with ever-changing spending habits. Adding employee cards can also help you earn rewards and offset the $295 annual fee.
• Alternatives: Though the Business Platinum Card from American Express comes with a whopping annual fee of $695, globetrotting business owners may find its premium travel perks worth every cent.

Learn more: How to choose between the Amex Business Gold and Amex Business Platinum.
Read our full American Express Business Gold Card review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card: Best for Bank of America loyalists

• What we love about the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard: You get 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases, meaning you don’t have to worry about tailoring your spending towards specific categories. You can also boost those rewards significantly if you qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program.
• Who this card is good for: Business owners whose purchases cover various spending categories.
• Alternatives: Big spenders willing to look outside of Bank of America may find more value with the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card and its 2 percent unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases.

Read our full Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card review or jump back to offer details.

United Business Credit Card: Best for first-year value

• What we love about the United Business Credit Card: This card’s two-tiered welcome offer allows you to earn a huge first-year payout. Bankrate values the card’s welcome offer at up to roughly $1,650 if you can meet the spend requirement. If not, moderate Delta flyers still have a chance to earn an impressive amount of bonus miles as well.
• Who this card is good for: Boosted rewards in the categories of travel, office supplies, dining, gas and local transit make it a solid choice for small-business owners loyal to Delta Airlines.
• Alternatives: If you’re looking for a card that’ll complement your travel needs, business needs and your business-related travel needs, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business can be a solid option. You’ll still maintain a relatively high first-year value and earn 2X miles on every purchase. Unlike with the United Business card, it’ll earn miles for travel purchases on every airline, making it a solid low-maintenance choice for cardholders who aren’t picky about who they fly with. Plus, it allows mile transfers to travel partners that may boost value. The card has roughly the same annual fee as the United Business card, but it’s waived the first year, giving you a solid opportunity to retain some of your card’s first-year value.

Read our full United Business Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.

Capital on Tap Business Card: Best for no annual fee

• What we love about the Capital on Tap Business Card: This card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for small businesses that frequently make purchases abroad or online with international merchants.
• Who this card is good for: The Capital on Tap Business Card is ideal for small business employees who need to frequently charge expenses for their role.
• Alternatives: Similarly, the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards card carries no annual fee and offers 1.5 percent cash back. Existing Bank of America and Merrill customers stand to earn significantly higher rewards through its Preferred Rewards program provided they meet program requirements.

Learn more: Tap into the benefits of the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card.
Read our full Capital on Tap Business Card review or jump back to offer details.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card: Best for everyday business travel

• What we love about the Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card: This card provides remarkably high rewards rates at Hilton hotels and for business purchases. Coupled with Hilton Honors Gold Status, this card offers more reward opportunities than other travel cards.
• Who this card is good for: Traveling business owners who are Hilton loyalists can make the most of this card’s rewards rates, discounts and points bonuses for Hilton stay milestones.
• Alternatives: If you travel for business often but not in areas serviced by Hilton hotels — or you don’t prefer Hilton to other hotel brands — a general business and travel rewards card might be a better option for you. The Capital One Spark Miles for Business credit card can be a great way to earn miles on every purchase. Plus, 1 Capital One mile can be worth more than 1 Hilton Honors point based on Bankrate’s estimated value of 2 cents per mile. You can redeem miles for flights, hotels, ride shares or transfer them to 15+ loyalty programs.

Read our full Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.

Divvy Business Card: Best for expense management tools

• What we love about the Divvy Business Card: This card simplifies expense budgeting by allowing you to set spending limits for employee cards. In addition to expense management and budgeting tools, cardholders can easily request credit limit increases through the platform.
• Who this card is good for: Business owners looking for a seamless way to manage staff spending. Using the Divvy platform, you can track transactions, create budgets, submit expense reports and reimburse employees.
• Alternatives: If your business regularly racks up high monthly rideshare expenses, the Brex 30 card offers 8X points on rideshares and for no annual fee.

Learn more: Our guide to Divvy card benefits and features
Read our full Divvy Business Card review or jump back to offer details.

Business credit cards are similar to personal credit cards, only tailored to business needs. They can provide businesses with rewards on everyday spending, help cover expenses and assist in building business credit, making it easier to borrow in the future and qualify for a lower credit card APR. Plus, any income-producing endeavor may be considered a legitimate business for a business credit card. Even if you don't have a registered LLC or corporation, you may be eligible to apply.

How do business credit cards work?

In practice, business credit cards work the same as consumer credit cards: You get approved for a specific credit limit, which serves as your spending maximum. Your available credit decreases as you make purchases, and it increases as you pay off those purchases. Some business credit cards also require a personal guarantee from the business owner, meaning the owner promises to pay the credit card balance if the business itself cannot repay its debts.

Depending on which type of card you choose, business credit cards often come with additional perks and upgrades. These can include business credit card rewards, which are often customized to fit the categories where businesses spend most, like office supplies, dining and travel. The rewards typically come in the form of cash back or travel miles.

If you want a deeper look into how each card may serve your business’s needs, check out our expert reviews on all of the major business credit cards on the market today.

Stay in the know and get informed with the latest business credit card news and advice.

Differences between business credit cards and personal credit cards

While it may seem easier or better to use your personal credit card for your business — especially when you're first starting out — there are many reasons why you should be using a dedicated credit card for your small business instead of a personal card. Using a personal credit card for your small business can create several issues for you and your business down the line, while using a business credit card keeps your business finances streamlined.

For example, keeping track of your business expenses becomes much easier when you use a dedicated small-business credit card because you can track exactly what you purchased for your business, making it simple to keep track of possible deductions. On the other hand, if you use your personal credit card for your business purchases, it’s difficult to keep track of which purchases were business related and which were not. This aspect can make taxes and dealing with the IRS much more difficult.

Personal credit cards also offer fewer protections for your business. In the instance of a limited liability corporation, or LLC, the legal protection benefits you enjoy with this type of business structure are only upheld if you keep your business purchases and your personal purchases separate.

You also forgo the opportunity to build your business credit when you use your personal credit card to make business purchases. You give up all the perks and rewards — like rewards for employees’ travel purchases or purchases of office supplies — when you use your personal card in your business as well.

Invest some time in determining the ideal type of small-business credit card for your business so that you can reap the most valuable benefits. Here’s a breakdown of different types of business credit cards and how they might appeal to you based on your business objectives:

Business credit cards are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of small-business owners. While that might conjure an image of someone operating a physical storefront, small-business owners take many shapes. Freelancers, contract workers, online merchants and all kinds of gig workers can qualify for business credit cards. Business credit cards are useful for small-business owners who want to:

• Operate a sole proprietorship: Business credit cards are for all types of businesses. So even freelancers, independent contractors and gig-economy workers with limited startup or working capital can take advantage of a business credit card to cover inventory, cyclical expenses and emergencies.
• Earn some extra cash: Even if you’re just using the card for occasional purchases — a client lunch here, supplies there — cash back will rack up over time. If you maximize your rewards, you could get even more cash back or points from a business credit card.
• Use points or miles to cover business travel: Whether you’re a current or aspiring business traveler, a travel rewards business card can put you one step closer to a free flight or hotel stay with every eligible purchase.
• Separate business expenses from personal expenses: One of the most basic reasons to have a card dedicated solely to business is to track and manage your company's expenses. Not only does this help with budgeting, but it makes doing your business’s taxes much easier.
• Finance a large purchase: If you’re dreaming of taking your business to the next level but don’t quite have the funds to comfortably cut a check, a business credit card can help. Not only can you split up the payments over several months, but you can also avoid credit card interest entirely by making use of a 0 percent introductory APR period.
• Take advantage of unique perks: Business cards often come with benefits designed to appeal to small-business owners. Common perks include free employee cards, expense tracking tools, quarterly summaries, merchant discounts, purchase protection and travel benefits.
• Track and earn rewards for employee spending: The best business credit cards let you add employees as authorized users to the account for free. Adding employee cards allows you to track or even manage employee spending. In some cases, you can pre-set spending limits.

When applying for a business credit card you’ll need more information than what would be required for a personal credit card application. Know this information or have it readily available when applying for your small-business credit card:

• Your business’s legal structure. A credit card issuer will need to know your business structure and if it has other beneficial owners with a 25 percent or more stake in the business. It can be registered as a corporation, partnership, nonprofit or a limited liability company.
• Your business’s legal name. If your business is set up as a corporation or a limited liability partnership, you need to provide your credit issuer with the name you gave the state you registered your business in. If you’re a sole proprietor or general partnership you can simply provide your own name.
• Your federal tax ID. Your EIN — your employer identification number — is the nine-digit number assigned to your business by the IRS. The issuer will use your EIN to verify your business. If you’re operating as a sole proprietor and don’t have an EIN yet, you may use your Social Security number.
• Annual revenue. Your card issuer will want to determine your ability to repay funds if necessary and calculate your debt-to-income ratio. For this requirement, provide your annual business revenue. If you don’t have any, you can provide your personal annual income. You’ll need to provide an estimated monthly spend amount on the card as well.
• Credit score. You don’t necessarily need good credit to get a business credit card, but if you want one with competitive rates and features, you’ll need good-to-excellent credit. The best small-business credit cards — with low interest rates, generous sign-up bonuses, long intro 0 percent APR offers and more — are reserved for people with a FICO credit score of 670 or higher. Plus, after receiving your first business credit card, you’ll be able to establish a business credit score.

How long does it take to get a business credit card?

After determining which card is the correct fit for your business and going through the application process, you may receive a decision instantly. However, if the issuer needs to take a closer look at your application, you’ll most likely receive a decision within two weeks. If approved, your card may take up to 10 business days to arrive. If your application is denied, consider applying for another card or call the issuer’s reconsideration line.

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