Capital One Spark Cash Plus review: Is the boosted buying power worth a higher fee?

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Best for small businesses

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Rewards rate

2%

Credit score

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions

Annual fee

$150

Intro bonus

Up to $1,000 cash bonus

Hover here to learn more.

Earn 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

Regular APR

N/A

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent  (670 - 850)

Hover here to learn more.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Card Overview

In many ways, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, the newest business credit card from Capital One, is a clear upgrade over the original Capital One Spark Cash for Business credit card, offering boosted buying power with no preset spending limit, a higher intro cash bonus and an annual $200 cash bonus after spending $200,000 or more each year. Its flat 2 percent cash back rate on all eligible purchases also makes earning rewards simple and could add up to substantial savings over time.

That said, the card comes with a higher annual fee of $150 and, as a charge card, requires you to settle your balance each month, making it a poor choice for modest spenders or small-business owners who need to finance purchases or carry a balance to free up cash flow. And while a flat 2 percent cash back rate is generous, it may hold you back if you spend heavily in specific business categories, as several competing cards offer 3 percent to 5 percent back on purchases like online advertising, office supplies, gas or travel.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

A deeper look into the current card offer

Quick highlights

• Rewards rate: Unlimited 2 percent cash back on all purchases
• Welcome offer: Up to a $1,000 cash bonus—$500 by spending $5,000 within the first three months and another $500 bonus after spending a total of $50,000 in the first six months
• Annual fee: $150
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
• Regular APR: N/A

Current welcome offer

New cardholders can reel in one of the largest cash back sign-up bonuses among business cards: up to $1,000 across two installments. First, you can get a $500 bonus by spending $5,000 within the first three months and an extra $500 by spending a total of $50,000 across your first six months from account opening.

It clocks in at a higher cash back value than most other business cards’ point-based welcome offers at the $150 or lower annual fee price point, but its closest rival in this respect is Chase’s Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Its 100,000-point intro bonus is worth $1,000 in cash back after spending a much lower $15,000 but in a shorter three-month timeframe.

Even the Spark Cash Plus card’s base $500 offer is generous, but its total bonus offers double the cash back its predecessor’s $500 bonus delivered—albeit at an oddly higher spending requirement since the Spark Cash for Business only asked cardholders to spend $4,500 in the same three-month period.

Rewards rate

The Spark Cash Plus lives up to Capital One cards’ guiding principle: providing one of the easiest rewards programs imaginable. You’ll earn unlimited flat-rate cash back on all qualifying purchases with no spending caps or bonus categories to juggle, and your rewards won’t expire for the life of your account. Plus, the option to automate the redemption process means you won’t have to micromanage your cash back balance.

How you earn

You and your employees’ cards will earn unlimited 2 percent cash back on almost all your business purchases.

The only expenses that Capital One counts as ineligible for rewards are products you return, cash equivalent transactions and account costs. These include interest and fees from actions like cash advances, balance transfers and checks for accessing your account.

How to redeem

Few issuers simplify reward redemption like Capital One. Busy business owners can set their cash back to automatically redeem once their balance reaches a certain threshold ($25, $50, $200, $500 or $1,500) or at a certain selected yearly date. Although the most direct form of cash back—direct bank account deposits—is missing from the list of redemption choices, you can receive your rewards as:

• A statement credit
• A check
• A credit on prior purchases
• A gift card
• Checkout payments through Amazon.com and PayPal

How much are the rewards worth?

The Spark Cash Plus may operate differently from a credit card, but its cash rewards program works identically: you’ll pocket the percentage of your cash back rate from each dollar you spend. That means you’ll earn 2 cents per dollar with this business card.

Other cardholder perks

Capital One credit cards aren’t known for carrying a buffet of top-tier benefits, and the issuer’s premium business cards are no exception. Like similar cards, you’ll get business perks such as free employee cards, account management tools and standard purchase and travel protections.

In fact, the only benefits the Spark Cash Plus adds upon the original Spark Cash for Business besides the annual spending bonus are complimentary concierge service and lost luggage replacement, which makes the increased annual fee a bit more worrisome considering cheaper competitors—like the Ink Business Preferred—may offer more protections.

$200 annual cash bonus

One of the major new features that appears to account for the inflated annual fee is the annual $200 cash bonus you can earn after spending at least $200,000 each year. This is a fantastic addition for businesses that can meet the spending requirement since it more than covers the annual fee, but you’d have to spend a sizable $16,667 each month to qualify.

If you’re considering a flat-rate rewards cards as a one-size-fits-all card for your smaller business or side hustle, you should assess your budget before applying. Shouldering the Spark Cash Plus card’s higher annual fee without the yearly bonus’ saving grace could make no annual fee business cards a better source for rewards.

Travel benefits and purchase protections

The par-for-the-course travel and purchase protection benefits the Spark Cash Plus provides are solid for an everyday cash back card, but they don’t make a strong case for the card’s higher price point.

Your eligible purchases are protected against theft, loss, damage or fire for up to 90 days with purchase security, and their qualifying warranties are padded out with extended protection. Meanwhile, your lost luggage and eligible rental vehicle protection may be covered with a reimbursement policy if you pay with your card. The 24/7 travel and emergency assistance, roadside assistance and complimentary concierge services can also swoop in whether your emergency is your vehicle or a last-minute dinner reservation. Note, however, that terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

These perks are certainly helpful but are typical of lower-cost cards, which sometimes carry even better benefits. For example, the $95 Ink Business Preferred provides many of the same perks but swaps out the Spark Cash Plus card’s weaker lost luggage reimbursement for sought-after trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and cellphone protection. In fact, the Spark Cash Plus card’s two no annual fee versions, the Capital One Spark Cash Select – $500 Cash Bonus and the Capital One Spark Cash Select – 0% Intro APR for 12 Months, carry the same roster of purchase and travel protections.

Virtual credit card numbers

Capital One cards can conceal your card details while online shopping thanks to the Eno account assistant’s virtual credit card number function. The browser extension prevents digital merchants from receiving your real card number by generating and tracking its own unique numbers for each merchant, stacking on an extra layer of security you don’t see offered by issuers very often anymore. Digital wallets achieve the same effect while you shop at physical stores, but virtual card numbers are still handy if your business relies on online transactions and services.

Rates and fees

One of the advantages that come with the Spark Cash Plus as a charge card is that you’ll dodge many of the rates and fees credit cards may incur since you don’t get a revolving credit line. Truth be told, the only cost you should ever face is the $150 annual fee. Even if you don’t spend enough to qualify for the annual cash bonus, it only takes putting $625 per month on your card to earn enough cash back to recoup the annual fee. That’s $229 more per month than it previously took to break even on the Spark Cash for Business’ $95 annual fee, which shouldn’t be a problem for some businesses, but could be a deal-breaker for those who need a low-cost card for small side jobs.

Other than the annual fee, there are no intro or ongoing APRs, balance transfer fees, foreign transaction fees, penalty rates or cash advance fees to worry about. The only other fee is a 2.99 percent late payment fee for the unpaid portion of your minimum payment—which you hopefully shouldn’t see because missing a charge card payment puts your account in jeopardy of closing.

The Spark Cash Plus is accessible with good to excellent credit. However, its charge card structure can be a double-edged sword if you’re trying to build your business credit up to excellent. It may be harder to improve your score because you won’t have a line of revolving credit with a utilization ratio and defined limit, but charge cards are better for handling large purchases that would normally threaten your utilization ratio or credit limit for that same reason.

First-year value vs. ongoing value

Although the Spark Cash Plus card comes with a $150 annual fee that could be intimidating at first glance, its generous flat rewards rate and annual cash bonus should offer tremendous value—as long as you spend heavily. To realize the card’s full rewards potential, you’ll not only need to spend a minimum of $50,000 in your first six months to earn the full sign-up bonus but also a total of $200,000 per year to secure the $200 annual cash bonus. If you’re able to meet that threshold, you could enjoy over $5,000 in cash back in your first year and over $4,000 in year two and beyond.

That said, even with a more modest $48,000 annual spend, you should still come out on top. If you spent $5,000 in your first three months and a total of $48,000 per year, you’d miss out on the second tier of the sign-up bonus and the annual bonus and still wind up with $1,310 in cash back in year one when you subtract for the annual fee. In year two, you’d still enjoy plenty of breathing room to cover the card’s annual fee based on this spend, earning $960 via card spending.

*Based on a $200,000 annual spending assumption.

How the Capital One Spark Cash Plus compares to other business cards

If you’re looking for unlimited, boosted cash back on all your business spending, it’s hard to beat the Spark Cash Plus—especially if you need a charge card with an annual fee below $200. American Express is one of the few major issuers that still offers credit cards with flexible spending limits, but since the Membership Rewards points they earn lose value when used toward cash back (only available as statement credits), the Spark Cash Plus is a better deal if you don’t plan on redeeming rewards for travel.

The closest card with no preset spending limit you’ll find is The Plum Card® from American Express, which provides 1.5 percent discount on the portion of your balance paid within 10 days of your billing statement’s closing date. It even one-ups the Spark Cash Plus card’s flexibility by granting you 60 days to carry your balance with no interest before you need to pay it off (when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date). The Plum Card doesn’t come with the Amex Pay Over Time feature that lets you carry a balance via an installment payment plan, but its $250 annual fee makes it the most cost-effective American Express business cash back card without a set spending limit.

Another option might be the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card for its 2 percent back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per year (then 1 percent back) and its Expanded Buying Power Feature, which lets you spend beyond your credit limit with no over-limit fee on a case-by-case basis (depending on your creditworthiness and the issuer’s discretion).

What’s more, the Blue Business Cash doesn’t charge an annual fee. Unless you plan to spend enough each month to justify the Spark Cash Plus card’s flexible spending limit and earn the $200 annual cash bonus, a credit card with a lower or no annual fee may be the more valuable option since you won’t have to forfeit chunk of your rewards to the membership cost.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

4.2

Bankrate Score

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

Apply now

on Capital One's secure site

Annual fee

$150

Sign up bonus

Up to $1,000 cash bonus

Hover here to learn more.

Earn 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

Rewards rate

2%

Credit score

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent(670 - 850)

Hover here to learn more.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

The Plum Card® from American Express

4.2

Bankrate Score

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Apply now

on American Express's secure site

Annual fee

$250

Sign up bonus

N/A

Hover here to learn more.

Intro bonus is not available to this American Express credit card

Rewards rate

1.5%

Credit score

Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent(670 - 850)

Hover here to learn more.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

3.7

Bankrate Score

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Apply now

on American Express's secure site

Annual fee

No annual fee

Sign up bonus

$250

Hover here to learn more.

Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

Rewards rate

1%–2%

Credit score

Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year.

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent(670 - 850)

Hover here to learn more.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Best cards to pair with the Spark Cash Plus

Pairing the Spark Cash Plus with another card that dials up the rewards rate on your biggest expenses is the best way to maximize your flat-rate cash back card.

Capital One doesn’t offer any business cash back cards with bonus categories, so you can broaden your choices to options like travel credit cards or a card like the Ink Business Preferred (which also includes travel as one of its categories) that rewards specific operational costs like shipping, advertising or internet and phone services.

Bankrate’s Take: Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus worth it?

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus flexes a unique edge over other business cards and charge cards by carrying one of the best flat cash back rates and sign-up bonuses on the market. Its boosted buying power and sign-up bonus—not to mention the $200 annual cash bonus after spending $200,000 each year—are a step up from its predecessor, the Spark Cash for Business.

However, the increased $150 annual fee and charge structure may not be worth it for small business owners that want a low-cost flat-rate cash back card or may need to occasionally carry a balance. Considering the Spark Cash Plus card’s benefits outside the above features are strikingly similar to its no annual fee cash back business cards, the fee may be hard to justify for some cardholders.

Granted, the higher price tag only requires you to spend $229 more per month to offset compared to the previous $95 annual fee, but unless your business spends more than $16,667 each month for the annual bonus, the new Spark Cash card isn’t as great of a deal compared to the annual fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does the Capital One Spark Cash Plus offer employee cards?

  Yes, the Spark Cash Plus comes with free employee cards. You can set customized spending limits for employee cards, track purchases as they're made and earn rewards on employee business spending.

• How much should your business make to cover the annual fee?

  To cover the Spark Cash Plus card's annual fee on an ongoing basis, you'll need to spend at least $7,500 per year with your card. Since all eligible Spark Cash Plus card purchases earn 2% cash back, a $7,500 spend would earn $150 in cash back rewards. Keep in mind, too, that the Spark Cash Plus card may even be a more rewarding option than several no annual fee business cards, many of which offer just 1.5% cash back. To justify opting for the Spark Cash Plus instead of a no annual fee flat-rate card with a 1.5% cash back rate, you'll need to spend at least $30,000 per year. After that, the Spark Cash Plus card's 2% flat rate will prove more rewarding even given the card's annual fee.

• Will Capital One check your personal or business credit score when you apply?

  Like most business credit cards, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus requires a personal credit check when you apply. While this may seem counter-intuitive given you're applying for a card for your business, not your personal expenses, the issuer needs to be sure the business owner can be trusted to cover any outstanding balance should the business fall short.

• What is the credit limit for the Spark Cash Business card?

  As a charge card, the Capital One Spark Plus card comes with no preset spending limit. While this doesn't mean unlimited spending, it should give you plenty of room to make large purchases without worrying about maxing out your card or affecting your credit utilization. Your Spark Cash Plus credit limit adapts to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile, and you're expected to pay off your card charges in full each billing period.