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In this post, we’ve put together a collection of the best business credit cards available. These 10 options all have different strengths that will benefit businesses of all sizes and types.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
The elite Amex Business Platinum card is a clear leader if your business requires a lot of travel and you’re looking to get access to travel perks and benefits.
With this card, you’ll earn 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel and 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Although the annual fee is steep, you’ll find the Amex Business Platinum card has plenty of benefits that more than offset the fee. Here are just some of this card’s perks:
Find out more information, including whether your business has the credit score needed for the Amex Business Platinum card.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! The current public offer is 70,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
The Amex Business Gold card is an excellent choice if you’re looking to maximize the number of points you earn through your business spending. This card is a powerhouse when it comes to earning Membership Rewards points thanks to its flexible bonus categories that adjust automatically.
You’ll earn 4x points per dollar spent (up to $150,000) in any 2 of the following categories:
It’s pretty unique to have a card that enables you to automatically maximize your rewards and helps you to focus on actually running your business. If you’re interested in learning more, there are tons of other benefits of the Amex Business Gold card!
The Ink Business Preferred card is the most appealing for businesses that travel frequently. Plus, its broad range of bonus earning categories is likely to pair nicely with your business’ spending patterns.
You’ll earn 3x points per dollar spent (up to $150,000 per year) in the following bonus categories:
For example, if you spent $50,000 per year in those bonus categories you’d earn 150,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. That’s worth $1,875 when you use Chase’s travel portal to book flights, hotels, etc. Or you can get even more value from your points by transferring them to the Chase airline and hotel partners!
In addition to routinely offering huge welcome bonuses and tons of valuable benefits, the Ink Business Preferred card offers an industry-leading cell phone protection policy.
You can receive up to $2,700 in cell phone protection claims every 12 months, and it’s split up to $1,000 per claim with up to 3 claims every 12 months. This insurance protects against accidental damage and theft of your phone, comes with a low $100 deductible, and covers phones that are purchased brand-new (used/refurbished phones do not qualify).
The Ink Business Cash card is a great no-annual-fee option that offers some exceptional perks, including travel insurance and purchase protection, and earns lots of cash-back with these great bonus categories:
Earn 5% cash-back (up to $25,000 in combined purchases):
Earn 2% cash-back (up to $25,000 in combined purchases):
Plus you’ll earn 1% cash-back on all of your other purchases.
If you also have a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card (one that charges an annual fee) you can turn your cash-back into Ultimate Rewards points that can then be transferred to hotel and airline partners for maximum value.
Hot Tip: Many new businesses spend a lot on phone expenses, internet service, and office supplies, so having a business credit card such as the Ink Business Cash card that gives 5% cash-back in these categories could make it a good choice for a start-up business.
If you’re looking for simplicity, the Ink Business Unlimited card may be just right for you. This card earns a flat 1.5% cash-back on all purchases without having to worry about bonus categories or earning limits.
Ink Business Unlimited cardholders who also hold a premium Ultimate Rewards credit card can combine the points earned from their cards and transfer them to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
Other cards such as the Amex Blue Business Plus card might offer 2x points, but the bonus rewards are capped at $50,000 per year. With the Ink Business Unlimited card, you’ll have no cap on how many points you can earn!
It’s easy to see how the Ink Business Unlimited card fits into the Ink portfolio of cards, perfectly filling in the spending category gaps of the Ink Business Preferred card and Ink Business Cash card.
Bottom Line: A business credit card with a 0 APR period for purchases can help your business with cash flow as you spread out the repayment of a large purchase over time.
The Amex Blue Business Cash card offers a simple way to earn cash-back for every purchase you make. For the first $50,000 you spend per calendar year, you’ll earn 2% cash-back credited to your statement. After that, you’ll earn 1% cash-back.
The Amex Blue Business Plus card is a great no-fee option that offers simple, flat-rate points earning (rates and fees). With this card, you’ll be earning valuable Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to the Amex travel partners for maximum value.
You’ll earn 2x points per dollar spent (up to $50,000 per year). After you hit the $50,000 threshold, you’ll earn 1x point per dollar.
Plus, you’ll be able to get additional employee cards at no additional cost and you’ll be able to earn points on all of their purchases in addition to your own (rates and fees).
The Hilton Business Amex card is a great option for Hilton loyalists because it offers multiple points earning categories and a fast track to Hilton Honors elite status.
With this card, you’ll earn 12x Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at hotels and resorts within the Hilton family of brands across the globe. In addition, you’ll be able to earn 6x points per dollar on these bonus categories:
On top of all that, you’ll earn 3x points per dollar on any purchases that don’t fall into the bonus categories.
The Hilton Business Amex card will also help fast-track you to higher levels of Hilton Honors elite status. As a cardmember, you’ll get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status. If you spend $40,000 or more in a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to Diamond status.
This card also comes with 10 complimentary lounge visits per year after signing up for the Priority Pass Select membership. You’ll have access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide with this perk.
If you fly Delta often and value Delta elite status, the Delta Reserve Business card could be a good addition to your wallet. This card earns Delta SkyMiles and comes with Delta-centric perks.
With this card you’ll earn:
The Delta Reserve Business card also helps you earn Delta SkyMiles elite status. You’ll get 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $30,000 in purchases in a calendar year. You can do this up to 4 times per year (earn 60,000 MQMs total after spending $120,000).
When you consider that Delta Diamond elite status requires 125,000 MQMs and Platinum requires 75,000 MQMs (among a few other requirements), you can begin to see how much Status Boost can help you in achieving your desired Delta Medallion status. Plus you’ll enjoy benefits like a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit and a Delta Companion Certificate.
If you’re a Marriott loyalist who wants lots of ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and a fast track to Marriott Bonvoy elite status, then the Marriott Bonvoy Business card might be a good option for you.
With this card, you’ll earn:
This business credit card is at the top of our list of favorite credit cards for Marriott Bonvoy loyalists, for numerous reasons, including the 7% room rate discount, 15 Elite Night Credits, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, and the ability to earn up to 6x points on your spending!
But one of the best benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Business card is the free night award certificate you get a month after every cardmember anniversary. This free night award is good for any 1-night stay of up to 35,000 points. This could get you a free night worth anywhere from $200 to $300. The benefit alone could pay for the card every year!
| Business Credit Card | Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee | Main Benefits |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
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| American Express® Business Gold Card |
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| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
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| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card |
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| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card |
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| The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card |
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| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express |
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| The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card |
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| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card |
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| Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
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Put simply, a business credit card is a card that is designed for business expenses instead of personal expenses. This is great for accounting purposes as it will allow you to easily reference and calculate all of your business expenses for the year when it comes time to pay your taxes.
There are so many variables when it comes to credit cards, and business credit cards are no different.
Bottom Line: While it’s essential to select a business credit card that aligns with your expenses and priorities, it’s not a permanent decision. Try the card for a year and determine if it meets your needs. If the card doesn’t have an annual fee, you can hold on to it to build a longer credit history, or you can cancel your card if it has an annual fee but doesn’t offer the value you want.
Before applying for a business credit card, you’ll want to make sure you have the following information handy:
It’s also not a bad idea to familiarize yourself with the rules of each bank before applying. This will ensure you’re within the card limit for a specific issuer, eligible for the welcome bonuses, etc.
Bottom Line: You can apply for a business credit card even if your business doesn’t yet have income. A strong personal credit history increases your chances of being approved. Consider applying in person at a local bank branch where you’ve done business.
Some business owners question whether it’s necessary to have a business credit card for your start-up or small business. It’s especially questionable if you’re not making a lot of money yet and you’ve been able to utilize your personal credit card for the expenses you’ve incurred so far.
It’s prudent to separate business expenses from personal expenses, and it can become critical when it comes time to pay taxes or produce supporting information for an audit. An easy way to separate expenses is to open a bank account for your business and apply for a business credit card to use for your business-related purchases.
Additionally, business credit cards frequently offer perks for businesses, have higher credit limits, and reward business category purchases more than personal cards.
Knowing the difference between a charge card and a credit card can help you make an informed decision on which card fits your business spending patterns best.
A credit card allows you to carry a balance from 1 statement period to another. You will be charged interest on any carryover balance. A charge card requires the balance to be paid off in full each statement period.
Charge cards may have offers that allow you to carry over a balance, but it’s not guaranteed. The credit card issuer has to explicitly grant you this privilege.
An advantage of a charge card is not having a specified spending limit, as the credit card issuer will determine this based on how you’re managing the card.
Hot Tip: If a charge card is what you’re looking for, consider the Brex corporate cards. Brex is a company that has turned business credit cards on their head.
The IRS gives us the bottom line on what constitutes a business in its statement: “Generally, an activity qualifies as a business if it is carried on with the reasonable expectation of earning a profit.”
Under that definition, a business can range from opening a restaurant to selling homemade jam or refereeing soccer on the weekends, as long as it has a reasonable expectation of earning a profit. Even if your side gig is small, it may still qualify for a business credit card because your personal credit will play a significant role in whether you get approved for a business credit card.
Expense Tracking
The number of business expenses you have can really add up over the year, and putting all of these expenses on a set business credit card or 2 can really be a lifesaver when it comes time to pay your taxes. This way, you can easily access, refer to, and itemize all of your expenses from the past year.
Earn Rewards and Optimize Your Spend
Put simply, business credit cards can offer lucrative rewards structures that can offer travel rewards or cash-back on every dollar you spend. Given that, if you aren’t using a business credit card for your expenses then you are leaving money on the table with every transaction you make.
Welcome Bonuses Boost Your Bottom Line
Not only are the rewards you earn with a business credit card lucrative, but the welcome bonus you receive can give a boost to your bottom line at the end of the year. Some of the best credit card welcome bonuses can offer anywhere from $500 to $1,000 in cash-back, or can offer travel rewards points that can offset thousands of dollars in travel expenses you’d otherwise have needed to pay out of pocket for.
Receive Perks and Protections
Another great way to enhance the value of your business credit card is the perks and protections they can offer.
For instance, many benefits rich cards might offer perks like airport lounge access, annual credits to help offset your business expenses, elite status, priority security clearance at the airport, and more.
In terms of protections, look for benefits like purchase protection, extended warranty protection, cell phone protection, trip delay protection, rental car insurance, and more as these items can really come in handy when the unexpected happens.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you operate a business that requires making overseas purchases then this perk is an absolute must-have. Without it, you’ll be charged anywhere from 2.7% to 3% in fees for your international purchases, which can add up quickly.
Enable and Track Employee Expenses
Most business credit cards have functionality that allows you to add employee cards for no additional fee. They even offer helpful benefits like allowing you to set credit limits for each card individually, and track expenses across all cards from your main account.
Not Ideal If You Can’t Regularly Pay Your Balance Off
Business credit cards can charge some high interest rates, especially for business credit cards that offer travel rewards. Given that, you’ll want to make sure you’re always paying your full statement balance to avoid paying interest on the business expenses you make with your card.
Might Charge an Annual Fee
Some of our favorite business credit cards, the Amex Business Platinum card and the Ink Business Preferred card, charge an annual fee. In our view, the benefits that cards offer can easily outweigh the cost, but this isn’t always the case for everyone. That said, if you’re considering a business credit card that charges an annual fee, make sure the value you’ll receive from the card is higher than the fee you’ll pay.
The Upgraded Points team selects the best business credit cards based on how much value the card can provide to cardholders. When evaluating each card, we assess every factor possible, including the card’s benefits, earnings structure, welcome bonus, redemption value/rewards program, fees, and more.
Here’s a look into our thought process when selecting the best business rewards cards:
The top business rewards cards will offer benefits that can help your business, whether that be on the bottom line or by making tasks easier. Benefits such as free employee cards, statement credits, travel benefits such as lounge access, and expense management tools, as well as card protections, are just some examples of travel perks we look for.
We look for cards that offer solid bonus categories on a variety of business purchases like advertising, computer hardware, shipping, and more. A great business rewards card could also have flat-rate earnings on all purchases, making it easy to accumulate rewards on everyday purchases.
A business card’s welcome offer is perhaps the best way to earn a large chunk of points in a short amount of time. While this is a one-time bonus, they are a factor in our evaluations because of how lucrative they can be.
We’ll provide you with the current welcome offer information available to us for each card, but we also encourage you to confirm the welcome offer and review any offers before applying for any card.
The very best business rewards cards come with excellent perks and benefits, but with those benefits also come higher card annual fees. That said, if the card is right for you, it can be easy to get far more value from the card than what you pay for the annual fee.
A card will score high if it earns flexible rewards that allow for several options at redemption time. The best business rewards cards provide the option to redeem points directly for travel, cash-back, or statement credits, or allow the transfer of rewards to airline and hotel partners for the opportunity to receive the greatest potential value.
Hot Tip: While the most desired benefits and features of a card will vary by person, our holistic approach gives readers the full picture of what they can expect from every card we review. To learn more about how we review cards, read through our designated methodology page.
Opening a business credit card is a positive step that supports the future growth of your business, and you do not need to have a large business to qualify.
While this list of the best business credit cards is exhaustive, there are many more options available.
Find the best business credit card for your business by researching the best available cards, their rewards and benefits, as well as the drawbacks. A business credit card can make a big difference for your business and it’s critical to make an informed decision.
See our in-depth articles where we cover the best business credit cards for perks and benefits, 0% APR business credit cards, low credit scores and building credit, new businesses and start-ups, real estate investors, doctors, dentists, house flippers and landlords, and nonprofits.
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For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ 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 Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.
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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
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