Best business credit cards of November 2023
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 1:12 p.m. UTC Nov. 28, 2023
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Whether you own your own business, a piece of a business or just have a side gig, it’s a smart money move to keep your business spending separate from your personal expenses with a business credit card.
By maximizing the benefits and rewards that come with a credit card, businesses can make the most out of their spending. We analyzed a broad swath of credit cards in this category, from a variety of issuers, to curate a list of the very best.
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express *
The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business credit card
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express *
The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for premium benefits
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Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select *
The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business credit card for no-annual-fee travel rewards
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U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card *
The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for unlimited cash back on common office expenses
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card *
The information for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for up to 5% rewards on office expenses
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 50+ cards analyzed.
- 8 data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
our partner
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best business credit cards of November 2023
Best business credit card
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
*The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business card for premium benefits
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
*The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business credit card for no-annual-fee travel rewards
Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select
*The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business card for unlimited cash back on common office expenses
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
*The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business card for flat-rate cash-back rewards
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best business card for up to 5% rewards on office expenses
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
*The information for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Credit Card
Credit score
Best For
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Platinum Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Earn $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 on the account owner’s card in the first 150 days of opening the account.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
If your business is looking for a straightforward travel rewards card that doesn’t charge an annual fee, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is worth a close look.
Cardholders earn Membership Rewards® points with every purchase, which can be redeemed for travel, statement credits, gift cards and more. However, you’ll get the best value for your points when transferring them to one of Amex’s airline or hotel partners, including Delta, British Airways, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.
The Blue Business Plus card also comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies They also have an Expanded Buying Power feature, which allows the cardholder to exceed the credit limit from time to time as long as the amount over the limit is paid in full by the due date.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars.
The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
Few business cards can match the level of travel and business benefits offered by The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply). If your business is sure to take advantage of all the benefits offered by this card, the overall value can outweigh the annual fee.
For example, cardholders get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection®, which has more than 1,400 airport lounges in more than 140 countries. It also has up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental airline fees charged to the card by one qualifying airline of your choice, up to $189 in annual statement credits for a CLEAR® Plus membership and a 35% Airline Bonus when using Pay with Points for airfare (on your one pre-selected qualifying airline) booked through Amex Travel (up to 1 million points back per calendar year). You’ll also receive benefits in the Fine Hotels + Resorts® program when you book through Amex Travel, along with Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy™ and Gold status with Hilton Honors hotel programs and premium status with a variety of car rental programs. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
In addition to all the travel benefits, cardholders can also qualify for up to $400 in statement credits per year (up to $200 semi-annually) for eligible U.S. Dell Technology purchases, up to $360 in statement credits per year (up to $90 per quarter) for Indeed purchases, up to $120 in statement credits per year (up to $10 per month) for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with the provider in the U.S. on the card and up to $150 in statement credits per year when you prepay for an eligible annual Adobe plan. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- Annual fee: $695.
- Rewards: 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per $1 at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, shipping providers, and purchases of $5,000 or more on up to $2 million per calendar year and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select * The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns 1.5 miles per $1 on every purchase and 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. These rewards can be redeemed for travel purchases or transferred to more than 15 travel partners, including Air France, Emirates, Accor Live Limitless and Choice Privileges.
Book travel through Capital One Travel or use a statement credit for travel expenses made with the card. Employee cards are free and customized spending limits can be set for each card.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5 miles per $1 on every purchase and 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
The card also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% (balance transfers must be completed within 30 days to qualify for the intro rate). A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies. You can also get a $100 annual statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as QuickBooks or FreshBooks.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 150 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each foreign transaction.
Why this card made the list
If it’s simplicity you’re looking for in a business rewards card, then the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card fits the bill with its flat rewards rate of 1.5% cash back on purchases. There are no caps or spending categories to worry about.
The card also offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then a 18.49% to 24.49% variable APR applies to purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies. Cardholders also are protected with purchase protection and extended warranty protection, which is a plus for a card with no annual fee.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $900 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
The information for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
While the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns 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, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Even so, if you max out the $25,000 spend, that comes to $1,250 in cash-back rewards (not including additional purchases with the card that earn at other rates).
Employee cards come at no additional cost and you have the ability to set individual spending limits. Plus, there is a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49% applies to purchases and balance transfers. There’s a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater. Lyft rides also qualify for a 5% cash-back rate until March 2025. The Ink Business Cash also provides primary car rental insurance, travel and emergency assistance and Roadside Dispatch services.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 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, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $900 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered include:
- Annual fees.
- Rewards rates.
- Welcome bonuses.
- Any intro APR offers.
- Credits for services business owners might find helpful.
- Any protections and insurances like cellphone coverage, purchase protection or extended warranty coverage.
- Any other perks that make the card useful to the cardholder.
How do business credit cards work?
Business credit cards work in generally the same manner as personal credit cards where the issuing bank provides a line of credit from which the business owner can borrow and repay. Interest will be assessed on any unpaid balance and compound daily until it is paid off.
Most business cards require a personal guarantee, meaning that the business owner is responsible for payment and any non-payment can negatively affect your personal credit score. However, some business card issuers will only report negative account activity to the consumer credit bureaus, while nearly all business card issuers will report the account and payment activity to commercial credit bureaus, which can help build your business credit score.
How business and personal credit cards differ
While you can certainly use a business card for personal expenses, it’s best to keep them separate for accounting purposes at tax time.
However, differences do exist between the two types of cards. Here’s a quick list of how business and personal credit cards differ:
- The Credit CARD Act of 2009 provides a host of consumer protections that don’t necessarily apply to business cards. For example, your issuer may not honor the required 21-day period between billing and payment, or your business card can raise its APR without giving you the standard 45-day notice required for consumer cards.
- Business cards tend to come with higher credit limits. Issuers consider not only your personal income when applying, but also your company’s revenue, which may lead to a higher credit limit.
- Rewards programs tend to be tailored to business expenses, such as office supplies or online advertising, rather than groceries or retail purchases on consumer cards.
- Consumer cards tend to have longer intro APR promotions compared to business cards, and business cards rarely offer intro APR promotions for balance transfers.
- Business cards typically report account activity to business credit bureaus to help build a business credit score and don’t always report account activity to the consumer credit bureaus.
- Due to higher spending on business cards, the welcome bonuses tend to be more generous than those offered on consumer cards.
- Business cards often allow owners to issue employee cards at no cost, which can help centralize expenses for accounting purposes.
Types of business credit cards
There are two types of business credit cards: corporate credit cards and small business credit cards.
Corporate credit cards are only available to certain business structures, including S-Corps, C-Corps and established LLCs with a long and reputable credit history. As such, liability for corporate cards lie with the corporation instead of an individual. Corporate cards are also reserved for companies with revenue in the millions of dollars and require a certain spending quota as well as come with enhanced business accounting tools.
Conversely, small business credit cards don’t have the same requirements as corporate cards and are available to sole proprietors, gig workers and lower-revenue operations. Approval is based on the applicant’s personal credit history and the cardholder is liable for all debt on the card. There are also no spending requirements on a small business card.
Reasons to get a business credit card
Whether you are a sole proprietor or have just a few employees, there are numerous benefits to getting a business credit card.
- Keep personal and business expenses separate. This can be especially helpful when filing your taxes.
- Build your business credit rating. Responsible use of a business card can help build your company’s business credit rating, which can help secure loans in the future.
- Higher credit limits. Having a generous line of credit helps if you need to boost inventory.
- Improve cash flow. Money can be flowing in one month and tight the next. Having the ability to revolve a card balance during slow months can help if your business is cyclical.
- Rewards. Getting a small business card that provides cash back or points/miles for your purchases can help offset expenses.
- Centralize employee spending. Instead of requiring employees to submit a reimbursement form for company expenses, giving them an employee card can simplify this process. Plus, many small business cards allow you to set spending limits on employee cards and if you have a rewards card, those purchases typically qualify.
How to choose the best business credit card for your business
Deciding which small business credit card will best serve you will depend on several factors:
- Annual fee. Generally speaking, a low or no-annual-fee business card will come with fewer benefits (e.g., travel protections). However, there are some solid $0-annual-fee business card offerings that may align perfectly with your business spending needs.
- Rewards. Choose a card that rewards you for how you plan to spend with the card. If you spend a lot on office supplies or internet services, there are cards that offer cash back or points/miles for those purchases.
- APR. If you think you’ll have to revolve a balance from time to time, look for a business card with a reasonable APR range or pay-over-time feature, or choose one offering an intro 0% APR if you’re looking to finance a large purchase.
- Benefits. If you or your employees travel a lot, having certain travel protections (like car rental insurance or trip interruption/cancellation insurance) can be particularly helpful. Or you may prefer a card that offers more robust business-centric benefits, such as the ability to set up an account manager or get itemized spending reports.
- Employee cards. Small business credit cards often offer free employee cards that allow you to set spending alerts and limits.
How to get a business credit card
When applying for a small business credit card, you’ll generally have to include on your card application the name of your business, your business structure, revenue and either your Social Security number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN). Some issuers also require what your estimated spending on the card will be.
Pros and cons of business credit cards
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of having a small business credit card:
Pros
- Streamlined accounting.
- Potentially higher credit limit.
- Small business accounting tools.
- Rewards tailored to your spending needs.
- Improved cash flow.
- Build business credit rating.
Cons
- High APRs.
- Business owner is liable for all debts.
- Fewer protections than consumer cards.
Find the right business credit card for your needs
By type:
- Best cash-back business credit cards
- Best business credit cards for startups
- Best high limit business credit cards
- Best 0% APR business credit cards
- Best secured business credit cards
- Best business credit cards for gas
By issuer:
- Best American Express business credit cards
- Best Bank of America business credit cards
- Best Capital One business credit cards
You can use an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to get a business credit card. Most issuers, however, will still require you to provide a personal guarantee and may ask you to provide a Social Security number (SSN) to check your credit.
Some banks offer special cards that are specifically designed for new businesses. These are often the easiest to receive approval for with limited business credit and income figures.
However, since most small business credit cards rely on your personal guarantee to approve you for a card, your personal credit profile may be more important to the card issuer than the age of your business.
When you apply for a small business card, the issuer will almost always check your personal credit score as part of the decision-making process. That’s because most small business credit cards require an owner to provide a personal guarantee that if the business is unable to pay its debts on the card, the owner will be liable for the amount owed. That initial hard credit inquiry can cause your score to temporarily drop by a few points.
However, many small business cards do not report your regular payment activities to the three consumer credit reporting agencies. But they may report negative behavior such as delinquencies which can also affect your personal credit score.
The best small business card for your business will be one that aligns with your spending patterns and provides any benefits and rewards that can help you save money.
There are a few business cards that do not require a personal guarantee, but they are few and far between.
Corporate cards are one option, but those require that you have at least $4 million in revenue to qualify. One example of a small business card that doesn’t require a personal guarantee is the Brex 30 Card * The information for the Brex 30 Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , which is a charge card (meaning you pay the full balance off every month), but your company must have at least $50,000 in the bank or received at least $100,000 in angel funding.
If you are a sole proprietor looking to apply for a business card and don’t have an EIN, you can oftentimes use your Social Security number instead. So if you have a side gig or earn money selling products or services, you should be able to qualify for quite a few small business cards. You’ll need to verify what qualifications are required for approval before you apply.
Generally, yes, since most small business card issuers rely on your personal credit history and scores to evaluate your creditworthiness.
Business owners with poor credit can work on rebuilding their credit scores with secured business cards, which typically require the applicant to submit a security deposit that acts as their line of credit. One example is the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , which, if managed responsibly, allows the cardholder to graduate to an unsecured card once their credit score improves.
*The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card, Brex 30 Card, Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
