The 10 Best Business Credit Cards for Small Businesses

Navigating the world of business finance is a critical task for any small business owner. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is a dedicated business credit card, which can help streamline expenses, manage cash flow, and unlock valuable rewards. But with hundreds of options on the market, each with its own unique set of perks, fees, and rewards structures, making a choice can feel overwhelming.

This guide is designed to cut through the noise. We’ve analyzed the top contenders to bring you a curated list of the best credit cards tailored to the diverse needs of small businesses. Whether you’re looking for maximum cash back, premium travel benefits, or a simple card to build your business credit, you’ll find a solution here that can help propel your company forward.

Why Your Small Business Needs a Dedicated Credit Card

Before diving into our top picks, it’s important to understand why separating your business and personal finances with a dedicated card is a non-negotiable step for growth and stability. It’s more than just a convenience; it’s a strategic financial move.

Separate Business and Personal Expenses

Commingling funds is a common mistake that can lead to significant accounting headaches and potential legal issues. A business credit card creates a clear line between your personal spending and company expenditures, making bookkeeping and tax preparation infinitely simpler. This separation is crucial for accurate financial reporting and proving your business is a legitimate, separate entity.

Build Business Credit History

Just like a personal credit score, a business credit score is vital for your company’s financial health. Using a business credit card responsibly and making timely payments helps establish and build a strong business credit profile. A good score can unlock better terms on future loans, leases, and insurance policies, giving you more favorable financing options as you scale.

Streamline Expense Tracking

Modern business credit cards come with powerful online tools and integrations. You can easily track spending by category, set limits for employee cards, and often sync data directly with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero. This automation saves valuable time and reduces the risk of manual data entry errors.

Access to Higher Credit Limits and Working Capital

Business credit cards typically offer higher credit limits than personal cards. This provides a flexible source of short-term financing, allowing you to cover unexpected expenses, invest in inventory, or manage cash flow gaps without needing to apply for a traditional loan. It’s a revolving line of credit that’s there when you need it.

How We Chose the Best Business Credit Cards

Our selection process focused on the overall value each card provides to small business owners. We weighed several key factors to ensure our recommendations cater to a wide range of spending habits and business goals. Criteria included the rewards earning potential, the value of welcome bonuses, annual fees, introductory APR offers, and unique business-centric perks like expense management tools and travel protections.

Top Picks for Business Credit Cards in 2024

Here is our detailed breakdown of the 10 best business credit cards, categorized by what they do best.

1. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

• Best for: Businesses with significant travel and online advertising expenses.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and online advertising each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Welcome Bonus: Often one of the most valuable bonuses on the market for new cardholders after meeting a spending threshold.
  • Perks: Points are 25% more valuable when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Cell phone protection against theft or damage.
• Why We Like It: The Ink Business Preferred is a powerhouse for modern businesses. The 3X bonus categories cover common and significant expenses, and the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is unmatched. You can transfer them 1:1 to numerous airline and hotel partners for potentially massive value.
• Potential Drawbacks: The $95 annual fee may not be ideal for businesses with very low expenses.

2. American Express® Business Gold Card

• Best for: Businesses with high spending in specific, rotating categories.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year). Categories include airfare, advertising, gas stations, restaurants, and more.
  • Annual Fee: $375
  • Welcome Bonus: Typically a generous welcome offer for new members.
  • Perks: Flexible rewards that adapt to your spending, no foreign transaction fees, and access to the Membership Rewards® program.
• Why We Like It: This card automatically rewards your top spending areas, removing the need to track or enroll in bonus categories. It’s perfect for companies whose primary expenses align with the 4X categories, as the rewards can accumulate incredibly fast.
• Potential Drawbacks: The hefty annual fee means you need to have significant spending in the bonus categories to justify the cost.

3. Capital One Spark Cash Plus

• Best for: Businesses seeking simple, high-rate, unlimited cash back.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions. Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Annual Fee: $150
  • Welcome Bonus: Often features a substantial cash bonus when you meet spending requirements.
  • Perks: The annual fee is refunded every year you spend at least $150,000. It’s a charge card, so you must pay your balance in full each month.
• Why We Like It: The Spark Cash Plus is the epitome of simplicity and value. You don’t have to worry about categories or rewards portals. If your business has large, diverse expenses, the flat 2% cash back can translate into significant returns.
• Potential Drawbacks: Being a charge card, it doesn’t allow you to carry a balance, which may not work for businesses needing financing flexibility.

4. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

• Best for: Startups and businesses looking for a 0% intro APR period.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners on the first $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1X point.
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro Offer: A long 0% introductory APR period on purchases.
  • Perks: Expanded Buying Power allows you to spend beyond your credit limit based on your usage, payment history, and other factors.
• Why We Like It: This card is a fantastic choice for new businesses. The 0% intro APR allows you to make large initial purchases and pay them off over time without interest. The 2X rewards on all spending (up to the cap) on a no-annual-fee card is an excellent value proposition.
• Potential Drawbacks: The 2X rewards are capped at $50,000 in spending per year, which may be low for larger businesses.

5. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

• Best for: Businesses wanting simple, no-annual-fee cash back from the Chase ecosystem.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every business purchase.
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro Offer: Typically includes a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months and a solid cash back welcome bonus.
  • Perks: Rewards can be combined with other Chase cards (like the Ink Preferred) and converted to valuable Ultimate Rewards® points.
• Why We Like It: It’s a straightforward and effective card. The combination of a $0 annual fee, a 0% intro APR period, and a flat 1.5% cash back rate makes it a versatile and worry-free option for any small business.
• Potential Drawbacks: The rewards rate is lower than some competitors, but the lack of an annual fee compensates for this.

6. Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

• Best for: Businesses with high spending at office supply stores and on internet/phone services.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants. 1% on everything else.
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro Offer: A 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months and a generous welcome bonus.
  • Perks: Like the Ink Unlimited, its cash back can be converted to Ultimate Rewards® points if you hold a premium Chase card.
• Why We Like It: For businesses that can maximize the 5% categories, this card offers one of the highest cash back returns available, especially for a no-annual-fee card. Many office supply stores sell gift cards for other retailers, offering a way to expand the 5% rewards.
• Potential Drawbacks: The bonus rewards are capped, so high-spending businesses might exceed the $25,000 limit quickly.

7. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

• Best for: Frequent business travelers who value luxury perks and benefits.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases in key business categories and on purchases of $5,000 or more.
  • Annual Fee: $695
  • Welcome Bonus: One of the highest-value welcome offers available.
  • Perks: Extensive list of elite travel benefits, including global airport lounge access (Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club), airline fee credits, hotel elite status, and much more.
• Why We Like It: This is the ultimate travel card for business owners who are constantly on the road. The monetary value of the credits and perks can easily outweigh the steep annual fee if you use them. You can find more details about its benefits on the official American Express website.
• Potential Drawbacks: The annual fee is prohibitive unless you are a frequent traveler who can take full advantage of the luxury perks.

8. Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard®

• Best for: Businesses that want control over their top rewards category.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice (options include gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom services, computer services, or business consulting services). Earn 2% cash back on dining. The 3% and 2% earnings apply to the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year. 1% on everything else.
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro Offer: Often includes a 0% intro APR period.
  • Perks: Bank of America Preferred Rewards for Business members can earn a 25%-75% rewards bonus, boosting the top cash back rate to as high as 5.25%.
• Why We Like It: The flexibility to choose your 3% category each month is a powerful feature, allowing you to align your rewards with anticipated spending. The value skyrockets for those already in the Bank of America ecosystem.
• Potential Drawbacks: The spending cap on bonus categories could be a limitation for some.

9. Capital One Spark Miles for Business

• Best for: Simple, flat-rate travel rewards without complex rules.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Earn an unlimited 2X miles on every purchase for your business. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Welcome Bonus: A solid miles bonus after meeting an initial spend requirement.
  • Perks: Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Miles can be redeemed for any travel expense or transferred to airline partners.
• Why We Like It: This card makes earning and redeeming travel rewards incredibly easy. You don’t have to worry about spending categories—every dollar earns 2 miles. Redeeming is just as simple, with the option to cover any travel purchase on your statement.
• Potential Drawbacks: While simple, the redemption value might be less than what experts can achieve by transferring points from other programs.

10. Brex Card

• Best for: VC-backed startups and tech companies.
• Key Features:
  • Rewards: Tailored rewards structure offering high multipliers on categories relevant to startups, like rideshare, travel, and software subscriptions.
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Underwriting: Approval is based on your company’s cash balance and funding, not your personal credit score. No personal guarantee is required.
  • Perks: Completely integrated with expense management software, automatic receipt matching, and high credit limits.
• Why We Like It: Brex is a modern fintech solution built for a specific niche. By forgoing the personal guarantee, it’s an excellent option for founders who want to protect their personal assets. The built-in expense management tools are a huge plus for fast-growing companies.
• Potential Drawbacks: It has specific eligibility requirements, typically requiring your business to be incorporated and have a professional U.S. bank account with a minimum balance.

Comparison at a Glance: Finding Your Perfect Match

To help you visualize the options, here’s a table comparing some of our top picks across key features.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Business Credit Card

Before you apply, take a moment to assess your business’s specific needs. The right card for a solo consultant will be different from the right card for a construction company with a fleet of trucks.

Your Business Spending Habits

Analyze your expenses from the last 6-12 months. Where does most of your money go? If you spend heavily on travel, a card like the Ink Business Preferred or Amex Business Platinum makes sense. If your spending is spread out across many categories, a flat-rate card like the Spark Cash Plus or Ink Business Unlimited is a better fit.

Rewards Program: Cash Back, Points, or Miles?

Decide what kind of reward you value most.

• Cash Back: Simple, flexible, and easy to understand. It’s direct value back to your business.
• Points/Miles: Can offer outsized value, especially when transferred to airline and hotel partners for premium travel redemptions. This requires more effort to maximize. A trustworthy source like Forbes Advisor often provides in-depth comparisons of these programs.

Annual Fees vs. Perks

Don’t be automatically scared away by an annual fee. High-fee cards often come with valuable credits, protections, and benefits that can more than offset the cost. Do the math: will you realistically use the perks offered by a premium card? If not, a no-annual-fee option is the smarter choice. For an unbiased look at consumer financial products, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers valuable resources.

Introductory Offers (0% APR and Welcome Bonuses)

An introductory 0% APR on purchases can be a form of short-term, interest-free financing for a large upcoming expense. Similarly, a big welcome bonus can provide a substantial immediate return. These are important factors, but they shouldn’t be the *only* reason you choose a card. Think about its long-term value to your business.

Conclusion: Making the Right Financial Decision

Selecting a business credit card is a strategic decision that can impact your company’s efficiency and bottom line. The perfect card is one that aligns seamlessly with your spending patterns, rewards you for expenses you already incur, and provides tools to simplify your financial operations. By evaluating your business needs against the options presented here, you can confidently choose a card that acts as a true asset for your growth.

Ultimately, the key is to look beyond just the welcome bonus and consider the long-term partnership between your business and the financial tool you choose. For further guidance on securing funding and managing your company’s finances, it’s always wise to consult official resources for unbiased information on choosing the best business credit cards for small businesses.