The 10 Best Small Business Credit Cards

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It was rare to see generous rewards on small business credit cards back in the day. Card issuers are placing a lot of emphasis on business cards. They are hoping to grow their market share in this area. It means we are seeing big welcome bonuses, new products, and more.

Businesses being able to spend more, and therefore being more lucrative for retailers, have historically been rationalized based on the fact that interchange fees are higher on business cards than personal cards.

Small business credit cards can be a good way to separate personal and business expenses, even if they are only useful for the welcome bonuses.

I wanted to look at the best and most rewarding business credit cards based on a number of metrics. I will show you how to apply for small business cards. Below are some of my favorites.

• Why I like this card: most well-rounded business credit card with the best bonus
• Welcome bonus: 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 within three months
• Annual fee: $95
• Rewards structure: 3x points on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, and phone services, and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases per account anniversary year)

The Ink Preferred is one of the best business credit cards out there. I value 100,000 Ultimate rewards points at $1,700, which is one of the biggest bonuses of any credit card. Excellent travel and rental car protection, an amazing cell phone protection plan, and flexible points are included in the card.

I could only apply for one credit card for my business.

Apply for the Ink Business Preferred if you read a full review.

• Why I like this card: best no annual fee card bonus categories
• Welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $7,500 within three months
• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards structure: 5x points on office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services, and 2x points on gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases per account anniversary year)

You can earn up to 5x points with the Ink Cash business card. The bonus is the best ever.

Each point can be redeemed for one cent if you use the ink cash independently. If you have the Ink Cash in conjunction with one of the Chase credit cards, you can transfer all of them to Ultimate rewards.

Apply for the Ink Business Cash if you read a full review.

• Why I like this card: best no annual fee card for everyday spending with no caps
• Welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $7,500 within three months
• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards structure: 1.5x points on all purchases

The Ink Unlimited is the best business credit card for everyday spending. The ink unlimited gives 1.5x points for every dollar spent.

Each point can be redeemed for a single cent if you use this card alone. You can pool points with other cards to transfer them to Ultimate rewards airline and hotel partners.

If you have the Sapphire Reserve, points can be redeemed for 1.5 cents each toward the cost of a travel purchase, meaning that this card essentially offers a return equivalent to 2%.

If you want to apply for the ink business unlimited, read a full review.

New Business Card! Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card

• Why I like this card: best cash back card for large transactions
• Welcome bonus: $1,000 cash back after spending $10,000 within three months
• Annual fee: $195
• Rewards structure: 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000+, 2% cash back on other purchases

One of Chase's newest cards is the Ink premier, which is an unparalleled card for businesses that spend a lot and want to earn cash back. It is possible to earn 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more. Travel and purchase protection are offered by the card.

If you want to apply for the ink business premier, read a full review.

American Express® Business Gold Card

• Why I like this card: great bonus categories
• Welcome bonus: 70,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within three months
• Annual fee: $295 (Rates & Fees)
• Rewards structure: 4x points in the two select categories where your business spends the most each month (the 4x points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these two categories each calendar year); the bonus categories are as follows:
  • Airfare purchased directly from airlines
  • U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
  • U.S. purchases at gas stations
  • U.S. purchases at restaurants
  • U.S. purchases for shipping
  • U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers

It makes sense for some businesses and not for others. If you spend a lot in at least two of those categories, the Amex Gold is a great option. The Amex Business Gold has a fairly high annual fee.

Apply for the Amex Business Gold if you read a full review.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

• Why I like this card: best business card perks
• Welcome bonus: 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 within three months
• Annual fee: $695 (Rates & Fees)
• Rewards structure: 1.5x Membership Rewards points per dollar on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on each purchase of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year (and then 1x Membership Rewards points)

I think the Amex Business Platinum is a better card for the perks it offers than for the return it offers on your spending.

The Amex Business Platinum has a $695 annual fee, but it also has a $200 annual airline fee credit and access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying the same day.

For someone who travels a lot, the benefits of the Amex Business Platinum are more than worth the yearly fee.

Apply for the Amex Business Platinum if you read a full review.

• Why I like this card: best return on spending of any no annual fee business card
• Welcome bonus: 15,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within three months
• Annual fee: $0 (Rates & Fees)
• Rewards structure: 2x points on the first $50,000 spent on purchases every calendar year (1x after that)

The Blue Business Plus is great for everyday spending. I value Membership rewards points at 1.7 cents each, and you can earn up to two points per dollar spent with the Amex Blue Business Plus, so that's a return of 3.4%.

The Blue Business Plus caps you at earning double points on the first $50,000 of spending, so for anything over that you're earning just one point per dollar. The card is offering a publicly available welcome bonus if you don't already have it.

Apply for the Amex Blue Business Plus if you read a full review.

Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express

• Why I like this card: best no annual fee cash back business card
• Welcome bonus: $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 within three months
• Annual fee: $0 (Rates & Fees)
• Rewards structure: 2% cash back on the first $50,000 spent on purchases per calendar year and then 1%

It is rare for business cards to offer 2% cash back, but it is good for a no annual fee cards. The bonus on the card was not before.

Apply for the Amex Blue Business Cash if you read a full review.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

• Why I like this card: best cash back business card
• Welcome bonus: up to a $1,000 cash bonus, including $500 after spending $5,000 within three months, plus an additional $500 after spending a total of $50,000 within the first six months
• Annual fee: $150
• Rewards structure: 2% cash back on all purchases, plus a $200 annual cash bonus when you spend $200,000 in an anniversary year

The Spark Cash Plus is a great card to use if you want to get cash back. There is a $200 cash bonus when you spend $200,000 on the card in an anniversary year. There is no preset spending limit on this card.

This option is hard to beat for a person who doesn't want to deal with points. The Capital One Venture X rewards card can be converted into Capital One miles at a lucrative ratio if you use it with other Capital One cards.

If you're interested in applying for the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, read a full review.

Capital One^® Spark^® Miles for Business

• Why I like this card: best business card for everyday spending with no caps
• Welcome bonus: 50,000 points after spending $4,500 within three months
• Annual fee: $95, waived the first year
• Rewards structure: 2x miles on all purchases

I really appreciate the flexibility and return on spending offered by the spark miles. You can redeem your miles in two different ways.

• You can redeem them toward the cost of a travel purchase at the rate of one cent per mile, meaning the card offers two cents toward travel per dollar spent; you can do this after the fact exchanging miles for statement credits, or you can book through the Capital One Travel portal
• You can transfer Spark miles to over a dozen airline and hotel partners at a ratio of 1:1

Every dollar spent on the SparkMiles earns two cents for travel or two airline miles with select partners. Capital One miles are 1.7 cents each, so to me that is like a 3.4% return on everyday spending, which is amazing.

Read a full review of the card before applying for it.

The most well-rounded business cards that give you a lot of flexibility are the ones above. Depending on your travel patterns, there are several co-brand travel rewards cards that could offer a lot of value.

You can see the linked reviews for some of my favorites.

• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (review) offers Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as you have the card, which could be quite valuable
• The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (review) offers incredible perks when traveling with Southwest, including anniversary bonus points, upgraded boardings, up to 365 Southwest Wi-Fi credit per year, and more
• The United^SM Business Card (review) offers valuable perks when traveling with United, including a free checked bag, two United Club passes annually, a $100 annual United travel credit, and more
• The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review) offers 15 elite nights toward status annually, an annual free night reward, and more
• The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (review) offers valuable benefits like up to $100 in Hyatt credits annually, and it can help you earn elite status through credit card spending
• The Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card (review) offers valuable ongoing perks, including an annual companion certificate, and it’s even quite easy to get approved for
• The IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (review) offers an anniversary free night award, IHG One Rewards Platinum status for as long as you have the card, a fourth night free on award redemptions, and more

If you are a loyal customer with any of those brands, you may find that these cards pay for themselves over and over.

Are you eligible for a business card?

It's easy to get a small business credit card. Most people don't need to be incorporated or have a big company. You can get a business credit card if you have a small side business with limited business revenue and you sell things on eBay, have a rental property, or work as a freelancer.

Credit card applications should always be answered honestly. It is possible that you will get approved easily.

It's important to keep in mind the general restrictions on credit cards.

Filling out business card applications

Even if you are a small business or sole proprietor, you should be able to get a business credit card. I want to show you how to apply for a business card. In addition to your personal information, you will be asked a number of questions.

• Legal name of business
• Business mailing address & phone number
• Type of business
• Tax identification number
• Number of employees
• Annual business revenue/sales
• Years in business

How should you apply for a business credit card? Answer everything honestly first of all. A lot of people worry about being considered for a business card if they don't have an incorporated business, separate office, or something similar. That's not true.

• You can use your name as the legal name of your business
• The business mailing address and phone number can be the same as your personal address and phone number
• If you’re a sole proprietorship, you can select that as your type of business
• For the tax identification number, you can put your Social Security Number
• For number of employees, saying one is perfectly fine
• For your annual business revenue, there’s nothing wrong with saying zero (if you’re just getting started), or whatever the amount is
• For years in business, there’s no shame in saying that it’s new, that it has been one to two years, etc.

Over the past several years, credit card issuers have largely been focused on business cards, and as a result, we are seeing some lucrative offerings.

There has never been a better time to apply for a business credit card, so whether you have a longstanding business or just recently started a business, the above are some great cards to consider.

Which small business credit card do you use the most?

The rates and fees can be found in the links. The American Express Business Gold Card, The Blue Business Plus Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card, and the American Express Blue Business Cash Card are included.