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- If you own a business or do any freelancing or side gigs, there are plenty of reasons to get a business credit card instead of a personal one.
- When searching for the right business credit card, look at factors like welcome bonuses, earning categories, and purchase protection.
- Cards like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earn rewards on spending categories that are popular with business owners, and provide valuable coverage including travel and cell phone insurance.
- Read Insider’s guide to the best rewards business cards.
The best small business credit cards offer a lot of benefits both in common with personal credit cards and in addition to them. Like personal rewards credit cards, many business credit cards promote attractive welcome bonus offers, extend purchase protection and travel insurance, and in the case of airline credit cards and hotel credit cards, come with day-of-travel perks like free checked bags and anniversary award nights.
Even without your own formal small business, you might still qualify for a small business credit card — and you might want to do so for a number of reasons. Using a business credit card can help you keep your personal and work expenses separate. That, in turn, can even help improve your personal credit score over time.
Insider’s Featured Small Business Cards
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
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 account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Business Credit Card Benefits and Advantages
There are currently a lot of great business rewards cards available, so if you’ve been thinking about applying for one, now might just be the right time. Before you do, though, here are five benefits you should look for in any business credit card you apply for.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
A high welcome bonus offer
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Intro offer
100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Intro offer
100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Details
Rewards
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Intro offer
100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.99% – 25.99% Variable
One of the best reasons to apply for a business credit card is that they often offer introductory bonuses that are as good as, or even better than, their personal counterparts.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is currently offering new cardholders 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Its annual fee is $95.
On the other hand, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is offering new cardholders 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, and it has a $95 annual fee. So you could potentially earn more bonus points, if you’re able to meet the spending requirement, by applying for the business card.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
has a $95 annual fee and its welcome bonus offer is 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and one Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first three months of card membership.
Also with a $95 annual fee, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership (offer ends 7/19/23).
Bonus earning categories
American Express® Business Gold Card
Intro offer
70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points on the top 2 business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
American Express® Business Gold Card
Intro offer
70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points on the top 2 business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
American Express® Business Gold Card
Details
Rewards
Earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points on the top 2 business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.24% – 27.24% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Like personal rewards credit cards, many business credit cards earn bonus points on particular purchase categories. No matter which business credit card you apply for, you should make sure it earns bonus points or miles where you actually spend the most money. Some business cards even offer a certain amount of flexibility when it comes to maximizing your purchase activity.
For example, the American Express® Business Gold Card
earns an excellent 4 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year on the two categories where you spend the most each billing cycle from a prescribed list of possibilities that includes airfare purchased directly from airlines, US gas stations, US restaurants, US shipping providers, US computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers, and US purchases for advertising in select media. So even if your buying habits vary from month to month, you can still take advantage of the card’s bonus earning.
Since many small businesses tend to make large one-time purchases, some business credit cards also offer bonus points or miles on big buys, too. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card earns 3 miles per dollar on eligible direct Delta and hotel purchases, but also 1.5 miles per dollar on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 miles per calendar year.
Day-of-travel benefits
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
Intro offer
65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at gas stations. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on car rentals. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
Intro offer
65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at gas stations. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on car rentals. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Apply online at Citibank’s website.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at gas stations. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on car rentals. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
Intro offer
65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings are primarily based on 3 things: simplicity, affordability, and value. Our credit card editor takes those factors into account, and comes up with a rating to best reflect how the card performs in that criteria – relative to other products we’ve reviewed.
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Many of the best travel rewards cards — both business and personal — offer perks that make the travel experience itself that much better. These can include things like free checked bags and priority boarding, like many of the best airline credit cards do, or automatic elite status and free anniversary nights, like those offered by many of the best hotel credit cards.
For example, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® includes a free checked bag for cardholders and up to four companions on the same reservation plus preferred boarding. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card confers automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status with perks like bonus points on stays and late checkout, plus an annual free night redeemable at properties that cost up to 85,000 points.
Aside from privileges with a particular airline or hotel chain, if you spend a lot of time passing through airports, you should consider a business credit card that comes with a statement credit of up to $100 to refund the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, like the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card or the Capital One Spark Miles for Business
.
You might also want a card that gets you into airline lounges, like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, which includes free Priority Pass airport lounge access at over 1,300 lounges around the world**, plus entry to Amex’s own Centurion lounges — and Delta Sky Clubs when you’re traveling on Delta.
Travel coverage
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
On American Express’s website
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Details
Rewards
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.24% – 27.24% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
If you’re a frequent traveler and use your business credit card for work trips, you need to think about whether it offers adequate coverage in case things go wrong while you’re on the road. Take a look at your card’s benefits and make sure it extends protection for things like trip interruption, cancellation, and delays, as well as lost luggage and primary rental car insurance.
One card that offers exceptional travel coverage is the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. For example, if your flight is delayed by at least 12 hours (or your delay requires an overnight stay), you can be covered up to $500 for reasonable expenses such as lodging, transportation, food, etc.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express extends trip cancellation insurance up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period as well as trip delay insurance that kicks in at six hours and is good for up to $500 per trip in case you need to spend money on things like accommodations or meals.
Purchase protection
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Intro offer
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
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 account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Intro offer
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
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 account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Details
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 account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro offer
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
18.24% – 24.24% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
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Many small business owners need a business credit card specifically to make large purchases — such as for equipment or supplies — for work. If that’s your situation, it is imperative to use a credit card that offers sufficient purchase protection in case something goes wrong with the things you buy.
For example, Chase’s purchase protection on the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card will both cover you against damage or theft on eligible items up to 120 days after you make a purchase with caps of $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Certain American Express cards offer similar coverage, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card whose purchase protection is good up to 90 days out on claims of up to $10,000 each and $50,000 per account per calendar year. Using a card with purchase protection like this can literally save you thousands of dollars in case something goes wrong with your work purchases.
As a side note, some credit cards offer cell phone protection (usually subject to a deductible) against damage or theft, including the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
What to know about business credit card benefits
There are plenty of great reasons to apply for a business credit card, and there are also some key benefits you should look for in any business credit card you are thinking of getting. Finding a product that will not only earn you thousands of bonus points or cash back through a welcome bonus offer and special earning categories, but that will also save you time and money through various travel and purchase protections, is the key to maximizing any business credit card you carry.
GreenState Credit Union 10 Month CD
Earn 5.30% APY with GreenState Credit Union, or choose from more than 30 insured banks and credit unions with today’s top rates. Raisin offers one account to maximize your savings.
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