Best business credit cards of April 2024
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 7:02 p.m. UTC April 26, 2024
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Whether you’re a full-time small business owner or simply squeezing in a side hustle, you can benefit from a business credit card. It’s a smart money move to keep your business spending separate from your personal expenses, plus you can benefit from a range of perks specifically tailored for businesses.
The best credit cards for businesses offer rewards on common business expenses, generous welcome bonuses, free employee cards and expense management tools. We looked at a wide range of cards to curate a list of the best business cards of 2024.
Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from a previously published story.
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best business credit cards
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card*: Best credit card for business.
- Capital One Venture X Business Card*: Best for travel.
- Capital One Spark 2X Miles*: Best for flat-rate travel rewards.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Best for premium benefits and credits.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express*: Best for low intro APR offer.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card *: Best for Marriott hotels.
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.
- 58+ cards analyzed.
- 14+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best credit card for business
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best for travel
Capital One Venture X Business Card
*The information for the Capital One Venture X 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 for flat-rate travel rewards
Capital One Spark 2X Miles
*The information for the Capital One Spark 2X Miles has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for premium benefits and credits
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.
All information about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for low intro APR offer
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for Marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
*The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Compare the best business credit cards
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months, which is equal to $1,500 in travel.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Platinum Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
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.
Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Why it’s the best
For just a $95 annual fee, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is packed with perks that exceed the cost of ownership. In addition to generous rewards on typical areas of business spending, like phone service, shipping and travel, the card comes with a host of valuable travel and purchase protections and insurances.
Pros
- Earn high rewards on typical business spending categories.
- Redeem rewards for travel at a 25% points boost or transfer to Chase loyalty partners.
- Valuable protections include cellphone insurance and primary auto rental insurance.
Cons
- No 0% APR offer on purchases or balance transfers.
- There’s an annual fee of $95.
- The highest rewards rate is capped, which may be limiting for some business owners.
Card details
- Welcome bonus: 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Annual fee: $95.
- Regular APR: 21.24% – 26.24% Variable.
- Credit score: Good, Excellent.
The information for the Capital One Venture X 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 it’s the best
Capital One’s premium travel card for small-business owners offers high-end travel perks and ample rewards for a lower annual fee than its premium peers, at just $395. The Capital One Venture X Business Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. also offers a bevy of benefits that anyone who flies or stays in a hotel can appreciate.
Pros:
- $300 annual travel credit can offset the card’s annual fee.
- Travel perks include lounge access and TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit (up to $100).
- There’s no preset limit on the card, so it can adapt to your spending needs.
Cons:
- As a pay-in-full card, there’s no option to carry a balance.
Steep annual fee. - There’s a late fee of 2.99% if the balance isn’t paid in full each billing cycle.
Card details:
- Welcome bonus: 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months of account opening.
- Annual fee: $395.
- Regular APR: N/A.
- Credit score: Excellent Credit.
The information for the Capital One Spark 2X Miles has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Capital One Spark 2X Miles * The information for the Capital One Spark 2X Miles has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is ideal for business owners who want a straightforward travel rewards program for a relatively low annual fee. Miles earned on the card can be redeemed for anything from flights to hotels to rental cars, or you can transfer the rewards to any of Capital One’s 15+ travel loyalty programs, which could yield excellent value in most cases.
Pros:
- Simple rewards structure means no tracking or enrolling in bonus categories.
- Comes with a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit (up to $100).
- Redeem rewards to cover past eligible travel purchases, book new travel or transfer to multiple loyalty partners.
Cons:
- Redemptions for cash back are worth less than a penny per point.
- There are no introductory 0% APR offers.
- Depending on your typical spending, other business cards could be more rewarding.
Card details:
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year; then $95.
- Regular APR: 26.24% (Variable).
- Credit score: Good, Excellent.
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 it’s the best
Few business cards can match the level of travel perks 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). The card offers widespread premium airport lounge access, annual Uber Cash, 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 per calendar year) and a slew of potential credits for vendors a business is likely to use. Anyone who can take advantage of all the benefits offered by this card, will find that the overall value can outweigh the annual fee. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Pros:
- Most widespread airport lounge access available.
- Unlock over $1,400 in potential annual statement credits (enrollment required).
- Elevated status with Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy and select car rental programs (enrollment required).
Cons:
- Steep annual fee.
- Requires work to get the full value of statement credits and perks.
- Lackluster rewards on everyday business spending beyond travel.
Card details:
- Welcome bonus: 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- Annual fee: $695.
- Regular APR: 19.49% – 28.49% Variable.
- Credit score: Good, Excellent.
All information about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Why it’s the best
If you’re seeking a card that has an intro APR offer on purchases, but also offers ongoing value, the no-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) has you covered. The Blue Business Plus card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies. The card also comes with an Expanded Buying Power feature, which allows you to exceed your credit limit from time to time as long as the amount over the limit is paid in full by the due date.
Pros:
- Expanded purchasing power with a low intro offer and flexible limits.
- Redeem Membership Rewards® points for travel, statement credits, gift cards and more.
- Add up to 99 authorized users with no annual fees.
Cons:
- Cap of $50,000 on 2-point-per-dollar rewards rate, then drops to just 1 point per dollar.
- Limited travel benefits, with no protections like travel or baggage delay insurance.
- Foreign transaction fees of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars.
Card details:
- Welcome bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Regular APR: 18.49% – 26.49% Variable.
- Credit score: Good, Excellent.
All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
If your work requires frequent hotel stays, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card * The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) can provide generous discounts and benefits for your business. Plus, the card grants automatic Marriott Gold elite status, a free night each year (worth up to 35,000 points) upon card renewal and a number of travel and purchase protections.
Pros:
- Get a 7% room discount rate when you book an eligible property through Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Automatic Gold Elite status includes priority late checkout and room upgrades when available.
- Earns high rewards on shipping and wireless services.
Cons:
- If you rarely travel for work, another card is a better option.
- The best use of the rewards is towards free hotel nights.
- There’s a moderate annual fee.
Card details:
- Welcome bonus: three Free Night Awards (worth up to 150,000 total Marriott Bonvoy points) after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
- Annual fee: $125.
- Regular APR: 20.99% – 29.99% Variable.
- Credit score: Good, Excellent.
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
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 when evaluating the best balance transfer cards included:
- Annual earnings: 50%.
- Rewards flexibility: 10%.
- Rewards rates: 10%.
- Welcome bonuses: 10%.
- Intro APR offers: 6%.
- Annual fees: 5%.
- Purchase protections and insurances: 5%.
- Credits for services business owners might find helpful: 2%.
- Anniversary bonuses: 1%.
- Foreign transaction fees: 1%.
What is a business credit card?
Business credit cards are very similar to personal credit cards. An issuer provides a line of credit from which a business owner can borrow and repay each month on the statement due date. Interest will be assessed on any unpaid balance and compound daily until the balance is paid off.
The top business credit cards offer benefits specifically tailored to the needs of small businesses, such as rewards on common business expenses, free employee cards, travel protections and perks like lounge access and expense management tools.
How business and personal credit cards differ
While both business and personal credit cards work in much the same way, there are some critical differences between the two types of cards. Let’s compare business credit cards versus personal credit cards:
Business cards
- Higher credit limits, depending on business profile.
- Rewards tailored to business expenses such as office supplies, telecom and dining.
- Bigger welcome offers (along with higher spending requirements).
- Decent intro APR offers on purchases but rarely on balance transfers.
- Reporting to business credit bureaus — some also report to personal credit bureaus.
- Employee cards often at no cost.
- Typically exempt from protections in the Credit CARD Act of 2009.
Personal cards
- Low to high credit limits, depending on credit score.
- Rewards focused on everyday spending such as groceries, entertainment, travel and retail.
- Longer intro APR offers on purchases and/or balance transfers.
- Typically report all account activity to personal credit bureaus.
- Credit CARD Act ensures consumer protections such as a 21-day grace period and advance notice for APR changes.
Reasons to get a business credit card
Whether you are a sole proprietor or have many employees, there are numerous benefits to getting a business credit card:
- Keep personal and business expenses separate. Separating business and personal spending 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 cover large expenditures.
- Improve cash flow. If your business sees money flowing in one month and getting tight the next, the ability to charge necessary expenses during slow months can be very useful.
- Rewards potential. A small business card offering cash back or points/miles on your business spending can help offset expenses.
- Centralize employee spending. Assigning employee cards with set spending limits can streamline company spending and replace reimbursement forms.
Who qualifies for a business credit card?
If you’re performing work that generates income, you’re likely eligible for a business credit card.
While business cards have appeal for structured businesses like sole proprietorships and limited liability corporations (LLCs), they’re available to a range of different business owners, including home-based and part-time businesses.
You can apply for a business card based on freelancing (like writing, graphic design or web development), gig work (such as rideshare driving, order delivery and musical performances) or selling homemade items or other services.
Think a business credit card isn’t for you? You might be a small business owner and not even know it
How to get a business credit card
The application process for a small business credit card is generally the same as applying for a personal credit card. As a business owner, approval is typically based on your personal credit score, although your business credit profile will be considered if you have one.
While the exact requirements will vary based on the issuer, you’ll usually need to provide the following on your application:
- Personal details, such as name, address, contact information and Social Security number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN).
- Business information, including business name, type of business and official structure (e.g. sole proprietorship or LLC).
- Current business revenue, although if you don’t have business income yet you might need to provide your personal income or additional information about your business.
- Number of employees (if any).
- Estimated monthly spend.
Types of business credit cards
There are two types of business credit cards: corporate cards and small business cards.
Corporate credit cards are only available to specific business structures, including S-Corps, C-Corps and established LLCs with a strong credit history. As such, liability for corporate cards rests with the corporation instead of an individual. Corporate cards are also reserved for companies with revenue in the millions of dollars and may require a certain spending quota.
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.
How to choose the best business credit card for your business
The best credit card for business owners will be different as each business will have its own financial goals and unique needs. Deciding which small business credit card will best serve your bottom line will depend on several factors:
- Annual fee. Generally speaking, a business credit card with a higher annual fee will come with more benefits such as statement credits and travel protections. However, there are some solid no-annual-fee business cards that may align perfectly with your business spending needs.
- Rewards. Choose a card with rewards that match your business spending. 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 introductory 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.
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.
- Personal guarantee usually required.
- Shorter introductory APR periods.
- Fewer protections than consumer cards.
How to make the most of your business credit card
Business credit cards can be powerful tools for your business, so make sure you’re getting the most out of your cards with these tips:
- Factor in the annual fee. The benefits of most business credit cards can outweigh the cost of the yearly fee, but your mileage may vary. Calculate whether your business spending will net you enough rewards and additional perks to offset the cost of holding the card.
- Plan spending to earn your welcome bonus. Generally, the better the bonus, the higher the spending requirement. If your card comes with a lucrative welcome offer, ensure you know how much you need to spend (and by when) to receive it.
- Collect on credits. From complimentary memberships to annual travel credits and application fee reimbursements, remember to use statement credits to realize the total value of your card.
- Understand your card’s benefits. Many business credit cards come with useful benefits, like cellphone protection, purchase protection and extended warranty.
- Elevate your travel status. If travel is a regular part of your business, take advantage of your card’s available travel perks like interruption/cancellation insurance and airport lounge access, not to mention a leg up to elite status with your preferred airlines and hotels.
- Manage your balance judiciously. Interest charges will quickly overtake any rewards you’re earning. If you need to carry a balance during slower months, consider a card with an intro APR on purchases or utilize pay-over-time features for specific expenses. Some issuers will periodically present low APR offers to existing cardholders, too.
- Create a credit card policy and set limits on employee cards. Keep a record for yourself and your employees on when to use business credit cards and what cards to use for different types of spending. This helps align your team on best practices for company card use and ensures you get the best rewards rates in various categories.
Find the right business credit card for your needs
By type:
- Best cash-back business credit cards
- Best business credit cards with no annual fee
- Best business credit cards for travel
- Best business credit cards for balance transfers
- 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
- Best Citibank business credit cards
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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 issuers offer unique credit 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 a business 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 drop by a few points temporarily.
Most business card issuers will report account and payment activity to commercial credit bureaus, which can help build your business credit score. However, many small business cards do not report your regular payment activities to the three main consumer credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — and only report negative behavior such as delinquencies, which can also affect your personal credit score.
We think the best credit card for most businesses is the Ink Business Preferred card. However, another credit card may better suit your particular business needs. The best small business card for you will align with your business spending patterns and provide any benefits and rewards that can help you save money.
A few business credit cards 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 Card * The information for the Brex 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). This card requires your company must have at least $50,000 in the bank, or receive venture funding or 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 often 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.
Most issuers stipulate that you cannot use a business credit card for personal expenses, so using a business card without any business-related expenditure typically violates your credit card agreement.
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 you to graduate to an unsecured card once your credit score improves.
*The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card, Brex Card, Capital One Spark 2X Miles, Capital One Venture X Business Card, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and 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.
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.
