250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
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Here are the best business credit cards
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2025 BEST CREDIT CARD SMALL BUSINESSAnnual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
2025 BEST CREDIT CARD
SMALL BUSINESSInk Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best for Overall business credit card
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$2,000
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No preset spending limit
- No foreign transaction fees
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- High spending requirement to hit bonuses
- Requires excellent credit
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Best for No preset spending limit
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$2,000
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No preset spending limit
- No foreign transaction fees
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- High spending requirement to hit bonuses
- Requires excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$350
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best for Up to 5% cash back in bonus categories
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$350
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for Business card for new businesses
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x
Points
Intro offer
15,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Low rate after you hit bonus cap
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for Business card for new businesses
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x
Points
Intro offer
15,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Low rate after you hit bonus cap
Annual fee
$395
Rewards rate
2x-10x
Miles
Intro offer
Up to 350,000 Miles
⏱️ Limited time offer
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Priority Pass lounge membership
- Annual travel credit, bonus points
- Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Balance must be paid in full every month
Capital One Venture X Business
Best for Business travel card
Annual fee
$395
Rewards rate
2x-10x
Miles
Intro offer
Up to 350,000 Miles
⏱️ Limited time offer
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Priority Pass lounge membership
- Annual travel credit, bonus points
- Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Balance must be paid in full every month
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$500
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- No Intro APR period
Capital One Spark Cash Select
Best for Unlimited 1.5% cash back
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$500
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- No Intro APR period
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%
Cashback
Intro offer
$250
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Low rate after you hit bonus cap
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Best for Businesses with annual spend below $50K
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%
Cashback
Intro offer
$250
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Low rate after you hit bonus cap
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- No Intro APR period
Capital One Spark Cash
Best for No foreign transaction fees
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- No Intro APR period
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x
Points
Intro offer
90,000
Points
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward redemption rate
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Does not include lounge access or travel credits
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best for Travel points + welcome offer
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x
Points
Intro offer
90,000
Points
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward redemption rate
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Does not include lounge access or travel credits
Annual fee
$375
Rewards rate
1x-4x
Points
Intro offer
100,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Transfer partners
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Intro APR period
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- High annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
American Express® Business Gold Card
Best for Bonus categories that sync with your spending
Annual fee
$375
Rewards rate
1x-4x
Points
Intro offer
100,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Transfer partners
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Intro APR period
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- High annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Best for Cash back boost (up to 75% more)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High rewards rate
- Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Best for Cash back boost (up to 75% more)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High rewards rate
- Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2x-5x
Miles
Intro offer
50,000
Miles
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®
- Annual fee waived for first year
Cons
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- Does not include lounge access or automatic elite status
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best for Travel rewards (flat-rate)
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2x-5x
Miles
Intro offer
50,000
Miles
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®
- Annual fee waived for first year
Cons
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- Does not include lounge access or automatic elite status
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Airport lounge access + travel credits
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
150,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Lounge membership
- Transfer partners
- Automatic elite status
- Annual statement credit for travel, business expenses
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Low ongoing rewards rate
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Airport lounge access + travel credits
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
150,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Lounge membership
- Transfer partners
- Automatic elite status
- Annual statement credit for travel, business expenses
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Low ongoing rewards rate
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Best for Intro APR period + no cap on bonus categories
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- No cap on bonus rewards
- Intro APR period on purchases
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Best for Intro APR period + no cap on bonus categories
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- No cap on bonus rewards
- Intro APR period on purchases
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Annual fee
$125
Rewards rate
2x-6x
Points
Intro offer
3 Free Night Awards
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Free night reward on cardholder anniversary
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Best for Hotel business card
Annual fee
$125
Rewards rate
2x-6x
Points
Intro offer
3 Free Night Awards
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Free night reward on cardholder anniversary
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Rewards have limited flexibility
ALSO CONSIDER: Best LLC business cards || Best 0% intro APR business cards || Best corporate cards
Other cards to consider
The following cards aren't currently available through NerdWallet, but we think they're still worth a look in certain instances.
This is the only business credit card from a major issuer to offer unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. But you can't apply online if you're not an existing Wells Fargo customer.
This is a great choice if you can't qualify for a standard business credit card. A secured card can let entrepreneurs with personal credit scores below 630 establish credit in their company's name.
Business credit card guide: Expert tips and advice
Your business's spending and goals should dictate your choice of business credit card. A simple cash-back option with no annual fee is a great choice for most companies (and a good default if you're facing decision fatigue). Other decision factors include:
The main requirement for most business credit cards is good-to-excellent personal credit (a FICO score of 690+). Look to secured business cards or options for fair credit, like the
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
, if your score is below that range.Business revenue and time in business may influence your initial credit limit, but otherwise don't play a large role in approval. That's great for new businesses and very small businesses, which can get approved for a business card with $0 in annual revenue as long as the owner has strong personal credit.
Corporate cards are the exception: Approval is largely based on revenue, time in business and cash-on-hand. Most corporate card issuers don't even check your personal credit. Eligibility is typically limited to registered businesses (LLCs, corporations, partnerships, etc.). Sole proprietors are not eligible for most corporate cards.
Business card rewards fall into two categories: cash back or points/miles. Some cards, like the
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
, offer the best of both worlds, as your cash back is earned as points that can be redeemed as a statement credit or via the card's travel portal (often at a higher rate).Some business cards offer elevated rewards in specific categories — advertising, gas, shipping, travel, internet/phone service, etc. — which can be lucrative if you spend a lot in those areas. Just take note of any spending caps on those bonus categories.
Perks like software discounts, airport lounge access, and other statement credits can add a lot of value to a business card. Take stock of how often you'll realistically use those perks when comparing options.
Business card sign-up bonuses can add a ton of value to cards — if you can meet the spend requirements, which range from $6,000 to $30,000 depending on the card. Make sure you can easily hit the bonus requirements of any card you choose.
Eyeing equipment upgrades or need to float startup costs? Opt for a business card with a 0% intro APR period to save on costly interest charges.
Business owners who travel abroad or purchase inventory from overseas vendors should pay close attention to a card's foreign transaction fees. At 2%-3% of your purchase, foreign transaction fees can quickly cancel out any rewards earned on your card. Annual fees, late payment fees and other miscellaneous charges should also be taken into consideration.
Outside the hard inquiry from your initial application, most business cards only impact your personal credit score if you stop paying your bills.
But there is one notable outlier: Capital One Spark cards.
Capital One reports all activity on Spark business cards, including the
Capital One Spark Cash Select
and Capital One Spark Miles for Business
, to personal and business credit bureaus. (The Capital One Spark Cash Plus
and Capital One Venture X Business
are exceptions.) That's important, as credit utilization — how much of your available credit you use — plays a major role in your personal credit score. High utilization on even one card can drive down your personal credit score (even if you pay your bill on time), making it harder to qualify for everything from a mortgage to a cell phone plan.
What is reported to consumer credit bureaus | |
|---|---|
American Express | Only negative information. |
Bank of America | Only if your account is not in good standing. |
Capital One | All activity is reported to consumer credit bureaus (exceptions noted above). |
Chase | Only if the account is seriously delinquent. |
U.S. Bank | Only if the account is seriously delinquent. |
Wells Fargo | Only negative information. |
Corporate cards like Brex and Ramp do not report to consumer credit bureaus. | |
Business credit cards are a good fit for most businesses. Your credit limit on a business credit card may be low to start out, especially for new businesses or those without much revenue, but issuers will typically raise your limit after a few on-time payments. While you can carry a balance from month-to-month on a business card, you'll pay costly interest charges on any unpaid balances.
Business charge cards have no preset spending limit and may offer better rewards, but they leave you little wiggle room as most purchases need to be paid in full each statement cycle. Consider a charge card if your business has a big budget and steady cash flow.
Corporate cards usually have higher credit limits than traditional business cards, and they don't require a personal guarantee or credit check. Instead, approval is based on revenue, bank account balance and other business financial data. Corporate cards are not available to sole proprietors and other non-registered businesses.
Most business credit cards offer additional employee cards (tied to the same account) at no additional cost. If you plan to issue employee cards, consider what spending control are at your disposal, such as custom spending limits or restricting purchases to certain vendors, when you compare cards. And research whether spending on employee cards earns rewards and/or counts toward the bonus requirement.
Types of business credit cards
A business credit card can be a great tool to build business credit while earning rewards on things like operating costs and inventory, but they come with some risks, too. Weigh the benefits of a business credit card against any potential drawbacks before applying.
Pros
Build your business credit history.
Earn rewards for business spending.
Keep business and personal expenses separate.
Ability to issue employee cards; manage spending with custom controls.
Cons
Most busines cards require a personal guarantee.
You need good/excellent personal credit to qualify.
Interest rates are high compared with business loans and lines of credit.
Business cards have fewer federal protections than consumer credit cards.
Applying for a business credit card is pretty straightforward. Business credit card requirements typically include:
- Business name. No formal business name? Just use your name.
- Business contact information. If you don't have a separate business address and phone number, don't sweat it. Your personal address and phone number are just fine.
- Employer identification number or Social Security number. You can get a business credit card without an SSN, but you'll need different identifying info instead.
- Industry. This can be a broad category like retail, medical or professional services, or something more specific. If you're stumped, think about the service you provide. Drive for Uber? That's transportation. DoorDash or Grubhub? That's delivery.
- Business type. Corporation, LLC, partnership or sole proprietorship. Businesses without a formal or legal business structure can choose “sole proprietor.”
- Time in business, revenue and expenses. If your business has no annual revenue, simply enter "$0."
- Personal guarantee. Virtually all small-business credit card applications require a personal guarantee. This means you’re personally responsible for the balance on your business card even if your company goes belly up. Want to avoid the personal guarantee? Look to a corporate card like Ramp or Brex.
4 tips to maximize business credit card rewards
Business credit cards are a revolving line of credit that typically offers rewards, like cash back or points on purchases. Business credit cards are available to anyone with business income — gig workers, side hustlers and freelancers included. Approval for these cards largely depends on an applicant's personal credit history.
Corporate cards, sometimes called company cards, are different. These cards aren't available to sole proprietors, and approval is based on business financials rather than personal credit history. You typically need revenue in the multi-millions to qualify, though some options from fintech companies like Ramp and Brex, have more lenient requirements.
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
is NerdWallet’s overall pick for the best business credit card, thanks to its straightforward rewards (1.5%
on all purchases), long intro APR period and generous welcome offer. That combination of simplicity and value makes the Ink Business Unlimited one of the best credit cards for new businesses and established companies alike.Business credit cards typically have higher credit limits and bigger sign-up bonuses than personal credit cards. Rewards structures on small-business cards are different, too, particularly the categories that earn bonus rewards. There are also some differences in consumer protections and credit reporting for business cards vs. personal cards.
You don't need a formalized business to get a business credit card. If you have a side hustle, freelance, do gig work or occasionally sell things on Facebook Marketplace, you can apply for a small-business card, too. But be aware: Using a business card for non-business purposes may go against your card's terms and conditions.
Everyone from a CEO to a gig worker can apply for a small-business credit card. You don't need to be incorporated or have a formal business structure, like an LLC or partnership. Freelancers, independent contractors and other sole proprietors (i.e., self-employed folks) can apply for a small-business credit card to help manage business-related expenses, earn rewards and grow their enterprise.
A business card is a great tool to separate your business and personal finances and establish your business credit history. When you use the card only for business spending, its interest and fees can be tax-deductible business expenses. And business credit cards offer rewards, perks and bonuses that rival (and in many cases surpass) those on consumer credit cards.
NerdWallet evaluates business credit cards on more than a dozen factors, including annual fee, welcome bonus, rewards rate, bonus categories and intro APR period. Business cards need to earn at least 4 stars or be the best in their category (corporate cards, for example) to make our list of best business credit cards.
Business cards that earn 5 stars are considered exceptional. These cards are best-in-class and deliver the most value for the greatest number of business owners.
Business cards that earn 4.0 to 4.9 stars are good to excellent. They deliver excellent value and might be the best choice for certain businesses, depending on your needs and spending habits.
Business cards that earn 3.0 to 3.9 stars are fine business cards. You'll get some value out of using them, to be sure, but there are other cards that offer better rewards.
Business cards that earn below 3 stars are considered subpar and would generally not be recommended by NerdWallet.
To view rates and fees of
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
, see this page.To view rates and fees of
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, see this page.To view rates and fees of the
American Express® Business Gold Card
, see this page.To view rates and fees of the
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
, see this page. View rates and fees of
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
.View rates and fees of
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
.View rates and fees of
Capital One Spark Cash Select
.The information related to the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
Information for the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business was not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.
Last updated on April 25, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet's business credit card team selects the best small-business credit cards without outside input from partners or other business interests. We evaluate business cards based on value and simplicity, weighing fees, sign-up bonuses and reward rates, alongside perks like interest-free periods, statement credits and elite status (for travel cards). Business cards that earn the highest scores deliver the most value to the greatest number of business owners.
Notable changes to our methodology for 2025 include factoring in whether spending on employee cards earns rewards and counts toward the welcome offer requirements. We also now consider what information the card issuer reports to consumer credit bureaus. Learn how NerdWallet rates small-business credit cards.
