A business travel credit card can earn you points or miles for your everyday expenses. That means the required spending on your small business or side hustle can give you a boost toward your next trip. Many of the best business credit cards for travel offer added perks, too, like lounge access, free hotel stays or checked bags, and statement credits for Global Entry or Clear fees.
When choosing a business travel card, consider what kind of rewards would work best for you. So-called flat-rate cards give you a fixed number of points or miles for every dollar you spend, while bonus rewards cards give you extra points in specific categories.
General-purpose travel cards give you flexible rewards you can redeem for a variety of travel expenses. By contrast, business credit cards that carry the name of a specific airline or hotel chain, like United or Hilton, offer the best rewards value if redeemed through that brand.
All of our picks for the best business cards are chosen by our editorial team, who follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the business card for your company. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. View our full methodology.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
A business travel credit card can earn you points or miles for your everyday expenses. That means the required spending on your small business or side hustle can give you a boost toward your next trip. Many of the best business credit cards for travel offer added perks, too, like lounge access, free hotel stays or checked bags, and statement credits for Global Entry or Clear fees.
When choosing a business travel card, consider what kind of rewards would work best for you. So-called flat-rate cards give you a fixed number of points or miles for every dollar you spend, while bonus rewards cards give you extra points in specific categories.
General-purpose travel cards give you flexible rewards you can redeem for a variety of travel expenses. By contrast, business credit cards that carry the name of a specific airline or hotel chain, like United or Hilton, offer the best rewards value if redeemed through that brand.
All of our picks for the best business cards are chosen by our editorial team, who follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the business card for your company. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. View our full methodology.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
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Here are the best business travel credit cards
Here are the best business travel credit cards
Sort By
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 Earning unlimited travel points
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
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 rewards bonus categories + 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
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Best for Business travel card with no annual fee
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x
Points
Intro offer
30,000
Points
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR offer
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
- Does not include lounge access or travel credits
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Best for Business travel card with no annual fee
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x
Points
Intro offer
30,000
Points
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR offer
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
- Does not include lounge access or travel credits
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Luxury travel perks + airport lounge access
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 Luxury travel perks + airport lounge access
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
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Best for Airline miles + companion certificate
Annual fee
$650
Rewards rate
1x-3x
Miles
Intro offer
80,000
Miles
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Generous free checked bag benefit
- SkyClub and Centurion Lounge membership (terms apply)
- Companion pass benefit
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited reward redemption options
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Best for Airline miles + companion certificate
Annual fee
$650
Rewards rate
1x-3x
Miles
Intro offer
80,000
Miles
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Generous free checked bag benefit
- SkyClub and Centurion Lounge membership (terms apply)
- Companion pass benefit
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited reward redemption options
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $150
Rewards rate
1x-2x
Miles
Intro offer
75,000 Miles + 2,000 PQP
Miles
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Free checked bag
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Annual bonus award and travel credit (terms apply)
Cons
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Does not include automatic elite status
- No statement credit for trusted traveler programs
The New United℠ Business Card
Best for Airline miles
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $150
Rewards rate
1x-2x
Miles
Intro offer
75,000 Miles + 2,000 PQP
Miles
Apply now
on Chase's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Free checked bag
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Annual bonus award and travel credit (terms apply)
Cons
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Does not include automatic elite status
- No statement credit for trusted traveler programs
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 Free hotel stays
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
Annual fee
$195
Rewards rate
3x-12x
Points
Intro offer
130,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Annual Hilton travel credit
Cons
- High annual fee
- No free anniversary night
- Rewards have limited flexibility
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Best for Hotel rewards + welcome offer
Annual fee
$195
Rewards rate
3x-12x
Points
Intro offer
130,000
Points
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Annual Hilton travel credit
Cons
- High annual fee
- No free anniversary night
- Rewards have limited flexibility
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for Earning points + intro APR period
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 Earning points + intro APR period
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
⏱️ Offer ending soon
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 Cash back on everything, especially travel
Annual fee
$395
Rewards rate
2x-10x
Miles
Intro offer
Up to 350,000 Miles
⏱️ Offer ending soon
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 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
60,000
Points
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High bonus rewards rate
- Annual fee waived for the first year
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
Cons
- No intro APR offer
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Best for 4X points on all travel
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
60,000
Points
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High bonus rewards rate
- Annual fee waived for the first year
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
Cons
- No intro APR offer
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
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 Earning points on gas, transit
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
Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Capital One Venture X Business
Best for: Cash back on everything, especially travel
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The
Capital One Venture X Business
offers some of the highest travel rewards rates around and a solid cash-back rate on everything else: Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site, where you'll get the best prices on thousands of options. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions.
This is a charge card, so it doesn't come with a preset spending limit — but you'll have to pay it off in full every month. If you can swing that (plus the $395
annual fee), it could be a valuable addition to your wallet. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Best for: 4X points on all travel
NerdWallet star rating:
4.5
The
U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
delivers impressive rewards on travel, no matter where you book it. You'll earn 4x points on your first $150,000 in combined annual travel spend each year — plus, 5x points on hotels and rental cars booked directly with U.S. Bank's Rewards Portal. There's also a solid welcome offer and no annual fee for the first year ($95
after that). Learn more and apply.American Express® Business Gold Card
Best for: Earning points on gas, transit
NerdWallet star rating:
4.3
The rewards on the
American Express® Business Gold Card
adjust according to your spending. You automatically earn bonus rewards in the top two eligible categories where you spend the most each month. That can translate into outstanding rewards, as long as your business spends money in those categories. If it doesn't, the steep annual fee probably isn't worth it. The card has six bonus categories: advertising, gas stations, restaurants, software, transit and wireless telephone service. Only purchases made in the U.S. qualify for bonus categories. Learn more and apply.The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for: Luxury travel perks + airport lounge access
NerdWallet star rating:
4.5
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
comes with a big annual fee. But business travelers who prefer to go in style will find plenty that appeals to them: high rewards on certain travel purchases, bonus rewards on larger nontravel purchases, a superb newcomer welcome offer, extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, hundreds of dollars a year in available credits and a list of perks as long as your arm. It's not cheap, but luxury never is. Terms apply. Learn more and apply. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Best for: Airline miles + companion certificate
NerdWallet star rating:
5
If your business has you on the road a lot, you'll appreciate the airport lounge access on the
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
. The annual companion certificate — which is good even in first class — and the checked-bag benefit add considerable value, too. Terms apply. Learn more and apply. The New United℠ Business Card
Best for: Airline miles
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The New United℠ Business Card
is a stand-out option for frequent business flyers, particularly those loyal to United. Cardholders earn rewards on everyday spending, like dining, gas stations and transit. A generous sign-up bonus sweetens the pot. Learn more and apply. Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Best for: Free hotel stays
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
can pay for itself just with the automatic Free Night Award every year. Add in the included elite status, generous rewards, a dandy welcome offer and more, and it's hard to go wrong. Terms apply. Learn more and apply. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best for: Travel rewards bonus categories + welcome offer
NerdWallet star rating:
4.8
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Best for: Hotel rewards + welcome offer
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
is an outstanding small-business hotel credit card — if you frequent Hilton properties. The card features rich ongoing rewards, automatic elite status with Hilton and an annual statement credit for purchases at Hilton properties. But there's no free night award (a standard perk of hotel cards with annual fees) and AmEx scrapped the card's complimentary Priority Pass perk. Terms apply. Learn more and apply.Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best for: Earning unlimited travel points
NerdWallet star rating:
4.7
The
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus, too. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for: Earning points + intro APR period
NerdWallet star rating:
4.4
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
is one of the only points cards that also has an intro APR period, giving business owners more wiggle room with cash flow. This card earns 1x-2x
Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent. Those points have a base value of 1 cent per point when redeemed for travel but can be worth even more if redeemed through one of AmEx's transfer partners. Learn more and apply.Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®
Best for: No annual fee business travel card
NerdWallet star rating:
4.2
The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
pays solid rewards on every purchase and gives you wide flexibility in redeeming your points for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Learn more and apply.Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Best for: Travel rewards with no annual fee
NerdWallet star rating:
3.7
The
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
is the $0
-annual-fee version* of the Capital One Spark Miles for Business
. It comes with a lower rewards rate: 1.5 miles per dollar spent, with miles redeemable for any travel purchase. The bonus offer is smaller, too: Earn a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles - equal to $200 in travel - once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
.1. Decide between general or co-branded
Want flexible rewards that are easy to redeem? General business travel cards, like the
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
and the Capital One Spark Miles for Business
, offer travel points that you can cash in for flights, rental cars and hotel stays. You can also transfer points to select airline and hotel loyalty programs.Loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain? Consider a co-branded airline or hotel business card. You’ll earn the most rewards — and get the most juice for points — with that specific brand, whether it be Hilton, United or Southwest.
2. Factor in added perks
Business travel cards deliver more than just miles or points. Some of the top options also include perks that can make your business travel more comfortable.
If you're in an airport more than an office, for example, a business travel card with free checked bags or statement credits for travel costs and/or trusted traveler programs (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, Nexxus and Clear) can save you time and money. A business credit card with airport lounge access can make the time spent waiting for flights more comfortable, too.
Automatic elite status — a perk of most hotel cards — can be a draw for frequent hotel guests, particularly when that status means complimentary room upgrades and late checkout.
3. Weigh the annual fee
The annual fee for a business travel card can range from $95 to $695 per year, and, generally speaking, the higher the fee the richer the rewards.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, for example, includes statement credits for airline incidental fees and Dell purchases. Plus lounge access and statement credits for TSA Precheck or Global Entry. These benefits can offset the card’s $695
annual fee — but only if you actually use them.Can’t stomach an annual fee? The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
is one of the few business credit cards for travel with no annual fee. And most cash-back business cards have no annual fee.🤓 Nerdy Tip
The annual fee on your business credit card can be tax deductible if you use the card exclusively for business purposes.The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
is the best business card for points and airline miles. You earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on all travel — flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. — as well as other common business expenses. And those points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase Rewards Portal. Plus, there’s the welcome offer:
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Business travelers loyal to a specific airline can quickly rack up airline miles and status with a co-branded airline business card, like the
The New United℠ Business Card
or the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
. These cards offer perks beyond airline miles, including things like free checked bags, in-flight discounts, companion certificates and statement credits, depending on the card.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 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
, see this page.To view rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
, see this page. Information related to the
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card. *Information related to the Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
Last updated on
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business business credit cards.
