Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
A no-annual-fee business credit card is easy to stash in your wallet. These business credit cards are free to hold on to, and the best options put extra cash in your pocket with rewards and perks like an intro APR period.
Most business cards with no fee are cash-back cards. You can earn anywhere from 1% to 5% back on your business spending, with the bulk of that going right back into your business (provided you don’t carry a balance). A few select business travel cards also have no annual fee, though these tend to offer fewer perks than business travel cards with fees.
Here are our picks for best business credit cards with no annual fee, which include cash-back cards from Chase, AmEx and U.S. Bank, as well as a business travel card from Bank of America.
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 others 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.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
A no-annual-fee business credit card is easy to stash in your wallet. These business credit cards are free to hold on to, and the best options put extra cash in your pocket with rewards and perks like an intro APR period.
Most business cards with no fee are cash-back cards. You can earn anywhere from 1% to 5% back on your business spending, with the bulk of that going right back into your business (provided you don’t carry a balance). A few select business travel cards also have no annual fee, though these tend to offer fewer perks than business travel cards with fees.
Here are our picks for best business credit cards with no annual fee, which include cash-back cards from Chase, AmEx and U.S. Bank, as well as a business travel card from Bank of America.
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 others 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.
Here are the best no annual fee business credit cards
| Best for | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Welcome bonus + cash-back rewards (1.5%) Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Welcome bonus + cash-back bonus categories (up to 5%) Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.8/5 | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $350 | Apply now on Chase's website |
No-fee business travel card Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.6/5 | $0 | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
Flexible cash-back bonus categories (up to 3%) Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.9/5 | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $300 | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
Intro APR period + flat-rate cash-back rewards (2%) The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.7/5 | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | $250 | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel) The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.4/5 | $0 | 1x-2x Points | 15,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
0% intro APR on purchases U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Flat-rate cash-back rewards (1.5%) Capital One Spark Cash Select Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Business owners with fair/average credit Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.8/5 | $0 | 1.5% | N/A | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Corporate credit card Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 3.2/5 | $0 | 1x-7x Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
| Best for | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Welcome bonus + cash-back rewards (1.5%) Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Welcome bonus + cash-back bonus categories (up to 5%) Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.8/5 | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $350 | Apply now on Chase's website |
No-fee business travel card Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.6/5 | $0 | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
Flexible cash-back bonus categories (up to 3%) Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.9/5 | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $300 | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
Intro APR period + flat-rate cash-back rewards (2%) The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.7/5 | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | $250 | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel) The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.4/5 | $0 | 1x-2x Points | 15,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
0% intro APR on purchases U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Flat-rate cash-back rewards (1.5%) Capital One Spark Cash Select Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Business owners with fair/average credit Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.8/5 | $0 | 1.5% | N/A | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Corporate credit card Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 3.2/5 | $0 | 1x-7x Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
I'M INTERESTED IN:
Our pick for
Welcome bonus + cash-back rewards (1.5%)
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
This
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
is a simple, solid cash back card with a big-time bonus offer for new cardholders. - Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Welcome bonus + cash-back bonus categories (up to 5%)
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$350
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$350
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
The
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
offers the same big sign-up bonus as the Ink Business Unlimited but offers a higher cash back rate on certain bonus categories.- Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after 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
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
No-fee business travel card
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Read Review
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x Points
Intro offer
30,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x Points
Intro offer
30,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
Flexible rewards make the
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
a great choice for business travelers who don't confine themselves to any single airline or hotel chain.- Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent, or join Preferred Rewards for Business for no fee, and earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points for every $1 spent on all purchases if you have a Bank of America® business checking account and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier.
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
- Choose how to redeem points for a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America® Travel Center, for cash back or gift cards.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 17.74% to 27.74% will apply.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Flexible cash-back bonus categories (up to 3%)
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Read Review
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Rotating bonus categories
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Complicated rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Best rewards limited to certain customers
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Rotating bonus categories
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Complicated rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Best rewards limited to certain customers
The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
lets you pick where you earn the biggest rewards: gas stations (default category); office supply stores; travel; TV, telecom and wireless; computer services; and business consulting services.- Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas stations & EV charging stations (default), office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services or business consulting services, 2% cash back on dining purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- You'll earn 3% cash back on purchases in the category of your choice and 2% cash back on dining purchases on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter.
- You can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier. That means you could earn up to 5.25% cash back in your selected choice category and up to 3.5% cash back on dining purchases on the first $50,000 in those combined purchases each calendar year, and up to an unlimited 1.75% cash back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee
- Choose how to redeem your cash rewards-as a deposit into your Bank of America® checking or savings account, as a card statement credit or as a check mailed to you. Cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- To change your choice category for future purchases, you must go to the Mobile Banking app or Business Advantage 360, our small business online banking. You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 17.74% to 27.74% will apply.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Intro APR period + flat-rate cash-back rewards (2%)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2% Cashback
Intro offer
$250
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
offers one of the better 0% intro periods among business cards, plus a strong rewards rate and welcome bonus.- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% – 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x Points
Intro offer
15,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
This card has the same bonus, intro APR offer and rewards rate as
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, but The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
earns AmEx Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed for travel or as a statement credit.- 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.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% - 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
0% intro APR on purchases
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Pros
- Bonus cash back categories
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period on purchases
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
There's a lot to like about the
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
, especially its long intro APR period that applies to purchases. - Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Flat-rate cash-back rewards (1.5%)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select
offers a generous, attainable sign-up bonus, no annual fee and flat-rate cash-back rewards.- Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account
- Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Business owners with fair/average credit
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Capital on Tap's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
is one of the few quality cards available to business owners with fair or "average" personal credit (a FICO score between 630-689). The card earns 1.5%
cash back on all purchases, has no annual fee and offers the potential for a low APR. - 1.5% rewards on all spend, no caps or restrictions
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign exchange fees
- APRs range from 17.99% to 43.99% variable
- Unlimited cards for your employees
- Capital on Tap Business Credit Cards are issued by WebBank
Our pick for
Corporate credit card
Brex Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Brex's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Qualify with limited/bad credit
- Bonus categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- No personal guarantee
Cons
- Complicated rewards structure
- High capital requirement for approval
- Daily repayment may be required
- Not available to sole proprietors
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Qualify with limited/bad credit
- Bonus categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- No personal guarantee
Cons
- Complicated rewards structure
- High capital requirement for approval
- Daily repayment may be required
- Not available to sole proprietors
The
Brex Card
has no personal guarantee and you can apply with an EIN only, provided you meet revenue requirements. If approved, you can earn a welcome bonus and up to 7x rewards (terms apply). - Get 10,000 points when you spend $3,000 on a Brex Card within your first 3 months.
- No personal guarantee needed – Brex does not ask for a personal credit check or security deposit during the application.
- Credit limits 10-20x higher than traditional small business corporate cards.
- Minimum bank balance of $50,000 from professional investors may be required to qualify for Brex.
- Exclusive signup offers from the best products and tools for your business (e.g. AWS, Google Ads, WeWork, Salesforce) worth up to $150,000 in value.
- Earn points on every dollar spent with industry-leading multipliers: 7x on rideshare, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x on restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x on all other transactions.
- Earn 3x Brex Rewards points on all eligible Apple purchases through the link or your Brex dashboard.
- Miles transfer program to 7 airlines (including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air France, and more) and their loyalty programs, giving Brex customers access to book travel across all of the major global airline alliances - Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam.
- 30-day charge card running on the Mastercard network. Enjoy global acceptance with no foreign transaction fees.
- Build business credit: Brex partners with Dun & Bradstreet and Experian to report your on-time payments.
- Make employee expenses seamless - automated receipt-capture and expense matching and reconciliation via text, email, and mobile app. Instantly add new users and set spending limits.
- Contactless pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- Simplify reconciliation with built-in integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and more.
Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best for: Welcome bonus + cash-back rewards (1.5%)
NerdWallet star rating: 5
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
earns a simple, flat cash-back rate on every purchase, with no limit on how much you can earn. The sign-up bonus is outstanding for a cash-back card, particularly one with no annual fee, and there's an intro APR period for purchases. Learn more and apply.Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best for: Welcome bonus + cash-back rewards (up to 5%)
NerdWallet star rating:
4.8
If your business's spending matches the bonus categories on the
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
, including 5% cash back on spending at office supply stores, you can rack up some serious cash back. (If not, then look elsewhere.) There's an excellent sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee cash-back card, plus an introductory APR period for purchases. Learn more and apply.U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Best for: 0% intro APR on purchases
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
is a solid cash-back card for business owners. Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs). Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
Plus, the card offers a competitive welcome bonus and 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 billing cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 18.24%-27.24% Variable APR
— all with a $0
annual fee. Learn more and apply.Capital One Spark Cash Select
Best for: Flat-rate cash-back rewards (1.5%)
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select
offers a generous, attainable sign-up bonus, no annual fee and flat-rate cash-back rewards. (See rates and fees.) Businesses that expect to spend $30,000 or more in their first three months should look to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus
, which offers a higher bonus and rewards rate (for a higher annual fee). (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Best for: Intro APR period + flat-rate cash-back rewards (2%)
NerdWallet star rating:
4.7
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
boasts one of the better introductory APR offers among business credit cards. Beyond that, you earn a solid cash-back rate (at least for a while — the rate drops after you hit a spending threshold). There's also a $0
annual fee. Terms apply. Learn more and apply.The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for: Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel)
NerdWallet star rating:
4.4
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
is a near-twin to The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, with one key difference: Rather than cash back, it pays you in AmEx Membership Rewards points. Learn more and apply.Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Best for: Flexible cash-back bonus categories (up to 3%)
NerdWallet star rating:
3.9
The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
gives entrepreneurs a little control over their credit card rewards by letting them choose which category earns the highest cash-back rate. Options include gas (EV charging stations qualify as well), office supplies, travel, computer services and more. There are also bonus rewards on dining and no annual fee. Learn more and apply.Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Best for: Business owners with fair/average credit
NerdWallet star rating:
3.8
The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
issues by WebBank offers 1.5
% cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. And it's available to business owners with fair credit: Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
says applicants with a FICO score of 670 or higher have the best chance of approval. One important note: This card is not available to sole proprietors, which excludes the majority of businesses. Learn more and apply.Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Best for: No-fee business travel card
NerdWallet star rating:
3.6
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.Brex Card
Best for: Corporate credit card for venture-backed startups
NerdWallet star rating:
3.2
The
Brex Card
doesn't require a personal credit check and business owners can apply with an EIN only. There's also no personal guarantee. Instead, Brex determines creditworthiness by evaluating a company's cash balance, spending patterns and investors. The Brex card also offers a decent welcome bonus, earns ongoing rewards and offers direct integration with popular accounting and bookkeeping software. Learn more and apply. 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.A no-fee business card typically refers to a business credit card with no annual fee. However, these cards still have other costs, including interest on purchases (avoidable if you pay your balance in full) and incidental fees, such as foreign transaction fees, balance transfer fees or late payment fees.
The annual fee is only one factor to consider when comparing business credit cards. And in some cases, you can earn more rewards if you opt for a card with a higher annual fee.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
The annual fee on your business credit card can be a tax-deductible expense if you use the card exclusively for business purposes.If you want a cash-back business credit card, for example, choosing an option with no annual fee often makes the most sense. You can earn top-rate rewards and a solid welcome bonus without shelling out for an annual charge.
Eyeing a travel card? Most of the best business travel cards have an annual fee of $95 or higher. But you can easily recoup that cost with the rewards you earn.
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
, for example, has an annual fee of $95
. The card also has a massive welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Beyond that bonus, you earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel, shipping, advertising (social media and search engines), and internet, cable and phone service. Spend just $5,000 per year in those categories and you’ll net 15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth $187.50 in travel booked through Chase.
While there are a few business travel cards that don’t charge an annual fee —
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
, for example — you typically earn fewer points and a smaller signup bonus.Last updated on
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small businesses 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 how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Cash back business cards typically don’t have an annual fee. The same is true for many corporate cards and secured business credit cards.
Hotel and airline credit cards, on the other hand, almost always have an annual fee. As do many business travel cards. But these cards often offer lucrative rewards, like free hotel stays and airline credits, which helps offset the cost of the annual fee.