BEST OF
Best Credit Cards for Construction Businesses of August 2021
The best construction business credit cards offer a combo of flexibility and rewards. Who has time to navigate rotating bonus categories while managing multiple job sites? Straightforward rewards and flexible payment terms, like no interest for the first year, can help construction companies and contractors manage irregular cash flow.
Cash in on everyday purchases. Small-business credit cards rarely offer construction-specific perks, so look for a card that gives you cash back on a wide range of business expenses, including office supplies, wireless phone service and restaurants.
Some of our selections for the best construction business credit cards 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.
The best construction business credit cards offer a combo of flexibility and rewards. Who has time to navigate rotating bonus categories while managing multiple job sites? Straightforward rewards and flexible payment terms, like no interest for the first year, can help construction companies and contractors manage irregular cash flow.
Cash in on everyday purchases. Small-business credit cards rarely offer construction-specific perks, so look for a card that gives you cash back on a wide range of business expenses, including office supplies, wireless phone service and restaurants.
Some of our selections for the best construction business credit cards 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.
Best Credit Cards for Construction Businesses From Our Partners
Our pick for
Intro APR and 2% cash back
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1%-2%
Cashback
Intro offer
$250
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No annual fee
Cons
- Annual spending cap
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No annual fee
Cons
- Annual spending cap
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 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.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.24% - 19.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Our pick for
Up to 5% cash back plus signup bonus
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period on purchases
- High rewards rates in certain categories
- Sign-up bonus
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Spending caps in bonus categories
- Low rewards rate outside bonus categories
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period on purchases
- High rewards rates in certain categories
- Sign-up bonus
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Spending caps in bonus categories
- Low rewards rate outside bonus categories
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- 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
Our pick for
2% cash back and free employee cards
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards Rate
2%
Cashback
Intro offer
$500
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Has annual fee
- High APR
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Has annual fee
- High APR
- Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Purchase above your credit limit with no hassle and no over-limit fees
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
Our pick for
Flexible financing for construction projects
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $250
Rewards Rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$0
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Has annual fee
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Paying early pays off: get a 1.5% Early Pay Discount, with no cap on what you can earn back.
- Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest, when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.
- Use the power of the Plum Card to buy big for your business.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $250
- Terms & Restrictions Apply.
| Credit Card | NerdWallet Rating | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Intro offer | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express's website | Best for Intro APR and 2% cash back | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | $250 | Apply now on American Express's website |
 Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Up to 5% cash back plus signup bonus | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
 Capital One Spark Cash for Business Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for 2% cash back and free employee cards | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 2% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on Capital One's website |
 The Plum Card® from American Express Apply now on American Express's website | Best for Flexible financing for construction projects | $0 intro for the first year, then $250 | 1.5% Cashback | $0 | Apply now on American Express's website |
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Intro APR and 2% cash back
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 no annual fee. Read our review.
Our pick for: Up to 5% cash back plus signup bonus
If your business's spending matches the bonus categories on the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, 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. Read our review.
Our pick for: 2% cash back and free employee cards
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business is an excellent option for business operators whose expenses are all over the map and don't fall into the bonus categories on other business credit cards. You get a high, flat rewards rate on every purchase, with no limit to how much you can earn. There's a great sign-up bonus offer, too. Read our review.
Our pick for: Flexible financing for construction projects
Businesses with high working capital needs but sometimes inconsistent cash flow might find The Plum Card® from American Express a perfect fit. Pay early and get a discount, or enjoy up to 60 days without interest. Terms apply. There's a substantial annual fee, but if you're using the card for, say, big inventory purchases, the benefits could far outweigh the costs. Read our review.
Our pick for: 5% off at Lowe’s and 3X points on business expenses
The Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express is a great option for contractors who rely on the home improvement store for the bulk of their materials. The card offers an upfront discount on all eligible Lowe's purchases, as well as up to 3x rewards points on other business expenses, such as office supplies and cell phone service.
Alternative financing options for construction businesses
Flex your purchase power wisely. Don’t use a construction business credit card to finance large purchases, such as machinery, unless you’re in a position to pay the balance off quickly. The interest charges will hit your bottom line, and your credit score will be dinged for using up your available credit.
Instead, use your business credit card for everyday expenses and items you can pay off within the 0% APR period (if your card has one). And look to small-business loans to fund more substantial purchases.
Business line of credit: Lines of credit are similar to business credit cards — you can draw from either as needed, up to a set credit limit. Business lines of credit may offer more funding than even the highest-limit business credit cards — up to $250,000 or more — and often at lower interest rates. But you won’t earn perks like cash back or have your interest waived for any period of time. Business owners can tap into a line of credit to smooth out the dips and dives in their regular cash flow.
Equipment financing: You can use an equipment loan to purchase everything from office equipment to construction machinery to heavy-duty vehicles. Equipment loans typically carry an interest rate of 8% to 30%, making them a more affordable option for financing machinery purchases, especially if you have a FICO credit score of 630 or higher.
Home Depot project loan: Construction contractors can use this short-term loan to finance materials purchases for a given project, provided those items are purchased from Home Depot. You can borrow up to $55,000 and take up to six months to buy everything you need. Interest rates vary by loan size and term, ranging from 7.42% APR to 19.96% APR as of this writing.
All information about the Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express is no longer available through NerdWallet.
Last updated on July 29, 2021
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.
