BEST OF
Best Capital One Business Credit Cards of August 2021
Capital One business credit cards are known for their generous rewards and simplicity. The issuer’s five Spark-branded business cards all have flat-rate, no-limit reward programs, meaning you can spend without worrying about things like bonus categories or reward caps.
The best Capital One business credit card for you will depend on the type of benefits you want. Travel and cash-back small-business credit cards are available, and each has a no-annual-fee variation with lower rewards rates. If your personal credit is fair (a FICO score below 690), the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is a rare unsecured business credit card you might qualify for.
Some of our selections for the best Capital One business credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the business credit cards from Capital One that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Capital One business credit cards are known for their generous rewards and simplicity. The issuer’s five Spark-branded business cards all have flat-rate, no-limit reward programs, meaning you can spend without worrying about things like bonus categories or reward caps.
The best Capital One business credit card for you will depend on the type of benefits you want. Travel and cash-back small-business credit cards are available, and each has a no-annual-fee variation with lower rewards rates. If your personal credit is fair (a FICO score below 690), the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is a rare unsecured business credit card you might qualify for.
Some of our selections for the best Capital One business credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the business credit cards from Capital One that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Best Capital One Business Credit Cards From Our Partners
Our pick for
Cash-back rewards
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Regular APR
20.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
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
No annual fee
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
13.24% - 19.24% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- No intro APR period
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- No intro APR period
- 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
- 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 if your card is lost or stolen
- No foreign transaction fees
Our pick for
Travel rewards
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Regular APR
20.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
Has annual fee
High APR
No intro APR
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
Has annual fee
High APR
No intro APR
- Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Transfer your miles to 15+ leading travel loyalty programs like JetBlue™, Air Canada, and Emirates™
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- Fly through security with one statement credit for either the $85 TSA Pre✓® application fee or the $100 Global Entry application fee
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CAPITAL ONE BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Cash-back rewards
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: No annual fee
For flat-rate cash back without an annual fee, look to the Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus. The sign-up bonus is the same as the regular Spark Cash card, but the rewards rate is lower. Still, because there's no annual fee, smaller spenders might come out ahead compared with the regular version. Read our review.
Our pick for: Travel rewards
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is basically a business version of the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, and 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. Read our review.
Our pick for: Less-frequent travelers
The Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business offers a lower rewards rate and a smaller bonus offer than the regular Spark Miles card, but there's no annual fee, either. Smaller spenders might come out ahead compared with the regular version. Read our review.
Our pick for: Business owners with fair credit
The rewards rate on the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business isn't going to wow anyone, there's no sign-up bonus and the APR is high. What makes this card valuable is that it's available to business operators with fair or "average" credit, who don't have a lot of options in business credit cards — especially with no annual fee. Read our review.
Capital One business credit card benefits
In addition to generous rewards programs, all Capital One business credit cards include the following benefits:
Free employee cards with customizable spending limits.
No foreign transaction fees.
Fraud alerts and $0 fraud liability.
Purchase records and year-end summaries.
Travel and roadside assistance.
(Benefits may change over time.)
Alternatives to Capital One business credit cards
Capital One’s no-fuss approach can make its business credit cards a good fit for any entrepreneur. But if you don’t mind a higher-maintenance card — or one with a larger annual fee — the following alternatives could make sense.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best for: Bonus categories + intro APR offer
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business credit card offers a strong 2% cash back on all purchases, and the $0-annual-fee version (the Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus) matches the industry standard of 1.5%. But if common expenses like office supplies and telecommunication tools make up most of your spending, consider the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card instead. It comes with 1%-5% cash back, plus a perk Capital One business credit cards lack: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 13.24% - 19.24% Variable APR.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for: Premium travel rewards
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express isn’t cheap: Its $595 annual fee far exceeds that of the Capital One Spark Miles for Business card ($0 intro for the first year, then $95), and both offer 5x points on hotels booked through the issuers’ respective websites. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, however, extends that rewards rate to flights, while offering other travel-related perks — like access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Its welcome bonus can also double what Capital One offers if you spend enough. Terms apply.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
Last updated on July 16, 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.
Frequently asked questions
Capital One doesn't have a secured credit card for business. It offers a secured personal credit card, but NerdWallet recommends keeping business and personal spending separate. If your credit history is thin, consider the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. That card is available with fair credit, which may include business owners with a FICO score between 630 and 689.
Like most small-business credit cards, Capital One requires a personal guarantee: If your business is unable to repay for purchases, you’ll be personally liable for those charges.
Capital One doesn't publish the maximum limit on its business credit cards. But the issuer does share the minimum credit card limit approved entrepreneurs will receive:
Capital One Spark Cash for Business: $5,000.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business: $2,000.
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business: $2,000.
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business: $2,000.
Capital One Spark Classic for Business: $500.
Capital One Spark Cash for Business accounts opened as of October 2020 don't show up on your personal credit, provided the account is in good standing. If you received a Capital One Spark Cash for Business card before that date — or have a different Spark card — your business spending can affect your personal credit score.
