Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences 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 cash-back business credit card gives you an effective discount of 1% to 5% on business expenses, helping your company’s money go further. You can typically redeem your rewards as a statement credit, a deposit into a connected business checking account or a physical check, depending on the card.
Small-business owners can choose from two types of cash-back cards: flat-rate cards and cards with bonus categories. A business credit card with bonus categories, like office supplies, gas or telecommunications, is great for businesses that reliably spend a lot in those areas. A flat-rate cash-back card is better for businesses with varied spending — or those that don’t want to track multiple cards.
But combining cash-back business cards can maximize rewards. If your books show consistent spending in a common bonus category like advertising, consider using a dedicated cash-back card for those purchases and a flat-rate option for everything else. There will be more cards to manage, but also more cash back.
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.
Some of our selections for the best cash-back business credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for cards available from our partners, followed by the full list of our picks.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences 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 cash-back business credit card gives you an effective discount of 1% to 5% on business expenses, helping your company’s money go further. You can typically redeem your rewards as a statement credit, a deposit into a connected business checking account or a physical check, depending on the card.
Small-business owners can choose from two types of cash-back cards: flat-rate cards and cards with bonus categories. A business credit card with bonus categories, like office supplies, gas or telecommunications, is great for businesses that reliably spend a lot in those areas. A flat-rate cash-back card is better for businesses with varied spending — or those that don’t want to track multiple cards.
But combining cash-back business cards can maximize rewards. If your books show consistent spending in a common bonus category like advertising, consider using a dedicated cash-back card for those purchases and a flat-rate option for everything else. There will be more cards to manage, but also more cash back.
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.
Some of our selections for the best cash-back business credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for cards available from our partners, followed by the full list of our picks.
Here are the best cash-back business credit cards from our partners
| Credit card▼ | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Unlimited 1.5% cash back + intro APR period | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $900 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Up to 5% cash back in bonus categories | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $900 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.2/5 Best for 2% cash back on all purchases | $150 | 2%-5% Cashback | $1,200 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.6/5 Best for Unlimited 1.5% cash back | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.6/5 Best for Up to 3% cash back + customizable rewards | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $300 | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Up to 3% cash back + long intro APR | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.8/5 Best for Unlimited 1.5% cash back | $0 | 1.5% | $200 | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for 2% cash back on up to $50K in purchases per year | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | N/A | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 4.3/5 Best for Higher rewards rate for Bank of America customers | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $300 | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.9/5 Best for 2.5% cash back on large purchases | $195 | 2%-5% Cashback | $1,000 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.4/5 Best for 5% cash back on Amazon brands | $0 | 1%-2% | 125 | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Our pick for
Unlimited 1.5% cash back + intro APR period
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
is a triple-threat, with unlimited flat-rate rewards (1.5% cash back), a lengthy intro APR period and a doozy of a sign-up bonus: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
is a triple-threat, with unlimited flat-rate rewards (1.5% cash back), a lengthy intro APR period and a doozy of a sign-up bonus: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
- Earn $900 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
Up to 5% cash back in bonus categories
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services; 2% on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at gas stations and restaurants; and 1% elsewhere.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services; 2% on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at gas stations and restaurants; and 1% elsewhere.
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
- Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 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
- 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.
- 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
2% cash back on all purchases
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,200
Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with no bonus categories to track or spending caps to worry about. That's pretty much the best you can do on a flat-rate card with uncapped rewards. The complications? An annual fee of $
150
. Plus, It's a charge card, so you can't revolve a balance.Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,200
Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with no bonus categories to track or spending caps to worry about. That's pretty much the best you can do on a flat-rate card with uncapped rewards. The complications? An annual fee of $
150
. Plus, It's a charge card, so you can't revolve a balance.Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
- High spending requirement to hit full welcome bonus, annual bonus offers
- Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile
- Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
- $150 annual fee
- Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
View Rates & Fees
Our picks for
Unlimited 1.5% cash back
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, there's no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus.Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, there's no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus.Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- 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
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
$200
The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
has a lot going for it: 1.5%
cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. Have some big purchases coming up? Earn $200 cashback when you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
$200
The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
has a lot going for it: 1.5%
cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. Have some big purchases coming up? Earn $200 cashback when you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months.
Pros
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Apply without a hard credit check
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
- 1.5% rewards on all spend, no caps or restrictions
- Earn $200 cashback when you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months.
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign exchange fees
- Applying has no impact on credit score
- APRs range from 17.74% to 35.99% variable
- Unlimited cards for your employees
- Capital on Tap Business Credit Cards are issued by WebBank
Our pick for
Up to 3% cash back + customizable rewards
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
The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
lets you pick where you earn the richest rewards: gas stations (default category); office supply stores; travel; TV, telecom and wireless; computer services; and business consulting services.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
The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
lets you pick where you earn the richest rewards: gas stations (default category); office supply stores; travel; TV, telecom and wireless; computer services; and business consulting services.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
- 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% and 2% cash back 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 our highest Preferred Rewards for Business 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.
- 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 18.49% to 28.49% 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
Up to 3% cash back + long intro APR
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
The
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
pays 3% cash back on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores and cell service providers, and 1% back on everything else. Plus, there's a welcome bonus and a long intro APR period (15
months).Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
The
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
pays 3% cash back on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores and cell service providers, and 1% back on everything else. Plus, there's a welcome bonus and a long intro APR period (15
months).Pros
- Bonus cash back categories
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 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.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 19.24% - 28.24%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
2% cash back on up to $50K in purchases per year
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
The cap on bonus rewards reduces its appeal to high-spending entrepreneurs, but those with lesser expenses would be hard-pressed to find a richer flat rewards rate on a card with a
$0
annual fee.Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
The cap on bonus rewards reduces its appeal to high-spending entrepreneurs, but those with lesser expenses would be hard-pressed to find a richer flat rewards rate on a card with a
$0
annual fee.Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, 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.
- 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 us and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Higher rewards rate for Bank of America customers
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Read Review
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High cash back rate
Cons
- Has foreign transaction fee
- Requires excellent credit
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High cash back rate
Cons
- Has foreign transaction fee
- Requires excellent credit
- 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 unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- No annual cap and cash rewards don’t expire.
- No annual fee.
- 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 our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62% cash back on all purchases.
- 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.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.49% to 28.49% 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
2.5% cash back on large purchases
Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$195
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,000
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Purchases that don’t qualify for Flex for Business must be paid in full every month
Annual fee
$195
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,000
Pros
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Purchases that don’t qualify for Flex for Business must be paid in full every month
- Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases.
- Travel Benefits: Unlimited 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, No Foreign Transaction Fees and Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance.
- For businesses who prefer to pay their balance in full each month, Ink Business Premier gives access to increased spending power, rich rewards, and premium benefits.
- Pay off eligible purchases over time with interest up to assigned Flex for Business limit. All other purchases must be paid in full each month.
- Purchase with confidence with built-in protections like Fraud Protection, Zero Liability Protection, Purchase Protection, Cell Phone Protection, and Extended Warranty Protection.
- There's no additional cost for employee cards. Monitor spend with digital tools like purchase alerts, set spending limits, reporting, and more.
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
5% cash back on Amazon brands
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%
Intro offer
125
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Bonus categories
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%
Intro offer
125
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Bonus categories
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card.
- Take advantage of 5% Back or 90 Day Terms on U.S. purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. You will earn 5% Back on the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year, 1% Back thereafter
- 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- 1% Back on other purchases
- $0 Annual Fee
- Back your business with the broad selection of Amazon and the service of American Express. Stay focused on your top business priorities, knowing we’re behind you.
- With rewards that don’t expire, you choose when to redeem. Redeem rewards on millions of items during checkout at Amazon.com and Amazon Business (U.S.) or apply towards a purchase on your statement.
- Terms apply.
View Rates & Fees
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Our pick for: 2% cash back on up to $50K in purchases per year
NerdWallet star rating: 5.0
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
cash back offer has two parts: 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. Terms Apply.
(see rates and fees). The cap on bonus rewards reduces its appeal to high-spending entrepreneurs, but those with lesser expenses would be hard-pressed to find a richer flat rewards rate on a card with a $0
annual fee. Rewards are automatically credited to your statement each month. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Our pick for: Unlimited 1.5% cash back + intro APR period
NerdWallet rating: 5.0
As the name suggests, the
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
pays unlimited 1.5%
cash back on all purchases. It offers a doozy of a sign-up bonus for a card with a $0
annual fee: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Plus, you'll get 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR
.Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Our pick for: Up to 5% cash back in bonus categories
NerdWallet rating: 5.0
The
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
pays 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services; 2% on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at gas stations and restaurants; and 1% elsewhere. If those categories match your expenses, you can rack up serious rewards, although the spending caps put a bit of a damper on things. There's also a great bonus offer: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Our pick for: Up to 3% cash back + long intro APR
NerdWallet rating: 5.0
If your business or side hustle has you paying a lot for gas, office supplies or mobile phone service, check out the
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
. It pays 3% cash back on net purchases at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores and cell service providers, and 1% back on everything else. The card offers a competitive welcome bonus, plus: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%-28.24% Variable APR
.Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
Our pick for: 2.5% cash back on large purchases
NerdWallet rating: 4.9
The
Chase Ink Business Premier
card, Chase's newest business credit card, offers a solid standard cash-back rate of 2
% plus a significant sign-up bonus: Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The card's $195
is steeper than many, but it may be worth it for big-spending business owners. You'll get a cash-back boost (2.5%) on purchases of $5,000 or more.Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
Our pick for: Unlimited 1.5% cash back
NerdWallet rating: 4.6
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
is the $0
-annual-fee version of Capital One's business cash-back card. The rewards rate is lower at 1.5% on all purchases (although that matches the rate on competing no-fee cards), but the bonus offer is the same: Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
You can also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Our pick for: 5% cash back on Amazon brands
NerdWallet rating: 4.4
The
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
is available to Amazon Prime and Business Prime members. It lets you choose between 90 days of interest-free financing on Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases or an impressive 5% cash back on the first $120,000 spent within those categories (1% after that). All cardholders earn 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers. 1% Back on other purchases. Terms Apply.
Learn more and apply.Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Our pick for: Higher rewards rate for Bank of America customers
NerdWallet rating: 4.3
If your spending doesn't align with typical bonus categories, consider the
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
. This card offers 1.5%
cash back on all purchases with no annual cap. Rewards can climb even higher for Bank of America® customers who qualify for the Preferred Rewards for Business tier — up to 2.62% — which is tough to beat among flat-rate cash-back business credit cards. Learn more and apply.Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Our pick for: 2% cash back on all purchases
NerdWallet rating: 4.2
The
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
gives you unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, with no bonus categories to track or spending caps to worry about. That's pretty much the best you can do on a flat-rate card with uncapped rewards. The complications? It's a charge card, so you can't revolve a balance. Plus, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus
has an annual fee of $150
, although you can offset that somewhat with the stellar bonus offer for new cardholders: Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months.
Keep in mind that the annual fee could also be a deductible business expense.Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Our pick for: Unlimited 1.5% cash back
NerdWallet rating: 3.8
The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
offers 1.5%
cash back on all purchases, has no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. Plus, new customers can earn a welcome bonus: Earn $200 cashback when you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months.
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
is not currently available to sole proprietors, though, which excludes the vast majority of businesses.Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Our pick for: Up to 3% cash back + customizable rewards
NerdWallet rating: 3.6
The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
stands out because it lets you pick where you earn the richest rewards. You get 3% cash back in a category you choose from a list of six, and 2% back on dining, on up to $50,000 a year in combined spending in those areas. Other spending earns 1% back. The 3% categories, which you can change once a month, are: gas stations (default category); office supply stores; travel; TV, telecom and wireless; computer services; and business consulting services. If your spending doesn't fall nicely into those categories, consider the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
, which offers similar benefits but 1.5%
cash back on all purchases instead.» MORE: Best business gas credit cards
Cash-back business credit cards offer a certain percentage back on every dollar you spend — making everything your business buys effectively a little cheaper.
Cash-back rewards can take a few different forms. Here’s what to know when considering different options:
- Some offer flat-rate rewards. These cards pay a set percentage back on every purchase, no matter what it is. For instance, theInk Business Unlimited® Credit Cardpays1.5% cash back. If you spent $10,000 per month on that credit card, you’d get $150 back each month.
- Rewards can have caps. Some flat-rate cards offer unlimited cash back, but others only pay their highest rewards rate up to a certain amount of spending. For example, theThe American Express Blue Business Cash™ Cardcash back offers this: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. Terms Apply.So if you spend $100,000 on that card, you’ll earn $1,500 cash back in total — $1,000 on the first $50,000 and then $500 after that.
- Rewards can be category specific. With these cards, you’ll earn extra-high cash-back rates on certain types of purchases, like gas, office supplies or ad spend. These cards often pay a flat rate on everything else, too. Take theU.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®, which offers:Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
- Bonus categories can have caps, too. TheInk Business Cash® Credit Cardworks this way: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 card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. After you’ve spent $25,000, your rewards rate on those bonus categories drops to 1% — the rate you earn on all other spending.
Combining card types is one way to maximize the total cash back your business earns. For example, say you have the
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
(which offers bonus categories) and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
(a flat-rate card). If you max out the 5% categories on the former, you’d earn $1,250 — $875 more than you’d earn if you only used the latter.On the other hand, say you spent $100,000 in non-bonus categories. At 1.5% unlimited cash back, the
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
puts an extra $500 in your pocket when compared to the 1% of the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
. Tracking which card to use where can be more time-consuming, but also potentially more beneficial. When you get your business credit card statement, you’ll also get the rewards you earned during that statement period.
You typically have a few options for redeeming those cash back rewards:
- Getting a cash deposit in your bank account. This transfers whatever you’ve earned directly into a checking account.
- Getting statement credit. This option applies your rewards to your statement balance, reducing the amount you owe.
- Redeeming for other rewards through your credit card’s portal. You may have the option to use your cash back rewards to pay for travel or other special rewards, like gift cards, through your credit card issuer’s website. Sometimes rewards go further when you redeem them this way, though the rules vary by credit card issuer.
Are cash back rewards taxable?
In general, no, credit card rewards aren’t taxed. Instead of income, the IRS treats them like discounts — similar to a rebate when you buy a pair of glasses.
However, the rules may be different for your business. If you record the amount you spend on your credit card — the annual fee, for instance — as a business expense on your taxes, then credit card rewards reduce the amount of that expense. That could mean a smaller deduction at tax time.
To view rates and fees of
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, see this page.Last updated on September 28, 2023
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 how NerdWallet rates credit cards.