Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards of March 2023
There is no cost to carry these small-business credit cards.
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A no-annual-fee business credit card is easy to stash in your wallet. These business credit cards cost nothing to hold on to (provided you don’t carry a balance), and many reward your business spending with cash back or even travel rewards.
All of our picks for the best no-annual-fee business cards are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates dozens of business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. Here are our picks for best business credit cards with no annual fee.
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 complete list of our picks.
A no-annual-fee business credit card is easy to stash in your wallet. These business credit cards cost nothing to hold on to (provided you don’t carry a balance), and many reward your business spending with cash back or even travel rewards.
All of our picks for the best no-annual-fee business cards are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates dozens of business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. Here are our picks for best business credit cards with no annual fee.
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 complete list of our picks.
Best No Annual Fee 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 | Best for Welcome bonus + cash back rewards (1.5%) | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Welcome bonus + cash back bonus categories (up to 5%) | $0 | 1%- Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | Best for Business travel card | $0 | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | Best for Flexible cash back bonus categories (up to 3%) | $0 | 1%- Cashback | $300 | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website | Best for Intro APR period + flat-rate cash back rewards (2%) | $0 | 1%- Cashback | $250 | Apply now on American Express' website |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website | Best for Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel) | $0 | 1x- Points | 15,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website |
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on US Bank's website | Best for 0% intro APR on purchases + balance transfers | $0 | 1%- Cashback | $500 | Apply now on US Bank's website |
Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Flat-rate cash back rewards (1.5%) | $0 | 1.5%- Cashback | $500 | Apply now on Capital One's website |
Capital on Tap Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | Best for Business owners with fair/average credit | $0 | 1.5% | $200 | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Ramp Card Apply now on Ramp's website | Best for Corporate credit card | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | N/A | Apply now on Ramp's website |
Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | Best for Corporate credit card | $0 | 1x- Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
Our pick for
Welcome bonus + cash back rewards (1.5%)
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$0
1.5%
Cashback
$750
This Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a simple, solid cash back card with a big-time bonus offer for new cardholders.
This Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a simple, solid cash back card with a big-time bonus offer for new cardholders.
Pros
No annual fee
Intro APR period
No reward caps
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
No bonus categories
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%)
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$0
1%-5%
Cashback
$750
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.
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.
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 $750 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
Business travel card
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
$0
1.5x
Points
30,000
Points
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.
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.
Pros
No annual fee
New cardholder bonus offer
No reward caps
No foreign transaction fees
Intro APR period
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in net 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 on all purchases everywhere, every time-no matter how much you spend. Points don't expire.
No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire.
You can earn up to 75% more points 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 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
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 16.74% to 26.74% 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%)
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
$0
1%-3%
Cashback
$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.
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
Intro APR period
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 (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 16.74% to 26.74% 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%)
on American Express' website
on American Express' website
$0
1%-2%
Cashback
$250
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card shines with one of the better 0% intro periods among business cards, plus a strong rewards rate and welcome bonus offer.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card shines with one of the better 0% intro periods among business cards, plus a strong rewards rate and welcome bonus offer.
Pros
No annual fee
High rewards rate
Intro APR period
Cash rewards
Cons
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
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 us and other factors.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99% - 25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel)
on American Express' website
on American Express' website
$0
1x-2x
Points
15,000
Points
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.
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.
Pros
No annual fee
High rewards rate
Intro APR period
Transfer partners
Cons
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Requires good/excellent 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.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® 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.
You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
*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.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99% - 25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
0% intro APR on purchases + balance transfers
on US Bank's website
on US Bank's website
$0
1%-3%
Cashback
$500
There's a lot to like about the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®, including its extra-long intro APR period that applies to purchases and balance transfers.
There's a lot to like about the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®, including its extra-long intro APR period that applies to purchases and balance transfers.
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
Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
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 18.49% - 27.49%.
No annual fee.
Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
Terms and conditions apply
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Flat-rate cash back rewards (1.5%)
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$0
1.5%-5%
Cashback
$500
The Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus offers a generous, attainable sign-up bonus, no annual fee and flat-rate cash-back rewards.
The Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus offers a generous, attainable sign-up bonus, no annual fee and flat-rate cash-back rewards.
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 if your card is lost or stolen
Our pick for
Business owners with fair/average credit
on Capital on Tap's website
on Capital on Tap's website
$0
1.5%
$200
The Capital on Tap 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.
The Capital on Tap 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.
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 9.99% to 34.99%
Unlimited cards for your employees
Capital on Tap Business Credit Cards are issued by WebBank
Our pick for
Corporate credit card
on Ramp's website
on Ramp's website
$0
1.5%
Cashback
N/A
No credit check or personal guarantee, plus unlimited cash back and several business-friendly tools, make Ramp a solid option for business owners eyeing a corporate credit card.
No credit check or personal guarantee, plus unlimited cash back and several business-friendly tools, make Ramp a solid option for business owners eyeing a corporate credit card.
Pros
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Simple, straightforward rewards
No personal guarantee or credit check
Direct integrations with popular tools and card-level spending controls and alerts
Cons
Balance must be paid in full each month
Not available to sole proprietors or unincorporated businesses
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, no minimum spend required.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
No personal credit check or personal guarantee required.
Issue unlimited virtual cards and physical cards for each employee.
Prevent out-of-policy spending with built-in controls, including spend restrictions by category or merchant.
Ramp is a corporate charge card powered by Visa. Businesses are required to pay the monthly balance in full by each statement period.
Must have at least $75,000 in cash in any U.S. business bank account to qualify.
Must have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (although Ramp does support international transactions and will waive all related transaction fees).
Ramp is only available to corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships. Individuals, sole proprietorships and unregistered businesses are not eligible.
on Brex's website
on Brex's website
$0
1x-7x
Points
10,000
Points
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).
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).
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
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.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST NO ANNUAL FEE BUSINESS CARDS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Welcome bonus + cash back rewards (1.5%)
Our pick for: Welcome bonus + cash back bonus categories ( up to 5%)
Our pick for: Business travel card
Our pick for: Flexible cash back bonus categories (up to 3%)
Our pick for: Intro APR period + flat-rate cash back rewards (2%)
Our pick for: Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel)
Our pick for: 0% intro APR on purchases + balance transfers
Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back rewards (1.5%)
Our pick for: Business owners with fair/average credit
The Capital on Tap Card 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 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.
Our pick for: Corporate credit card
Our pick for: Corporate credit card
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 intregration 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.
What is a no-fee business credit card?
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.
Should you get a business credit card with no annual fee?
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.
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 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
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 March 23, 2023
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.
