BEST OF

Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards of March 2023

There is no cost to carry these small-business credit cards.

Mar 23, 2023

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 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.

NerdWallet's Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards of March 2023

Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards From Our Partners

Our pick for

Welcome bonus + cash back rewards (1.5%)

Apply now

on Chase's website

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer

$750

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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%)

Apply now

on Chase's website

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1%-5%

Cashback

Intro offer

$750

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

3.9

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1.5x

Points

Intro offer

30,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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%)

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

3.6

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1%-3%

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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%)

Apply now

on American Express' website

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on American Express' website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer

$250

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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)

Apply now

on American Express' website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

4.9

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on American Express' website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1x-2x

Points

Intro offer

15,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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

Apply now

on US Bank's website

U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®

4.7

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on US Bank's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1%-3%

Cashback

Intro offer

$500

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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%)

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus

4.6

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Capital One's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1.5%-5%

Cashback

Intro offer

$500

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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

Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Capital on Tap Card

3.8

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1.5%

Intro offer

$200

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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

Apply now

on Ramp's website

Ramp Card

4.1

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Ramp's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer

N/A

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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.

Apply now

on Brex's website

Brex Card

3.2

NerdWallet rating 
Apply now

on Brex's website

Annual fee

$0

Rewards rate

1x-7x

Points

Intro offer

10,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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

Read full review
  • 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%)

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.

Our pick for: Welcome bonus + cash back bonus categories ( up to 5%)

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. Learn more and apply.

Our pick for: Business travel card

This is the business version of the issuer's excellent no-annual-fee travel card. 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.

Our pick for: Flexible cash back bonus categories (up to 3%)

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 stations, office supplies, travel, computer services and more. There are also bonus rewards on dining and no annual fee. Learn more and apply.

Our pick for: Intro APR period + flat-rate cash back rewards (2%)

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 $0 annual fee. Learn more and apply.

Our pick for: Flexible rewards redemption (cash back or travel)

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.

Our pick for: 0% intro APR on purchases + balance transfers

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, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Plus, the card offers a competitive welcome bonus and 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 Billing Cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-27.49% Variable APR — all with a $0 annual fee. Learn more and apply.

Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back rewards (1.5%)

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. Businesses that expect to spend $50,000 or more in their first six months should look to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, which offers a higher bonus and rewards rate (for a higher annual fee). Learn more and apply.

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

The Ramp Card is easier to obtain than other corporate cards, which often require annual revenue in the millions. Ramp is available to incorporated businesses that have strong revenue and at least $75,000 in a business bank account. There's no personal guarantee or credit check. Plus, Ramp offers unlimited cash-back rewards and card-level spending controls with no annual fee. Learn more and apply.

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.

🤓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 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