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The spending required to keep your small business or side hustle humming can also give you a boost toward your next trip — if you put those expenses on a credit card that offers travel rewards. Although entrepreneurs can use consumer travel cards for business expenses, a small-business credit card may be more lucrative.
When choosing a business travel card, consider how you spend money and what kind of rewards would work best for you. Travel credit cards give you points or miles for your purchases. So-called flat-rate cards give you a fixed number of points or miles for every dollar you spend. Bonus rewards cards give you extra points in specific categories. If a card carries the name of a specific airline or hotel chain — known as a co-branded card — the rewards are typically redeemable only through that brand. By contrast, general-purpose travel cards give you flexible rewards you can redeem for a variety of travel expenses.
Some of our selections for the best travel credit cards for business can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks and information about alternatives for business owners with bad credit.
The spending required to keep your small business or side hustle humming can also give you a boost toward your next trip — if you put those expenses on a credit card that offers travel rewards. Although entrepreneurs can use consumer travel cards for business expenses, a small-business credit card may be more lucrative.
When choosing a business travel card, consider how you spend money and what kind of rewards would work best for you. Travel credit cards give you points or miles for your purchases. So-called flat-rate cards give you a fixed number of points or miles for every dollar you spend. Bonus rewards cards give you extra points in specific categories. If a card carries the name of a specific airline or hotel chain — known as a co-branded card — the rewards are typically redeemable only through that brand. By contrast, general-purpose travel cards give you flexible rewards you can redeem for a variety of travel expenses.
Some of our selections for the best travel credit cards for business can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks and information about alternatives for business owners with bad credit.
Best Travel Credit Cards for Business From Our Partners
| Credit Card | NerdWallet Rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Sign-up bonus | $95 | N/A | 15.99%-20.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Chase's website |
 Capital One Spark Miles for Business Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Flat-rate travel rewards | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | N/A | 20.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital One's website |
 Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | Best for No annual fee | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 9 billing cycles | 12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
 The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Apply now on American Express's website | Best for Premium travel rewards and perks | $595 (10/14-1/12/22) | See Pay Over Time APR | 14.24% - 22.24% Variable APR | Apply now on American Express's website |
 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Apply now on American Express's website | Best for Airline credit card | $550 | N/A | 15.74% - 24.74% Variable APR | Apply now on American Express's website |
 Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card Apply now on American Express's website | Best for Hotel credit card | $125 | N/A | 15.74% - 24.74% Variable APR | Apply now on American Express's website |
Our pick for
Sign-up bonus
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
15.99%-20.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
New cardholder bonus offer
Bonus categories
Transfer partners
Cons
Has annual fee
No intro APR offer
Pros
New cardholder bonus offer
Bonus categories
Transfer partners
Cons
Has annual fee
No intro APR 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®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Our pick for
Flat-rate travel rewards
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
High rewards rate
No minimum redemption amount
Cons
High annual fee
No Intro APR period
High APR
Pros
High rewards rate
No minimum redemption amount
Cons
High annual fee
No Intro APR period
High APR
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
Fly through security with one statement credit for either the $85 TSA Pre✓® application fee or the $100 Global Entry application fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
Our pick for
No annual fee
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 9 billing cycles
Regular APR
12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
No annual fee
New cardholder bonus offer
Intro APR period
No reward caps
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Best rewards limited to certain customers
Pros
No annual fee
New cardholder bonus offer
Intro APR period
No reward caps
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Best rewards limited to certain customers
Earn 30,000 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-related 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.
Earn 3 points per every dollar spent on travel purchases (car, hotel, airline) booked through the Bank of America® Travel Center
No annual fee and no international transaction fees
0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 12.24% to 22.24% will apply.
Redeem points for a statement credit to offset travel and dining-related purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America Travel Center, cash back or gift cards
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 and up to 5.25 points per $1 spent at the Bank of America Travel Center.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap
Our pick for
Premium travel rewards and perks
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual fee
$595 (10/14-1/12/22)
Intro APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Regular APR
14.24% - 22.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
Lounge membership
Transfer partners
Bonus categories
Automatic elite status
Premium travel protections
Cons
Has annual fee
Complicated rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
Pros
Lounge membership
Transfer partners
Bonus categories
Automatic elite status
Premium travel protections
Cons
Has annual fee
Complicated rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Plus, 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. After that, your APR will be 14.24% to 22.24% based on your credit worthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. Cap applies.
Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your Card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies, up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
$179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting with The American Express Global Lounge Collection®. More lounge options than any other credit card on the market as of 8/2020.
$595 Annual Fee ($695 if application is received on or after 01/13/2022).
Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Airline credit card
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual fee
$550
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
15.74% - 24.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
High rewards rate
Luxury perks
Lounge membership
Companion benefit
Cons
Has annual fee
Requires good/excellent credit
Pros
High rewards rate
Luxury perks
Lounge membership
Companion benefit
Cons
Has annual fee
Requires good/excellent credit
Limited Time Offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles, 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and a $200 statement credit after spending $5,000 on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer Ends 11/10/21.
With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 4x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex: you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
Terms and limitations apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Hotel credit card
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual fee
$125
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
15.74% - 24.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
Anniversary perk
High rewards rate
Automatic elite status
Cons
Has annual fee
Rewards have limited flexibility
Lower acceptance abroad
Pros
Anniversary perk
High rewards rate
Automatic elite status
Cons
Has annual fee
Rewards have limited flexibility
Lower acceptance abroad
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points & 2 bonus Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months. Each bonus Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50K points. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/3/2021.
6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program.
4x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status with your Card. Plus, earn Gold Elite status after making $35,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Terms apply.
- View Rates & Fees
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS FOR BUSINESS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Sign-up bonus
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 per account year in combined spending on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines. All other spending earns 1 point per dollar. Points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when redeemed for travel booked through Chase. The sign-up bonus is one of the best available anywhere: 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®. Read our review.
Our pick for: Flat-rate travel rewards
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is the business counterpart to Capital One's super-popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Like that card, it earns 2 miles per dollar spent, and you can redeem miles for credit on your statement against any travel purchase at 1 cent per mile. It starts you off with an excellent bonus offer, too: Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Read our review.
Our pick for: No annual fee
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card delivers solid value for travel-oriented entrepreneurs who don't want to pay an annual fee. You earn 1.5 points per dollar spent anywhere, as well as 3 points per dollar on eligible travel booked through the issuer's Travel Center. Points can be redeemed for any travel expense. The bonus offer for new cardholders is excellent, considering the $0 annual fee: Earn 30,000 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-related purchases. Read our review.
Our pick for: Premium travel rewards and perks
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express isn't cheap — that $595 (10/14-1/12/22) annual fee isn't a misprint (see rates and fees). But it's not designed for the budget-oriented traveler. It's a card for entrepreneurs who want luxury and are willing to pay for it. You'll earn 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. There's a handsome welcome offer, too. But the true value of this card lies in its extensive list of perks: airport lounge access, elite status at hotels, hundreds of dollars' worth of travel credits and much more. Terms apply. Read our review.
Our pick for: Intro APR offer
The Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business is the $0-annual-fee version of Capital One's business travel card. It comes with a lower rewards rate: 1.5 miles per dollar spent, with miles redeemable for any travel purchase. The bonus offer is smaller, too: Earn a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles - equal to $200 in travel - once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. However, you do get an introductory 0% APR period, which is somewhat unusual for a travel card. Read our review.
Our pick for: Airline credit card
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card comes with two benefits that more than make up for its admittedly hefty annual fee. First, it gets you into Delta Sky Clubs, the airline's airport lounges, as well as American Express Centurion Lounges or Escape Lounges when flying Delta. Second, each time you renew, you get a companion certificate, which allows you to bring someone with you for just the cost of taxes and fees when you buy a round-trip domestic ticket for yourself. The certificate is good in any fare class, including first. The card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar elsewhere. Terms apply (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Our pick for: Hotel credit card
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card gives you a free night every year that could easily cover the cost of the annual fee. You'll earn a lot of points — including bonus rewards in useful categories — and Marriott's wide footprint gives you plenty of places to use them. Cardholders can earn 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program; 4x points at U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping. All other purchases earn 2x points. Terms apply — see rates and fees. Read our review.
Don't fly Delta? Try these options
United℠ Business Card: This card helps you rack up extra miles in a lot of ways. You earn 2 miles per dollar spent with United; on dining; at gas stations and office supply stores; and on local transit and commuting. Other spending earns 1 mile per dollar. You also get a great bonus offer, a checked bag benefit, airport lounge passes and other perks. Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $99. NerdWallet rating: 4.1 (out of 5). See our review for more.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Southwest's most expensive card comes loaded with perks that go a long way toward making up for the cost, including credit for upgraded boardings and great sign-up and anniversary bonuses. Rewards include 4 points per dollar spent with Southwest; 3 points per dollar spent with hotel and car partners; 2 points per dollar on social media and search engine advertising and internet, cable and phone services; 2 points per dollar on rideshare; and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. Annual fee: $199. NerdWallet rating: 4.9 (out of 5). See our review for more.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent with American Airlines and at gas stations, rental car agencies, telecommunications merchants and cable and satellite providers. Other spending earns 1 mile per dollar. Cardholders can earn a good bonus and enjoy a checked-bag benefit, priority boarding and other perks. Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $99. NerdWallet rating: 4.1 (out of 5). See our review for more.
Not a Marriott customer? Try this option
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Hilton points aren't worth as much on a per-point basis as some other hotel rewards, but this card makes up for it by giving you a lot of them. You earn 12 points per dollar spent with Hilton, 6 points per dollar on select business and travel purchases, and 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases. There's a good welcome offer, you can unlock a free night benefit with your spending, and you'll get 10 free airport lounge visits each year once you enroll in a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Terms apply (see rates and fees). Annual fee: $95. NerdWallet rating: 4.9 (out of 5). See our review for more.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see this page.
Information related to the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
Last updated on October 21, 2021
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses.
