Business Credit Cards with Rewards

The best business credit cards for travel often have large initial bonuses and high rewards earning rates on travel purchases. Most also charge no foreign transaction fees, and some may even have no annual fee, too.

A lot depends on your unique preferences and needs. Perhaps you’re a big spender who wants the most benefits possible. Or, maybe you want to maximize your perks with a certain travel provider. Whatever type of business travel rewards card you’re after, you should be able to find a great deal. You can find some popular options below.

Best business credit cards for travel:

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
• Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
• Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card

Above all else, make sure you choose a business travel credit card that allows you to earn more benefits than you have to pay in fees. There’s no point in getting a card with a big bonus and a high annual fee if you won’t spend enough to earn the bonus.

There is no Chase Sapphire business credit card, but there are three Chase business credit cards that don’t bear the Sapphire name: Ink Business Preferred, Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash. The Chase Ink business credit cards are similar to Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve in that they offer big sign-up bonuses. For example, the Chase Ink Business Preferred card gives 80,000 points (worth up to $1,000 in travel) for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. But unlike the Sapphire cards, Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited both give 0% APRs on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months.

There are also two co-branded Chase business credit cards. The first is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card, which offers 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 6,000 points each account anniversary. The second is the Marriott Premier Plus Business credit card, which gives 75,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. And you get a free night’s stay every account anniversary.

It’s also good to note that you can still use the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards for business purchases. It’s legal to use a personal credit card for business purposes. Just don’t also put personal expenses on the card, as that will make keeping your finances in order much more difficult.

Best alternatives to a Chase Sapphire business credit card:

• Ink Business Preferred: 80,000 points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business purchases annually. 1 per $1 on all other purchases. $95 annual fee. Good credit needed.
• Ink Business Cash: $500 cash back when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. 5% back on the first $25,000 per year spent at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services. 2% back on the first $25,000 per year spent at gas stations and restaurants and unlimited 1% back on everything else. $0 annual fee. Good credit needed.
• Ink Business Unlimited: $500 cash back when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. 1.5% cash back on all purchases. $0 annual fee. Good credit needed.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business: 60,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. 6,000 points each account anniversary. 2 points per $1 on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. 1 per $1 on all other purchases. $99 annual fee. Excellent credit needed.
• Marriott Premier Plus Business: 75,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. 6,000 points each account anniversary. 6 points per $1 on Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Starwood Preferred Guest purchases. 4 points per $1 on restaurant, gas station, shipping, internet, cable, and phone service purchases. 1 per $1 on all other purchases. Free night’s stay every account anniversary. $99 annual fee. Good credit needed.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred (personal card): 50,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. 2 points per $1 on travel and dining and 1 on all other purchases. Points worth 1.25 cents each toward travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. 1:1 point transfer to 13 airline and hotel loyalty programs. $0 annual fee the first year, $95 after.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve (personal card): 50,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. 3 points per $1 on travel and dining and 1 on all other purchases. Points worth 1.5 cents each toward travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. 1:1 point transfer to 13 airline and hotel loyalty programs. $300 annual travel credit. Complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge membership. $450 annual fee.

While there are no Chase Sapphire business cards, there are plenty of good Chase business options to choose from, along with the Sapphire personal cards. One thing to watch out for on the Ink Business cards is that only Ink Business Preferred has no foreign transaction fee. The other two Ink cards charge 3%.

The best Shell business credit card is the Shell Fleet Plus card because it has a $0 annual fee and works at 14,000 U.S. Shell and Jiffy Lube locations. Cardholders also get a rebate of up to 6 cents per gallon, depending on how much they spend each billing period.

If you want to use your card at the most places possible, the best Shell business card is the Shell Fleet Navigator card. Not only is it accepted at Shell and Jiffy Lube, but the fact that it’s a Mastercard means 95% of U.S. fueling stations will take it. You can also get rebates of up to 5 cents per gallon. Shell says this card may have “limited fees” but does not disclose them.

There’s also the plain old Shell Small Business card, with no annual fee, monthly fee or setup fee. You can only use it at Shell and Jiffy Lube. And the only rewards it provides are discounts at participating Jiffy Lube locations. But it does offer the ability to carry a balance between months, something that the other two cards do not.

Here are the Shell business credit cards:

• Shell Fleet Plus card: No annual fees, monthly fees or setup fees. Works at 14,000 U.S. Shell and Jiffy Lube locations. Rebate of up to 6 cents per gallon of gas purchased each billing cycle, depending on the amount spent. Discounts at participating Jiffy Lube locations. Must pay in full each billing cycle. Requires good credit (score of 700+).
• Shell Fleet Navigator card: Limited fees (not disclosed). Works at 95% of U.S. filling stations, wherever Mastercard is accepted, including 14,000 Shell and Jiffy Lube locations. Rebate of up to 5 cents per gallon of gas purchased each billing cycle, depending on the amount spent. Discounts at participating Jiffy Lube locations. Must pay in full each billing cycle. Requires fair credit (score of 640+).
• Shell Fleet Plus card: No annual fees, monthly fees or setup fees. Works at 14,000 U.S. Shell and Jiffy Lube locations. Discounts at participating Jiffy Lube locations. Can carry a balance between billing cycles. Requires good credit (score of 700+).

All three Shell business credit cards provide a few other types of benefits, too. For example, you can control how much your employees are able to spend on the account, and employee cards don’t cost extra. You’ll also get detailed reports on your gas-related spending, including your mileage, fuel prices, non-fuel purchases at the stations and more.

The best cash back business credit card is the Capital One Spark Cash for Business Visa Card because it offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. Spark Cash for Business also has a $500 bonus for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months and a $1,500 bonus for spending $50,000 in the first 6 months. There is no annual fee the first year ($95 after that), and applicants need good personal credit or better for approval.

Some cash back business cards are best for certain spending categories. When it comes to phone service and office supplies, the SimplyCash Plus has the best deal. It offers 5% cash back on $50,000 spent per year in those categories, plus 3% back in a category of the cardholder’s choosing and 1% back on all other purchases. There’s also an intro APR of SimplyCash Plus on purchases, and the annual fee is $0. SimplyCash Plus requires good credit.

There are several other cards that deserve a spot on the list of best cash back business credit cards, too.

Here are the best cash back business credit cards:

• Capital One Spark Cash for Business – Best overall
  
• Chase Ink Business Cash – Best initial bonus
• SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express – Best bonus categories
• Chase Ink Business Unlimited – Best for new businesses
• Capital One Spark Classic for Business – Best for limited credit
• Plum Card from American Express – Best charge card

The Capital One Spark Classic card is great for business owners with limited or no credit, offering good approval odds along with 1% cash back on all purchases and a $0 annual fee.

The Plum Card from American Express is the best cash back business charge card because it gives a 1.5% discount on all purchases that get paid off early. And while each purchase has to be paid in full, Amex allows two billing cycles (60 days) to do it. You just need to make a minimum payment on time the first month. The Plum Card also offers $600 in statement credits for spending $30,000 in the first 3 months ($200 credit for each $10,000 spent). And its $0 1st yr, $250 after annual fee is waived the first year.

It’s also worth mentioning that you shouldn’t forget about cash back credit cards meant for personal use. There are some really great deals right now, especially if you don’t plan to spend enough to qualify for a business card’s initial bonus.

The best fuel card for small business is the U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard because it offers 3% cash back on fuel purchases at any station. That 3% rate applies up to $200 spent on each fill-up, with amounts above that yielding 1% back. The U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards card has a $0 annual fee.

Some people might think that the best fuel cards for small businesses are those partnered with a certain gas station, like the Shell Business card. But those cards restrict fuel purchases that earn rewards to specific stations too.

Many general business credit cards offer rewards at least as good, while letting you make purchases anywhere. For example, the American Express SimplyCash Plus Business card gives 3% cash back in the spending category of your choice, including fuel purchases.

Here are the best fuel cards for small businesses:

• Best overall: U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards World Elite. Unlimited 3% cash back on single gas purchases of $200 or less (1% on purchases in excess of $200); cell phones and accessories; and office supplies. $0 annual fee. Excellent credit required.
• Best fuel store card: Shell Small Business Card. Pay at the pump at more than 14,000 stations. No personal guarantee needed for businesses open for at least 3 years and with more than $1 million in annual sales. $0 annual fee. Good credit required.
• Best for office supply rewards: SimplyCash Plus Business Card from American Express. 3% cash back on the spending category of your choice, including fuel purchases. 5% back on up to $50k in telephone and office supply purchases per year. $0 annual fee. Good credit required.
• Best for wholesale shopping: Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card. 4% cash back on fuel purchases, up to $7,000 annually; 1% after. 3% on restaurants and travel and 2% at Costco. $0 annual fee. Excellent credit required.
• Best for introductory 0% APR: Chase Ink Business Cash. 2% cash back on first $25k per year on fuel and restaurant purchases. 5% on first $25k spent on office supplies and phone/internet/cable. $0 annual fee. Good credit required.
• Best cash back: Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard. $200 cash back for spending $500 in the first 60 days. 3% cash back on fuel and office supply purchases, up to $250,000 spent annually. 2% back at restaurants. $0 annual fee. Excellent credit required.

The best fuel cards for small business are more flexible that you might realize. In addition to the cash back and rewards that come with fuel and business-related purchases, all the cards give at least 1% cash back or 1 bonus point/mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. You’ll be able to use your fuel card in a pinch for emergencies or other unexpected expenses and earn additional cash back or rewards in the process.

The Wells Fargo business card rewards program gives the choice of 1.5% cash back on all purchases or 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases (worth a little over 1 cent each). This choice applies to all three Wells Fargo business rewards cards: Business Platinum, Business Secured and Business Elite. Both the primary cardholder and authorized employees are eligible to earn rewards. Rewards are automatically credited to your account every quarter. If you choose the cash back option, you can redeem it as statement credit or bank deposit. If you choose points, they’re redeemable for travel, gift cards, merchandise, charitable donations and more. You get the highest value on points redeemed for travel and the least on merchandise. You must enroll in these rewards programs to take advantage of them, but doing so is free.

There is one Merrill business card, the Merrill Rewards for Business Visa Signature Card. A co-branded business card issued by Bank of America, it offers 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases. Points are worth 1.5 cents each. When you’ve earned a minimum of 3,000 points, you’ll be eligible to receive rewards in the form of a check or a direct deposit into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill Edge account. The card has no annual fee.

The Merrill Rewards for Business Visa Signature card stacks up favorably against other BofA business cards in some categories. However, it lags far behind on others. It requires excellent credit in order to be approved, the same as all other Bank of America business credit cards. But there’s no initial bonus or low introductory APR, and it offers far less in rewards.

One good alternative is the Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards card, which offers 3 points per $1 spent on travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center and1.5 on all other purchases. There’s also a bonus of 30,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 60 days. Similarly, the Business Advantage Cash Rewards card gives 1-3% cash back on select purchases and has a $300 bonus for spending $500 in the first 60 days.

The best BB&T business rewards card is the BB&T Spectrum Travel Rewards card because it offers 20,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days. The Spectrum Travel Rewards card also gives 2 miles per $1 spent on air travel, hotels and car rentals. The card has a $45 annual fee, waived the first year.

The Spectrum Travel Rewards card is one of four BB&T business credit cards. Which is best for you will come down to whether you want cash back, travel rewards or a side of 0% financing. But you should have little difficulty finding one that fits.

Here are the best BB&T business rewards credit cards:

• Best for travel rewards: BB&T Spectrum Travel Rewards card. $0 annual fee for the first year, $45 after. 20,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days. 2 miles per $1 on air travel, hotels and car rentals and 1 on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fee. Good credit required.
• Best for cash back: BB&T Spectrum Cash Rewards card. $0 annual fee. 3% cash back on gas, 2% at restaurants and office supply stores and 1% on all other purchases. 0% APR for 9 months on purchases. 3% foreign transaction fee. Good credit required.
• Best for excellent credit: BB&T Visa Signature Business card. $0 annual fee. 6,500 bonus points for making a purchase in the first 90 days. 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases. 0% APR for 6 months on purchases and balance transfers (4% transfer fee). 3% foreign transaction fee.
• Best for new business financing: BB&T Bright for Business card. $0 annual fee. 0% APR for 12 months on purchases. 3% foreign transaction fee. Good credit required.

The best BB&T business rewards cards each offer something unique. But there are alternatives for business owners looking for longer 0% introductory APRs and more lucrative rewards.

The SimplyCash Plus Business card from Amex offers a 0% APR on purchases for 15 months. It also offers 5% cash back on office supply stores and wireless phone services, and 3% on purchases in one of eight spending categories, including advertising, dining and gas. The Capital One Spark Cash for Business card offers 2% cash back on all purchases and a $500 bonus for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months.

There is no Chase Sapphire Reserve business credit card. But small business owners can use the standard Sapphire Reserve card for business spending .Just try to avoid putting business and personal expenses on the same credit card, or else your finances might get too confusing. Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best credit cards on the market. Many of its features, such as 3 points per $1 spent on travel and dining and a $300 annual travel credit, are ideal for business. But all of Sapphire Reserve’s perks come with a hefty $550 annual fee.

Even if you were to use Sapphire Reserve strictly for business spending, you’d still likely get better value from a regular business credit card. Chase offers a host of business credit cards with rewards and benefits that are similar to, and in some cases better than, what Sapphire Reserve brings to the party.

The Ink Business Preferred card offers a more valuable initial bonus: (100,000 points vs. Reserve’s 50,000 points). Ink Business Cash gives 5% back on office supplies. Ink Business Unlimited and Business Cash have an introductory 0% APR on purchases and no annual fee. The Business Preferred card comes with a $95 annual fee.

There are also viable options outside of Chase. The Capital One Spark Miles for Business card and the Amex Business Gold card are both good choices. Spark Miles offers 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases and an initial bonus of 50,000 miles. The Amex Business Gold card gives up to 4 points per $1 spent up to $150,000 in select categories every year. There’s also an initial bonus of 35,000 points for spending $5,000 in the first three months of card membership. Business Gold is a charge card, which means you’ll have to pay off the entire balance each month.

While there is no Chase Sapphire Reserve business credit card, if you decide you would like to use the personal Sapphire Reserve card for business purchases, you will need excellent credit for approval. Most Chase business credit cards require good personal credit history. That’s also the case with many business cards from other issuers. Keep in mind that business cards hold you personally liable for any unpaid balances. So, just like with a personal card, don’t spend outside the business’s means.

The best 2% cash back business credit card is Capital One Spark Cash for Business because it offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases and waives its $95 annual fee for the first year. It also offers a $500 cash bonus for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months and another $1,500 bonus for spending $50,000 in the first 6 months.

There aren’t any more business cards that offer 2% cash back on every purchase. But there are a few that offer 2% or more cash back on select purchases. For example, the Ink Business Cash credit card offers 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on combined gas station and restaurant purchases each year. It also gives 5% back on the first $25,000 spent on combined office supply, internet, cable and phone service purchases per year. And there’s unlimited 1% back on everything else.

Some cards offer 2% back in miles too. But you should choose a card based on more than whether it gives 2% back in rewards. Don’t forget about fees, rates, business benefits, etc.