What is the Best Credit Card for Small Businesses?

Best for Everyday Business Expenses

Capital One Spark Miles for Business 

Pros: This credit card is a great all-around business card that rewards all general business spending. The card has an affordable annual fee ($95), which Capital One waives the first year. It also offers 2x points on every purchase, which means you don’t have to prioritize or choose any bonus categories. 

There is no additional charge for employee cards, which also earn 2x points on all spending. You can also earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles (about $500 in travel!) once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first three months. 

Cons: There are no significant downsides, but the perks are less impressive than some of its competitor cards (e.g. the sign-up bonus is smaller than most). The card also isn’t ideal for any small business owner looking to prioritize the travel benefits. 

Best for Travel Perks

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Pros: If your small business relies on travel, consider this card–it has the most travel benefits compared to almost any other business credit card. It includes a generous welcome offer, featuring 100,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Platinum Card within the first 3 months of membership. You earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com. 

There is also a 35% Airline Bonus: if you use your rewards using points to pay for all or part of a flight with your selected qualifying airline, you can get 35% of the points back, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year when you book on amextravel.com. 

The card comes with generous airport lounge and hotel elite access options, including American Express Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges, and hotel elite status (these last two require enrollment). 

Cons: Unfortunately there is a high annual fee ($595) and limited options to earn bonus points, and not all businesses will meet the high minimum amount to get the welcome bonus. 

Business platinum credit card for small businesses.

Best for Office or Wireless Supplies

Ink Business Cash Credit Card from Chase 

Pros: If your small business requires a substantial number of office supplies, consider the Ink Business Cash card. In addition to earning $750 in bonus cash back after spending $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months, you 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 year. You also earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. 

You can pair this card with a different card that earns rewards through Chase to redeem your cash back for travel. There is also no annual fee! Ink Business is the best credit card for a small business startup involving significant office or wireless inventory. 

Cons: This card is likely not the best option if you don’t spend substantial capital on the supplies within these given categories (the 5% cash back categories) since there are no other stand-out perks. 

Best for No Annual Fee

Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

Pros: This card has an introductory interest rate and expanded buying power, making it a great fit for small businesses, including sole proprietorships and start-ups with limited revenue. There is no annual fee, but the perks are still impressive. The welcome offer includes 15,000 points after $3,000 of spending in the first 3 months, and you can transfer the rewards points to 22 travel partners. 

Cons: The main drawback is that the 2x points are capped at $50,000 per calendar year, making this card ideal for businesses just starting.  

Best for Big Spenders

American Express Business Gold Card 

Pros: When your small business is ready to take things to the next level, consider the American Express Business Gold Card! It comes with a special welcome offer (assuming you can meet the minimum): 70,000 reward points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months. 

You also earn 4x the points on the two select categories your business spent the most each month (this applies to the first $150,000 for these two categories combined) and 1x the points for all other purchases. 

Additionally, there’s an added airline bonus: you can get 25% points back after using points for all or part of an eligible flight booked with Amex Travel (up to 250,000 points back per calendar year). 

Cons: The card has a high annual fee ($295), which matters less if you’re spending more!

The Bottom Line

If you are a small business owner and want to know more about your options or how you can benefit from cards like these, consider hiring a payment processing team like Accredited Interchange, an ISO (independent sales organization) committed to helping small businesses thrive. 

These professionals know the most about the best credit card processing for small businesses and can help you decide which credit card option suits your small business’s needs. Plus, an ISO has many other benefits, including help with overall financial goals, PCI compliance and payment integration.