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Last Updated: August 8, 2025
If you’re trying to grow your business, then at some point, you’ll need to choose between the best business credit cards. After all, a good business credit card can help you navigate larger business expenses without completely draining your savings account. And even if you aren’t planning to accrue a lot of business debts as you get started, opening a credit card now and using it for business purchases can help you build credit for your company.
But there are lots of different business credit cards to choose from, all with different perks. Some offer great rewards programs, cash back incentives, travel perks, airline or hotel deals, and more. Depending on your business needs, one category might stand out to you. But how do you pick the right card in that category?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the best small business credit card options in these categories. You’re sure to find one that suits your business finances.
Before we get into the details, let’s briefly discuss the popular categories you might encounter when you’re exploring business credit cards.
Long story short: there isn’t a single “best business credit card.” That’s because different business owners have different credit needs and different rewards preferences. Thankfully, there’s a card to suit every preference, and we’ll cover some of our favorites in this guide.
Just like personal credit, business credit cards are a valuable tool to have in your arsenal of financial resources, but only if they’re used carefully.
Maintaining a business credit card isn’t just another way to keep your personal finances separate from your business finances (which is extremely important); it’s also a way to increase your purchasing power. Generally speaking, you want to avoid unnecessary debts, but strategic debts can be very valuable toward growing your business faster than you could with cash alone.
Look at it this way. Let’s say that you operate a landscaping business that offers snow removal during the winter months, and you could really use some more snow blowers and plows. That equipment would help you serve dozens more clients per week. On one hand, you could just save up for that equipment and buy it months from now, but you might miss out on peak season waiting to save enough money. In contrast, you could use a business credit card to immediately buy the equipment and pay your balance using some of your snow removal profits.
Of course, the absolute best approach is to pay off your credit card balance every month to avoid interest. But even if you have to maintain a balance and make the minimum payment for a few months, a business credit card can help you grow your business (provided you use it strategically). Plus, if you maintain a good credit score, you’ll find that you’ll be eligible for a larger credit line down the road, which may come in handy when you try to get approved for even larger purchases.
With that in mind, let’s explore some of the best business credit cards.
Type: Rewards
Best for: Business owners who want a rewards program with flexible ways to earn points
The American Express Business Gold card earns its moniker with a variety of features and bonuses, especially for business owners who plan to spend a fair bit of money using their card.
Currently, they’ve got a welcome bonus of 200,000 Membership Rewards Points when you spend at least $15,000 during the first three months of membership. But the biggest perk comes from American Express’s approach to earning points with the Gold card. You’ll actually get to pick two spending categories to earn 4x the rewards on U.S. purchases in those categories. Your category picks include:
You also earn 3x points on flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel and 1x points on all other purchases. You can use your points for a statement credit, cover eligible charges, deposit money into your business checking account, or redeem points for discounts or gift cards from American Express partners. You can also sign up for programs to get cash back on purchases from FedEx, GrubHub, and Office Supply stores and cash back for a Walmart+ subscription.
Currently, American Express has an 18.49% to 29.24% APR depending on your credit eligibility. The annual fee for this card is $375, but it’s very possible to earn that back in rewards points.
Best for: Business owners who want a rewards program with no annual fee
If you like the idea of an American Express card, but the $375 annual fee of the Business Gold card gives you sticker shock, the American Express Blue Business Plus card is another intriguing option.
The best part of this AmEx card is that there’s no annual fee. It also has a lower variable APR range than the Gold card, currently ranging from 17.49-27.49%. But for the first 12 months after account opening, you’ll enjoy a 0% introductory APR.
Rewards points with the Blue Business Plus card aren’t quite as “flashy” as the Gold card, but they’re still good. You’ll get 2x rewards points on all purchases for the first $50,000 in purchases in a calendar year (and then 1x points on all purchases after $50,000). Currently, they’re also offering a much more attainable sign-on bonus: a $250 statement credit if you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Plus, you have the same options for redeeming your rewards points as Gold cardholders, so there are lots of ways to redeem points.
Type: Cash back
Best for: Small business owners who want cash back rewards
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card is simple but appealing: you pay no annual fees, and you get unlimited cash rewards of 1.5% of your purchases. You’re also automatically checked for a credit limit increase every six months, which is helpful if you want to grow your purchasing power. Chase also offers a very competitive APR, varying between 17.49% and 23.49%. The even better news? That APR is dropped to 0% for your first 12 months as a cardholder.
This card also gives you access to a limited rewards program, so you can redeem your points for perks like travel and gift cards.
If you’re going to be making a large purchase, this card is appealing. Not only do you get 0% APR for the first year, but Chase is also (at the time of this writing) offering a $750 bonus cash back reward if you spend $6,000 or more in eligible purchases using your card in the first three months.
Note: While we’re talking about Chase, it’s also worth mentioning that their Chase Ink Business Cash card is another intriguing option. Instead of unlimited 1.5% cashback, the Business Cash card gives you 5% cashback for purchases from office supply stores or internet, cable, and phone services (first $25k in purchases); 2% back on purchases from gas stations and restaurants (first $25k in purchases); and 1% cashback on all other business purchases. While this card isn’t right for every business, it’s still a great option with no annual fee.
Best for: Business owners who want competitive cash rewards
If you’re looking to earn a little more cashback with your business card, the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus will give you exactly what its name suggests: 2% cashback on all purchases. The only exception: you’ll get a nice 5% back on any hotels or rental cars booked through their travel booking site.
Technically, this card has a low annual fee of $95, but that fee is waived for the first year. Capital One also offers a fair intro offer for new cardholders: if you spend $15,000 in the first three months, you’ll get $1,500 bonus cashback (this offer ends on August 11, 2025).
Capital One also offers some simple but helpful perks, including spending reports, free employee cards that you can set limits on, and virtual card numbers to help protect your actual card information.
Note: If you need a bigger spending capacity, another Spark Cash offering, the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus card, is a similar card with a slightly higher annual fee ($150) but more buying power. It’s also a pay-in-full card, so you can’t maintain a balance on it.
Type: Travel (general)
Best for: Business owners who want travel perks for a low annual fee
If balanced, all-around travel rewards are your company’s top priority, look no further than the Capital One Spark 2x Miles card. This card has a reasonable $95 annual fee that’s waived for your first year as a cardholder, and you’ll earn two rewards miles for every dollar spent. Currently, there’s a healthy welcome bonus of 50,000 points that requires only $4,500 in purchases in your first three months.
Frequent travelers will also love this card’s inclusion of a $120 travel credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry applications to help streamline your flying process. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees. You can also get free employee cards, extended warranty coverage, and more.
Best for: Existing Bank of America customers who travel frequently
If you’d like a small business credit card for travel that doesn’t have an annual fee, then the Business Advantage Travel Rewards card by Bank of America is a great choice. With this card, you’ll earn 1.5x points for every dollar you spend. There’s no limit to the amount of points you can earn, and your points don’t expire. You can redeem these points for statement credits toward travel and dining purchases, with no blackout dates for travel if you use their travel center.
But the real appeal of this card comes for pre-existing Bank of America business customers. If you have a business checking account with them and you’re enrolled in their Preferred Rewards for Business program, you can earn up to 2.62 points per dollar spent (and 5.25 points per dollar if you use the Bank of America Travel Center).
At the time of this writing, this card has an introductory APR of 0% for the first nine months. After that, your APR will range between 17.49 and 27.49%.
Type: Travel (Airline)
Best for: Frequent fliers who want a manageable annual fee
It’s worth noting that all of the Delta SkyMiles cards by American Express are good options for business owners who travel frequently with Delta. But as far as small business credit cards go, the Gold Business card balances a reasonable annual fee with good travel perks, making it an all-around good airline credit card.
With SkyMiles Gold Business, you’ll pay a reasonable $150 annual fee (after the $0 introductory fee for your first year). In return, you’ll enjoy a variety of perks, including 15% off eligible Delta flights you book with miles through their app, priority boarding, a free first checked bag on Delta flights, 2x miles on purchases at restaurants worldwide, 2x miles on some shipping and advertising expenses, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
Currently, there’s a 20.24-29.24% APR for this card. Delta is also offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 or more in the first six months.
Type: Travel (Hotel)
Best for: Business owners who frequently stay at Marriott hotels
If you frequently stay at hotels as part of your business operations, then a hotel credit card might be a good option for you. Marriott Bonvoy’s card has a $250 annual fee and an array of benefits. For example, you’ll get Gold status immediately as a business card holder, which gives you priority late checkout and 25% more points on eligible purchases.
One really appealing perk to the Marriott Bonvoy card is that you’ll get a free night after your card renewal month. For many business owners, this can practically offset the card’s annual fee, making the card worth having if you stay at Marriott hotels at least once a year. You can also redeem your points for flights and car rentals from participating travel partners, so there are perks beyond hotel stays.
Currently, the APR for this card ranges between 20.24% and 29.24%, depending on your creditworthiness. There’s also a limited-time offer of 155,000 bonus points if you spend $5,000 or more in purchases within the first six months of opening your card.
Type: Cash rewards
Best for: Business owners who need to build credit
Unfortunately, many of the cards we’ve covered above require good or excellent credit scores. So, they won’t be an option for every business, especially those just establishing their credit. If you’d like to start building your credit or improving your creditworthiness, the Capital One Spark 1% Classic card is an intriguing option.
Some perks to this card include a $0 annual fee and unlimited 1% cashback on most purchases. There’s a 5% rate for purchases on hotels and rental cars on Capital One’s travel site. While there aren’t lots of bells and whistles to this card offering, it’s a good option for businesses with less-than-perfect credit scores.
There’s a vast array of business credit cards to choose from, and there are pros and cons to every option. Ultimately, you’ll need to choose which card best suits your business budget, credit history, and rewards preferences. We hope this guide has helped you find some of the most appealing options for your next business credit card.
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The best credit card for an LLC depends on your spending habits and financial goals. For example, if you want flexible rewards, the American Express Business Gold card is a strong option, while the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® card is great for cash back with no annual fee. Frequent travelers might prefer the Capital One Spark 2x Miles or the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card. Think about whether you prioritize rewards, travel perks, or building credit when choosing the best fit for your LLC.
Yes, most business credit card applications will ask for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). However, many issuers also require a personal Social Security number (SSN) to check your personal credit during the approval process, especially if you’re a small business with limited credit history.
Capital One has card options for newer businesses or those with fair credit, especially with cards like their Spark 1% Classic card. Typically, cards like these have less appealing rewards structures, though. Approval for any card — whether it’s one that requires fair or excellent credit — often depends on both your personal credit score and your business’s financial profile.
Most business credit cards require a personal credit score in the good to excellent range — generally 670 or higher. Premium cards with bigger rewards or travel perks may require scores in the mid-700s. However, some cards, like the Capital One Spark 1% Classic, are designed for business owners with fair credit, making them more accessible to those still building their credit.
Business credit cards are designed specifically for business-related purchases and often include features like employee cards, expense tracking, and business-focused rewards. They also help establish your business credit history, which is separate from your personal credit. Personal credit cards don’t offer these business-specific tools; using one for your business can blur financial lines, potentially harming your LLC’s liability protection.
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Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The ZenBusiness Visa Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. FDIC insurance is available for funds on deposit through Thread Bank, Member FDIC. *Your deposits qualify for up to a maximum of $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance coverage when placed at program banks in the Thread Bank deposit sweep program. Your deposits at each program bank become eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000, inclusive of any other deposits you may already hold at the bank in the same ownership capacity. You can access the terms and conditions of the sweep program at https://thread.bank/sweep-disclosure/ and a list of program banks at https://thread.bank/program-banks/. Please contact customerservice@thread.bank with questions regarding the sweep program.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 850,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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