Best business credit cards of August 2023
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 5:15 a.m. ET Aug. 2, 2023
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A business credit card can benefit nearly anyone who makes a living outside of a 9-to-5 job. Whether you own your own business, a piece of a business or just have a side gig, it’s a smart money move to keep your business spending separate from your personal expenses.
The best business credit cards can do more than just simplify your accounting. Many come with rewards, like cash back or points for travel, and other money-saving perks like low intro APRs on purchases, balance transfers or both. Some offer other valuable extras like travel insurances and purchase protections, too.
By maximizing the benefits that come with a credit card, businesses can make the most out of their spending. We analyzed a broad swath of credit cards in this category, from a variety of issuers, to curate a list of the very best.
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
: Best business credit card
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American Express® Business Gold Card *
The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for rewards flexibility
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express *
The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for simple rewards
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Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card *
The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for customized rewards
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Amazon Prime Business American Express Card *
The information for the Amazon Prime Business American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for extended payment plans
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Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card *
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best business card for road warriors
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 50+ cards analyzed.
- 8 data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best business credit cards of August 2023
Best business credit card
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best business card for rewards flexibility
American Express® Business Gold Card
*The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business card for simple rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
*The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business card for customized rewards
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
*The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business card for extended payment plans
Amazon Prime Business American Express Card
*The information for the Amazon Prime Business American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best business card for road warriors
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card
*The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
N/A
Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
Get an Amazon.com Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card.
Up to 75,000 points: 50,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and 25,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first 12 months, enough for up to 10 free nights.
You’d be hard-pressed to find any type of business that doesn’t spend at least some portion of their budget on internet, phone and/or cable services and office supplies. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers high rewards in those areas of spending plus above-average rewards in two other common areas of spending. There’s no annual fee, no additional fees for employee cards and the card also comes with a slew of protections that can benefit any business’ bottom line. With everything this card has to offer, it was a shoo-in as our pick for best business credit card.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 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, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The American Express® Business Gold Card * The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is an ideal pick for businesses who want to make the most of their varied spending, without having to put a lot of effort in. The card will automatically earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar on the two eligible categories where you spend the most each month, up to the first $150,000 in spending each calendar year.
Most businesses are likely to find that they spend in at least one or more of the eligible categories of: airfare purchased directly from airlines, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio), U.S. purchases made directly from select technology providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions, U.S. purchases at gas stations, U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery and U.S. purchases for shipping.
Plus the card has no preset spending limit, allowing you to stretch your spending power if the need occasionally arises. Membership Rewards can be redeemed several ways with the best value typically coming from using to book travel or transfer to one of Amex’s multiple travel loyalty partners.
- Annual fee: $295.
- Rewards: 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year on the 2 select categories your business spends the most each month, and 1 point per $1 for other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) comes with no annual fee and offers a rewards structure that’s easy to follow. Plus, it comes with a low intro APR offer on purchases, which can be helpful for anyone seeking extra time to pay off a big buy. New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies.
The extended warranty¹ and purchase protections¹ for items purchased with the card can offer additional value, too. In short, the card offers a little bit of everything for business owners who want to keep things simple when it comes to their credit card.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you want more control over where your business rewards card earns the most, the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. lets you choose a cash-back category each month from a list of six options for the higher earning rate. You can change the category each month or just let the same category ride until your expenses change. The eligible categories are gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services or business consulting services. Most businesses will find that they can get value from at least one or more of these areas of spending.
Those eligible for Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase, too.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 3% cash back in the category of choice, 2% cash back on dining and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year and then 1%.
- Welcome bonus: $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
The information for the Amazon Prime Business American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Business owners with an Amazon Prime Business membership can benefit greatly from owning the Amazon Prime Business American Express Card * The information for the Amazon Prime Business American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply). The rewards structure for eligible purchases made with Amazon is generous, but what really makes the card shine is the ability to choose 90-day financing terms on some purchases instead of earning rewards. That extra time can be helpful to a business whose revenue fluctuates from month-to-month.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% back in rewards on the first $120,000 spent each calendar year or 90 Days Terms on eligible U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. Earn 2% at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and 1% on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: Earn a $125 Amazon.com gift card upon approval.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card * The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is tailor-made for road warriors who want a place to lay their head at night. The generous rewards on gas spending and Wyndham brand hotels are virtually unbeatable, plus the solid rewards in several other common areas of business spending can also benefit your bottom line. Not to be overlooked is the automatic Diamond status, which grants hotel perks and benefits like suite upgrades and a welcome amenity at check-in, a status match with Caesar’s Rewards, and car rental upgrades with Avis and Budget.
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards: 8 points per $1 spent on Hotels By Wyndham and gas purchases, 5 points per $1 on marketing, advertising and utilities and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and 25,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first 12 months, enough for up to 10 free nights.
- Foreign transaction fees: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Should you apply for a business credit card?
Businesses of all sizes and types can benefit from applying for a business credit card – including sole proprietors and freelancers. A business credit card can help you keep personal and professional expenses separate, provide protections and insurance for purchases and save money on your spending via earning rewards.
“When you’re looking at business credit cards, you have to look at what your needs are for the card,” says Leslie H. Tayne, Esq., founder and managing director of the Tayne Law Group, P.C. based in New York, which specializes in consumer and business debt resolution. “Try to project what your business’ spending will be. If your business is heavily reliant on credit cards to pay the bills, it’s worthwhile to take a look at different cards. and compare their attributes”
A business credit card with a low introductory APR can be a useful tool to help finance a bigger buy or help pay off existing debt more quickly.. Business credit cards provide an efficient way to manage employee spending by making it easy to track employee spending and monitor purchases.
Guide to business credit cards
Business credit cards can benefit nearly anyone with a business. They can help manage cash flow, earn rewards and make it simple to track spending.
Cards designed specifically for businesses may offer features like higher spending limits and exclusive rewards programs tailored to business needs. They also typically require a good personal credit score and may require additional documentation such as tax returns or financial statements. Small business credit cards are likely to require a personal guarantee, meaning if the business defaults on a balance, the cardholder will be held responsible for outstanding debt.
When choosing a business credit card, consider your company’s spending habits and goals. Think about the types of purchases you make most often and look for a card that offers rewards or cash back on those categories. Also consider the interest rate, annual fee, balance transfer fees, foreign transaction fees and any other fees associated with the card.
Once you’ve chosen the best business card for your needs, it’s important to use it responsibly. Make sure you pay your bill on time every month to avoid late fees or higher interest rates. Also, be aware of any spending limits or restrictions set by the issuer so that you don’t exceed them. Consider tracking your spending regularly so that you can stay on top of your budgeting goals and maximize your rewards program benefits.
Evaluating reward potential
We evaluate the reward potential of business credit cards based on what we’d expect a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC in the 50th percentile of wage earners to spend each year on a credit card. We gather these figures from the government and other publicly available data. In a year, we estimate our sample business owner might net about $84,352 and spend about $25,087 of this on a credit card.
When analyzing the reward potential from a top business credit card like the Amex Blue Business Plus, we estimate that a cardholder who puts $25,087 of expenses on the card, which earns 2 points per dollar spent on eligible business purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year and 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases after the first $50,000 spent on the card, would earn a total of 50,174 Amex Membership Rewards points.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings.
Categories we considered include:
- Annual fees.
- Rewards.
- Usefulness of the rewards categories.
- Ease of redemption.
- Any intro APR offers.
- Purchase and travel protections.
- Other features that a business could find helpful, like elite status or credits toward business products and services.
However, no list will include every option available and the best business credit card for your particular needs may be different then our top selections. Make sure you do the research for what might best suit your unique circumstances.
Business credit cards are credit cards designed for business owners and employees to use for business-related expenses. These cards often feature expense tracking tools and other benefits tailored toward the needs of small or medium-sized businesses. Corporate cards generally serve larger businesses and provide a different set of benefits and perks than small business credit cards.
You can use an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to get a business credit card. Most issuers, however, will still require you to provide a personal guarantee and will ask you to provide a Social Security number (SSN) to check your credit.
Some banks offer special cards that are specifically designed for new businesses. These are often the easiest to receive approval for with limited business credit and income figures. However, since most small business credit cards rely on your personal guarantee to approve you for a card, your personal credit profile may be more important to the card issuer than the age of your business.
When you apply for a small business card, the issuer will almost always check your personal credit score as part of the decision-making process. That’s because most small business credit cards require an owner to provide a personal guarantee that if the business is unable to pay its debts on the card, the owner will be liable for the amount owed. That initial hard credit inquiry can cause your score to temporarily drop by a few points.
However, many small business cards do not report your regular payment activities to the three consumer credit reporting agencies. But they will report negative behavior such as delinquencies which can also affect your personal credit score.
¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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