The best cash back business credit cards help businesses get bonus rewards for their spending, and many come with no annual fee and offer generous introductory offers. These cards also help build business credit while offering perks like business tools, travel insurance and consumer protections.
Business credit cards can help businesses track spending more efficiently and earn more rewards over time. If you’re a business owner considering a business card to earn rewards, consider some of our best cash back business credit card options.
Comparing the best cash back business credit cards
| Card Name | Best for | Highlights | Annual fee | Bankrate review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | No annual fee |
|
$0 | 4.2 |
|
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
|
Big spenders |
|
$150 | 4.7 |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Office supply stores |
|
$0 | 4.4 |
|
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
|
Flexible bonus categories |
|
$0 | 3.4 |
| Capital One Spark Classic for Business | Fair credit |
|
$0 | 3.9 |
| Revenued Business Card | No personal guarantee | None | 2.7 |
Top cash back business credit cards
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This card is a good choice for business owners who want a straightforward, no-annual-fee card. You’ll earn 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases and 5 percent back on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025). The signup bonus is at an all-time high, earning $750 in cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases within three months of account opening and a solid intro APR offer on purchases.
However, if you want to transfer points to Chase airline and hotel partners, you must pair this card with one of Chase’s premium cards. Also, if you have higher spending and don’t mind annual fees, you can get higher rewards rates with other cards.
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Pros
- This card has no annual fee, making it a solid choice for small businesses.
- It offers a competitive intro APR for purchases and a low APR after.
Cons
- You’ll need a premium Chase card if you want to use Chase travel partners.
- You can earn higher rates and bonuses with other cards.
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This charge card offers heavy-spending business owners extensive buying power with no preset spending limit and an annual fee refund each year you spend $150,000 or more. You’ll earn a flat 2 percent cash back rate on all purchases, which can grow your earnings quickly.
The welcome offer offers a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. With such a high spending requirement and the need to pay the balance in full every month, this card is not ideal for smaller businesses or if you need to finance purchases to free up cash flow.
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Pros
- No preset spending limit gives extensive purchasing power to higher spenders.
- This card is excellent if your business spends enough to offset the annual fee.
Cons
- Charge cards must be paid in full, making this not useful for carrying a balance.
- The welcome offer has very high spending requirements, which might cause you to overspend.
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This is the ideal no-annual-fee business card if you spend heavily on cable and phone services, internet or office supplies, earning 5 percent cash back. You’ll also earn 2 percent at restaurants and gas stations. However, this rate is capped at $25,000 in combined spending in both categories. This means you have a total spending cap of $50,000 among your highest rewards categories.
The welcome offer is identical to the Ink Business Unlimited, making this a better option for business owners who can maximize the top bonus categories. If your spending needs exceed the spending caps, consider a card to pair with this for a potent combination.
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Pros
- This card has high reward-earning potential for no annual fee.
- The welcome offer is competitive and can quickly boost cash back earnings.
Cons
- Spending caps may limit the usefulness of this card for higher-spending businesses.
- Bonus categories might not work for some business owners.
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This no-annual-fee card is a good fit for businesses that can utilize the card’s customizable 3 percent bonus categories. You can swap bonus categories monthly, which adds versatility in earning cash back based on your needs. However, it has an annual spending cap combined between your choice category and dining.
The card offers a decent sign-up bonus and an intro APR period for purchases. You can also boost earnings with the Preferred Rewards for Business program. The more money you hold with Bank of America, the higher your earnings are boosted, for a maximum of 5.25 percent in your choice category. While the spending caps could be a limiting factor, this card offers excellent value and flexibility.
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Pros
- Flexible bonus categories allow business owners more ways to maximize their earnings.
- The card offers high earnings in the choice category for no annual fee.
Cons
- The spending cap might not be enough for larger-spending businesses.
- The Preferred Rewards program for Business is separate from the personal cardholder program, meaning you’ll need money in business accounts to boost earnings.
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This card is for small-business owners with less-than-ideal credit history, giving access to an unsecured line of credit and the chance to earn unlimited 1 percent cash back on all purchases plus 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It also offers solid business perks like free employee cards and discounts on business essentials.
If you need to build credit, this is a great option but if your credit is good, you’ll want to explore better cards.
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Pros
- Business owners with fair credit can use this card to help build credit.
- This card has no annual or foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- There are far superior cards for business owners with good to excellent credit.
- This card has a high APR compared to rival cards.
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This prepaid business card features a flexible spending line. Approvals are based on your business revenue and banking activity, which is good for business owners with fair credit scores. The card also offers extended spending lines in exchange for a portion of your future business revenue, so you can access more capital than you’d get via a typical subprime or secured card credit limit. However, this can be a downfall if you can’t repay what you borrow.
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Pros
- You can access funding with bad credit if your business is profitable.
- This card offers one of the best flat cash back rates available.
Cons
- The flexible line of credit may be costly based on your factor rate.
- Not having enough funds in your account to cover automatic daily finance charges results in a penalty fee.
How to choose a cash back business card
Finding the best cash back business credit card is challenging when there are so many business cards to choose from. The most significant factor is to get the most value in return from your spending, such as welcome offers, bonus categories and additional features. Consider the following as you decide.
Welcome offers can sway a decision
Get as much initial value as possible.
The best business cards offer sign-up bonuses and intro APR offers to make opening an account with them more attractive. A better initial offer can be the deciding factor between cards. However, always ensure you can meet the minimum spending requirement through your regular business spending. For example, if you don’t have heavy spending needs, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus wouldn’t be a good option since you’d have to overspend to get the bonus. Also consider the timeframe. If you can’t meet the spend requirement during the timeframe, you might check out options that are more feasible.
Compare earning categories
Get cards that reward you where you spend the most.
Make sure you compare earning categories so you can choose a business credit card with rewards on categories you’ll actually use. If spending fluctuates monthly in different areas, a flexible card like the Bank of America Customized Cash card might best fit your needs. Maximizing the $50,000 yearly spending all in the 3 percent bonus category would net $1,500 in cash back, an amazing return for a no-annual-fee card.
If you prefer not to keep track of spending limits, a flat-rate cash back card comes in handy. The best ideally earn a minimum of 2 percent back on any purchase you make. While there is no correct answer for all businesses, your spending needs can dictate which cards work best for you.
Look closely at cardholder benefits
Decide which cardholder perks you want the most. Some of the best business credit cards offer free employee cards, expense-tracking features, QuickBooks integration and more. Others may provide travel perks or annual fee refunds. Startup businesses may need flexible credit lines, making the Revenued card an ideal choice. But a card like the Capital One Spark Cash Plus with no preset spending limit might suit larger enterprises with heavier expenses. Every card has different benefits to suit various business needs. Choosing a card that helps you best run your business while rewarding your spending is essential. Conversely, if a card offers benefits you don’t value, that should diminish your overall assessment. If travel benefits aren’t helpful to you, then a business travel card becomes less valuable, for example.
Consider rates and fees
Think about how much your business spends and how much it can pay off each month. If you need to carry a balance, consider a business credit card with 0 percent APR offers on purchases or with a low-interest rate. Also, a charge card may best suit your business if you can comfortably pay off your balance in full each billing cycle.
You’ll also want to compare annual fees, remembering that cards with the best perks and rewards often have higher fees. Consider if the annual fee is worth it or if the fees outweigh the benefits. For example, you’d need to spend $7,500 on the Capital One Spark Cash Plus to earn enough cash back to offset the $150 annual fee. Watch out for interest and foreign transaction fees, which can quickly erase your earnings. Using the wrong card while abroad can be a costly mistake.
Eligibility requirements
Find the minimum credit score needed to qualify for a card, and check your credit score to see where you stand. While generally a business credit card may not impact your personal credit, there are exceptions, and issuers may consider your personal credit score when you apply. Business owners with excellent credit scores (FICO scores of 800+) typically have the best chances of approval, but other factors are also weighed. And approval doesn’t guarantee high credit limits. Issuers may also consider your business revenue, industry, size and more when determining your credit limit.
If your credit is less-than-ideal, consider business cards to help you build your credit. If you’re concerned about a low credit limit, a charge card like the Capital One Spark 1% Classic could be an option. Using credit-building cards responsibly will improve your credit score, leading to better card opportunities with more reward potential.
Maximizing your cash back business card
Avoid interest charges and don’t forget about the perks.
Getting the maximum return on your cash back business card comes down to making sure you are getting the biggest return on your business spending. If you opt for a flat-rate card, for instance, you’ll want to remember to use this card for every purchase. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Take advantage of perks: Look at your card’s benefits and perks. Purchase protections, bonuses in specific categories, milestone spending incentives or any other added business or travel perks increase a card’s value, so make sure you make use of them.
- Make your payments: Pay your bill in full each month to avoid interest charges and penalty fees. These add up quickly and will easily wipe out the value of any rewards you earn. This is a good rule of thumb. Also, if your card has an intro APR offer, try to pay your balance by the end of that term.
- Pair cards together: See how potential cards pair with other cards you already have. Make sure cards don’t repeat the same benefits or categories. The best card portfolio functions like a team. Ideally, you want something to cover every expense with at least some bonus. A good example would be pairing a flat-rate cash back card with a card earning in specific bonus categories where your business spends frequently. That combination would cover most of your purchases with bonus earnings, giving you the best returns.
Frequently asked questions about cash back business cards
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Cash back rewards earned from credit card spending are not considered taxable. Since you must make a purchase to earn rewards, the IRS considers them a rebate or a discount instead of income. However, if rewards are given without any spending, those could be considered taxable. Consult a tax professional if you are unsure about any type of reward.
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Using your business credit card for personal spending is technically not illegal. However, it could potentially violate the terms and conditions of your card agreement, which can come with severe consequences, such as account closure. It also makes it more challenging to track your business expenses and can have tax implications. While accidents happen, it’s best not to make a habit of putting personal expenses on a business card.
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Ideally, you’ll find a 2 percent cash back card with bonus categories. A flat-rate card is a simple option, but that plus bonus rewards makes for a more useful overall card. But what’s considered best for one might not be for another. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers a consistent 2 percent rate but doesn’t have other bonuses and might not be suitable for businesses that don’t spend as much. The best overall card for your business is the one that best meets your needs.
What’s next?
Get the resources and products you need to grow your business.
The bottom line
When looking for the right cash back business credit card, evaluating your spending needs is possibly the most important factor. But you might also consider welcome offers and other perks to assist with your initial decision. Plus, certain cards may pair better with ones you already have.
Every business card offers something different that may or may not be helpful for you. There is no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing the best card. Before signing up for a new cash back business credit card, compare the top options from all issuers to find the best card for your spending needs.
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