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Best business credit cards for 2021
Find a combination of useful business perks, strong rewards and flexible financing options.
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Business Credit Card Guides
This article was reviewed by Brad Stevens, a member of the Finder Editorial Review Board and 30-year veteran of the credit industry who specializes in rehabilitating struggling banks.
The best business credit cards of 2021 let you earn the highest rewards on your business spending, while also offering helpful business tools or perks. Finder’s expert credit card team spends hundreds of hours comparing over 100 business credit cards based on several factors, including credit requirements, annual and balance transfer fees, APRs, reward opportunities, signup bonuses and additional business features. We categorized the top 10 performing business cards to help you pick the right card for your business’ growth.
- Why trust us? Unlike our competitors, Finder’s credit card experts research and write about all credit cards, including those from providers who aren’t partners on our site. Our trustworthy, unbiased evaluations are solely meant to help you choose the best credit card for your financial needs.
What's in this guide?
What are the best business credit cards?
- Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card: Best for rewards on office supplies, internet and phone
- Brex 30 Card: Best for no personal guarantee required
- Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card: Best for unlimited cash back
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best business credit card for signup bonus
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards: Best for selecting your bonus category
- U.S. Bank Business Platinum: Best business credit card for balance transfers
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best business credit card for luxury travel
- Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card: Best business credit card for building credit
- Ramp Visa® Commercial Card: Best for new businesses
- The Plum Card® from American Express: Best for payment flexibility
★★★★★
Best for rewards on office supplies, internet and phone
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
5%
Cash back
$750
Welcome offer
The Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card is a great card for earning rewards on ongoing business expenses thanks to a massive cashback rate on office supplies, Internet and phone services for your first $25,000 spent annually. You also earn cash back on gas and dining, making it a decent pick for business travel, too.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR
13.24% to 19.24% variable
Welcome offer
$750 cash back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
5% at office supply stores, on Internet, cable and phone up to $25,000 combined annually (then 1%), 2% on gas and dining up to $25,000 combined annually then 1% after that and on all other purchases
Best for no personal guarantee required
Brex 30 Card
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
7x
Points
Other
Welcome offer
Business cards with no personal guarantee have become more popular in recent years, thanks in part to the Brex for Startups card. By requiring no personal guarantee, the Brex 30 Card protects your personal assets should your business go belly up. You also get a unique signup bonus worth up to $150,000, which is a rarity among business credit cards.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
N/A
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome offer
Up to $150,000 worth of credits and offers for business services like Amazon Web Services, Slack, Zoom, Google Ads and more
Estimated welcome offer value
$150,000 based on Finder's valuation
Rewards
7x points on rideshares, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x at restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x points on all other purchases
★★★★★
Best for unlimited cash back
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
1.5%
Cash back
$750
Welcome offer
If you don't want to worry about keeping track of reward categories, the Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card keeps things simple. You can earn a respectable 1.5% back on all of your business purchases. The card also has a surprisingly robust welcome offer, letting you earn $750 after meeting the spend requirements.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR
13.24% to 19.24% variable
Welcome offer
$750 back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
1.5% cash back on all purchases
★★★★★
Best business credit card for signup bonus
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
670
Min. credit score
$95
Annual fee
Up to
3x
Points
100,000
Points welcome offer
Spend $15,000 in your first 3 months and you'll earn an astounding 100,000 points. This can be worth up to $1,250, making it a great windfall for business investments.
Annual Fee
$95
Purchase APR
15.99% to 20.99% variable
Balance transfer APR
15.99% to 20.99% variable
Welcome offer
100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
Estimated welcome offer value
$1,250 based on Finder's valuation
Rewards
3x points on the first $150,000 on travel and select business categories annually, then 1x after and on all other purchases
Best for selecting your bonus category
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards
740
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
3%
Cash back
$300
Welcome offer
Being able to choose your highest rewards category is a great boon when running a business. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards lets you choose from several common business expenses, such as office supplies and travel, while supplementing your earnings if you're a Business Platinum or Preferred Rewards member. To choose your highest-earning category is a rare perk.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 9 billing cycles (then 12.24% to 22.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR
12.24% to 22.24% variable
Welcome offer
$300 after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
3% cash back on a chosen business category and 2% on dining on up to $50,000 combined each year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases
Best business credit card for balance transfers
U.S. Bank Business Platinum
740
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
n/a
Welcome offer
With less balance transfer offers on the market than before, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum has become this year's best bet for business owners looking to consolidate debts. While the card doesn't offer a signup bonus or rewards, it has no annual fee. And if you need to invest in some office supplies, the card also comes with an intro APR on purchases, which is like an interest-free loan.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 11.99% to 20.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 11.99% to 20.99% variable)
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
N/A
Best business credit card for luxury travel
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
670
Min. credit score
$595
Annual fee
Up to
5x
Points
85,000
Points welcome offer
Like its consumer counterpart, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is all about luxury. You gain access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, including access to the much praised Centurion Lounge. Of course, this card also comes with other luxury perks, including hotel benefits, travel credits and more.
Annual Fee
$595
Purchase APR
Balance transfer APR
Welcome offer
85,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
5x points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, 1.5x points if you spend $5,000 on a single eligible purchase on up to 1 million additional points per year and 1x points on all other purchases
Best business credit card for building credit
Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
1.5%
Cash back
n/a
Welcome offer
If you're starting a business but don't have a prior credit history, the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is a great choice for kickstarting your score. You can drop a security deposit of up to $25,000 on your account, which can help you avoid hitting a brick wall when it comes to investing. You can start with a lower security deposit if you can't dedicate a lot of funds here, but paying off your balance and building credit can help you graduate to a business card with a credit limit that isn't your own money. This card also lets you earn rewards on your card payments, which is a rarity among secured cards.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
15.15% variable
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
1.5% cash back on all purchases
Best for new businesses
Ramp Visa® Commercial Card
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
1.5%
Cash back
Other
Welcome offer
The Ramp Visa® Commercial Card is the newest business card for startups on the block and offers an array of features that can help new businesses grow. Aside from a solid rewards rate, the Ramp Visa® Commercial Card analyzes your business spending to identify areas you can save. The card also features 18 different signup bonuses, worth thousands of dollars in value.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
N/A
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome offer
18 different signup bonuses, worth thousands of dollars in value
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
1.5% cashback on all purchases
We saw a few new additions to our business card picks for 2021. The most exciting additions are the Ramp Visa® Commercial Card and The Plum Card® from American Express, two business cards aimed at helping small or new businesses hit the ground running. Card flexibility was also an important concern over 2020 given the uncertain economic landscape, with the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards and U.S. Bank Business Platinum offering businesses extra wiggle room in terms of rewards and balance transfers respectively.
Best for payment flexibility
The Plum Card® from American Express
670
Min. credit score
$250
ongoing
Annual fee
Up to
1.5%
Cash back
n/a
Welcome offer
The Plum Card® from American Express offers a bit more flexibility than its other business offerings. So long as you pay at least 10% of your balance before the due date, Amex offers a 60-day grace period on interest. For businesses uncertain about their finances within their first few months, this extra grace period can help keep things afloat.
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($250 thereafter)
Purchase APR
N/A
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
1.5% discount when you pay early
What’s changed in 2021
Compare all business credit cards
Compare more business credit cards to find the right option for your company finances.
How to choose the best business credit card for you
In many ways, choosing a business credit card is similar to choosing a personal credit card. Here are some things to consider:
- Figure out the reason you need a business credit card. This includes the need for a new line of credit to invest in your business; an interest-free period to pay off your current debt; an interest-free period to make a large purchase of inventories or supplies and pay it off in the next months; luxury perks during frequent travel or the option to earn rewards on your business expenditures.
- Determine what kind of rewards suit you best. Depending on your business needs, you can earn rewards on office supplies, gas, dining or travel purchases. Some credit cards offer flat rewards on all purchases while others have no rewards at all. Calculate which of these options would best complement your business wallet and apply for the card that offers the best value for your needs.
- Figure out if you need to carry a balance. If part of your business card needs involve an early investment, look for a card with an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers. This can help you save on interest while you wait for your business investment to pay off. And if you need to carry a balance from time to time thereafter, look for a business card with a low ongoing purchase APR.
- Determine the number of employee cards you need. Some business cards, but not all, offer free additional cards for employees. Such cards can let you earn additional rewards on purchases made by your employees with the employee business card. But if you don’t have as many employees and the benefits you get from the cards outweigh a potential annual fee, you could consider a more expensive credit card option.
How does a business credit card work?
A business credit card is just like a regular credit card, but with tools specifically designed to help you streamline and manage your business spending. These tools can range from rewards or cash back for business expenses like office supplies or travel perks for employees on the move.
In addition, you can set spending controls for each employee and you can monitor their card activity. This can help you streamline your finances and avoid card misuse.
Here’s how to get started with a business card:
- Compare & apply for a card
Look for a card that fits your needs, whether that’s a high rewards rate, an intro APR or a balance transfer offer. You can compare your options on this page. - Start earning rewards
If you opened a business card with rewards, use it on business expenses to start earning rewards. - Build business credit
As you pay your card off in full and on time, you’re starting to build business credit for your business.
Pros and cons of using a business credit card
Pros
- Rewards. Consider where your business spends most money and look for a card that highly rewards those categories. You can always get more than one card to cover multiple categories if you think one card doesn’t cut it. You can combine cards that reward office supplies, gas purchases or travel.
- Intro APR period. Some cards offer a 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both. Consider whether this is a perk you’ll use. Balance transfers are typically a great choice for paying off older debt, while 0% APR on purchases is basically an interest-free loan, which can help you stack up inventories and pay them off for a year or more without interest.
- Separate business from personal spending. Business expenses are often tax-deductible. But if you’re mixing office supplies purchases with groceries on one card, it may be hard to separate your expenses. A business card can be used exclusively for your business-related purchases.
- Simplified bookkeeping. If your business is growing and you’re providing credit cards to your employees, getting a business credit card will help streamline your finances, add purchasing limits to employee cards and simplify expense monitoring. All these tools are often a complimentary feature to most business credit cards.
- Establish business credit.
Looking long term, establishing business credit could be an important step for your future business endeavors. With solid business credit you can get better loan terms should you need money. But to build business credit, you need a business credit card.
Cons
- Annual fee. Most business cards don’t charge an annual fee, but some do. If you’re looking to get a card with the most perks and highest rewards, you’ll have to pay an annual fee.
- Personal guarantee. To get a business credit card, typically you need a personal guarantee. This means your personal assets are at risk in case your business fails. Luckily, some business credit cards let you get the card without a personal guarantee. But you can’t carry your balance with these cards.
- High interest rates. Carrying your credit card balance without a 0% intro APR period comes with high interest rates. This can be more expensive than getting a business loan. However, you can avoid paying interest if you always pay your balance before its due.
- Foreign transaction fees. Some business credit cards come with a 3% fee for every transaction made abroad or online with foreign retailers. This may not seem like a lot, but it can quickly add up. For example, if you buy inventories for $10,000 from a foreign country using your credit card, you would pay a $300 fee.
Should I get a business credit card?
Business credit cards can help you simplify bookkeeping, build business credit and potentially earn rewards on all purchases. If you fall into one of the following categories, a business credit card may be worth considering.
- LLC. Limited Liability Companies have one advantage — the company owner is not personally liable for the companies debts. This can keep your personal assets safe in case your company fails and can’t pay off the credit card debt.
- Small businesses. Small businesses can get the advantage of earning credit card rewards on select categories where the business spends the most. If you have multiple employees, you can set spending limits, you can track employee spending and simplify your bookkeeping with separate receipts.
- Freelancers and independent contractors. You don’t need to have a company to get a business credit card. All you need is an income outside of your regular employment. This can be helpful for Uber drivers, especially with a credit card with gas rewards.
- Startups. Startups can choose some of the best credit cards designed specifically for this type of business. These cards don’t require a personal guarantee and come with generous rewards on categories where a startup may spend the most.
- Self-employed. If you’re self-employed, you can still get a business credit card. With a business credit card, you get the same benefits that any other company would get with this type of card.
Should I get a business credit card as a freelancer
Freelancers who want to get a business card can generally do so. The main benefit would be earning rewards in business-related categories like office supplies and separating personal and business expenses to simplify bookkeeping.
Types of freelancers and side hustles that can qualify you for a business credit card are:
- Uber or Lyft drivers
- Online selling on Etsy, Amazon, eBay and other websites
- Freelancing
- Airbnb and home rentals
- Babysitting and tutoring
Can I apply for a business credit card without a business
Yes. To apply for a business credit card, you need to have an income as a freelancer or by running an online shop outside of your employment. Select in your credit card application that you are a sole proprietor and use your own Social Security number as a tax ID or EIN.
You asked, we listened: Top 5 common questions
Business cards aren’t so different from standard cards, though as you’d expect from a business card there’s a bit of fine print involved. Here are the five most common questions we receive on the subject.
- What’s the difference between a business card and a personal card? Business cards differ from personal cards because they offer perks and rewards designed around business expenses. You’ll also need a business, or to show you’re generating revenue, in order to obtain a business credit card.
- Will my business credit affect my personal credit? Generally no. However, there are a few situations in which it might affect your personal credit, such as the case of business cards with a personal guarantee.
- Can you get a business credit card with bad credit? There are business cards for poor credit, including secured business cards that require a deposit as collateral when opening the card.
Bottom line
The best business credit card depends on the size of your business and what financial tools and perks you need. If none of the cards on our list feel like the right fit, compare more cards to find one that is.
Credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.
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