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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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Kliment Dukovski
Updated . What changed?
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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.

Finder’s expert credit card team spends hundreds of hours comparing over 100 business credit cards. Our list of the top-10 performing business cards is based on several factors, including credit requirements, annual and balance transfer fees, APRs, reward opportunities, signup bonuses and additional business features. Finder’s experts provide unbiased, trustworthy evaluations of all business credit cards and providers, not just those we partner with on the site.

What are the best business credit cards?

Best for rewards on office supplies, internet and phone
Ink Business Cashâ„  Credit Card

Ink Business Cashâ„  Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
See offer
on Creditcards.com's secure site
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 5%
Cash back
$750
Welcome offer
The Ink Business Cashâ„  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.
  • Signup bonus. Earn $750 cash bonus after you spend $7,500 in your first 3 months of card membership.
  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on office supply stores and on Internet, cable and phone services on up to $25,000 annually in combined purchases, 1% after that. Also, earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 in combined purchases, 1% after that. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Intro APR period on purchases. Get 12 months of 0% intro APR on purchases. A variable APR of 13.24% to 19.24% applies thereafter.
  • No balance transfer offer. No 0% intro APR period on balance transfers.
  • Foreign transaction fees. Incur a 3% transaction fee on all purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants.
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

Brex 30 Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.9 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-850)
Apply now
on Brex's secure site
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 8x
Points
Other
Points 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.
  • No personal liability. This card doesn't require personal liability, a credit score, social security number or security deposits. In case your company fails, your personal assets won't be touched to pay off the card's debt.
  • Earn rewards. Earn 1x points on all of your purchases. Boost your rewards when you make Brex your exclusive company card. This will make you earn 8x points on rideshares, 5x points on travel booked through Brex Travel, 4x on dining, 3x on recurring software and software as a service and 1x points on everything else you buy.
  • Signup bonus. With this card, you don't earn the standard credit card bonus when you meet the spend requirements. Instead, you get up to $150,000 worth of services right off the bat, including $5,000 in credit for Amazon Web Services, a 25% subscription discount of up to $375 for Salesforce, $436 credits per month for 12 months for Zendesk and more.
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 8x points on rideshares, 5x on Brex Travel, 4x at restaurants, 3x on software subscriptions and 1x points on all other purchases

Best for unlimited cash back
Ink Business Unlimitedâ„  Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimitedâ„  Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
See offer
on Creditcards.com's secure site
Rates & fees
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 Unlimitedâ„  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.
  • Cash back. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
  • Signup bonus. Earn $750 cash bonus after you spend $7,500 in your first 3 months when you open your account.
  • Intro APR period on purchases. Get 12 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases from the day you open your account. After that, a variable APR of 13.24% to 19.24% applies.
  • Foreign transaction fees. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.
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

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
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.
  • Signup bonus. Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months when you open your account. This can be worth $1,250 when you redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • Reward points. Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 spent per year in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. After reaching the cap and on all other purchases, you earn 1x points.
  • Points transfer. You can transfer your points in 1:1 ratio with Chase's travel partners, including British Airways, Southwest Airlines, IHG hotels and Marriott.
  • Annual fee. The card costs $95 annually.
  • No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers.
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

Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850)
Read review
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.
  • Signup bonus. Get a $300 statement credit bonus after you spend $3,000 in your first 90 days of account opening.
  • Cash back. Earn 3% cash back on a category of your choice: gas, office supplies, travel, telecom and wireless services, computer services and business consulting services. Earn 2% cash back on dining and 1% back on everything else you buy. However, there's a cap of $50,000 in combined purchases in the 3% and 2% categories each year, after that you'll earn 1% back.
  • Potentially more cashback rewards. Get up to 75% bonus cash back on all purchases if you're a Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum member.
  • No balance transfer offer. No 0% intro APR period on balance transfers.
  • Foreign transaction fees. Incur a 3% foreign transaction fee for purchases made abroad of with foreign merchants.
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

U.S. Bank Business Platinum logo
Finder Rating: 3.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
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.
  • Intro APR. Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, reverting to a variable APR of 11.99% to 20.99%.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • Spending controls. You can adjust spending on your employee cards, including their due dates and spending limits.
  • No rewards. This card doesn't feature any rewards for your spending.
  • Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 3% fee on purchases made abroad, making this card not ideal for travel.
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

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$595
Annual fee
Up to 5x
Points
120,000
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.
  • Global Lounge Collection. Get access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, including the Centurion Lounge, International American Express lounges and Delta Sky Club when flying Delta. To get access to Priority Pass Select, Airspace and Escape lounges, you'll need to enroll first.
  • Welcome offer. Spend $15,000 on purchases in your first 3 months of card membership and get 120,000 bonus points. This is one of the higher welcome offers on the market.
  • Membership rewards. Get 5x points on prepaid hotels and flights through Amex Travel and 1x points on everything else you buy. For purchases of 5,000 and more, you'll get 1.5x points up to 1 million points per year.
  • High annual fee. This is one of the more expensive business cards with a $595 annual fee.
  • Need to pay your balance in full each month. You'll need to pay your balance off at the end of each month if it isn't eligible for 'Pay Over Time.'
Annual Fee $595
Purchase APR
Balance transfer APR
Welcome offer 120,000 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

Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-579)
Read review
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.
  • Build credit. Build your business credit and graduate to an unsecured card with responsible card use.
  • Potentially high credit limit. Deposit between $500 and $25,000 to act as your credit line.
  • Cash back. Get 1.5% cash back on all purchases or 1x points plus bonus points when you spend or more per billing cycle.
  • Requires secured deposit. You can only use the card if you make a secured deposit to act as your credit line.
  • No intro APR on purchases. Any purchases you make on this card will begin accruing interest at the standard rate.
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

Ramp Visa® Commercial Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
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.
  • Ramp savings. Ramp will analyze your business spending and identify areas where your business may save, such as by eliminating redundant software subscriptions.
  • Signup bonus. Ramp's unique signup bonus structure offers up to 18 different bonuses. These offers are through companies that can prove helpful to a growing business, such as Plaid or Twilio.
  • Rewards.Earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
  • Charge card. Ramp Visa® Commercial Card is a charge card, which means you'll need to pay off your statement balance at the end of each month.
  • Concrete signup bonuses. There isn't a 'general' signup bonus to choose from with the Ramp Visa® Commercial Card. If one of the 18 offers don't fit your needs, then you're out of luck.
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

Best for payment flexibility
The Plum Card® from American Express

The Plum Card® from American Express logo
Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
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.
  • Long grace period. You'll enjoy a 60-day grace period on purchases, so long as you pay at least 10% of your balance by the listed due date.
  • Payment discounts. If you pay your balance off within 10 days of closing date, you'll receive a 1.5% discount on your payment.
  • No annual fee on additional cards. Any additional employee cards you use won't be charged an annual fee.
  • Balances can't carry past the grace period. While you have a 60-day grace period when used correctly, balances must ultimately be paid in full before the end of that period.
  • High annual fee. The The Plum Card® from American Express has a surprisingly large annual fee of $250 after the intro year.
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

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.

Compare all business credit cards

If you don’t see an option that fits your financial needs on our list of best business credit cards, you can compare even more options. Take a look at other available business credit cards to find something that suits your company finances.
See all cards

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:

  1. Consider why 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Pick a card suited to the health of your business and finances. You’ll find a few business cards on the market that don’t require a personal guarantee. This is especially valuable for startups or other businesses that are taking some risks. If your business doesn’t survive, you won’t be help liable for expenses made on your business credit card.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Start earning rewards. If you opened a business card with rewards, use it on business expenses to start earning rewards.
  3. 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.

Can I apply for a business credit card without a business?

Yes. To apply for most business credit cards without a business, you need to meet the following requirements.

  • Have an income as a freelancer or by running an online shop outside of your employment.
  • Select sole proprietor in your credit card application.
  • Use your own Social Security number as a tax ID or EIN.

    • Should I get a business credit card as a freelancer?

    The main benefit to getting a business card as a freelancer 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

    You asked, we listened: Top 3 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 three most common questions we receive on the subject.

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

    Learn the details of our methodology and scoring.

    More guides on Finder

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