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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Just as with personal credit cards, there’s a range of factors to consider before deciding if a business credit or charge card is right for you. Use the table above to compare UK business credit cards and find the lowest rates and fees.
Business credit cards are designed to suit the financial needs of different types of companies, ranging from small startups to major corporations. These cards allow you to keep your business and personal expenses separate, assign cards to employees, manage your cash flow, track your finances and earn rewards.
Just as with personal credit cards, certain providers focus on specific card types. To find the most suitable credit card for your business, delve into what different cards do. Here are some of the most popular business credit card categories in the UK.
With cashback credit cards, you earn cashback every time you use your business card. Cashback is usually paid into your business current account, so you can use it as you wish. Why not use it to treat your team to lunch?
Many of these cards come with an annual fee and may also offer added rewards or perks, such as travel insurance. They don’t tend to have the most competitive APRs, so they’re best for businesses that plan to use the credit card heavily, to maximise their cashback, and then pay back the balance in full every month.
These cards reward you for paying with a credit card, usually offering reward points for every £1 spent on eligible purchases. A business credit card with rewards will let you earn points on your work spending (potentially even on your PPC spending).
It’s important to remember that these cards usually come with higher annual fees and interest rates though, so, like cashback cards, these are best for businesses that plan to use the credit card quite heavily and pay back the balance in full every month. What’s more, you’ll need to make sure that the value of the rewards outweighs the fee.
These cards can offer a credit facility to your company even if a few funding issues in the past mean that your company’s credit score is less than ideal – for example if you’ve repeatedly missed credit repayments in the past.
Bad credit credit cards tend to have a high interest rate, so you must clear your card balance in full every month. Using a bad credit credit card correctly for a while will help your business rebuild its credit history and improve its credit score.
This is a particular type of rewards business credit card which will be linked to an existing frequent flyer programme, such as Avios. Some frequent flyer schemes are tied to a specific airline, while others allow you to get points which can be redeemed at a number of airlines.
This kind of business credit card can be particularly lucrative for companies that do a lot of travelling, but as these are rewards cards which may have a higher APR, it’s best to clear the balance in full each month.
These credit cards charge no interest on your purchases for a few months, allowing you more time and flexibility to pay for them: ideal if your company needs to spread the cost of a major purchase, or if it’s expecting to spend more than usual for a few months. Unlike with personal 0% purchase cards, the introductory deal won’t usually be super long, but if you need to buy, say, a piece of equipment, it’ll give you a bit more time to even out your cash flow. Don’t forget to make a note in your calendar of when the 0% period ends, because that’s when your balance will go back to accruing interest.
These business credit cards have low standard variable interest rates for purchases and can give companies a more affordable option if they need to pay off spending over a longer period of time. This makes them a good choice for small businesses, businesses with seasonal or otherwise variable revenue, or any businesses that want a credit card on hand for any unexpected costs.
Some business credit cards with low rates even extend the same standard interest rate to cover purchases, cash advances and balance transfers. Additionally, a number of these business credit cards with low rates come with a minimal annual fee.
Fees for spending in a currency other than pounds sterling can be as much as 3%. That means if you make a £500 foreign transaction, you’ll be charged £15 in fees. If you do a lot of business abroad, that can quickly add up. With a travel business credit card, making payments abroad is free; and some also offer reward points for your spending. Travel credit cards can also offer fee-free cash withdrawals, but keep in mind that interest is usually charged from the moment you get your cash.
Unlike personal credit cards, business credit cards are designed for work spending and many include features such as additional cards for employees, customisable spending limits for different users and expense tracking. Some business credit cards may even have analytics tools to help with business reporting and budgeting.
But in most other ways, business credit cards are similar to personal credit cards. With either option, you’ll get access to funds up to a specified limit and be able to pay off what you spend over time (with interest charges). They both also have annual fees and interest rates, as well as perks such as rewards or complimentary insurance.
A charge card is an alternative to a business credit card and acts as a short term (usually monthly) loan to a business for items you buy which are charged to the card. These cards allow you to defer payment until the end of the statement period, when you must pay off the account in full. Interest rates don’t apply but many providers apply a hefty late fee.
Business charge cards are designed for organisations that can clear their balance each billing cycle, which is typically between 25 and 51 days. If you are looking to borrow funds over a longer period, business credit cards may offer more flexibility.
Despite having a different account structure, charge cards share features with traditional credit cards, including expense tracking tools, supplementary cards, rewards programmes and complimentary extras.
Full guide to business charge cards
If you or your team frequently use company vehicles or rental cars as part of their day-to-day job, it’s worth considering getting a fuel card. Fuel cards are a simplified form of business charge cards that can only be used to purchase petrol and related products, and generally offer discounts on fuel. They are popular with transport companies or those with multiple company cars as they let drivers pay for their fuel costs without having to give them a full-featured credit card.
Comparing business credit cards side-by-side allows you to find an option that is suited to your business’s specific needs. Some of the core factors to compare when weighing up business credit cards include:
The card you need depends largely on the spending habits of your business. If your business uses a credit card to purchase flights, and regularly pays it off, then a frequent flyer card might offer competitive value. On the other hand, if your business needs the card primarily for borrowing, look for a low-interest rate, low fee and/or interest-free days. Business cards offering a lot of “bells and whistles” may seem appealing, but ask yourself if they will have a positive impact on your bottom line.
Interest rates can vary hugely from card to card. Some cards charge the same rate for all transactions and others apply different rates depending on whether the transaction is a purchase, cash advance or balance transfer.
Business credit cards feature a range of fees and charges. Some of the most common include:
Business credit cards offer an interest-free period on purchases – usually around 55 or 56 days – provided you pay your balance in full by the statement due date. This can offer valuable short term cash flow flexibility. Note that non-sterling transactions and cash advances will usually be exempt from this perk.
Business credit cards generally have minimum payments of 2% to 4% of the outstanding balance, unless they are charge cards, in which case they need to be paid in full each statement cycle.
These may include:
When comparing business credit cards, check if you need to sign a personal guarantee to be approved. This is more likely if your business has a limited credit history and means you’ll be personal liable for the debt if your business can’t repay it. ”
Business credit card providers, such as Capital on Tap, have an eligibility verification tool on their website. Currently, you can only assess your eligibility for specific cards on the issuer’s site and you can’t yet check multiple card issuers in one go.
If you’re interested in getting a business credit card, the first step is to compare a range of options to find one that is convenient and affordable for your business. Once you have found one, you can usually apply online. Before you apply for a credit card, you’ll need to make sure that you meet the following eligibility requirements and have organised the necessary documents to complete the application:
Much like personal credit cards, cardholders will need to be over 18 and residents of the UK. More often than not, your business needs to be UK-based too. Some lenders will also stipulate a minimum annual turnover and how many years you’ve been trading for. While cards are available for pretty much any size and kind of company, lenders may have specific products for specific categories of businesses (for example sole traders, limited companies, self-employed and freelancers).
The details you’ll be asked to provide vary depending on the card, but generally include:
If you’re approved, you could have your card in as few as 5-10 business days (depending on the account and issuer). You can then activate the card, and start using it for your business.
With expense tracking features, additional cards, interest free periods and reward options, credit cards can be a convenient option for both big and small businesses. Now that you know more about them, you can compare your options and find a product that suits your business’ needs.
Business credit cards are only one element to help manage your business’s cash flow. When it comes to streamlining payments, a business card machine can be a game-changer for any company.
So if your business requires taking payment transactions, having a dedicated card machine to process payments swiftly and securely could avoid the hassle of manual inputs and also help free up your accounts team’s time that could be put back into the business.
Card payment devices also provide valuable insights through detailed transaction data, enabling better financial management and informed decision-making for your business. You can compare a range of card machines via our guide.
Lowest representative APR | 14.9% |
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Longest 0% purchases offer | 6 months |
Longest 0% money transfer offer | 14 months |
Lowest cash advance | 13.9% |
Highest credit limit | £250,000 |
Highest cashback earn-rate | 2% |
Highest introductory bonus offer | 120,000 points |
We asked cardholders to rate their satisfaction with service, and whether they’d recommend their card issuer to a friend. We’ve shown both for each brand in the table below. Our independent survey of 400 card customers was carried out in December 2023. The table is ordered by the percentage of customers who said they’d recommend the brand to a friend.
Card issuer | Logo | Overall satisfaction | Would recommend | Review | Link |
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Allied Irish Bank (GB) | ★★★★★ | 97% | Allied Irish Bank (GB) was the winner in this year’s awards, scoring 4.6 out of 5 stars for overall customer satisfaction and receiving a recommendation score of 97%. Allied Irish Bank offers both standard and premium business cards, the latter of which come with extra customer benefits such as travel perks. | See the range | |
American Express | ★★★★★ | 100% | American Express was highly commended in this year’s awards with an overall customer satisfaction score of 4.4 out of 5 stars and a recommendation score of 100%. It offers a range of business credit and charge cards, helping customers manage their company’s cash flow, often while earning exclusive card rewards. | See the range | |
Lloyds Bank | ★★★★★ | 97% | Lloyds Bank offers a business credit card with relatively low interest rates and flexible repayment options. It received an overall satisfaction score of 4.4 out of 5 stars and a recommendation score of 97% from its customer in our survey. | Read our review | |
Bank of Scotland | ★★★★★ | 97% | Bank of Scotland’s business credit card offers a credit limit of up to £10,000 and you can get up to 20 additional cards for your employees (subject to an annual fee per card). The provider scored 4.3 out of 5 stars for overall customer satisfaction. | Read our review | |
Santander | ★★★★★ | 94% | Santander offers a flexible business cashback credit card with a reasonable annual fee. It received an overall satisfaction score of 4.2 out of 5 stars from its customers in our survey. | Read our review | |
Barclaycard | ★★★★★ | 92% | Barclaycard offers business credit cards to suit a range of business needs, with a variety of benefits and perks. It scored 4.2 out of 5 stars, with its customers in our survey praising the brand’s customer service. | See the range | |
HSBC | ★★★★★ | 95% | One of the world’s largest banks, HSBC offers a competitive interest-free period and purchase rate with its business credit card. Barclays received an overall business card customer satisfaction score of 4.1 out of 5 stars. | Read our review | |
Allstar | ★★★★★ | 93% | Allstar offers a business credit card as an all-in-one card, combining a regular business credit card with a fuel card. The provider scored 4.1 out of 5 stars for overall customer satisfaction. | Read our review | |
Capital on Tap | ★★★★★ | 90% | Capital on Tap offers a versatile everyday credit card, with the opportunity to earn rewards. Its customers in our survey gave the brand 4 out of 5 stars for overall satisfaction, citing the card’s ease of use. | See the range | |
Royal Bank of Scotland | ★★★★★ | 94% | Royal Bank of Scotland offers its business banking customers a straightforward credit card with a competitive purchase rate. It scored 3.9 out of 5 stars for overall customer satisfaction. | Read our review | |
NatWest | ★★★★★ | 92% | NatWest’s range of credit cards for its existing business customers come with a variety of features and benefits. Its business card customers in our survey scored NatWest 3.9 out of 5 stars for overall satisfaction. | See the range | |
Juni | ★★★★★ | 71% | Juni’s charge card offers 1% cashback on eligible spend and helps you keep track of your ad spend. Juni rounds out our customer satisfaction league table this year, with a score of 3.4 out of 5 stars. | Read our review |
Response | % of respondents |
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Very satisfied | 37.75% |
Reasonably satisfied | 45.25% |
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied | 12.50% |
Moderately dissatisfied | 3.25% |
Highly dissatisfied | 1.25% |
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.
To find out more, read our full methodology.
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
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Learn how to make the most of your business credit card with our expert tips on how to use it to improve your company’s cash flow.
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