Business rewards credit cards come with some of the same types of rewards you’d expect from a personal credit card, but in many cases, those rewards are even greater. You can also expect most of the rewards you receive to be tailored specifically for the needs of your business.
For example, if you operate a large office, you might want to consider a card that gives you points toward office supplies purchases. Likewise, if traveling is a big part of how you do business, a business travel rewards card can help you save significantly on your travel expenses.
What Are the Best Business Credit Cards for Rewards?
Every credit card comes with its unique perks. A few of the most popular rewards for businesses are cash back rewards, travel rewards, rewards for dining and rewards for necessary business expenses, such as office supplies.
The business rewards card you choose depends entirely on your business. Many business owners prefer a card that enables them to re-invest in their business or at least save money on necessary costs. Of course, there’s something to be said for perks. If you often travel for business, you’ll want a card that rewards you for booking flights and staying in hotels — but it might not hurt to have access to luxury airport lounges around the world, either.
Most business rewards cards require either you or your business to have a good or excellent credit score just to be considered for approval. There are some business reward cards available for applicants with bad credit, but many of them require a deposit or some other type of collateral. They likely won’t have as robust rewards programs as other cards, either.
Here are the best business rewards credit cards for 2021:
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — Travel Rewards
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® — Entertainment and Dining
- Discover it® Business Card — Simple Rewards
- Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business — Cash Back
- Brex Card for Startups — Reward Points
- Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card — Office Supply Rewards
Best Business Credit Card for Travel Rewards
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
At first, you might balk at the $595 annual fee for the Business Platinum Card®. But dig a little deeper and you’ll learn that there is no better card on the market for business travel. If you frequently travel for business, you’ll more than make up for that annual fee in savings, credits and rewards, and you’ll enjoy some great perks along the way.
With this card, you can earn 5 times the Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels when you book through amextravel.com. You’ll also get 50% more points on purchases of $5,000 or more, and you can reclaim 35% of those points if you use them for flights and airfare.
If you’re a business traveler, you’re already aware of how difficult a long layover can be. With this card, one of the key benefits is access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection*, a network of 1,200 airport lounges around the world. If you must wait for a flight, why not wait in luxury and comfort?
*Note: Some Centurion and Delta Sky Club lounges have been temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Best Business Credit Card for Entertainment and Dining
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard®
If taking clients out to lunch is a big part of your business, you’ll want a card that rewards you for picking up the tab at the end of the meal. The Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® has some great cash back perks in general, but its rewards are particularly attractive for business dining.
First, you can earn 3% cash back on 1 of 6 categories, including travel, office supply stores and gas stations. You also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
But you always earn 2% cash back on dining. With this card, you won’t have to worry about selecting dining as a category and sacrificing cash back rewards on other important purchases. The card has no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR.
Best Business Credit Card for Simple Rewards
As a business owner, you have several demands on your time and attention and probably can’t closely monitor the points, rewards and deals associated with your business credit card. If you want rewards without the hassle, the Discover it® Business Card is an excellent choice.
You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every dollar you spend with the card, regardless of the purchase. Your rewards never expire, and you’ll earn a dollar-for-dollar match for all the cash back you receive at the end of your first year with the card. The card has no annual fee, and you can add cards for your employees as you see fit.
Best Business Credit Card with Cash Back Rewards
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
Capital One’s Spark® Cash for Business card includes simple rewards just like the Discover it® Business Card, but its cash back features are much more substantial. With this card, you’ll get 2% cash back on all purchases. The card comes with no annual fee for the first year. After that, it’s just $95 each year. The card has a variable APR of 20.99% for purchases. You can add as many employee cards as you’d like for free, and your cash back rewards never expire while your account is open.
Best Business Credit Card for Reward Points
The Brex Card for Startups is unique in that it requires no personal guarantee from business owners. However, this card is designed for well-funded startups, so it might not be easy to get if you have a small business. Brex is also somewhat secretive about what qualifies businesses for the card, but they seem to cater directly to technology companies, ecommerce companies and life sciences companies.
If you do qualify for the Brex card, it’s a powerhouse when it comes to rewards points. For example, tech companies that use the Brex card earn 7 times the rewards points on rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft, 4 times the rewards points on flights and hotel stays when you book with Brex, 3 times the rewards on restaurants, 2 times the rewards on recurring software purchases like subscriptions and 1 times the rewards on every other purchase.
On top of all that, you can also get discounts on important technology purchases, including software and digital ad purchases. Your first 5 cards are free, and each additional card is just $5 per month, per user. There are no annual fees. The Brex card is part of the World Elite Mastercard® program, too, so it’s accepted almost everywhere.
Best Business Credit Card for Office Rewards
Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
The Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card is another popular cash back card, but it’s particularly suited to businesses that purchase a lot of office supplies.
First, you’ll earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months. But Ink’s best feature is the 5% cash back you earn on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each anniversary year.
You’ll also earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There are no limits on the amount you can earn with 1% cash back.
There’s no annual fee, you can add employee cards for no additional costs and you can redeem rewards for gift cards, travel and other perks other than cash back, if you choose.
Getting Your Next Business Rewards Credit Card
Your first step should be to identify which type of rewards program will work best for your business. There’s no reason to sign up for a business rewards card if you aren’t going to use the perks. Once you do that, you can sign up for one of the cards above or shop elsewhere to find the perfect card for your needs.
Most business credit cards require you to pay down your balance each month, so you might not be in the market for a new line of credit if you’re already struggling with cash flow. But if you’re significantly spending on office supplies, travel expenses or wining and dining clients, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of some of these rewards programs.
