11 Best Credit Cards for Business Expenses

Earning Structure:

• 2X miles on all purchases
• 10X miles on bookings at luxury hotels through the Premier Hotel Collection

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $30,000 within the first three months after opening your account.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $395
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Credit Line: Flexible and adjusts to business spending
• Travel Credit: Up to $300 annually
• Other Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $120)

Key Benefits:

• Access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges
• 24/7 business customer service
• Travel accident insurance and rental car coverage
• No preset spending limit for flexible purchasing power

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel bookings, statement credits toward travel purchases, or transferred to several airline and hotel partners.

Credit Requirements:

This card requires good to excellent credit, as it is targeted at established business owners with strong credit histories.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The high spending requirement for the welcome bonus may be difficult for smaller businesses to meet. The annual fee is also higher compared to other business cards.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers a simple flat-rate earning structure and travel perks that can benefit new business owners who are ready to invest in travel and growth.

Earning Structure:

• 3 points per dollar on travel and dining
• 3 points per dollar on advertising purchases through platforms like social media
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Cardholders can earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $30,000 in the first 6 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $795
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Lounge Access: Includes over 1,300 lounges, including Chase Sapphire Lounges
• Additional Credits: Google Workspace, ZipRecruiter, and Giftcards.com credits included

Key Benefits:

• Premium travel perks and lounge access
• Valuable annual credits that offset fees
• High earning rates on key business categories
• Travel and purchase protections

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credits, or transferred to airline and hotel partners.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants usually need excellent credit for approval.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The $795 annual fee can be challenging for businesses that don’t make full use of the credits and rewards.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It’s ideal for new business owners who travel often and want to earn rewards on expenses while enjoying premium benefits.

Earning Structure:

• 3X points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising purchases on social media and search engines
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $95
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Protections: Includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance and cell phone protection
• Redemption Boost: 25% more value when points are redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Key Benefits:

• High rewards on important business categories
• Points transfer to multiple airline and hotel partners
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Cell phone protection when paid with the card

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel at a value of 1.25 cents each through Chase Ultimate Rewards or transferred to travel partners for better value.

Credit Requirements:

The card requires good to excellent credit for approval.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The card’s $95 fee may not be worth it for businesses with low spending in bonus categories.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers straightforward rewards and benefits that help new business owners maximize returns on typical expenses.

Earning Structure:

• 4X Membership Rewards points on the 2 categories where the business spends the most each month (from a list of 6 categories)
• 1X points on other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $375
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Spending Flexibility: No preset spending limit accommodates variable business expenses
• Expense Tools: Works with QuickBooks for automatic expense tracking

Key Benefits:

• Earn high rewards on top business spending categories
• Flexible spending limit adapts to business needs
• Access to premium travel and business perks
• Expense management tools integrated with accounting software

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credits, or transferred to various airline and hotel partners.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit, with a FICO score of 690 or higher.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The card’s rewards structure favors businesses with large or category-specific spending patterns. The annual fee may be high for some small businesses.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The Business Gold Card helps beginners earn rewards on common business expenses while offering flexibility in spending and useful expense tracking tools.

Earning Structure:

• 2 miles per dollar on every purchase
• 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Employee Cards: Free to add
• Other Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit up to $100 every 4 years

Key Benefits:

• Easy, flat-rate miles on all spending
• Higher miles on travel bookings through Capital One
• Flexible rewards that don’t expire
• Customizable employee spending controls

Redemption Options:

Miles can be redeemed for flights, hotels, rental cars, statement credits against travel purchases, or transferred to travel partners.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants generally need good to excellent credit to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

This card has no spending category limits but may not offer the highest rewards in some specific business categories.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It is simple to use with no complicated bonus categories, making it easy for new business owners to earn rewards on all purchases without the extra effort.

Earning Structure:

• 2% unlimited cash back on every purchase
• No caps or category restrictions

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $2,000 cash back after spending $30,000 in the first three months, plus $2,000 more for every additional $500,000 spent within the first year.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $150 (refunded if you spend $150,000 or more annually)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Spending Limit: No preset spending limit
• Employee Cards: Free

Key Benefits:

• Flat-rate 2% cash back
• Annual fee refund when spending $150,000 or more yearly
• Access to a dedicated business relationship manager (for eligible businesses)
• Easy-to-use rewards without tracking categories

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as statement credits, checks, or direct deposits to your bank account.

Credit Requirements:

Strong credit is typically required to qualify for this card.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

This card requires full payment each month, so it may not be ideal for businesses needing to carry a balance.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers a straightforward rewards structure without complicated categories, making it easy for new business owners to earn and redeem cash back.

Earning Structure:

• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1.5X points on purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, along with electronics retailers
• 1X point on other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points by spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months. Higher targeted offers may be available.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $695
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Employee Cards: $350 per Business Platinum user; expense cards are free
• Statement Credits: Up to $1,150 annually (including credits for Dell, Adobe, Indeed, and more)
• Travel Perks: Global Lounge Collection access, Complimentary Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold status
• Other Features: Airport fee credits, CLEAR® Plus, rental car elite benefits

Key Benefits:

• Up to $200 in annual travel credits
• Access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and more
• Fee credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• 35% points rebate when using points for flights booked with Amex

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, gift cards, statement credits, or transferred to frequent flyer programs.

Credit Requirements:

Requires excellent business credit and personal FICO score—typically 700+—plus strong financial standing.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The high annual fee makes it less suitable for businesses with low travel expenses or small spending. Maximizing benefits requires active use.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It supports business growth by offering valuable travel perks and credits, though beginners should be ready to spend enough to justify the fee.

Earning Structure:

• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
• No limit on the amount of cash back earned

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then variable 17.49%–23.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each USD transaction
• Employee Cards: Free additional cards with spending limits set by the primary account

Key Benefits:

• Unlimited flat-rate cash back
• No category restrictions or caps
• Easy to use for all types of business expenses
• Strong signup bonus
• No annual cost to hold the card

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as statement credits, direct deposits, gift cards, or travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need a credit score of 700 or higher to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The flat 1.5% cash back rate is lower than some cards offering higher rewards in specific categories.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its straightforward rewards program and no annual fee help new business card users manage expenses easily.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services
• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at gas stations and restaurants
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn up to $750 cash back—$350 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional $400 after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then variable 17.49%–25.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
• Employee Cards: Free to add, with customizable spending limits

Key Benefits:

• Higher cash back on essential business categories
• No fee for adding employee cards
• Chase Pay Over Time offers flexible payment plans
• Rewards earn Ultimate Rewards points that can be converted to cash

Redemption Options:

Rewards can be redeemed as cash back, gift cards, travel, or statement credits through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit, usually a score of 670 or higher.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% and 2% cash back categories have an annual spending cap of $25,000, after which rewards drop to 1%.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It has no annual fee and a 0% APR period that reduces upfront costs, making it straightforward and cost-effective for new business owners.

Earning Structure:

• 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases annually
• 1 point per dollar on all purchases over $50,000

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of card membership.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then variable 17.49%–27.49%
• Spending Buffer: No preset spending limit, with coverage for occasional overspending
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Key Benefits:

• Flat-rate rewards make earning points easy to track
• No annual fee reduces cost of ownership
• Intro APR helps with short-term financing needs
• Flexible payment options with Membership Rewards points

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or other purchases. Redeeming for travel usually offers better value than cash back or statement credits.

Credit Requirements:

Requires good to excellent credit—typically with a personal FICO score in the mid-600s or higher.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 2x points rate applies only up to $50,000 in annual spending. After that, the rate drops to 1 point per dollar.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It’s easy to understand, has no annual fee, and includes an intro APR, making it good for new business owners managing early expenses.

Earning Structure:

• 2 miles per $1 spent on United Airlines purchases
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 100,000 bonus miles + 2,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, plus an extra 5,000 miles if you add an authorized user within that period.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $150
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Employee Cards: Free, with employee spending counting toward bonus
• Travel Credits: $125 United TravelBank credit after five United flight purchases of $100+ in a calendar year
• Anniversary Perks: Two United Club one-time passes each year; 5,000 bonus miles annually if paired with a United personal card

Key Benefits:

• Travel credits that offset the annual fee
• Discounts on in-flight purchases like Wi-Fi
• Access to United-specific travel perks
• Helps earn status through PQP

Redemption Options:

Miles can be redeemed for flights, in-flight Wi-Fi, hotel stays, and car rentals through United MileagePlus.

Credit Requirements:

This card requires good credit for approval.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The card comes with an annual fee and works best for those who travel frequently with United Airlines to maximize its value.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It has straightforward rewards and benefits that help new business owners start earning travel perks without complicated requirements.