By admin 
No matter what type of business or side hustle you manage, there’s a great business credit card out there to help you maximize rewards across your business spending.
It all comes down to which categories you spend the most on every month and which cards offer the best rewards in those categories.
Let’s cover some common types of business owners and the cards that will offer the highest long-term earning potential for each.
Comparing the best credit cards for business expenses
Here are our top picks for the best cards to use for your business expenses.
| Credit card | Best for | Welcome offer | Earning rates | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Business | Businesses with high spending | Earn 150,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first three months from account opening |
|
$395 |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Bonus earning | Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening |
|
$95 |
| American Express® Business Gold Card | Flexible rewards | Earn 100,000 bonus points when you spend $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership |
*On up to the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar thereafter). Your top two categories may change, and only the top two categories each billing cycle will count toward the $150,000 cap. |
$375 (see rates and fees) |
| Capital One Spark Miles for Business | Everyday business spending | Earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening |
|
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year; $95 thereafter |
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Unlimited business cash back | Earn a $2,000 cash bonus when you spend $30,000 in the first three months from account opening. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year |
|
$150 |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Travel perks | Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of cardmembership |
|
$695 (see rates and fees) |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Freelancers | Earn $750 in bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening |
|
$0 |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Office supplies | Earn up to $750 in bonus cash back — earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening |
|
$0 |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | No annual fee | Earn 15,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership |
|
$0 (see rates and fees) |
| United℠ Business Card | United Airlines flyers | Earn 125,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening |
|
$150 |
For side hustlers: A flat-earning-rate credit card
You don’t have to own a brick-and-mortar store to apply for a business credit card. Whether you’re a Lyft driver on the weekends or run a small Etsy store in your free time, you can rack up rewards on your business expenses.
If you don’t have a large budget for monthly business purchases, there are two things to look for in a business card: a flat rewards rate and a low annual fee.
Flat rewards aren’t always as lucrative as some tiered rewards structures, but they allow you to earn points or cash back on every purchase — no matter the spending category. Plus, an annual fee usually isn’t worth it unless you spend thousands of dollars monthly on your business card.
The Amex Blue Business Plus and the Ink Business Cash from Chase offer solid flat-rate rewards, and neither charges an annual fee.
These are exceptional options if you also have an eligible American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards card. Both issuers allow cardmembers to pool points between personal and business accounts, so you can combine rewards for maximum redemption value.
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Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?
For office startups: A card with related bonus categories
Multiple business cards offer rewards in spending categories like office supplies and telecommunications services. If you run your business out of an office, you can earn a great return on your everyday business expenses with these cards.
The American Express Business Gold Card offers flexibility. It offers 4 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases from two eligible categories where you spend the most each billing cycle (1 point per dollar thereafter), 3 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The list of potential bonus categories includes purchases with U.S. media providers for advertising in select online, TV and radio media, U.S. purchases with electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, U.S. restaurant purchases including takeout and delivery, U.S. gas stations, transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, buses and subways and monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly with a U.S. telephone service provider.
Plus, the Capital One Venture X Business is another good option here. It earns 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases. This card charges a higher $395 annual fee.
In Capital One’s suite of business cards, the Spark Miles for Business and Spark Cash Plus also stand out as solid cards to earn in travel-related bonus categories, when you transact through the Capital One travel portal.
The Spark Miles for Business will net you 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases for a no annual fee in your first cardmember year, then $95 after that.
The Spark Cash Plus earns an unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2% back on all other purchases for a $150 annual fee.
Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
For retail business owners: A card that offers rewards on advertising
Whether you own a brick-and-mortar boutique or an e-commerce site, chances are you’re spending money each month on advertising your business. Plus, most business cards that offer rewards on advertising also offer rewards in other valuable categories, like U.S. shipping.
Chase’s Ink Business Preferred offers 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 in combined purchases (1 point per dollar thereafter) in categories like travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and advertising.
Just as with the Ink Business Unlimited, you can pool your points with your personal, eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards cards to help maximize earning and redemption potential. The American Express Business Gold Card is also a stellar choice, with advertising with select U.S. media providers as a potential bonus category.
Related: The best credit cards for advertising
For frequent business travelers: A cobranded card
If you travel the same routes multiple times throughout the year, fly on the same airline and/or stay with the same hotel brand, a cobranded business credit card is a great option.
You’ll get bonus points or miles on every dollar spent with the airline or hotel chain associated with the card; you’ll also get additional perks like free checked bags, preferred boarding and easier paths to elite status.
Cobranded business credit cards make it easier to hit elite status, and some come with benefits like lounge access, early boarding, free seat selection and more.
For instance, the United Business Card offers cardholders two one-time United Club passes, priority boarding, a $125 United travel credit and free checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion.
Some cards waive mileage or revenue requirements for elite status after hitting a certain annual spend. Others let you earn elite-qualifying miles or dollars at certain spending thresholds.
A hotel card is a better option if you don’t stick with the same airline when you fly but stay at the same hotel brand often.
It’s important to note some travel cards, such as the Amex Business Platinum, also offer strong perks on hotel stays and airport experiences. This card comes with automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status, plus exceptional lounge access privileges (some benefits require enrollment).
Related: Business cards vs. personal cards: Key differences
Bottom line
Depending on business expenses, the appeal and benefits of the cards mentioned will vary. Regardless, business credit cards are important in managing your business-related finances. Getting rewarded for such expenses can offset upcoming expenses.
Best of all, if you own a personal credit card with the same issuer, you can tap into additional rewards when booking your next trip. Choosing the right business credit card is just as important as a personal card, so reflect on your spending patterns and rewards goals and choose wisely.
Related: How to pick a strategy for your small-business credit cards
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card, click here.