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The best cash back business credit cards earn bonus rewards for business spending. Many come with no annual fee and offer generous introductory offers. These cards can also build business credit while offering perks like business tools, travel insurance and consumer protections.
Business credit cards help businesses track spending more efficiently and earn more rewards over time. If you’re a business owner considering a business card to earn rewards, here are our best cash back business credit cards.
Top cash back business credit cards
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This card is a smart choice for business owners who want a straightforward card with no annual fee. You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027). The signup bonus is at an all-time high: earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and a solid intro APR offer on purchases.
However, if you want to transfer points to Chase airline and hotel partners, you must pair this card with one of Chase’s premium cards. Also, if you have higher spending and don’t mind annual fees, you can get higher rewards rates with other cards.
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Pros
- This card has no annual fee, making it a solid choice for small businesses.
- It offers a competitive intro APR for purchases and a low APR after.
Cons
- You’ll need a premium Chase card if you want to use Chase travel partners.
- You can earn higher rates and bonuses with other cards.
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This charge card offers heavy-spending business owners extensive buying power with no preset spending limit and an annual fee refund each year you spend $150,000 or more. You’ll earn a flat 2% cash back rate on all purchases, which can grow your earnings quickly.
The welcome offer offers a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. With such a high spending requirement and the need to pay the balance in full every month, this card is not ideal for smaller businesses or if you need to finance purchases to free up cash flow.
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Pros
- No preset spending limit gives extensive purchasing power to higher spenders.
- This card is excellent if your business spends enough to offset the annual fee.
Cons
- Charge cards must be paid in full, making this not useful for carrying a balance.
- The welcome offer has very high spending requirements, which might cause you to overspend.
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This is the ideal no annual fee business card if you spend heavily on cable and phone services, internet or office supplies, earning 5% cash back. You’ll also earn 2% on dining and gas each account anniversary year. However, this rate is capped at $25,000 in combined spending in both categories. This means you have a total spending cap of $50,000 among your highest rewards categories.
The welcome offer is identical to the Ink Business Unlimited, making this a better option for business owners who can maximize the top bonus categories. If your spending needs exceed the spending caps, consider a card to pair with this for a potent combination.
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Pros
- This card has high reward-earning potential for no annual fee.
- The welcome offer is competitive and can quickly boost cash back earnings.
Cons
- Spending caps may limit the usefulness of this card for higher-spending businesses.
- Bonus categories might not work for some business owners.
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This no annual fee card is for businesses that can use the card’s customizable 3% bonus categories. You can swap bonus categories each calendar month, which adds versatility in earning cash back based on your needs. However, it has an annual spending cap of $50,000 combined between your choice category and dining each calendar year.
The card offers a decent sign-up bonus and an intro APR period for purchases. You can also boost earnings with the Preferred Rewards for Business program. The more money you hold with Bank of America, the higher your earnings are boosted, for a maximum of 5.25% in your choice category. While the spending caps could be a limiting factor, this card offers excellent value and flexibility.
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Pros
- Flexible bonus categories allow business owners more ways to maximize their earnings.
- The card offers high earnings in the choice category for no annual fee.
Cons
- The spending cap might not be enough for larger-spending businesses.
- The Preferred Rewards program for Business is separate from the personal cardholder program, meaning you’ll need money in business accounts to boost earnings.
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This card is for small-business owners with less-than-ideal credit history, giving access to an unsecured line of credit and the chance to earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It also offers free employee cards and discounts on business essentials.
If you need to build credit, this is a great option — but if your credit is good, you’ll want to explore better cards.
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Pros
- Business owners with fair credit can use this card to help build credit.
- This card has no annual or foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- There are far superior cards for business owners with good to excellent credit.
- This card has a high APR compared to rival cards.
Comparing the best cash back business credit cards
| Card Name | Best for | Annual fee | Recommended credit score | Rewards earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | No annual fee | $0 | Good to Excellent (670 – 850) |
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| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Big spenders | $150 | Excellent (740 – 850) |
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| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Office supply stores | $0 | Good to Excellent (670 – 850) |
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Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card* |
Flexible bonus categories | $0 | Excellent (740 – 850) |
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| Capital One Spark Classic for Business* | Fair credit | $0 | Fair to Good (580 – 740) |
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How to choose a cash back business card
Finding the best cash back business credit card is challenging when there are so many business cards to choose from. The most significant factor is how to get the most value in return from your spending, such as welcome offers, bonus categories and additional features. Consider the following as you decide.
- Evaluate the welcome offer. The best business cards offer sign-up bonuses and intro APR offers to make opening an account with them more attractive. A better initial offer can be the deciding factor between cards. However, always ensure you can meet the minimum spending requirement through your regular business spending.
- Compare earning categories. Get cards that reward you where you spend the most. While there is no correct answer for all businesses, your spending needs can dictate which cards work best for you.
- Look closely at cardholder benefits. Decide which cardholder perks you want the most. Some of the best business credit cards offer free employee cards, expense-tracking features, QuickBooks integration and more. Others may provide travel perks or annual fee refunds.
- Consider rates and fees. Think about how much your business spends and how much it can pay off each month. If you need to carry a balance, consider a business credit card with 0% APR offers on purchases or with a low-interest rate. You’ll also want to compare annual fees, remembering that cards with the best perks and rewards often have higher fees.
- Check eligibility requirements. Find the minimum credit score needed to qualify for a card, and check your credit score to see where you stand. While generally a business credit card may not impact your personal credit, there are exceptions, and issuers may consider your personal credit score when you apply.
Maximizing your cash back business card
Getting the maximum return on your cash back business card comes down to making sure you are getting the biggest return on your business spending. Here are some tips:
- Take advantage of perks. Look at your card’s benefits and perks. Purchase protections, bonuses in specific categories, milestone spending incentives or any other added business or travel perks increase a card’s value, so make sure you make use of them.
- Make your payments. Pay your bill in full each month to avoid interest charges and penalty fees. These add up quickly and will easily wipe out the value of any rewards you earn. This is a good rule of thumb. Also, if your card has an intro APR offer, try to pay your balance by the end of that term.
- Pair cards together. See how potential cards pair with other cards you already have. Make sure cards don’t repeat the same benefits or categories. The best card portfolio functions like a team. Ideally, you want something to cover every expense with at least some bonus. A good example would be pairing a flat-rate cash back card with a card earning in specific bonus categories where your business spends frequently. That combination would cover most of your purchases with bonus earnings, giving you the best returns.
The bottom line
When looking for the right cash back business credit card, evaluating your spending needs is possibly the most important factor. But you might also consider welcome offers and other perks to assist with your initial decision. Plus, certain cards may pair better with ones you already have.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing the best card. Before signing up for a new cash back business credit card, compare the top options to find the best card for your spending needs.
Frequently asked questions about cash back business cards
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Cash back rewards earned from credit card spending are not considered taxable. Since you must make a purchase to earn rewards, the IRS considers them a rebate or a discount instead of income. However, if rewards are given without any spending, those could be considered taxable. Consult a tax professional if you are unsure about any type of reward.
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Using your business credit card for personal spending is technically not illegal. However, it could potentially violate the terms and conditions of your card agreement, which can come with severe consequences, such as account closure. It also makes it more challenging to track your business expenses and can have tax implications. It’s best not to make a habit of putting personal expenses on a business card.
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Ideally, you’ll find a 2% cash back card with bonus categories. A flat-rate card is a simple option, but that plus bonus rewards makes for a more useful card. But what’s considered best for one might not be for another. The best overall card for your business is the one that best meets your needs.
*Information about the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® and Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business credit card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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