Best Small-Business Credit Cards of 2023

Sponsored content

Find your next business credit card with Nav's marketplace
Get the working capital you need using Nav's easy-to-navigate credit card marketplace.
Business.org has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Business.org and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Business.org’s pick
Chase Ink Business Cash® Card
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Up to 5% cash back on eligible purchases
  • pro
    Intro 0% APR on purchases for 12 mos. (16.99%–22.99% variable APR after)
Business.org’s pick
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Low intro APR for balance transfers
  • pro
    0% intro APR for 15 cycles (17.74%-26.74% variable APR after)
Business.org’s pick
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Flexible credit limit with Expanded Buying Power
  • pro
    0% intro APR for 12 mos. (16.99% - 24.99% variable APR after)
Business.org’s pick
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Flat-rate rewards on all eligible purchases
  • pro
    0% intro APR for 12 mos. (16.24%–22.24% variable APR after)
Business.org’s pick
Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Low ongoing purchase variable APR
  • pro
    0% intro APR for 9 mos. (Prime + 7.99%–Prime + 17.99% APR after)

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure.

Quick facts
  • 43% of small-business owners report that their credit wasn’t high enough to qualify for traditional small-business loans. 
  • 27% of small-business owners say that having access to personal loans and business credit cards helped them start their business.
  • 46% of business owners use business credit cards to build their business credit score.

A business credit card can offer all sorts of perks to your small business. It can help you build business credit, improve your cash flow, earn your rewards, and give your employees the ability to handle business expenses.

But which small-business credit card does all that the best? We compared more than 30 credit card options to find out. And after looking at factors like fees, interest rates, rewards, and more, we like Chase’s Ink Business Cash® Card the best (thanks to competitive fees and rewards). We’ll show you all 10 of our favorite startup business credit cards, plus a few alternative options. Of course, if you are nervous to even jump into this list because you know your credit is bad, check out this other article full of recommendations for bad-credit cards. 

Compare the best small-business credit cards

Credit card
Card issuer
Intro/ongoing annual fee
Min./max. purchase APR
Introductory APR
Get a card
Chase$0.00/$0.0016.99%/22.99% Variable0% intro APR on purchases for 12 mos.
U.S. Bank$0.00/$0.0017.74%/26.74% variable0% intro APR for 15 cycles
American Express$0.00/$0.0016.99%/24.99% variable0% intro APR for 12 mos.
Capital One$0.00/$0.0016.24%/22.24% variable0% intro APR for 12 mos.
Wells Fargo$0.00/$0.00Prime + 7.99%/Prime + 17.99% variable0% intro APR for 9 mos.

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Expert Advice, Straight to Your Inbox
Gain confidence in your business future with our weekly simple solutions newsletter.

By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Chase Ink Business Cash® Card: Best overall small-business credit card

Chase Ink Business Cash
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1–5% cash back rewards
  • pro
    $900 in bonus cash back after spending $6,000 in 3 mos.
  • pro
    Free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

The Ink Business Cash Credit Card offers the best business credit card for startups, new businesses, and many other business owners.

A big reason for that? The Ink Business Cash Credit Card has great rewards. This cash back card gives you up to 5% cash back―the highest of any business credit card on this list. Sure, that high percentage comes with some limitations. It applies only to the first $25,000 you spend on office supplies, internet, phone, or cable each year (with the year starting on your account anniversary date).

But even with those limitations, it’s hard to top that 5% rate. And you still get plenty of cash back on other purchases, too. You get 2% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend at gas stations or restaurants each year. All other purchases get you 1% cash back.

High rewards aside, the Ink Business Cash Credit Card still makes for a great card. With no annual fee, a competitive APR, free employee cards (that also earn rewards), and a nice signup bonus for new cardmembers, it would be a perfectly decent new business credit card even if you didn’t max out your 5% cash back reward.

That said, depending on your spending habits, another card on this list might end up rewarding you more (if you never spend at office supply stores and pay your internet bill by ACH transfer, for example).

But for many small businesses, Ink Business Cash Credit Card offers unbeatable rewards on top of an already solid credit card―making it our overall favorite small-business credit card.

Pros
pro Very high max. rewards rate
pro No annual fee
pro Big welcome bonus
Cons
con High cash back limited to some categories
con Above-average cash advance fee

Alternative option: Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card

If you’d prefer flat-rate rewards, you can opt for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card instead.

Like the Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card has no annual fees, gives you free employee cards, and charges a competitive APR range.

The difference? Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card gives you 1.5% cash back on all your purchases. That can make it a better deal for businesses that don’t do much spending in the specific reward categories the Ink Business Cash Credit Card was designed for. 

For instance, if your startup doesn't spend much on business lunches or employee travel, the Ink Business Unlimited Card might actually be the best business credit card for your new business.

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card: Best for balance transfers

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1–3% cash back rewards
  • pro
    $500 in bonus cash back after spending $4,500 in 150 days
  • pro
    Free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

If you’re interested in a balance transfer―either to get a better APR or to consolidate your credit card debt―then we suggest U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card.

This card has competitive balance transfer fees. But more importantly, it offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 cycles that actually applies to balance transfers. (Most of the time, an intro APR applies only to new purchases.) So for 15 billing cycles (more than a year), you can get a 0% rate on your balance transfer and your purchases. That’s a steal of a deal. 

And don’t worry―balance transfer potential aside, the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card is still a great card choice. It offers up to 3% cash back, an excellent welcome bonus, and an annual cash back bonus―all with no annual fee.   

With perks like that and a great balance transfer interest rate, U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card can work great for businesses that need balance transfers―or businesses that just need a great small-business credit card.

Pros
pro 15-cycle introductory APR
pro Competitive max. cash back rate
pro Above-average welcome bonus
Cons
con Lower reward rate on most purchases
con 3% rewards rate limited to some categories

Alternative option: U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

If you want your 0% intro balance transfer APR to last even longer, you might prefer the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card.

With the Platinum card, you get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles―five months more than you get with the World Elite Mastercard.

And even after that period is up, the Platinum Card comes with a lower 14.99% to 23.99% variable APR. It doesn’t earn cash back rewards, though―or any rewards, for that matter―so many business owners will prefer the earning potential of the World Elite Mastercard.  

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for flexible credit limits

Blue Business Cash Card from American Express
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1–2% cash back rewards
  • pro
    $250 in statement credit after spending $3,000 in 3 mos.
  • pro
    Free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Ever found yourself needing even a slightly higher credit limit for your business expenses? Then the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card could be just what you need.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card comes with what American Express calls Expanded Buying Power, which really just means that you can spend past your actual credit limit. Expanded Buying Power comes with some limitations—any amount you spend beyond your credit limit has to be paid in full each month, for example―but few other cards give you such flexible cash flow.

Even if you don’t use the Expanded Buying Power often, you still get some good perks from the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, like a 0% intro APR for 12 months, up to 2% cash back, and occasional special offers with generous timelines. Plus, American Express offers instant approval in some cases. (Terms apply to all this.)

Put simply, if some credit limit flexibility would do wonders for your cash flow, the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is an excellent business credit card for your LLC, startup, new business, or established company.

Pros
pro Instant approval and use
pro Expanded Buying Power for qualified cardholders
pro Below-average purchase APR
Cons
con High credit requirements
con Limits on 2% cash back

Alternative option: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Prefer points to cash back? Pick The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

It works almost exactly like the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (with the same Expanded Buying Power), but the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card gives you 1 to 2x points on your spending (terms apply).

With the same APR ranges, instant approval, and free employee cards, either Blue Business card has plenty to offer―it just comes down to which kind of rewards you’d rather have.

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business: Best flat-rate rewards

Spark Cash Select from Capital One
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1.5% cash back rewards
  • pro
    $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 in 3 mos.
  • pro
    Free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

You may have noticed that the cards above offer big rewards, but those rewards are limited to certain spending categories or amounts. If you want something simpler, Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business has the best flat-rate rewards.

With Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business, you get precisely 1.5% cash back on all your purchases. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first dollar you’ve spent that year or the fifty-thousandth, if you’re buying from an office supply store or a gas station―you get the same, competitive rate on all your business purchases. 

Of course, Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business isn’t the only flat-rate rewards card out there. But with no annual fee, free employee cards (with rewards), and a fairly low starting APR, Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business stands out from other flat-rate small-business credit cards.

Bottom line, if you want plenty of rewards without optimizing your business spending, take a careful look at Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business.

Pros
pro Flat rewards rate for all purchases
pro 12-month promotional purchase APR
pro No annual or balance transfer fees
Cons
con No way to optimize rewards

Alternative options: Spark Miles Select, Spark Cash, and Spark Miles

Capital One offers several variations of its Spark small-business credit card that also offer great flat-rate rewards.

Spark Miles Select functions just like Spark Cash Select, except it earns travel rewards (1.5x miles per $1) instead of cash.

Spark Cash and Spark Miles actually earn a slightly higher flat rate (2% cash back or 2x miles, respectively). But they both have an annual fee and a higher APR range. For some spenders, they could still offer the better deal―but we suggest doing the math first.

Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card: Best purchase APR

Wells Fargo Platinum Credit Card
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1.5% cash back or 1x points rewards
  • pro
    $300 bonus cash back or 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in 3 mos.
  • pro
    Up to 99 free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Want a cheap small-business credit card? Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card fits the bill, thanks to its low purchase APR.

Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card has the lowest starting purchase APR of any card on this list. While most business credit cards start their APR ranges above 16%, the Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card comes with a rate just under 15% (Prime + 7.99%). So while we don’t recommend carrying a balance on your small-business credit card, the Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card offers the most affordable option for doing so.

It’s cheap in other ways too. You won’t pay an annual fee or employee card fee. Wells Fargo won’t even charge you foreign transaction fees, making this card a good choice for travelers. Plus,  you start off with an even lower introductory APR of 0% for 9 months (with an ongoing APR between Prime + 7.99% and Prime + 17.99%). Like we said―affordable.

So if you want to save money on a startup business credit card, the Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card might have the low rates and limited fees you've been looking for.

Pros
pro Very low starting purchase APR
pro 9-month promotional purchase APR
pro Choice of reward types
Cons
con Average cash back rate
con Low points reward rate

Honorable mention small-business credit cards

Compare runner-up website builders for small businesses

Credit card
Card issuer
Intro/ongoing annual fee
Min./max. purchase APR
Introductory APR
Get a card
Citi$0.00/$0.0018.99% (standard variable APR)N/A
American Express$0.00/$99.0019.49%/28.49%N/A
Chase$95.00/$95.0019.74%/24.74%N/A
American Express$295.00/$295.0017.99%/25.99%N/A

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi: Best for Costco members

Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card
$0.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1–4% cash back rewards
  • pro
    No bonuses for new cardmembers
  • pro
    3 free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Are you one of those small-business owners that makes frequent Costco runs? Then you should check out the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi.

As one of the best business credit cards for startups, the Costco Visa card earns you cash back, with up to a 4% rate on your first $7,000 in eligible gas purchases each year. Eligible restaurant and travel spending gets you a 3% rate, and Costco warehouse and Costo.com purchases get you 2%. So if you’re spending your money at Costco anyway, you might as well get that bonus cash back.

You do need a Costco membership ($60 a year) to get the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi, though the credit card itself has no annual fee. As you can see, this one is really designed just for Costco members―so consider your shopping habits before applying.

For frequent Costco shoppers, though, including startup owners buying supplies upfront and in bulk before launching, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi offers a great way to get rewarded for the warehouse purchases you’re already making.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Best for travel rewards

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
$99.00 (waived first year)
  • pro
    1–2x miles rewards
  • pro
    50,000 in bonus miles and $50 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases with your card in your first 3 mos.
  • pro
    Free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We’ve mentioned a couple cards that offer travel rewards, but the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has the best business travel rewards overall.

You’ll earn 1 to 2 miles on your purchases―with the 2 mile rate applying to every dollar on eligible Delta purchases, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, U.S. shipping purchases, and spending at restaurants. (You get 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases.) But this credit card goes way beyond miles. It offers other travel rewards, like a free checked bag, priority boarding, a flight voucher, in-flight purchase savings, and more. You know, everything you need for comfortable business travel. (Yes, terms apply.)

Your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card won’t have an annual fee the first year, but you’ll have to pony up $99 a year after that. So as with other fee-charging cards, you may want to do some calculations before committing.

In the end, though, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers the best travel rewards for business.

Alternative option: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

You can earn even more miles―3 per $1―with the Platinum version of the Delta SkyMiles business card. This version also gets you TSA Pre-Check credit, a companion certificate, discounted Sky Club lounge access, and more. (You know the drill―terms apply.)

That said, you have to pay a $250 annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles®Platinum Business card, so the extra perks may not be worth the extra cost.

Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card: Best for points rewards

Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card
$95.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1–3x points rewards
  • pro
    100,000 in bonus points after spending $15,000 in 3 mos. from account opening
  • pro
    Free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Like the flexibility of reward points? Chase’s Ink Business Preferred Credit Card has the best points rewards program for a business credit card.

Your Ink Business Preferred Credit Card lets you earn between 1 and 3 points per $1―3 points on the first $150,000 you spend on eligible purchases (shipping, advertising, internet, cable, phone, and travel), and then 1 point for all other purchases. And high point potential aside, Chase offers some of the more flexible points rewards out there. You can redeem points for cash, gift card, travel, and merchandise (through the Chase Ultimate Rewards store).

Chase’s Ink Business Preferred Credit Card does have an unwaivable annual fee, so very limited business spenders (including frugal new business owners) may not end up coming out ahead with this card. 

But if flexible rewards points sound right for your business, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card offers an easy way to get them.

American Express Business Gold Card: Best for big spending

American Express Business Gold Card
American Express Business Gold Card
$295.00 annual fee
  • pro
    1–4x points rewards
  • pro
    110,000 in bonus points after spending $10,000 in 3 mos.
  • pro
    Free employee cards

Data as of 12/8/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Pay for lots of business expenses with your credit card? Do plenty of regular spending? Then your business could do well with the American Express Business Gold Card.

The Business Gold Card earns more points than any other points-based card on this list―up to 4x points for each dollar you spend. You’ll get that impressive rate on the first $150,000 you spend in two eligible categories. Your categories (like airfare, computer hardware, gas stations, restaurants, or shipping) will be whatever you spend the most on. For all other purchases, you get 1x points.

Those impressive rewards come at a cost, though. American Express charges a $295 annual fee. That’s why we recommend this card specifically to businesses that do a lot of spending―because they’re the ones that will come out ahead. 

If that describes your business, then go ahead and enjoy all the points you can earn with the American Express Business Gold Card. Thanks to the high annual fee, though, American Express isn't one of the best business credit cards for startups.

Alternative option: Business Platinum Card from American Express

For even more rewards points, you can upgrade to the Platinum card. It earns up to 5x points and gets you some other travel and technology perks.

But watch out for the annual fee―this one comes with a whopping $695 charge. Again, if you're just starting your first business, you'll probably want to steer clear of American Express. You'll save money by choosing a startup business credit card that doesn't charge an annual fee.

Do you also need a small business bank account?

Bank
Lowest monthly fee for checking
Savings accounts
Credit cards
Loans
Merchant services
Get a bank account

Bluevine

$0.00

bullet bullet bullet bullet
Lili

Lili

$0.00

bullet bullet bullet bullet
Kabbage

Kabbage

$0.00

bullet bullet bullet bullet
LendingClub

LendingClub

$10.00 (waivable)

bullet bullet bullet bullet
found-logo

Found

$0.00

bullet bullet bullet bullet

Data effective 1/10/23. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

The takeaway

The right credit card company for your business depends on your specific desires and needs, but we’ve found that the Ink Business Cash Credit Card offers the best card for most businesses (thanks to big rewards and few fees).

But you’ve got plenty of other great card options. For affordable balance transfers, the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card offers a great deal. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers convenient, flexible credit limits, while the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business simplifies things with flat-rate rewards. And if you just need an affordable card, the Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card offers unbeatable APR.

Whatever card you pick, we hope you enjoy your new spending power―and the rewards and perks that come with it.

Credit cards are great, but they may not be the best kind of revolving credit for your business. Learn more about your options in our guide to business lines of credit vs. credit cards.

Related reading

How to pick your business credit card

We’ve found great credit card picks for all sorts of businesses and needs, but you’ll have to figure out which one works best for your specific business.

Think about your typical credit card use, for example. Are you a big spender? Then a card with higher rewards will probably offer the most benefit―even if it comes with a higher annual fee. But if you only use your credit card for occasional business expenses, you’ll want to prioritize lower fees―even if that means lower rewards.

Likewise, consider your payment habits. If you repay your credit card in full every month, then you probably don’t need to worry too much about the APR (annual percentage rate). But if you use your credit card to tide your business over while waiting for more cash flow to come in, you may end up saving a lot of money by choosing a card with a lower APR.  

You may also want to think about other factors, like reward type (miles vs. cash vs. points), credit limit, employee card availability, welcome bonuses, credit score requirements―even foreign transaction fees.

It all comes down to how you use your business credit card and what you want to get from it.

Small-business credit card FAQ

For easy-to-get business credit cards, we recommend looking at secured business credit cards.

A secured card requires you to put down collateral (usually money in a specific account), but even businesses with no (or poor) business credit history can qualify for them―unlike unsecured cards, which often require good or even excellent credit to qualify for.

Chase Bank offers our favorite small business credit card, the Ink Business Cash Credit Card.

But plenty of other banks―like U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and Capital One―also offer excellent business credit card choices, as you can see from our rankings.

Should I get a business credit card for my LLC?

As a small-business owner, you can get quite a few benefits from getting a business credit card for your LLC. A business card gives you a convenient way to pay for business expenses, can help you tide over cash flow gaps, lets you build business credit, and can even earn you great rewards (like cash back or travel miles).

That doesn’t mean that everyone needs a business credit card for their LLC or startup, though. If your LLC has budget problems, for example, a credit card with a higher interest rate can easily bury you in debt. 

For most LLC small-business owners, though, we think the benefits of getting a business credit card outweigh the potential problems.

Methodology

To find the best small-business credit cards, we researched more than 30 personal and business credit cards from more than 10 different credit card issuers. We weighed several different factors, like annual fees, other fees (including cash advance fees and foreign transaction fees), promotional and ongoing APR, reward offerings and rates, and welcome bonus offers. By comparing these factors, we scored and ranked the best business credit cards.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Business.org has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Business.org and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Chloe Goodshore
Written by
Chloe Goodshore
Chloe covers business financing and loans for Business.org. She has worked with many small businesses over the past 10 years, from video game stores to law firms. Those years watching frustrated business owners try to sift through their many options gave her a passion for breaking down complex business topics. She wants to help business owners spend less time agonizing over their businesses so they can spend more time running them.
Recent Articles
web design screen on laptop
Best Free Website Builder for Small Business
Need a no-cost website builder? Check out our rankings to find the best one. Best...
A black male waiter serves a group of black and white women eating at a restaurant
The 9 Best Payroll Software for Restaurants 2023
We looked at and assessed the top payroll brands’ prices, plans, payroll and HR features,...
A Black woman in a pink sweater sits at a table calculating sums
Gusto Payroll Review 2023
In our Gusto review, we dive into pricing, payroll and HR features, customer reviews, and...
Best-Payroll-Software-for-Small-Business-on-laptop-screen
Best Payroll Software for Small Business 2023
We looked at 20 of the most popular payroll programs in the US, to rate...