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Whether you are a seasoned business owner, or you've just launched your new business, finding the best business credit card for your needs is crucial to maximizing your business rewards.
In our list of top business cards, you'll see the leading options for business owners interested in travel rewards, cash back, 0% intro APR financing offers and specialized business cards.
Out of the 10 best credit cards featured, these are the 4 top business card picks, supporting corporate enterprise-level to small businesses needs:
When it comes to credit cards for your business, there are all kinds of options available. Our expert picks for the best business cards include 4 cards from Capital One, 3 cards each from Chase, 1 card from Citi, and 2 cards from American Express.
But why these? For our list of the best business credit cards, our experts picked out a variety of quality offers to fit different types of business needs. Whether you're looking for low or no-fee cards, cash back, travel rewards, or 0% intro APR financing with rich rewards and perks, you'll find the leading options for business owners below.
Ink Business Cash? Credit Card
Great for: No annual fee and cash rewards
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
18.49% - 24.49% Variable
Rewards Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
1%-5% cash back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn $900 bonus cash back
For cardholders wanting the simplicity of cash back, plus up to 5% back on select categories and a $0 annual fee. The inclusion of a 0% intro APR offer amps up the value of the card. Read Full Review
Ink Business Unlimited? Credit Card
Great for: Unlimited cash back
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
18.49% - 24.49% Variable
Rewards Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Unlimited 1.5% cash back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn $900 bonus cash back
This business card offers a great one-two punch with a lucrative sign-up bonus plus unlimited cash back. Read Full Review
Costco Anywhere Visa? Business Card by Citi
Great for: Gas and travel
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.49% (Variable)
Rewards 4% back on gas and EV charging ($7,000 annual spending cap), 3% back on restaurants and travel, 2% back on Costco purchases, 1% back on other purchases
1% - 4% back
Annual Fee
$0 for Costco members
Welcome Offer
N/A
The gas and EV charging cash back, alone, makes this a winner. The premium cash back for restaurants, travel, and Costco purchases make it hard to beat, even more so for Costco members. Read Full Review
Ink Business Preferred? Credit Card
Great for: Sign-up bonus and travel points
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Rewards Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.
1X-3X points
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points
With a huge sign up bonus and massive ongoing rewards rate of 3x points per $1 on business essentials, this card is a home run for businesses that spend a lot and want to maximize their rewards. Read Full Review
American Express Business Gold Card
Great for: Rewards flexibility
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.49%-27.49%, variable
Rewards 4 points per $1 in two of the following categories where you spend most: gas, dining, advertising, transit, electronics & wireless ($150,000 annual spending cap). 3 points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. 1 point per $1 on other purchases
1x - 4x points
Annual Fee
$295
Welcome Offer 70,000 Membership Rewards? points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership
70,000 Membership Rewards? points
The card brings innovative points-earning flexibility with the option to choose which categories earn 4x points. There is no preset spending limit so your spending is flexible. The inclusion of a nice welcome offer sweetens the pot.
Capital One Spark 2X Miles
Great for: Sign-up bonus and travel miles
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
26.24%, variable
Rewards
2x miles
Annual Fee $0 intro fee for first year; $95 after that
$0 intro fee
Welcome Offer Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
50,000 miles
One of the best cards for businesses looking to capitalize on a travel reward for their everyday purchases. With a big sign up bonus, 2x miles, and low fees, it is a great choice for jet-setting small businesses.
Capital One Spark 1% Classic Card
Great for: Limited credit history
Fair/New to Credit Under(669)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
30.74%, variable
Rewards
1% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
For businesses or borrowers with fair credit, this card is a winner. Purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back, plus it includes a $0 annual fee. These perks are rare for cards in this credit score range.
Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus
Great for: Sign-up bonus and cash rewards
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
Pay in full, 2.99% monthly late fee otherwise
Rewards
2% cash back
Annual Fee
$150
Welcome Offer Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
$1,200
An easy choice for high-spend businesses looking to carry one card. The welcome offer is among the biggest you'll find, and the flat 2% cash back rate outpaces much of the competition.
Blue Business Cash? Card from American Express
Great for: 0% intro APR and cash back
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
18.49% to 26.49%, variable
Rewards 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
1% - 2% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
$250 statement credit
A solid choice for businesses that don't spend too much, with a high cash back rate up to an annual spending cap and a 0% intro APR.
Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card
Great for: Premium travel and big sign-up bonus
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Rewards Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase. Book through Capital One Travel to earn 5X on flights and 10X on hotels and rental cars.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer Earn 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months, which is equal to $1,500 in travel.
150,000 miles
A top-notch business travel card that balances value with ease of use. The welcome offer, rewards rate, and travel benefits are all some of the best we've found.
Your main Motley Fool expert on sourcing the best business credit cards is Lyle Daly, who has been conducting credit card market research and providing expert reviews for business credit cards and notable rewards programs since 2016, and has earned well over 1 million travel points to date. So, we trust the guy who has now earned an insurmountable amount of luxury hotel stays and has a forever VIP seat with business-class status.
Jump to a specific business credit card review:
Our rating: 4.50/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings: 1,345 reviews give it 4.25/5.00 stars as of 9/1/23.
The entire lineup of Chase Ink business credit cards are known for having some of the biggest sign-up bonuses. That includes no annual fee cards like this one, which offers $900 in bonus cash back that you earn after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months.
That's not the only area where this card offers big bonus opportunities. It also earns 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services, up to a $25,000 spending cap each account anniversary year. That makes it an excellent business credit card for small businesses with a traditional office environment and the expenses that come with it, such as office supplies and an internet/phone package.
Since this card has a $25,000 yearly spending cap in its bonus categories, it probably won't be a fit for businesses with high spending. It's more well-suited for new businesses, startups, and businesses that operate on tight budgets, considering its rewards structure and a 0% intro APR.
View more pros & cons of the Ink Business Cash? Credit Card
Our rating: 4.50/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings for Ink Business Unlimited? not provided on the Chase site.
This Chase Ink card is one of the most valuable and easy-to-use business credit cards. It has a straightforward rewards setup -- an unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. That's the best unlimited flat rate we've seen from a no annual fee business card.
It also has one of the largest sign-up bonuses we've seen from a no annual business card, and from most business cards, period. New cardholders earn a $900 bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. As long as your business spends at least $2,000 per month, you'll be able to earn quite a bit back. And if you need extra time to pay off any purchases, this card has 12 months of 0% intro APR on purchases.
With its benefits, this is a great business card for busy business owners who don't want to spend more time than necessary managing their credit cards. You can use this card for all your business spending and set up cards for your employees, as well.
View more pros & cons of the Ink Business Unlimited? Credit Card
Our rating: 4.50/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings: 58 reviews give it 4.50/5.00 stars as of 9/1/23.
This Chase Ink card is one of the top business credit cards for business owners who travel often. It's Chase's business travel card, and Chase is known for having an excellent travel rewards program.
While all the Chase Ink cards have large sign-up bonuses, this one has the most potential value. New cardholders earn 100,000 for spending $8,000 in the first 3 months. Points can be redeemed toward travel at a rate of $0.0125 per point.
This card is unique in that it earns bonus points on advertising purchases, including with social media sites and search engines, up to a yearly spending cap. That makes it well-suited for online businesses, including online shops and anyone who advertises their services through search engine or social media ads.
If you have accounts with airline and hotel loyalty programs, you'll also appreciate the option of transferring points to Chase travel partners. That includes quite a few popular airlines and hotels. While travel credit cards do have a bit more of a learning curve, if you don't mind that, you can save a ton of money on your trips with this card's travel points.
View more pros & cons of the Ink Business Preferred? Credit Card
Our rating: 4.25/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings for American Express Business Gold Card not provided on the American Express site.
Most business cards have fixed bonus categories, so you only benefit if your spending matches those categories. This American Express card is a business card built around your spending, with bonus categories based on where you spend the most. It earns 4 points per $1 on the top two categories from a list of six where your business spends the most each billing cycle, up to a spending cap of $150,000 per calendar year. Terms apply.
There's a diverse selection of bonus categories, including airfare purchased directly from airlines, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, and U.S. purchases for shipping, among others. That makes it fairly easy to accumulate bonus points with this card. Terms apply.
American Express is also known for being a great card issuer to deal with. It regularly ranks at the top of J.D. Power rankings for customer satisfaction and its cards (including this one) have excellent complimentary protections. This card, in particular, is great for business owners with high spending, as it has no preset spending limit and a Pay Over Time option. Terms apply; see rates and fees. With its high-value rewards and other useful benefits, this was our experts' pick for the best business credit card of 2023.
View more pros & cons of the American Express Business Gold Card
Our rating: 3.75/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings for Blue Business Cash? Card from American Express not provided on the American Express site.
As a business owner, and especially if you have a new business, you may want to keep it simple. Earn a high cash back rate on all types of purchases, avoid unnecessary fees, and have a card issuer that you can trust. That's where this American Express card shines.
It earns a flat rate of 2% cash back on everyday eligible business purchases, up to a spending cap of up to $50,000 per calendar year. (See rates and fees.) It earns 1% on other eligible purchases. Terms apply. The cash back structure is easy to understand, and 2% on all types of eligible purchases is as high as we've seen from a no annual fee business card. Overall, this is a top business card for earning straightforward cash back.
There are also a few tools to help you better manage your business expenses. You can pay them off over time with 12 months of 0% intro APR. After that intro period, the go-to variable APR applies. If you need to spend more than your credit limit, you can potentially do so with expanded buying power. Terms apply.
Because of the $50,000 spending cap on this card's 2% cash back rate, it's a natural fit for businesses with lower spending, such as new businesses looking to make every dollar count. Terms apply. Businesses that spend $5,000 or more per month will likely want to go with a different card.
View more pros & cons of the Blue Business Cash? Card from American Express
Our rating: 4.00/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings: 2018 reviews give it 4.60/5.00 stars as of 9/1/23.
With competitive prices on practically everything it offers, Costco is a popular place to shop for small business owners. It also offers Costco Business Centers, where you can stock up on office supplies and bulk food and drinks, as well as get specialized services, such as printing. This business card is made for business owners who shop at Costco often.
It earns bonus cash back at Costco, and that's not even the best perk it offers. What really makes this card special is an incredible 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging, up to a spending cap of $7,000 per year. It also earns 3% at restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel, 2% on other Costco purchases, and 1% on other purchases.
A 4% cash back rate on gas and EV charging is the highest we've found, and it means this card is a top choice for driving-based businesses. If you or your employees go to clients' homes, or if you're a freelancer driving for rideshare services, you'll be able to earn quite a bit of cash back with this card. Just keep in mind that a Costco membership is required to get it, and you earn that cash back as a reward certificate.
View more pros & cons of the Costco Anywhere Visa? Card by Citi
Our rating: 5.00/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings: 717 reviews give it 4.50/5.00 stars as of 9/1/23.
Capital One's travel cards usually provide a nice blend of value and ease of use, and that's true with this travel card for businesses. It has an excellent sign-up bonus and rewards structure, earning an unlimited 2 miles per $1 on purchases. With its benefits, it's a smart choice for travel-heavy businesses that want rewards they can redeem quickly and conveniently.
In addition to this card's generous rewards, its spending tools can help you better manage your business expenses. You can assign an account manager to handle your credit card account for you. To simplify your taxes, you can get an itemized, year-end report of transactions, and purchase records are downloadable in multiple file formats depending on what your business uses.
Businesses are a popular target for fraud, and this card has useful tools to help protect from that. It offers virtual card numbers to pay online without exposing your actual card number to merchants, so this card is great for businesses that frequently order items online.
View more pros & cons of the Capital One Spark 2X Miles
Our rating: 3.75/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings: 1,907 reviews give it 4.30/5.00 stars as of 9/1/23.
Most of the top business credit cards require a high credit score, and if you're not there yet, it may take some time to build your credit. If you need a business credit card now, then your best option is one with more lenient approval requirements. This is a credit card available to business owners with fair/average credit, so it's much easier to get than most others.
One of the things we love about Capital One is it explains the credit guidelines for its cards on its website. For this card, you can qualify if you have limited credit history, meaning you've been using credit for less than three years, or even if you've defaulted on a loan in the last five years.
This is a basic, starter business card, but it has all the most important perks. There's no annual fee, which we consider a must for a card you use to build credit and manage business spending. It earns an unlimited 1% cash back on purchases. And it has all the same account management tools Capital One offers on its very best business credit cards, including free employee cards with customizable credit limits, the option to assign an account manager, and detailed spending reports.
View more pros & cons of the Capital One Spark 1% Classic Card
Our rating: 5.00/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings: 1,196 reviews give it 4.10/5.00 stars as of 9/1/23.
Running a business is usually time-consuming, and it can be expensive, too. This card is ideal for business owners with big spending and not a lot of free time. It's a cash back card with a simple rewards structure and valuable perks, and the more you spend, the better it gets.
It earns an unlimited 2% cash back, which is the highest unlimited rate we've seen across all purchases. Normally, this card has a $150 annual fee, but you get that fee refunded every year that you spend at least $150,000. We haven't seen any no annual fee business cards that earn an unlimited 2%, so if you reach that spend requirement, this card offers unprecedented value.
Capital One also provides plenty of useful account management tools. You can set up payments to all your vendors online. You can even have payments sent to vendors that don't accept cards for a 2.9% fee. While this is a pay-in-full charge card, if you want to keep cash longer, you can defer payments until the next billing cycle and extend float up to 45 days. You also get year-end spending summaries, free employee cards, and can connect your card to several popular ERP platforms, including QuickBooks? and Expensify?.
Businesses on a tight budget will probably want to pick another card. This card's benefits make it more of a fit for established businesses with at least $10,000 to $15,000 in monthly expenses. If so, your business will be able to earn this card's massive sign-up bonus and potentially get the annual fee refunded each year
View more pros & cons of the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus
Our rating: 4.75/5.00 stars. Cardholder Review Ratings for Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card not provided on the Capital One site.
Some business cards can work well for just about any business owner, no matter how much they spend. No annual fee cash back cards are a good example. This Capital One card goes the other direction. It's definitely not for businesses with tight budgets, but it's one of the very best business travel cards for big spenders. Specifically, it's for business owners who put at least $10,000 per month on their credit card.
New cardholders can earn a massive sign-up bonus, but it does have a very high spend requirement. That's one reason why we only recommend this card for businesses with substantial monthly spending. It also has a straightforward, high-value rewards structure: An unlimited 2 miles per $1 on purchases, with higher bonus rates for bookings made through Capital One Travel.
This is a pay-in-full charge card with no preset spending limit. It's not designed for carrying a balance, and there's an extra fee if you do. One feature we really like is that the spending limit adapts based on your spending behaviors, payment history, credit profile, and other factors. It's not like most business credit cards, where you need to request a credit limit increase to get more spending power.
While this is a premium travel card, it's easy to use and to get your money's worth. Features include travel spending credits, airport lounge access, and flexible miles you can redeem by transferring to Capital One partners or at a fixed rate for travel purchases. It also has excellent business management tools, including free employee cards, virtual card numbers for staying safe online, and detailed spending and transaction reports.
View more pros & cons of the Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card
When you shop for business credit cards, you'll probably have questions.
Fortunately, business credit cards aren't that complicated. It's worth learning how they work and what makes them special, because their perks can be invaluable for businesses large and small.
Credit cards for business use typically have a few features that personal credit cards don't, including higher credit limits, more travel perks, and higher limits on the free insurance you get when you make a purchase.
Here's how business credit cards differ from personal cards:
While there are many benefits to business credit cards, the primary reason it's so important to have one is to keep your personal and business expenses separate. It's harder to track spending separately for yourself and your business if all your expenses are mixed together on the same card. During tax season, you'll be happy you got a business credit card when you can review your card's expense reports for deductions.
Business credit cards offer a lot of spending power, but that comes with a lot of responsibility, too. Here's a checklist to help you decide if a business card is right for you.
What people often don't realize about business credit cards is that you can get one surprisingly early in your business's lifespan, and it's smart to do so.
In fact, you don't need a registered business to apply for a business credit card.
Card issuers let you apply as a sole proprietor, using your Social Security number. The business also doesn't have to be profitable yet. Your application can get approved based on your personal income. When you apply for a business credit card, the card issuer will look at your personal financial information and credit history.
There are several features to look for in a business credit card, including:
The way to compare the best business credit cards is to first figure out what benefits you need most.
For the typical business owner, rewards are a priority, since they earn you a percentage back on your business expenses. If that's the case for you, then here's how you would choose a business credit card:
Depending on your and your business's needs, you may prioritize something different in a business credit card. If you need to borrow money to finance an expense, for instance, then you should compare cards based on intro APR offers. If your credit isn't the best, then look for business cards you can get without a good credit score.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: No annual fee and cash rewards |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Unlimited cash back |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Gas and travel |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Sign-up bonus and travel points |
|
|
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Rewards flexibility |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Sign-up bonus and travel miles |
|
Rating image, 3.75 out of 5 stars.
3.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Limited credit history |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Sign-up bonus and cash rewards |
|
Rating image, 3.75 out of 5 stars.
3.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: 0% intro APR and cash back |
|
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Premium travel and big sign-up bonus |
You can qualify for a business credit card with any type of business, including sole proprietorships and new businesses that aren't generating revenue yet. When you apply for a business credit card, the card issuer will ask for both your personal and business information during the application process.
If you operate your business as a sole proprietorship, you can choose that option on the application. And if you don't have business income yet, you could still be approved for a business credit card based on your personal credit history and income
It could be worth paying an annual fee for a business credit card if the value of the card outweighs the cost of the annual fee. Business credit cards with annual fees typically offer more benefits, such as higher rewards rates, bigger welcome offers, and other valuable perks. If you can use those benefits, then you may get more value from a card with an annual fee than you would from a no annual fee business card with fewer features.
The credit score you need for a business credit card depends on the card. The best business credit cards usually require good credit, and that starts at a FICO? Score of 670. There are also plenty of business credit cards available to those with lower scores. For some business cards, you could qualify even with a credit score below 600. These cards don't have nearly as many benefits, so if possible, it's better to improve your credit first to get a card that will help your business more.
A business credit card generally won't affect your personal credit score, but there are exceptions. The card issuer will run a hard credit inquiry when you apply for the card. Hard inquiries lower your credit score by a small amount (less than five points on average). Some card issuers will report negative information, such as missed payments on your business credit card, to the consumer credit bureaus.
There are also a few card issuers that report all activity, positive and negative, from their business credit cards to personal credit bureaus. If you have a business card with one of these card issuers, then your business card's balance and payment history can affect your credit score.
Our Credit Cards Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
For rates and fees for the American Express Business Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Blue Business Cash? Card from American Express, click here
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