The 6 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups & New Businesses [2024]

Updated: August 6, 2024, 4:35pm CDT

Edited by:

The 6 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups & New Businesses [2024]

What To Look for in a Business Credit Card for Startups and New Businesses
The 6 Best Business Cards for Startups and New Businesses — Overview
Best Overall Business Cards for Startups and New Businesses
Best Alternative Business Cards for Startups and New Businesses
Final Thoughts

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If you’re starting a new business or a startup firm, you’re probably juggling a ton of different tasks and wearing quite a few hats.

One thing you should absolutely not compromise on is optimizing your company’s finances.

In addition to separating your business expenses from your personal finances, getting access to quick funding, and starting to build your business credit, there are tons of benefits to opening a new credit card for your new venture.

Many different financial institutions offer business credit cards with a huge range of benefits that can easily become overwhelming.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of the best credit cards for new businesses and startups — let’s get started!

What To Look for in a Business Credit Card for Startups and New Businesses

When researching the best business credit card candidates, we put ourselves in the shoes of a new business owner or startup founder and thought deeply about the benefits we’d look for.

We searched for cards that reward you for common expenses associated with starting a business, like technology.

We also looked for products that offer business tools like expense management, employee cards, and purchase protection. And, of course, one of the best perks of a new card is the welcome bonus that can immediately get you on the right track to accelerating your rewards.

Other important benefits of a business credit card include quick, easy access to credit and travel benefits for any business trips you may be taking.

The 6 Best Business Cards for Startups and New Businesses — Overview

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Card	Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee	Benefits for Startups and New Businesses
American Express^® Business Gold Card	ELEVATED OFFER: Earn 100,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $375 (rates & fees)	4x points for the 2 categories (from a list of 6) in which your business spends the most each month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year) Trip delay insurance, car rental insurance, and no preset spending limit
Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card	LIMITED TIME OFFER: Earn 120,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	3x points on up to $150,000 per year on travel and select business categories Cell phone insurance, trip interruption and cancellation insurance, trip delay insurance, and no foreign transaction fees
The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express	ELEVATED OFFER: Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)	5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through the AmexTravel.com portal 1.5x points on select business categories (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year) Access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year) Hotel and rental car elite status Statement credits for select business purchases
The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express	Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Annual fee of $0 (rates & fees)	2x points on everyday business purchases, on up to $50,000 per year. 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99% Employee cards at no additional cost (rates & fees)
Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card	Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0	1.5% cash-back on all your purchases with no cap 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card	Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $0	5% cash-back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases on select business categories each account anniversary year 2% cash-back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter Travel insurance and primary rental car coverage

Best Overall Business Cards for Startups and New Businesses

American Express^® Business Gold Card (Top Pick)

100K OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Business Gold Card

U.P. Rating

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express^® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Welcome OfferEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
100,000 Points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$2,200

Annual Fee

$375

APR

19.49% - 28.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express^® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros

4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
- NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- NEW! U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- NEW! Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection

Cons

$375 annual fee (rates and fees)
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status

Read Full Review

Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR.*
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
*Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! The current public offer is 100,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

As a new business, no 2 days will be the same, but rest assured that the Amex Business Gold card will consistently be the most rewarding card you can get.

This card earns 4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories in which your business spends the most every month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year):

Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
U.S. purchases at gas stations
U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)

This card has the broadest selection of bonus categories, which means that those unexpected, seemingly random expenses could easily earn up to 4x points. Whether you’re spending on advertising, office supplies like computer hardware, or on gas, the Amex Business Gold card has you covered.

Hot Tip: The bonus categories on the Amex Business Gold card are selected automatically for you every billing statement based on where you spend the most, ensuring you’ll earn the maximum number of points possible on each statement.

This card also comes with purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip delay insurance, car rental insurance, and no preset spending limit. With no preset spending limit, your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

Even better, the Membership Rewards points you earn from this card are incredibly valuable, and they can be used to book first class flights!

At the end of the day, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a business card that offers a more diverse list of bonus categories where you can earn a whopping 4x points, which is a huge reason why we love this card.

Why We Like Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points

Amex Membership Rewards are the most valuable points you can earn, according to our valuations. By transferring them to Amex transfer partners, you can book some incredible first and business class travel.

You can also redeem your Amex points via AmexTravel.com, or for gift cards, charitable donations, Amazon, statement credits, and so much more.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Welcome OfferEarn 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
120,000 Points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$2,400

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24%-26.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

Pros

3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
Cell phone protection
Purchase protection

Cons

No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access

Read Full Review

Earn 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Ink Business Preferred card is similar to the Amex Business Gold card in a few ways but features several unique differences.

Arguably Chase’s best credit card for business spending, Ink Business Preferred cardholders are able to earn 3x points per $1 spent on up to $150,000 per year in several bonus categories, including:

Advertising on social media and search engines
Internet, cable, and phone services
Shipping
Travel

As you can see, the Ink Business Preferred card offers the ability to earn bonus points on expenses common for new businesses or startups like marketing (advertising), website/IT costs (internet, cable, and phone), and even logistics (shipping).

And if you have business trips here and there, you’ll earn 3x points per dollar spent on your travel purchases.

You’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with this card, which are incredibly useful thanks to the ability to transfer to Chase airline and hotel partners.

This card also offers awesome cell phone insurance, offering $1,000 per claim with a $100 deductible for up to 3 claims per rolling 12-month period.

Other useful benefits include purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip interruption and cancellation insurance, trip delay insurance, and no foreign transaction fees!

Why We Like Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

We love earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points because you can redeem them for award travel by transferring them to airline and hotel partners. This is the method to use if you want to get the maximum value out of each point you earn.

You can also redeem your points for travel booked via the Chase travel portal for 25% more in value (1.25 cents per point). Finally, you can redeem them for cash-back, gift cards, merchandise, and services.

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome OfferEarn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

19.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros

5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)

Cons

High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
5X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®, here.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
$695 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Maybe your new business or startup will have large expenses or will require frequent travel. If you’re looking for a card that offers the best travel benefits, look no further than one of the best American Express business cards, the prestigious Amex Business Platinum card.

You can earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through the AmexTravel.com portal. You’ll also earn 1.5x points on select business categories (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year), including:

Eligible purchases of $5,000 or more
U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers
U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
U.S. shipping providers

You’ll also enjoy the following perks:

Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which features access to over 1,400 lounges, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta the same day), Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, International American Express Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (upon enrollment), select Lufthansa Lounges (when flying Lufthansa the same day), and select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status upon enrollment
Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
Up to $150 in Adobe credits
Up to $360 in Indeed credits
Up to $400 in statement credits annually for U.S. purchases with Dell ($200 semi-annually)
Up to $120 in wireless credits

We’ve only scratched the surface of all the Amex Business Platinum card’s benefits, but it truly is one of the best cards on the market.

Best Alternative Business Cards for Startups and New Businesses

If you happen to be following different spending patterns than what we outlined above, don’t worry! There are plenty of alternative options to consider for a new business or startup venture.

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$750

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$750

Annual Fee

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.

If so, the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.

Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter

Pros

1.5% cash-back on all purchases
No annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter

Cons

3% foreign transaction fee

Read Full Review

Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a simple but exceptionally rewarding business credit card to have in your wallet. If you don’t want to worry about bonus categories or an annual fee, this Chase credit card is a great choice.

You’ll earn a flat 1.5% cash-back on all your purchases with no cap. Plus, if you hold a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, your 1.5% cash-back is equivalent to 1.5x points.

This card gives you the ability to earn flexible and highly valuable points with no annual fee as long as you have a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards.

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

U.P. Rating

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Welcome OfferEarn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
15,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$330

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-840)

As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).

The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.

Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.

Pros

2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost

Cons

No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status

Read Full Review

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
*The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

APR: 18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

We’re big fans of the Amex Blue Business Plus card, which allows you to earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases, on up to $50,000 per year. After that, you’ll earn 1x. If you max out the $50,000 limit on 2x points, you’d earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points before reverting to earning 1 point per dollar.

This card has no annual fee, and it comes loaded with awesome perks like purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and employee cards at no additional cost (rates & fees).

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

UP TO $750 BACK

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Welcome OfferEarn $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.
Up to $750

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
Up to $750

Annual Fee

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 24.49% variable thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.

When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.

Pros

Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
10% Business Relationship Bonus if you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary

Cons

Spending caps in bonus categories
Low points earning outside of bonus categories

Read Full Review

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
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 purchases
10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 24.49% variable thereafter.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Ink Business Cash card is the sister card of the Ink Business Unlimited card.

Whereas the Ink Business Unlimited card offers straightforward 1.5% cash-back, the Ink Business Cash card gives you the ability to earn up to 5% cash-back on select business categories.

You can earn 5% cash-back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases on the following categories each account anniversary year:

Cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services
Office supply stores

You can also earn 2% cash-back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.

If you have an Ultimate Rewards card, 5% and 2% cash-back is equivalent to 5x and 2x points, respectively.

You’ll also be able to take advantage of travel insurance, purchase protection, and primary rental car coverage.

It’s hard to think of another card that gives you up to 5x points with no annual fee!

Final Thoughts

With tons of different business credit cards out there competing for a spot in your wallet, deciding which one is right for your business can be overwhelming.

That’s why we did the legwork for you, narrowing the field down to just 6 options. The card you end up choosing should fit with your spending habits, your credit needs, and your rewards goals.

With any of these cards, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying credit card benefits, building credit for your business, and setting up your business for success!

For rates and fees of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a business credit card for a new business?

For the most part, the bank will check your personal credit report when you apply for a business card.

To have the best chances of getting approved, you should try to have a perfect payment history, show strong personal income to fund your business, and avoid maxing out your existing credit cards.

Small businesses can qualify for these credit cards, so you don’t need to have a corporation, an LLC, or employees to apply for these cards. All it takes to get started is a sole proprietorship and a Social Security number!

What is the best credit card for a new small business?

We think the best credit cards for new small businesses are the Amex Business Gold card, the Ink Business Preferred card, and the Amex Business Platinum card. You’ll earn rewards quickly, which you can either reinvest in your business or redeem for luxury travel and cash-back!

Other options include the Amex Blue Business Plus card, the Ink Business Unlimited card, and the Ink Business Cash card.

How do I build credit for my LLC?

The first thing you should do is open a business credit card under your LLC’s name. Once you’ve activated the card, you should use your credit responsibly, make payments on time, and avoid maxing out your cards.

If you do that consistently, you’ll build excellent credit for your business.

What credit score is needed for a business credit card?

In general, the most rewarding business credit cards require a credit score of 700 to 720. This isn’t a written rule anywhere, but rather a solid rule of thumb.

How many credit cards should a small business have?

It depends. In an ideal world, you’d just have 1 business credit card that allows you to earn all the perks and rewards you want.

In practice, though, you might need to have 2 or 3 to make the most of the rewards and benefits.

Can I get a business credit card with bad credit?

Yes, but you probably won’t qualify for the best cards. If you have bad credit, you should focus on rebuilding or repairing your credit first.

To do this, you should apply for a secured or low-limit card, use it responsibly, and slowly increase your credit score.

When you’ve built up your creditworthiness, you can then apply for the top business credit cards.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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