Finding the best credit cards for business expenses is essential if — as a business owner — you want to do everything you can to maximize your bottom line by earning rewards. That’s because running a business is expensive. No matter the size of your venture, you likely have some sort of overhead, even if it’s only web hosting and internet costs. And as your business grows, so, too, will those ever-present expenses.
With a good rewards credit card, however, you can get a little more room in your business’s bottom line by earning — and redeeming — rewards on all the things your business buys the most. From cash back to points and miles, the right rewards card can make all the difference.
Overall | Travel | Dining | Office Supplies | Communication Services | Advertising
Best Cards for “Overall” Business Expenses
While some folks enjoy carrying a variety of rewards credit cards to ensure they can always earn the maximum rewards no matter what they buy, others simply want one solid card to use for every purchase. Our top picks include some with broad rewards categories as well as an option for category-free cash back.
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The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card not only provides competitive rewards in a variety of very useful business categories, but it earns the popular, versatile, and valuable rewards points.
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The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is ideal for smaller businesses, offering a range of useful business categories and high rewards but with a relatively low bonus category purchase cap of $25,000 per rewards tier per year.
This card is currently not available. Additional Disclosure: Information for this card not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.3. Capital One Spark Cash for Business
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business is designed for those business owners who don’t want to worry about categories, offering an unlimited 2% cash back on all qualifying card purchases year-round.
Best Cards for “Travel” Business Expenses
Despite the idealized jet-setter lifestyle often portrayed in the media, traveling for business on a regular basis can definitely get tiring. But with a good travel rewards credit card, you can turn those business travel expenses into points and miles capable of upgrading your next trip — whether for business or pleasure.
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The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers 3X rewards points per dollar on travel purchases, a broad category that includes flights, hotels, car rentals, parking, and car services. Bonus category earnings are limited to the first $150,000 in combined category purchases per year.
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The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a simple, straightforward travel rewards credit card, offering unlimited 2X miles per dollar on all purchases. Miles can be redeemed for statement credit to cover any qualifying travel purchases.
6. American Express Business Platinum Card®
The American Express Business Platinum Card® earns a whopping 5X Membership Rewards® points per dollar for travel booked through amextravel.com. Those points can then be used for travel redemption, or they can be transferred to one of several airline or hotel partners for even more per-point value.
- Earn 5X points per $1 spent on flights and hotels booked through amextravel.com
- Earn 1.5X points per $1 on purchases $5,000 and up
- Pay $595 annual fee
Cardholders will also enjoy access to over 1,000 global airport lounges and an annual $200 credit to cover baggage fees and other qualifying airline expenses. You can also earn up to 75,000 bonus points for meeting minimum spending requirements.
Best Cards for “Dining” Business Expenses
From company pizza parties to formal business dinners, dining expenses can take up a remarkably large portion of your business budget, making a bonus rewards credit card a near-necessity for many business owners.
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card cardholders can earn 2% cash back on restaurant purchases, including dine-in and take-out restaurants. Some establishments that primarily sell drinks may not qualify as a restaurant. Bonus rewards are available on up to $25,000 in combined category purchases per year.
8. Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard®
The Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® from Bank of America offers 2% cash back on dining purchases, including dine-in, fast food, and drinking establishments.
- Earn 3% cash back at gas stations and office supply stores and 2% at restaurants
- Receive $200 cash back after spending $500 in the first 60 days
- Pay no annual fee
If your business banks with Bank of America, you could earn extra 25% to 75% in rewards by enrolling in the Business Advantage Relationship Rewards program.
(The information related to Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.)
9. SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card
The SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card allows each cardholder to choose the 3% bonus category from several options, one of which is restaurants and dining. Bonus rewards are capped at the first $50,000 in category purchases each calendar year.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases at US office supply stores and with wireless service providers
- Earn 3% cash back on purchases in a category of your choice
- Pay no annual fee
Other categories you could choose for your 3% bonus rewards include gas stations, select advertising, shipping, or computer hardware, software, and cloud purchases.
Best Cards for “Office Supply” Business Expenses
Whether it’s sticky notes and paper reams or keyboards and digital storage, it’s hard to avoid trips to the office supply store when you have a business to run.
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The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers a solid 5% cash back rewards on purchases made at office supply stores, though bonus rewards are capped at $25,000 in combined bonus tier purchases each year.
11. SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card
The SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express is designed for business owners, offering 5% cash back on office supply purchases. Bonus rewards are capped at the first $50,000 in category purchases each calendar year.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases at US office supply stores and with wireless service providers
- Earn 3% cash back on purchases in a category of your choice
- Pay no annual fee
The SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card’s credit limit varies with card use, allowing cardholders to spend above their credit limit — and earn rewards on those purchases — without fees.
Best Cards for “Communication Service” Business Expenses
It’s hard to find customers if your business can’t communicate with them — and that means more than a phone line in today’s multi-channel marketplace. At the very least, the modern business owner needs a cellular telephone to keep up with clients, social media, and the ever-necessary email.
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The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers 3X rewards points per dollar on a variety of communications services, including internet, cable, and phone services. Bonus category earnings are limited to the first $150,000 in combined category purchases per year.
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Not only can you earn 5% cash back on your cell phone services, but the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card also provides 5% cash back on internet and cable purchases, as well. Bonus rewards are limited to the first $25,000 in combined category purchases each account anniversary year.
14. SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card
American Express’s SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card provides 5% bonus cash back on wireless communications purchases, along with several other categories, providing bonus rewards on up to $50,000 in purchases every year.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases at US office supply stores and with wireless service providers
- Earn 3% cash back on purchases in a category of your choice
- Pay no annual fee
The SimplyCash® Plus card also provides 3% cash back in a bonus category you can select from options that include US gas stations, restaurants, and more. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Best Cards for “Advertising” Business Expenses
When it comes to building a business, spreading the word is a vital necessity. But word of mouth can only travel so fast, making advertising a necessary part of nearly any business’s budget.
Of course, in today’s digital world, advertising means more than TV, print, or radio — you also need to go viral.
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Among the many other bonus categories that earn 3X rewards points, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card also offers 3X points on advertising purchases made with select social media sites and search engines. Bonus category earnings are limited to the first $150,000 in combined category purchases per year.
16. SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card
For those who choose it as a bonus category, the SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card will provide 3% cash back on select advertising purchases, which can include online, television, and radio purchases made directly from media providers.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases at US office supply stores and with wireless service providers
- Earn 3% cash back on purchases in a category of your choice
- Pay no annual fee
Direct mail services, including list and lead generation services, do not qualify for bonus rewards. Additionally, bonus rewards from the SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card are limited to the first $50,000 in purchases each year.
17. American Express Business Gold Rewards
The American Express Business Gold Rewards offers 3X points per dollar on a category chosen by the cardholders, with options that include advertising in select media like television, radio, and digital media.
- Earn 3X points per $1 in a category of your choice and 2X points per $1 in remaining four categories
- Earn 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee the first year, then $175
Cardholders also earn 2X points per dollar in the remaining categories, which include gas stations, shipping purchases, and computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers. Rewards are limited to the first $100,000 in purchases, each category, per year.
Smart Card Use Can Help You Save on Business Expenses
No matter what type of business you run, it’s going to come with a few expenses. And while those expenses can vary in size and area with each business, most share some common categories, like office supplies, communications, and advertising.
Business rewards credit cards are designed specifically to help businesses save on the purchases they make the most. With the right rewards card — and smart credit card use — you can put a little wiggle room in your business’s bottom line.
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