Whether you have a storefront, webpage, or do freelance work, a business credit card is a great way to keep your personal finances, business purchases and cash flow organized and separate, which will be helpful when tax season rolls around to help your credit report.
We want to make this process a little easier by giving you the 11 best startup business for credit cards for small business owners and the benefits of each credit card issuer.
Being a new business owner is stressful, but we want to help make this part easy. Here are our top picks based on different rewards cards your business may benefit from:
The American Express card is great to use instead of borrowing large sums of money from lenders for business loans. You have a 0% APR for the first year giving you plenty of time to get your business off the ground and gain cash back rewards on those purchases.
Pros
You get 0% APR for the first year, and then rates are 17.99% to 25.99% variable APR. You earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases each year and then 1% after that.
Cons
This card is not best for businesses that are spending well over $50,000 a year.It also has a high foreign transaction fee.
Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.
Pros
If your expenses do not fall into the bonus categories on other cards, this card may be perfect for you because it has a 2% cash back on all purchases. It also has a start-up bonus. There is 0% fraud liability if the card is lost or stolen. Rewards do not expire, and you can redeem your cash back at any time.
Cons
There is no annual fee for the first year; then it jumps to $95.After the first year, If you do not plan on spending $4,750, this card may not be the best fit for you.
Starts with 0% APR which helps you rack up rewards quicklyA great card for people who value Membership Rewards points with no annual fees. (See rates and fees.) The months of card membership make it great to pull in those points through different spending categories.
Pros
You get 0% APR for the first year, and then rates are 17.99% to 25.99% variable APR. (See rates and fees.)You earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases each year and then 1% after that.Comes with Expanded Buying Power which means more opportunities to earn points.
Cons
This card is not best suited for businesses that are spending over $50,000 a year.There is a 2.7% foreign transaction fee. (See rates and fees.)
This card is a good fit if your business spends a significant amount on office supplies, telecommunications, restaurants, and gas.
Pros
You get 5% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined spending per account year at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined spending per account year at gas stations and restaurants; and 1% on everything else. There’s a great sign-up bonus, a generous intro APR period, and a $0 annual feeCard offers fraud protection.Zero liability for unauthorized charges.
Cons
Your business may have different bonus points or needs, and the 2% to 5% rewards may not be enough.
Offers the most significant sign up rewards on any credit card and rewards in many categories.
Pros
You’ll earn 3 points per dollar on up to $150,000 a year in spending on travel, telecommunications (internet, phone, and cable), shipping, and advertising on social media and search engines; all other spending earns 1 point per dollar. Another popular option by Ink is the Ink Business unlimited card.Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more.
Cons
Annual fee of $95. After the first year, you need to spend up to $2,534 for the rewards to be worth the annual fee.
If you travel a lot, you will enjoy the Delta lounge, the annual companion certificate even for first-class, and the checked bag benefits.
Pros
This card allows access to Delta lounges and American Express Centurion Lounges. Rewards: 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases (rising to 1.5 miles per dollar after you spend $150,000 in a calendar year)No foreign transaction fees when spending overseas. (See rates and fees.)
Cons
The annual fee for this card is $550, which could be worth it if you travel enough. (See rates and fees.)
Comes with one automatic free night stay every year, elite status, generous rewards, and a sign-up bonus.
Pros
You earn 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping; and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Cons
The $125 annual fee. (See rates and fees.)
For those who spend lots of time traveling.
Pros
5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Up to $200 annual credit for incidental airline fee. Reimbursement through statement credits every 4 or 4.5 years for the application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry.Automatic elite status with Marriott and Hilton hotels.
Cons
The $695 annual fee is high, but it is a deductible business expense. (See rates and fees.)
This card is for traveling entrepreneurs whose business expenses may not fall into common bonus categories.
Pros
This card earns unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. Miles can be redeemed for any travel expense — no blackout dates or restrictions — at a rate of 1 cent apiece.Great sign-up bonus.
Cons
The card has no annual fee for the first year and then goes to $95. You need to spend $4,750 a year to make the rewards worth it.
A great card for startups because it does not require the cardholder to personally guarantee the debt on the card. Perfect for the business owner with a thin credit file but is well-capitalized.
Pros Cons
Your business must have a $100,000 bank account balance to apply now. This is a charge card, not a credit card, meaning the balance transfer is due in full each billing cycle.
Great choice for a travel card with great rewards and no annual fee. Pros
This $0-annual-fee card earns 1.5 points for every dollar spent and 3 points per dollar on travel purchases booked through Bank of America. Great sign-up reward for a “no-fee” card.
Cons
Higher reward rates are available on other cards. You might come out ahead on those cards if you spend enough, even after paying an annual fee.
