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Imagine if every purchase for your small business came with an automatic discount. It's an opportunity most business owners would eagerly embrace. With the right cash back business credit card, this scenario becomes a reality. Every time you use this type of card for purchases, a certain percentage of your spending is returned to you in the form of cash rewards.
In our search for the best cash back business credit cards, we focused on finding those that offer the highest rates of cash back and the most attractive welcome bonuses to maximize your benefits. Additionally, we carefully compared these cards based on their fee structures and the additional perks they provide, ensuring you get the most value from your choice. This approach helps you select a credit card that not only reduces your expenses but also enhances your overall business operations with its valuable features.
Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column.
Great for: Bonus cash back at office supply stores
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
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.
Earn 5% cash back in select business categories
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer 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 up to $750 bonus cash back
A card with no annual fee and a 5% cash back rate on common spending categories for a savvy business owner? Chase delivers -- and you can even earn a particularly generous welcome bonus and enjoy travel and purchase protections with this card. Read Full Review
Great for: No annual fee and unlimited 1.5% back
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
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
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn $750 bonus cash back
Want to simplify your business credit card rewards? Take a closer look at this Chase card, which lets you earn a flat-rate 1.5% cash back across the board. The $750 cash back welcome bonus only sweetens the deal, and you won't pay an annual fee -- or any extra money for cards for your employees. Read Full Review
Great for: Big welcome bonus and unlimited 2% back
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
Pay in full, 2.99% monthly late fee otherwise
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on purchases, no limits or category restrictions; plus, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
2% - 5% 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.
Great for: 0% intro APR and cash back
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
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.
Great for: Gas and Costco purchases
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
Great for: Average credit
Fair/New to Credit Under(669)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
29.99%, 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.
Great for: Bonus cash back across multiple bonus categories
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 19.24% - 28.24% (Variable).
Purchases: 0%, 15 billing cycles on purchases
Regular APR
19.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center; 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
1% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $500 in cash back after spending $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
$500
A standout business credit card with a big sign-up bonus, a great cash back program, and an all-too-rare in category 0% intro APR offer.
Cash back credit cards work as their name suggests. Whenever you make an eligible purchase with a cash back card, it earns a certain percentage back as cash rewards. Some cash back cards earn the same percentage on any type of purchase, whereas others earn extra in specific bonus categories.
Let's say you make a $100 purchase on a card that earns 2% back. That purchase would be worth $2 in cash rewards. It's similar to getting an automatic discount for paying with your cash rewards credit card.
The cash back you earn is added to your rewards balance. You can redeem it online in your credit card account. Redemption options depend on the card, but most cash back cards offer one or more of the following:
LEARN MORE: How Cash Back Credit Cards Work
Even when you get a business credit card, it can affect your personal credit score as a consumer.
Credit card companies always check your credit score when you apply for a small business card. That's still one of the most important factors they use to judge your creditworthiness. They also require a personal guarantee from applicants, meaning you need to take personal responsibility for any debt you incur.
To pull your credit report, the card issuer needs to run a hard credit check. This has a small impact (usually under five points) on your credit score. Your credit could also be affected if the card issuer reports business card activity to the consumer credit bureaus. All card issuers would do this with a personal credit card, but only certain ones do it with business cards.
FIND OUT MORE: Do Business Credit Cards Affect My Credit Score?
Choosing the right cash back business card revolves around one question: Which credit card will save you the most money? Here are the main factors I'd suggest looking at to answer that question:
Cash back rate: The amount of cash back a card earns, also called the rewards rate. Some business credit cards earn an unlimited 1.5% or 2% back on purchases. Others earn higher amounts, like 3% to 5% in bonus categories, and 1% on purchases that don't fall into any of those bonus categories.
Many business owners find they earn more with a card that offers the same rate everywhere. But if most of your spending is in a few categories, like office supplies or gas, then a card with bonus categories could be better for you.
The best option is to have your business expenses on hand and do some quick math on how much you'd earn with different cards. It takes a little longer, but you'll find out which card is going to earn the most money back for you.
COMPARE RATES: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Annual fee: A fee charged once per year for a credit card. Not all credit cards charge one, and plenty of the best credit cards have no annual fees. Cards with an annual fee do tend to have more benefits, and most importantly, higher cash back rates.
This is another situation where a little math can help you decide if an annual fee is worth it. Let's say you're comparing two cards:
For every $1,000 you spend, the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus earns you $5 more in cash back than the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card ($20 at a 2% rate vs. $15 at a 1.5% rate). After $30,000 in business spending, you'd earn $150 more cash back, enough to cancel out the fee difference.
So, if you expect to spend more than $30,000 per year with your card, the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus would be the best business credit card for you. Less than that, and you'd be better off with that Chase Ink Business card.
Welcome bonus: A cash rewards bonus offer for new cardholders, also called a sign-up bonus. These offers usually include a bonus amount and a spending requirement, like $750 in bonus cash for spending $7,500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Bonuses can be worth a lot of money. If it's a close race between a few cash back business cards, then you could use the bonus offers as your deciding factor.
0% intro APR: An intro 0% APR offer that lasts for an introductory period, such as 12 or 15 months from account opening. Several business credit cards have these, typically on purchases made using the card. There are also 0% intro APR offers on balance transfers from other credit cards, which are designed to help pay off credit card debt.
If you need to make big business purchases you won't be able to pay back right away, a 0% intro APR on purchases is the best choice. You won't be charged interest until the intro period ends. And if you have credit card debt, a balance transfer offer can lower your interest cost and save you money.
Are you open to all types of business cards? See our picks for the Best Business Credit Cards to compare cash back and travel rewards business cards.
Signing up for a cash back business credit card is a savvy move that can help you turn regular business expenses into rewards. Here’s how you can get started on securing a card that complements your spending patterns and financial goals:
Redeeming cash back rewards is an exciting way to make the most out of your business expenditures. Whether you've accumulated rewards through a credit card, a loyalty program, or a specialized business account, turning those points into tangible benefits can help reduce business costs and boost your bottom line. Here’s a straightforward guide on how your business can redeem cash back rewards effectively:
By staying informed and strategic about your redemption options, you can optimize the benefits from cash back rewards, turning everyday business expenses into valuable savings.
While cash back business credit cards offer a host of benefits, such as turning everyday business expenses into savings, it's important to be aware of potential drawbacks before you decide to apply. Here’s a closer look at some aspects to consider:
Being aware of these potential downsides can help you choose a card that truly aligns with your business financial strategies and avoid any surprises that could impact your budget. Always read the terms and conditions thoroughly and consider how the card's features mesh with your typical business expenditures.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
Our highest-rated credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
No, cash back on a business credit card isn't taxable. According to the IRS, cash back and other credit card rewards are considered rebates on your purchases and not income.
A good cash back rate for a business credit card is 1.5% to 2%. The best cash back business credit cards typically offer an unlimited 1.5% to 2% on purchases, regardless of the spending category. If you're interested in a business card that earns extra on certain types of expenses, a good rate is 3% to 5% in bonus categories.
No, you don't need an EIN to get a cash back credit card for a business. Most credit card issuers allow you to apply for a small business credit card as a sole proprietor using your Social Security number.
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, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Mastercard and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.