Best business credit cards offers of January 2022
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Using business credit cards for your expenses makes sense, if for no other reason than to separate your business and personal expenses. But when you add in the fact that there so many different types of business rewards credit cards you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t have one. Whether your small business is a side gig (like running an Airbnb, freelancing or driving for Uber or Lyft) or a full-time occupation, you can use business travel credit cards to save for vacation or earn cash back to reinvest in your business.
Wondering which is the best business credit card for you? We’ve examined all the top offers and we’ll help you choose the best small business credit card for your needs. Some have no annual fee; others are loaded with top-tier perks.
Summary of the best business cards of January
Best Overall
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Annual fee
$95
Welcome offer
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Why we like it
The Ink Business Preferred is the best small business card on the market thanks to its gargantuan welcome bonus and ongoing benefits that can save literally $1,000+ per year. It provides primary coverage when renting a car for business purposes (a potential $12+ per day savings over purchasing in-house rental insurance), it gives you $600 in cell phone coverage simply for using the card paying your phone bill, and it earns 3x points on travel (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per account anniversary year).
Who is it best for?
This card is best for small business owners and anyone who pays out-of-pocket for cell phone insurance. If you fly Southwest or United, or if you stay wit Hyatt, the rewards this card accrues can also be transferred to valuable travel partners like these.
Credit Score Recommended
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent
660
850
Details
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 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
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring
- 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 Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Pros
- Best publicly available welcome bonus of any card
- Great return for travel and various business expenses
- Complimentary cell phone insurance
- Excellent travel and purchase protections
Cons
- You must have a for-profit venture to qualify
- High minimum spending requirement to earn welcome offer
- $95 annual fee
Reward Rate
- 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 – with no limit to the amount you can earn
APR
15.99%-20.99% Variable
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
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Best for Southwest points
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Annual fee
$199
Welcome offer
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Why we like it
This card’s sizable welcome bonus will have you well on your way to qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass, where a friend or relative flies with you for just the taxes and fees. Earn 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 3 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners, 2 points per dollar on rideshare, 2 points per dollar on social media advertising, internet and phone services, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Who is it best for?
This card provides a host of benefits to those who fly Southwest Airlines, including 4 upgraded boardings per year, annual Wi-Fi credits and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee application credit. It also comes in handy for anyone who could benefit from the insurance it offers on travel accidents, lost luggage, baggage delays, and more.
Credit Score Recommended
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent
660
850
Details
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- New! Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- New! Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit.
Pros
- Anniversary points awarded annually
- No foreign transaction fees
- Additional employee cards are free
Cons
- Annual fee
- Narrow range of rewards categories
Reward Rate
- New! Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
- New! Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
- 1X points on all other purchases.
APR
15.99% – 22.99% Variable
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
Show more
Best Bonus Multipliers
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Why we like it
This card is perhaps the single best credit card for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Though its highest bonus category is a little on the obscure side (purchases at office supply stores, on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services), you can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases on these things each account anniversary year. And you can often buy things at office supply stores that aren’t just office supplies!
Who is it best for?
This card is best for small business owners looking for a steady flow of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. It’s especially powerful if you pair it with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Ink Business Preferred — you can pool your Chase points onto one of those cards and then transfer them to valuable Chase’s transfer partners!
Credit Score Recommended
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent
660
850
Details
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from 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
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring
- 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
Pros
- Huge cash-back intro bonus
- Primary rental car insurance (when renting for business purposes)
- One of the best return rates of any credit card
- No annual fee
Cons
- The card incurs foreign transaction fees
- You must have a small business to qualify (but things like dog-walking, Uber, freelance writing, babysitting, etc. count)
Reward Rate
- 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
APR
13.24% – 19.24% Variable
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
Foreign Transaction Fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
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Best for everyday spend
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Why we like it
This is a straightforward no-annual-fee card that offers an astronomical cash back welcome bonus. It pays out an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which is middle of the road. However, if you have certain other Chase cards, you can convert your cash back into Chase points, which are worth significantly more! Based on our points valuations, you’ll get an effective return of 2.55 cents per dollar when you convert your cash to Chase points.
Who is it best for?
This is a small business card, so it’s best for those with a for-profit venture (which includes side-gigs as simple as freelance writing, Uber, or dog walking). Anyone who doesn’t want to keep track of bonus categories will appreciate this simple cash back card. You can redeem your rewards as statement credits or use them in the form of points to book travel through the Chase Travel Portal.
Credit Score Recommended
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Poor
300
600
Details
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 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
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring
- 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
Pros
- No annual fee
- Fraud protection on card transactions
- Earns Chase points (our favorite rewards currency!)
Cons
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- You must have some kind of small business
Reward Rate
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
APR
13.24% – 19.24% Variable
Credit Needed
Poor
Foreign Transaction Fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
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Best for travel/airport lounge access
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual fee
$695
Welcome offer
Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Why we like it
This card has many central features that make the card worthwhile to just about anyone — but one of the funnest aspects is its offer of comprehensive lounge access. There is no card in existence that grants you entry into more airport lounges (enrollment required), including the famous Centurion Lounges located in many domestic hub airports like San Francisco, Dallas, New York, Denver, etc.
Who is it best for?
You’ll likely need a credit score of 730+ to be approved for this card — and you’ll also need to own a small business to qualify. But you may be eligible without even realizing it! You don’t need to be running a full-time enterprise to qualify for the best business credit cards. Freelance writing on the side, driving for Uber or Lyft, dog walking, or freelance art, etc. can qualify as long as you’re not doing the job as an employee.
Credit Score Recommended
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent
660
850
Details
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Plus, 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. After that, your APR will be 14.24% to 22.24% based on your credit worthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- Get 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 on eligible purchases 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 value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your Card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies, up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Pros
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
- 1.5x points on eligible purchases in select business categories and on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more; on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Enroll to earn up to $400 in statement credits annually on U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies
Cons
- High annual fee
- You must have a for-profit venture to qualify
Reward Rate
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
- Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases 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
- 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
APR
14.24% – 22.24% Variable
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
Foreign Transaction Fee
N/A
Show more
Compare the best credit cards for small businesses
Credit Card | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Bonus Value (based on our valuations) | Top Perk |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card | $95 | 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | $1,700 | Cell phone protection |
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card | $199 | 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening | $1,200 | Immediately earn the Southwest Companion Pass after meeting minimum requirements and earning the sign-up bonus |
Ink Business Cash Credit Card | $0 | $750 bonus cash back (75,000 bonus points) after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $1,275 (based on 75,000 points) | Primary rental car insurance (when renting for business purposes) |
Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card | $0 | $750 bonus cash back (75,000 bonus points) after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $1,275 (based on 75,000 points) | 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no yearly limits. |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 see rates and fees | 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. | $2,160 | 35% points rebate when redeeming points for first or business class flights through Amex Travel (up to 500,000 points per calendar year) |
Capital One Spark Miles for Business | $95, waived the first year | 50,000 Spark miles after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening | $500 | up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck when you use your Spark Miles card |
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card | $75 | 40,000 Alaska Airlines miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of opening the account | $600 | One free checked bag for you and up to six companions on the same reservation |
The information for the Capital One Spark Miles has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Deep dive on the best credit cards for businesses
Chase Ink Business Preferred
With this card, you’ll earn a whopping 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is a fantastic welcome bonus and a big reason why the Chase Ink Business Preferred is a top choice. If you like cash, the 100,000-point bonus offer is worth $ $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Why this card is the best overall business card
We selected the Chase Ink Business Preferred as our best overall small business credit card because, aside from the huge intro bonus, it also has generous spending bonus categories and great built-in insurances. Million Mile Secrets staff and readers alike have saved by using perks like the card’s trip delay coverage, rental car insurance and cellphone insurance.
Why we like this card
You can’t go wrong with this card. In the absolute worst case, you earn the intro bonus and take home $1,000 minus the annual fee, but it’s easy to get much more value by transferring your points to Chase’s travel partners.
When you book through the Chase Travel Portal (it looks and works just like Expedia or Travelocity) your Chase Ink Business Preferred makes your Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth 25% more (1.25 cents each instead of 1 cent each). So the bonus gets you $1,000 worth of airfare, hotel stays, car rentals and more.
Or you could move the points you earn to a Chase transfer partner for even more value. For example, your 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points can become 100,000 United Airlines miles or 100,000 Hyatt points.
The card also comes with the coverages like cell phone Insurance, extended warranty, rental car insurance, baggage and lost luggage coverage, and more.
In addition, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees and it’s free to add employee cards to your account. And the annual fee is only $95 .
The Chase Ink Business Preferred card earns three Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (up to a maximum of $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year). You’ll also earn 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases.
Who is this card best for
The Ink Business Preferred is best for anyone with a small business who’s looking to earn a big welcome bonus. And who spends a lot in categories like travel, shipping, and advertising. Plus, Chase business cards don’t appear on your personal credit report, so they don’t count toward your Chase 5/24 limit. That means opening the Chase Ink Business Preferred won’t limit you from being approved for other Chase credit cards in the future.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
The Southwest Performance Business credit card has a bonus of 80,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Why this card is best for Southwest points
This is the Southwest business card with the biggest bonus at the moment. A Southwest point’s value is about 1.4 cents for flights (based on our valuations), so this bonus is worth around $1,200 in Southwest airfare — and potentially almost double that if you have the Southwest Companion Pass. The good news is that the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card bonus counts toward earning a companion pass.
It’s also the best card for ongoing spending and earning, because you’ll get 4x points on Southwest Airlines purchases, 3x points Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; 2x points on rideshare, 2x points on social media and search advertising purchases, internet, cable and phone service purchases, and 1x Southwest points on all other purchases.
In addition, every year you’ll get 9,000 bonus Southwest points on the anniversary of cardmembership (worth ~$135 in Southwest flights).
Why we like this card
This card has a $199 annual fee, the highest annual fee of all the Southwest cards, but if you make the most of the perks (9,000 points each card anniversary, four upgraded boardings, inflight Wi-Fi credits and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit), you’ll come out way ahead.
Using Southwest points is incredibly easy. There’s no Southwest award chart; instead, if there’s a seat for sale, you can book it with points. The price of an award flight is tied to the cost of a paid ticket, so if there’s a Southwest fare sale, you’ll need fewer points.
This card is also loaded with benefits and perks like four upgraded boardings per year (when available), up to 365 $8 Wi-Fi credits per year, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (worth up to $100), and 1,500 tier-qualifying points after every $10,000 in purchases. Plus if you use it overseas you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees.
Who is this card best for
It’s worth a hard look for anyone who flies Southwest because you only need to earn 125,000 qualifying Southwest points in a calendar year to get the coveted Southwest Companion Pass – and this bonus will get you most of the way there.
You can only have one personal Southwest credit card at any time. But you can have a business Southwest card and a personal Southwest card at the same time. So if you earn the intro bonus on both cards, you’re likely to have earned enough points for a Southwest Companion Pass.
Ink Business Cash Credit Card
With the Ink Business Cash credit card, you’ll earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earning $750 in cash from a business credit card with no annual fee is a fantastic deal.
Why this card is best for bonus multipliers
The Ink Business Cash card also has excellent bonus spending categories. You’ll earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on phone, internet and cable TV services each account anniversary year. In addition, you’ll get 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
I’ve had this card for many years. I rock it at office supply stores and to pay my internet and cable bills. Whenever I have a business meal, I use it to earn double points. Often business beer and cocktails earn 2x points too, because many bars and lounges code as restaurants.
Why we like this card
I love this card. You will too. It costs nothing to own and earns 5% back on your phone, internet and cable bill. It does, however, charge foreign transaction fees, which is why I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred when I travel abroad.
This card also comes with many of the same benefits as the Chase Ink Business Preferred, like primary rental car insurance (when renting for business purposes), extended warranty protection and delayed baggage and lost luggage protection. When I bought my semi-fancy office chair at Staples with my Ink Cash (to earn 5x points), I chuckled when they tried to sell me their extended warranty.
Who is this card best for
This card is best for anyone looking for a no annual fee business card that’ll earn you a steady flow of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. It’s an especially powerful card if you pair it with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred because you can pool your Chase points onto one of those cards and then transfer them to any of Chase’s transfer partners.
If you only have the Chase Ink Business Cash credit card, all the points you earn are worth one cent each and you can redeem them for statement credit, gift cards or travel. But if you also have the Chase Ink Business Preferred (yes, you can have multiple Chase Ink cards), the Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve, you have powered up from small Mario to Super Mario because you can move the Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn with the Ink Cash to one of those cards. And from there you have access to all the great travel partners I talked about in the Chase Ink Business Preferred section.
Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
With the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card, you can earn a $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Again, that is a great intro bonus for a credit card with no annual fee.
Why this card is best for everyday spend
This is the perfect card for earning those coveted Chase Ultimate Rewards points for non-bonus business spending without paying an annual fee. There are very few business owners who wouldn’t benefit from having this card because they can earn 50% more rewards (1.5% back on everything) for all of the non-bonus spending, which for some businesses can be the majority of expenses.
Why we like this card
Just like with the Ink Business Cash card, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, you can pool your points onto one of those cards and then transfer them to any of Chase’s travel partners.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited card is similar to the Chase Ink Business Cash card. The biggest difference is that it doesn’t have any bonus categories. Instead, you’ll earn 1.5% cash back (1.5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on every purchase with no yearly limits.
Who is this card best for
This is the no-annual-fee, cash-back business credit card I recommend most to my friends and family who have small businesses. You’ll be earning a higher cash-back rate on every purchase, regardless of how much you spend per year and most businesses have lots of large expenses that don’t fall into narrowly defined bonus categories.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
You’ll earn the American Express Business Platinum card’s 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Why this card is best for travel and airport lounge access
This is a platinum card that is actually worthy of the name for this small business card. It is always a strong pick, especially for frequent travelers, because it is easy to offset the Amex Business Platinum’s annual fee with the welcome bonus, perks and benefits.
If you can take full advantage of the many statement credits and lounge access, it can be easy to justify the annual fee.
Perhaps the best travel perk of this card is the top-of-the-line airport lounge access. You’ll have access to 1,400 Priority Pass lounges around the world and you can visit Delta SkyClub lounges (when you’re travel with Delta), Airspace lounges, Escapes lounge, Plaza Premium lounge and the posh American Express Centurion Lounges. This is the most extensive network of airport lounges you can access with any credit card. Enrollment required for select benefits.
Why we like this card
One extremely valuable benefit that is unique to the Business Platinum is the 35% points rebate you get on all Pay with Points bookings in first class or business class, or any other flights (including coach) booked with your selected airline through the Amex travel portal using Pay With Points (up to 500,000 points per calendar year).
The card is also loaded with valuable statement credits. You get up to $200 in credits per calendar year for eligible airline incidentals with your selected airline (luggage fees, inflight food and drink, etc.) and an annual Dell credit for U.S. purchases (up to $200 from January to June; up to $200 from July to December). That’s in addition to a credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. Enrollment required for select benefits.
This card gets you Gold Hilton status and Gold Marriott Bonvoy Elite status. You can also enroll for rental car status with Avis, National Car Rental and Hertz. Enrollment required for select benefits.
Who is this card best for
The Business Platinum card is a good option for large business purchases and travel spending. It earns 1.5x Amex Membership Rewards points on single purchases of $5,000 or more and on eligible key business categories (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year) and 5x Amex Membership Rewards points when you book airfare or prepaid hotels through the Amex travel site.
To get the most value from your rewards points you’ll want to transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to travel partners. To redeem them without having to worry about award charts and blackout dates, take advantage of Amex’s Pay With Points feature. And if you’re looking to keep things super-simple (though we don’t recommend this route), you can use your points for gift cards through Amex’s portal.
The Amex Business Platinum annual fee is $695 and it is not waived for the first year (see rates and fees).
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
With the Capital One Spark Miles business card, you’ll earn 50,000 miles after you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Why this card is best for earning transferable miles
You can transfer Spark Miles at a decent ratio (1:1 ratio for Singapore Airlines and Emirates). Using credit card rewards to fly in international business class is one of the best ways to maximize the value you get for your miles and you won’t find a better way to stock up on miles than with this offer.
You can transfer Capital One miles to the Accor Live Limitless hotel rewards program at a 2:1 ratio. This unlocks the ability to transfer your miles to three airlines that aren’t direct partners with Capital One (Finnair, Iberia and Virgin Australia) at a 2:1 ratio because those airlines are 1:1 transfer partners with Accor.
Why we like this card
Every purchase you make with the Capital One Spark Miles card earns 2 miles per dollar. So you always know how much you’re getting regardless of what you’re purchasing. On top of that, you can now earn five Spark miles per dollar on hotel and rental car purchases made through the Capital One Travel site.
The card has a $95 annual fee but it is waived the first year.
Who is this card best for
This card is for any business owner looking to earn transferrable rewards, especially those looking for higher-end travel.
You can transfer Spark miles to 15+ different airline and hotel partners. For most of the partners, the transfer ratio is 1:1 (except for Accor), which transfer at 2:1). Capital One has partnered with programs like Flying Blue (Air France and KLM), Air Canada and Avianca Airlines, which are good options for booking award flights to Europe.
For example, Avianca only charges 63,000 miles for one-way business-class flights to Europe. So with 225,000 Avianca miles, you could book three one-way business-class flights to Europe with partners like SWISS. Booking those same three tickets could easily cost $7,000-$10,000 if you paid cash — that’s the power of being able to transfer miles to airlines. If you need help transferring your miles, read our guide on Capital One transfer partners.
This card also comes with a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit (worth up to $100).
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card
With the Alaska Airlines Business credit card you’ll earn 40,000 Alaska Airlines miles, plus a Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $22) after you make $2,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Why this card is best for Alaska Airlines miles
The intro bonus is unlikely to go higher than it is now. In the past, it’s been as low as 30,000 miles as a standard offer. If you use the companion ticket and check bags on a trip or two, you’ll come out way ahead. Plus if you fly Alaska Airlines regularly, you’ll earn 3x miles on ticket purchases, which is an easy way to earn more miles.
Alaska Airlines is unique in that it is not part of an airline alliance, but the domestic routes and bevy of excellent partnerships make Alaskan airline miles worth collecting.
Why we like this card
Domestic award flights start at just 7,500 Alaska Airlines miles, but you’re not limited to flying on Alaska Airlines. They have partnerships with over a dozen international airlines, like Fiji Airways, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qantas. The award chart is surprisingly generous, though it varies by partner airline.
This welcome offer is as high as we’ve ever seen it. Plus, you’ll earn 3x Alaska Airlines miles on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and 1x miles on everything else.
Who is this card best for
If you’re a fan of Alaska miles and looking for a small business card, this is the one for you. When it’s time to use your miles, simply head to the Alaska Airlines website. There you can book all partner awards online with the exception of Cathay Pacific and LATAM.
In addition, the Alaska Airlines Business card also comes with an annual Companion Fare each year you renew your card. With that fare, you’ll get to bring a companion along on a domestic economy flight (paid for with cash) for only $99 + taxes and fees. This is an especially good deal for flights to Hawaii or other markets that tend to have seasonal price jumps. You’ll also get a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines for yourself and up to six travel companions. Those are great perks for a card with a very manageable $75 annual fee.
Who qualifies for business credit cards?
Qualifying for a business credit card might be easier than you realize. You don’t need to own a multimillion-dollar corporation. In fact, you don’t even need to be officially registered as a business with your local or state government or the IRS to qualify for the best small-business credit card offers. You can apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor by using your Social Security number on the application. Team members Meghan and Jasmin have received cards this way. At the same time, you’ll have to show the bank that you’re operating a for-profit venture. Anything you do as an independent contractor may count, especially if you get a 1099 form for it. For step-by-step instructions, check out our guides to completing a Chase business card application, Amex business card application, Citi business card application and Capital One business card application.
The good news is most banks do not have any minimum business-income requirements for opening business credit cards. So you’re eligible to apply for business credit cards even if you don’t make deposits for your business at the bank that issues the card.
It’s awesome to see business owners travel first class, stay in luxurious hotels or earn lots of cash using our tips and tricks. I loved the story of our reader Darren who owns a property management company. He treated his family of six to trips to Greece, Egypt, London, Montreal and New York City using miles – and they flew in business class. Nice.
How we select the best small business credit card offers
The bonus offer
Credit card companies make money every time you use their card and when you pay them interest (so pay those bills on time!). To entice you to become their customer, they give you an opportunity to earn lots of miles or cash when you first open the new card. Some bonuses are very generous, but some are not. We deleted all the cheapskate bonuses and kept only the cards with big offers.
Minimum spending requirement
So what’s the “catch” to a bonus offer? You have to spend a certain amount on your new card within a certain timeframe. Smaller spending requirements that make it easier for you to unlock the bonus make a card offer better. At Million Mile Secrets we want you to earn that bonus.
Ongoing bonus opportunities
We prefer business credit cards that keep rewarding you even after you earn the initial big intro bonus.
Other special benefits
Airport lounges, no foreign transaction fees, TSA PreCheck … these perks and others can save you money and time.
Having a small-business card is also a terrific way to stay organized because you can separate personal and business expenses, which makes it easier to track your spending.
We ranked the best business credit cards by category to help you decide which is a good fit for your situation.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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