Business credit cards offer higher limits, business-specific rewards, and valuable expense management tools. Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or entrepreneur, the right business card can significantly impact your bottom line.
Who Qualifies for Business Cards?
You don't need an incorporated business. Eligible entities include:
- Sole proprietors (freelancers, gig workers)
- LLCs and corporations
- Side businesses with any revenue
- Those planning to start a business
Top Business Credit Cards
Chase Ink Business Preferred
Best overall for earning:
- Annual fee: $95
- Sign-up bonus: Typically 100,000 points
- Earning: 3x on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and advertising (up to $150,000/year combined)
- Benefits: Points transfer to travel partners, cell phone protection
Chase Ink Business Cash
- Annual fee: $0
- Earning: 5% on office supplies, internet, cable, phone (up to $25,000/year); 2% on gas and dining (up to $25,000/year); 1% everything else
- Best for: High spending in office and communication categories
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
- Annual fee: $0
- Earning: 1.5% unlimited cash back
- Best for: Simple earning without tracking categories
American Express Business Platinum
- Annual fee: $695
- Earning: 5x on flights and hotels through Amex Travel, 1.5x on purchases $5,000+
- Benefits: 35% points rebate on flights, Dell and Adobe credits, lounge access
American Express Business Gold
- Annual fee: $295
- Earning: 4x on top 2 spending categories each billing cycle (from 6 options)
- Best for: Businesses with variable spending patterns
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
- Annual fee: $150
- Earning: 2% unlimited cash back
- Bonus: $200 annual credit if spending $200,000+
- Best for: High-volume businesses wanting simple cash back
Brex Card
- Annual fee: $0
- Earning: 7x on rideshare, 4x on travel, 3x on restaurants, 2x on software
- Unique: No personal guarantee required for qualified businesses
- Best for: Venture-backed startups and established businesses
Benefits of Business Cards
Expense Management
- Separate business and personal expenses
- Detailed statements for tax preparation
- Integration with accounting software
- Employee cards with spending limits
Higher Credit Limits
Business cards often offer significantly higher limits than personal cards.
Credit Reporting
Many business cards don't report to personal credit bureaus (unless you default), keeping personal utilization low.
Business vs. Personal Cards
- Business cards: Better for separating expenses, often higher limits, business-specific perks
- Personal cards: Stronger consumer protections, personal liability only
Business Card Strategies
The Chase Ink Trifecta
Combine all three Ink cards for maximum earning:
- Ink Preferred for travel, shipping, advertising
- Ink Cash for office supplies, telecom
- Ink Unlimited for everything else
Meeting Minimum Spend
Business expenses help meet large sign-up bonus requirements.
Applying as a Sole Proprietor
Use your:
- Legal name as business name
- Social Security number as Tax ID
- Actual business income and years in business
Business credit cards support side hustles and growing businesses while providing valuable rewards on necessary expenses.
