Small business owners have many different needs when figuring out what kind of business credit card is best for them. Factors like how often they travel or what expenses they spend most frequently can all impact which card someone will choose. 

Similar to how small business owners all have unique needs, each business credit card has unique features for their customers. Considerations like whether or not the card rewards spending via cash back or points, the size of the welcome offer, and how expensive the card is all weigh on a business owner's decision when determining which business card is best for them. 

Featuring a good mix of free and paid options, check out this list of the top 12 business credit cards to get for your small business before deciding which card is best for you! 

1. Capital One Spark Cash Select

The Capital One Spark Cash Select card is a good mix of travel and everyday cards for small business owners. It has many great perks. 

• Welcome Offer: $750 bonus after spending $6,000 in the first three months of account ownership
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked directly on the Capital One Travel platform
• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• Includes access to roadside assistance services and Capital One Travel
• No foreign transaction fees
• No annual fee
• Learn more about applying Here

The Capital One Spark Cash Select is an amazing, annual, fee-free travel card with a readily achievable welcome bonus. Even though it doesn't apply to airfare, receiving five percent cash back on all hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel platform is an excellent perk for business owners constantly on the road. 

While it might not qualify for the travel boost, airfare does fall into the unlimited 1.5% cash-back bucket for all other spending. So whether small business owners are constantly traveling to different trade shows or are racking up large shipping bills, the Capital One Spark Cash Select ensures each dollar spent has a decent reward value.

2. Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is a great option for small business owners who don't travel extensively but want to maximize cash back on all expenses. 

• Welcome Offer: $750 bonus after spending $6,000 in the first three months of account ownership
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025
• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all business purchases
• Includes access to travel and emergency assistance services
• 0% APR for the first 12 months
• No annual fee
• Learn more about applying here

A frill-free and fee-free card, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card features unlimited 1.5% cash back on all expenses and a generous welcome offer that exceeds 10% cash back value. Add on the fact that new holders have a 0% APR for the first 12 months, and small business owners at various levels of success have a lot of leeway to make this card work for them and their businesses.  

One very nice reward that may soon disappear is the 5% cash back on Lyft rides. If you're the type of business owner who constantly finds yourself taking rideshares to work or meetings, using the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is an advantageous option for now.  

3. U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card

Another excellent option for small business owners is the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card. 

• Welcome Offer: $500 cash back after spending $4500 within the first 150 calendar days
• 4% cash back on rental car and hotel reservations placed in the U.S. Bank Travel Rewards Center
• 3% cash back on purchases related to gas/EV charging, dining, office supplies, and cell phone service 
• Annual $100 statement credit for eligible software purchases  
• 0% APR for 15 months
• No annual fee
• Learn more about applying here

The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card seems like a great option for anyone whose business constantly involves traveling or dining with clients. This card is also great for getting to and paying for lunch meetings, thanks to the 3% cash back on gas or EV charging and dining expenses. 

In addition to the generous cash-back rewards, the $100 statement credit that business owners can use for specific software purchases ensures that using the free U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card more than pays for itself every year.

4. American Express Blue Business Cash Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash card is an excellent option for small business owners who want to maximize their cash-back rewards for all purchases. 

• Welcome Offer: $250 cash back after spending $3,000 in the first three months 
• 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year
• 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases after $50k limit
• Includes access to extended warranties, purchase protection, and car rental loss and damage insurance
• 0% APR for the first 12 months
• No annual fee
• Learn more about applying here

Even though the American Express Blue Business Cash's welcome bonus is the only one on this list that falls below a 10% cash-back value, this card can be advantageous for a small business owner with limited expenses. 

Thanks to the 2% cash back on the first $50,000 worth of purchases, the American Express Blue Business Cash makes it easy for business owners to feel that all their spending categories are fairly compensated. While some of the other free cards on this list offer holders 1.5% cash back without limit if you know your business doesn't typically spend above $50,000 per year, choosing this card is an easy way to ensure you receive a bit more bang for your buck. 

5. American Express Business Gold Card

Small business owners who want more from the American Express ecosystem should look into the Business Gold Card. In addition to including some generous credits, the American Express Business Gold Card allows cardholders to boost rewards on their top two spending categories. 

• Welcome Offer: 70,000 Membership Reward Points after spending $10,000 in the first three months
• Up to $395 in annual credits, including monthly credits for vendors like FedEx, Grubhub, and Walmart+ membership
• 4X points for expenses that fall inside your top two spending categories (categories cover things like transit, dining, and software)
• 3X points on flights and hotels booked through the Amex Travel Platform
• $375 annual fee
• Learn more about applying here.

Instead of cash-back, American Express Business Gold Card holders get points they can use in the American Express portal for things like statement credit or travel. The extensive American Express transfer program list allows cardholders to use their points effectively to score inexpensive business flights and last-minute hotels. 

The first card with an annual fee on this list, the American Express Gold Card, offers holders a lot of value to make up for the expensive $375 annual fee. Not only do holders have access to $395 in credits that completely offset the card's price, but the option to designate top spending categories gives business owners a lot of leeway when maximizing their per-dollar rewards. 

6. Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard

The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard lets users select a primary category for boosted cash back, giving small business owners control over their rewards.

• Welcome Offer: $300 cash back after spending $3000 in the first 90 days
• 3% cash back on all expenses in the holder's preferred category (categories include expenses like office supply stores, travel, and consulting services)
• 2% cash back on dining expenses
• Ability to earn additional cash back bonuses if you have a Bank of America business checking account as well
• 0% APR for the first nine billing cycles 
• No annual fee
• Learn more about applying here.

Thanks to the 3% cash back on spending inside a cardholder's preferred category paired with the automatic 2% cash back on dining expenses, the Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard makes it easy for small business owners to see a lot of value from this card quickly. Whether you're constantly traveling or spending more time hiring consultants, this card ensures that the bulk of a business' spending is rewarded at the highest value possible. 

The Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard can be even more rewarding if you bank with Bank of America. So, if your business already banks with Bank of America and you are in the market for a free, valuable card, the Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard is a great option. 

7. Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard

The travel equivalent to the last card, the Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard, is an excellent option for business owners who frequently travel to meet clients or attend other industry events. 

• Welcome Offer: Earn 30,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account ownership 
• Unlimited 1.5X points for all purchases with the ability to earn up to 2.6X if you have a Bank of America business checking account
• No foreign transaction fees and access to travel and emergency services 
• 0% APR for the first nine billing cycles 
• No annual fee
• Learn more about applying here.

Like the Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard, Travel Rewards World Mastercard holders with a business checking account with Bank of America qualify for extra spending points. So, if you're in the market for a free business travel credit card and are already a Bank of America customer, this card must be near the top of your consideration list.  

8. Capital One Venture X Business

For the most part, receiving 2 points for every dollar of generic spending is considered a win. Capital One Venture X Business card holders receive 2X miles on all generic purchases and 10X miles for hotels booked directly with Capital One.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 miles when you spend $30,000 in the first three months
• $300 annual travel credit that can be used on any book in the Capital One Travel Platform
• Earn 10X miles on hotels and 5X miles on flights booked directly with Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases
• 10,000 bonus miles on every account anniversary
• $395 annual fee
• Learn more about applying here

A unique feature of this card, which might also disqualify it from many people's lists, is that it is considered a pay-in-full card. Small business owners should be mindful of this policy and put expenses on the Capital One Venture X Business card that they can pay off sooner rather than later.

9. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

For business owners who are on the road and find themselves staying at Hiltons or their affiliated properties a lot, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great option.

• Welcome Offer: 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months
• 12X points on all purchases spent at Hilton locations
• 5X points on the first $100,000 worth of purchasing every year, and 3X points after reaching that limit
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status, which includes bonus points, room upgrades, and food credits
• Quarterly $60 credit for purchases made at Hilton locations 
• $185 annual fee
• Learn more about applying here

I love a card that pays for itself, and if you travel to at least one Hilton location a quarter, this card has the potential to cover its annual fee and then some, thanks to its $60 quarterly credit. Plus, if you're on the road that often, the complementary features of the Hilton Honors Gold Status give cardholders even more bang for their buck during each visit.

Hilton points and cash back serve different purposes for business owners. Still, the potential to earn 12X points for each dollar spent at a Hilton location and up to 5X points for traditional purchases makes the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card a great option for business owners who find themselves planning their next trip.

10. Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

Suppose you already know you prefer staying at Marriotts to Hiltons or any other hotel chain. In that case, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card and its hefty rewards should be on your radar.

• Welcome Offer: Five free nights, with a total potential value of up to 250,000 points, after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card ownership
• 6X Marriot Bonvoy points for all purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• 4X Marriot Bonvoy points for dining, gas, and telephone service expenses 
• 2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other purchase
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status, which includes room upgrades, late checkouts, and bonus points
• $125 annual fee
• Learn more about applying here.

Thanks to the 2X base point value for all spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card automatically becomes a good option for small business owners. Add to that the 6X points on Marriott expenses and 4X points for dining and gas services, and this card becomes a great option for small business owners who are constantly on the road and looking to earn as many points back as possible.

Like the Hilton card mentioned on the list, the Marriott Bonvoy card also includes access to the chain's Gold Elite Status. Thanks to the room upgrades and late checkouts that come with this affiliation, small business owners can travel more comfortably and focus on their work rather than get bogged down with hotel logistics. 

11. United Business Visa Card

If your loyalty extends more to airlines than hotel chains, the United Business Visa Card is worth learning about. It rewards flights and hotel trips and includes 2X miles on all gas, dining, and office supply store charges. 

• Welcome Offer: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months of account ownership
• 7X miles on United flights thanks to MileagePlus membership boost
• 3X miles on hotels booked directly through United 
• 2X miles on gas, dining, local transit charges, and office supply expenses 
• Annual 5,000 bonus miles distributed at card anniversary
• Flight perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, and the chance to earn $100 in annual United travel credit
• Free for the first year and then $99 per year
• Learn more about applying here.

If you are okay with receiving miles rather than cash back, the United Business Visa Card is a desirable option. Not only does the card have a pretty juicy welcome offer and handsomely reward holders who book travel directly through United, but it also gives out anniversary bonus miles to make it even easier for holders to book their next flight via points.

Most importantly, if your work requires constant travel, having a free checked bag and being able to board the plane a bit early are huge time-saving perks. Rather than wait in long customer service lines, cardholders can board the plane without stress and quickly whip that laptop out to get back to business.

12. Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Visa Card

If you frequently travel to the American Southwest for business, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Visa Card might be a good addition to your wallet. 

• Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 miles if you spend $5,000 in three months and earn 40,000 additional points if you spend $15,000 in the first nine months 
• 4X points for all Southwest Airlines purchases
• 3X points for hotel and car rental purchases placed through Rapid Rewards partners 
• 2X points on social media marketing, internet and cable services, and transit expenses 
• Cardholders enjoy complimentary in-flight WiFi credits and statement credits for TSA Precheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS.
• Free for the first year and then a $150 annual fee
• Learn more about applying here.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Visa Card might technically be the last card on this list, but it is not the least preferred option. It has one of the most rewarding welcome offers of all the cards featured here and gives holders excellent value for their travel spending.

Thanks to the in-flight WiFi credits, business owners can stay on call in the skies and ensure that any last-minute work is completed while on the go.

Final Thoughts

No two small businesses are alike, so small business owners need to weigh several factors when they decide which business credit card is right for them. Free versus paid, points versus cash back, and general versus brand-affiliated cards are all critical details that might sway certain business owners towards one card over another. 

No matter what kind of business you have, it's important to remember to spend wisely. A business credit card is a great way to make your spending work best for you and your business, but managing your card and statements is essential. 

If you're a small business owner, let us know in the comment section below which card you think is the best option for your business!