Does a business credit card offer federal consumer protections?

The short answer here is no. Business credit cards aren’t protected by federal laws like the Credit CARD Act of 2009, most of the time. This means that your APR can change without notice, and there are fewer limits on fees you can be charged. Fraud protection is also not as strong with business credit cards. With that said, credit card companies want your business, so many have individual protections written into their business credit card contracts. It’s up to you to be informed about potential fees, fraud protection, and other issues with your business card. Look closely at the fine print before you sign up for a card, as protections vary from company to company.

What’s the difference between a business charge card and a business credit card?

There are two major differences between credit cards and charge cards. Charge cards, unlike credit cards, don’t have a credit limit. However, they also have to be paid in full at the end of the month, or you’ll incur a large penalty fee. With a charge card, you have to plan spending more carefully and keep closer track of your cash flow. Charge cards do offer some of the same cash back and travel benefits as credit cards, though many come with annual fees. Paying off all of your credit card balances each month is a good habit for any business owner. However the inability to carry balances over from month to month at all can be prohibitive for some. If you ever suffer a tight month and can’t pay your balance in full, you’ll already have been hit with penalty fees, even if you catch up the next month. For many business owners, it’s better to use a credit card.

Is a business EIN required to apply for a business card?

You can use your federal EIN - employer identification number - to apply for a business credit card, but you don’t have to. Many solopreneurs never get an EIN simply because they don’t need it. If you’re on your own and use your social security number for other aspects of your business, you can just use that when applying for a business credit card. Even if you do have an EIN, you may not be able to use it when first applying for a business card. The credit card company can only pull your business’s credit if your business has its own credit file as an entity separate from your personal credit file. If you’re just getting started, you’ll need time to build up your business’s credit file, which is part of the point of using a business credit card. If you have an EIN but don’t have a credit file associated with it, the credit issuer will simply pull credit based on your social security number.

Will they check my personal credit file when I apply?

The answer to the above FAQ should tell you this! The answer is yes, most of the time. This is especially true at first, when your business doesn’t have a credit file, or doesn’t have a large enough history for a credit issuer to make a decision. Again, you can enter your EIN instead of your personal social security number. But if the business doesn’t have an adequate credit file for a decision to be made, you’ll see a hard inquiry on your personal credit file. With that said, other business card owners have noticed that after the original inquiry, the business credit card may not be counted in your personal credit file, unless there’s a major negative to report. Once the account is up and running, most of the credit-building properties will be counted towards your business’s credit, rather than your personal credit. With all this in mind, it’s important to take care in your business transactions, just as you would your personal interactions. Though you and your business are technically separate, there’s so much interlinking in the world of financial transactions that credit issues in either sphere can impact the other.

What’s my personal liability for the card’s balance?

Depending on the credit card issuer and the arrangement you sign, you may be 100% liable for the credit card’s balance. Most of the time, a credit card issuer will insist that you sign a personal guarantee. This is an agreement you make with your creditor to pay for your business’s debts if your company doesn’t. It’s almost like cosigning for yourself. If your business can’t keep up with the debts, you’ll have to pay them back personally - even if you are the sole owner and operator of the entire business. Due to personal guarantees, creditors could go after your personal assets if you default on the loan. Even if your company is an S-corporation or Limited Liability Company, you could be on the hook personally for business credit card debts. Limited liability company and corporation classifications shield your personal assets from certain liability situations. But when you willingly enter into a credit card arrangement and willingly make spending choices, you’re still personally liable for the debt. If you get to the point where your business is more established and has deep pockets and long credit history, you may be able to get business loans and credit cards with commercial liability. Then, the creditor couldn’t pursue your personal assets in case of failure to pay. However, most small businesses don’t have this option, especially not when they’re just beginning to apply for business credit.

23 Best Small Business Credit Cards of January 2025

Small business credit cards offer easy access to credit along with excellent rewards. The top offers come with significant signup bonuses and fraud protection. Here are the best business credit cards of 2024.

Since launching my own small business in 2007, I’ve used a business credit card. While some entrepreneurs choose not to use a business card, I’ve always found it a good choice for several reasons.

Using a separate business credit card makes keeping my business expenses separate from my personal expenses a snap. Good bookkeeping is essential whether your business has loads of expenses or only a few. Getting into the habit of charging all business-related expenses to a separate business credit card early on streamlines bookkeeping and makes tax time easier.

Of course, there’s an argument to be made for simply using a separate personal credit card for business expenses. And some solopreneurs go this route. However, the one major advantage to using a business credit card is that it allows you to build your business’s credit. If there comes a point when you need a small business loan to expand, you’ll need this credit ready and waiting.

One final reason to consider using a business card is that it’s easier to share expenses safely. You can quickly give your partner or employees access to the company’s money through the card. And individual card-level expense tracking means you know who is spending money on what at any given time.

Business credit cards have some caveats, which we’ll discuss below. But first, let’s look at our top business credit card picks for 2024.

Best Overall Business Credit Cards

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

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Our Rating: 4.8

★★★★★☆

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Welcome Offer

$2,000 Cash Back

Est. Value

$2,000

Annual Fee

$150

APR

N/A Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent

Rewards: Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all other purchases.

With the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, you must pay the card in full every month. It offers an excellent flat rate of 2% cash back on every purchase and one of the highest welcome offers around. If you spend a $150,000 annually on the card, Capital One will refund the annual fee, and if you put $500,000 on the card in your first year, you’ll earn another $2,000 cash back. There are no foreign transaction fees, so feel free to tote it along on international business trips.

2% cash back

On all other eligible purchases

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere-with no limits or category restrictions.

5% cash back

Hotels

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels booked through Capital One Travel.

5% cash back

Rental Cars

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Pros

Welcome offer
No foreign transaction fee
Up to 5% cash back
unlimited 2% cash back

Cons

Annual fee
Requires good credit
Pay your balance at the end of the month

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	11/01/2023	790	Not Provided	---

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

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Our Rating: 4.6

★★★★★☆

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Welcome Offer (Terms Apply)

Earn a $250 statement credit (Terms Apply)

Est. Value

$250

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

17.49% – 25.49% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good, Excellent

Rewards: Earn up to 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Terms Apply.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is one of the few 2% business cash back credit cards with no annual fee. It does have a spending cap of $50,000 per calendar year, then you’ll earn 1% cash back on purchases. The cash back you earn is automatically credited to your statement.

There’s also an 0% introductory APR offer on purchases for the 12 months from date of account opening, then 17.49% - 25.49% variable APR. That can really come in handy if you’re setting up a business or expanding an established one.

Terms Apply.

1% cash back

All eligible purchases

1% cash back on eligible purchases after spending $50,000.

2% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn 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.

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
Up to 2% cash back

Cons

Foreign transaction fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	05/20/2023	690	Not Provided	---
Approved	08/21/2024	748	Experian	$10,000
Approved	08/21/2024	766	TransUnion	$10,000
Approved	08/21/2024	767	Equifax	$10,000
Approved	08/23/2023	746	Experian	$10,000
Approved	08/23/2023	752	TransUnion	$10,000
Approved	08/23/2023	753	Equifax	$10,000
Approved	08/30/2024	773	Not Provided	$10,000
Approved	09/12/2023	823	Experian	$5,000
Approved	01/20/2024	717	Experian	$10,000
Approved	01/20/2024	739	Equifax	$10,000
Approved	01/20/2024	741	TransUnion	$10,000
Approved	02/23/2023	680	Experian	$2,000

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

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Our Rating: 4.5

★★★★★☆

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Welcome Offer (Terms Apply)

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points

Est. Value

Up to $300

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

17.49% – 25.49% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good, Excellent

Rewards: Earn 2x points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2x applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Earn 1x points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is similar to the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card except that you earn points instead of cash back. It also has a 0% introductory APR offer on purchases for the first 12 months from date of account opening, then 17.49% - 25.49% variable APR. The card is ideal for those who want flexibility in redeeming their rewards.

Terms Apply.

1x points

On all other eligible purchases

1x points on other purchases.

2x points

All eligible purchases

Earn 2x points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2x applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
Up to 2x points
0% Intro APR

Cons

Foreign transaction fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	04/06/2024	821	Equifax	$12,800
Approved	04/06/2024	830	TransUnion	$12,800
Approved	04/06/2024	841	Experian	$12,800
Denied	12/11/2023	753	Not Provided	---

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

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Our Rating: 4.6

★★★★★☆

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Welcome Offer

Earn $750 bonus cash back

Est. Value

$750

Annual Fee

APR

17.49% – 23.49% Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent, Good

Rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5% Cash Back rewards on all eligible purchases.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every eligible purchase. It also has a healthy welcome offer for a reasonable amount of spend. There’s also an 0% intro APR offer on purchases for the first 12 months, then 17.49% - 23.49% variable APR. This an excellent card for business owners looking for cash rewards without the annual fee, and employee cards are free.

1.5% cash back

All eligible purchases

1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases with no limits to the amount you can earn

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
Earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Earn 1.5% cash back

Cons

Foreign transaction fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	03/18/2023	825	Experian	$6,000
Approved	12/14/2023	783	TransUnion	$8,000
Approved	12/14/2023	787	Experian	$8,000
Approved	12/14/2023	791	Equifax	$8,000
Approved	10/04/2023	734	TransUnion	$8,000
Approved	10/04/2023	735	Equifax	$8,000
Approved	10/30/2023	850	Experian	$16,000
Approved	04/25/2023	662	Equifax	$4,000
Approved	04/25/2023	667	TransUnion	$4,000
Approved	04/25/2023	718	Experian	$4,000
Approved	04/16/2023	843	Experian	$16,000
Approved	01/12/2024	653	Experian	$4,000
Approved	01/12/2024	672	TransUnion	$4,000
Approved	01/12/2024	675	Equifax	$4,000
Denied	01/12/2024	756	Experian	---
Denied	01/12/2024	775	TransUnion	---

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card

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Our Rating: 4.9

★★★★★☆

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card

Welcome Offer

Earn $1,000 bonus cash back

Est. Value

$1,000

Annual Fee

$195

APR

Flex for Business APR: 18.49% – 26.49% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good, Excellent

Rewards: Unlimited 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM. Earn 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more. Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases.

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card offers excellent cash back rewards but there is an annual fee of $195. One other important note about this card, it is a pay-in-full card so you can’t carry a balance. However, select purchases may be paid off over time.

2% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases

2.5% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more

5% cash back

Travel

Unlimited 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM)

Pros

Welcome offer
No foreign transaction fee
Up to 5% cash back
Earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Cons

Annual fee
Requires good credit
Can't transfer points to other Chase cards or travel partners

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	06/27/2023	690	Experian	$10,000
Approved	01/03/2023	755	Not Provided	$20,000
Approved	01/03/2023	766	Not Provided	$20,000
Approved	01/03/2023	768	Not Provided	$20,000

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

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Our Rating: 4.7

★★★★★☆

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Welcome Offer

Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel

Est. Value

Up to $500

Annual Fee

$0 intro for first year; $95 after that

APR

25.24% Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent, Good

Rewards: Earn 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 2x miles on other purchases.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers an excellent combination of welcome bonus and ongoing rewards. There’s no limit to the number of miles you can earn and you can transfer your miles to over 15 leading travel loyalty programs.

Other benefits include up to a $120 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. The card has no foreign transaction fees and you can fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions.

2x miles

All eligible purchases

Earn 2 Miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere.

5x miles

Select Categories

Earn 5 Miles per dollar on vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

5x miles

Hotels

Earn 5 Miles per dollar on hotels booked through Capital One Travel.

5x miles

Rental Cars

Earn 5 Miles per dollar on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Pros

Welcome offer
No foreign transaction fee
Up to 2% cash back

Cons

Annual fee

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Denied	10/19/2022	580	Not Provided	---
Denied	10/19/2022	642	Experian	---

Capital One Spark Cash Select

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Our Rating: 4.7

★★★★★☆

Capital One Spark Cash Select

Welcome Offer

$500 Cash Back

Est. Value

$500

Annual Fee

APR

17.49% – 23.49% Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent

Rewards: Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on other business purchases.

The Capital One Spark Cash Select is ideal for small businesses looking for a solid cash back offer and no annual fee. Your rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount. You can also get employee cards at no additional cost and earn rewards from their business spend.

1.5% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere - with no limits or category restrictions.

5% cash back

Hotels

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

5% cash back

Rental Cars

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee

Cons

Requires excellent credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	07/22/2022	750	Not Provided	$20,000
Denied	07/16/2022	755	Equifax	---

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business

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Our Rating: 4.0

★★★★☆

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business

Welcome Offer

50,000 Miles

Est. Value

$500

Annual Fee

APR

17.99% – 23.99% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good 670 – 739

Rewards: Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked though Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1.5x miles on other purchases.

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is an excellent travel credit card for business owners. It offers a little bit of everything with a strong welcome offer, 1.5x miles per $1 spent rewards program and no annual fee.

1.5x miles

All eligible purchases

Earn unlimited 1.5X miles on every purchase

5x miles

Hotels

Earn 5X miles on hotels booked through Capital One Travel

5x miles

Rental Cars

Earn 5X miles on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Up to 1.5% rewards

Cons

Requires good credit

The Plum Card® from American Express

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Our Rating: 3.8

★★★★☆☆

The Plum Card® from American Express

Welcome Offer

Paying early pays off: earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date. (Terms Apply)

Est. Value

No cap on how much you can earn

Annual Fee

$250‡

APR

N/A Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent, Good

Rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible charges when you pay your statement within 10 days of the closing date. Terms Apply.

The Plum Card® from American Express earns 1.5% cash back on eligible charges when you pay your statement early. Pay within 10 days of your statement closing date and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back. If you regularly pay off your credit cards early, this card is an excellent way to earn elevated cash back. Redeeming cash back is also painless. The cash back is applied to your next statement.

Terms Apply.

1.5% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible charges when you pay within 10 days of your statement closing date. There's no cap on how much you can earn and no purchase categories, just savings applied to your next statement.

Pros

No foreign transaction fee
Up to 1.5% Early Pay Discount

Cons

Annual fee
No welcome bonus
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	06/05/2023	771	TransUnion	---
Approved	06/05/2023	774	Equifax	---
Approved	06/05/2023	783	Experian	---

Best Overall Business Credit Cards

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Capital One Spark Cash Select

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business

The Plum Card® from American Express

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card