Business credit cards earn flexible points that can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel transfer partners, as well as airline miles and hotel points depending on the type of card. Credit cards for small businesses can help target different bonus categories and earn points and miles for your business purchases.

So, whether you’re a sole proprietor with a side hustle or you’re running a business with numerous employees, consider a business credit card to build your business credit and take advantage of the perks these cards offer. 

Best Business Credit Cards

Ink Business Preferred

Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on travel, shipping costs, internet, phone & cable services, and advertising with social media sites and search engines on the first $150k in combined category spending
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like United, Flying Blue, and Hyatt
  1.25 cents per point value if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

Annual Fee: $95

I love earning Ultimate Rewards points with my Ink Preferred and Sapphire Reserve. These flexible points can be combined into 1 Ultimate Rewards account making it easy to book travel when the time comes. 

By targeting expenses like internet, cable, and phone with the Ink Preferred, you can earn more for these expenses and get a return on spending you’d be doing anyway.

Ink Business Unlimited

Current Welcome Bonus: $500 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening

Favorite Card Features:

• 1.5x on all purchases with no spending cap.
• Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $500 welcome bonus becomes 50k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.

Annual Fee: $0

Ink Business Cash

Current Welcome Bonus: $500 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 5% on office supply stores and internet, phone & cable services on the first $25k in combined category spending
• 2% on gas stations and dining on up to a combined $25k in spending
• Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $500 welcome bonus becomes 50k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.

Annual Fee: $0

Technically, the Ink Unlimited and Ink Cash cards earn cashback rewards. These Ultimate Rewards can also be redeemed for a fixed 1 cent per point in the Chase Travel Portal.

But, when 1 or both of these cards are paired with the Ink Preferred or a personal Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, the Ultimate Rewards points earned can be combined with points from these other cards. Not only does this improve the redemption value of the points to 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point, but it also gives you access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

I’ve transferred my Ultimate Rewards points to travel around the world to places like southern Africa, multiple European countries, and Southeast Asia, to name a few!

Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: N/A

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x American Express Membership Rewards points for up to $50k a year.
• Add Amex Offers to the card to earn bonus points and statement credits for qualifying purchases
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners including Delta, Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, and ANA.

Annual Fee: $0

American Express Business Gold Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 35,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 4x on 2 bonus categories that make sense for your business on up to $150k in spending each calendar year. Choices include advertising, U.S. gas, restaurants, or shipping, flights booked directly with the airline, and technology costs involving cloud services and software. 
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like Aeroplan, Delta, ANA, and Etihad. 
• Get a 25% point rebate when you book a flight with American Express Travel on your selected airline or on any premium class flight.

Annual Fee: $295

Business Platinum Card from American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: Up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points, 50,000 points after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening and an additional 25,000 points for spending another $10,000 also within the first 3 months of opening your card.

Favorite Card Features:

• 5x on airfare and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to valuable airline partners like Aeroplan, Avianca, Delta, Etihad, and Virgin Atlantic.
• Access American Express Centurion Lounges.
• Get 35% of your points back when booking economy flights with your selected airline or on premium class flight bookings with any airline when you book through American Express Travel.
• Get Dell statement credits up to $200 that can be stacked with other Dell promotions

Annual Fee: $595

American Express Membership Rewards points are another of my absolute favorite to earn! And, the Blue Business Plus is always in my wallet for this very purpose.

With every dollar spent (up to $50k), I earn 2x the points and get closer to booking award flights with one of American Express’ many airline transfer partners. 😉 American Express even offers periodic bonus transfers which give even more miles for your points.

Among many other trips, my hubby and I used Membership Rewards points to book our dream honeymoon to Italy! 

Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 50k miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x on all purchases with no spending caps
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer miles to Capital One's airline transfer partners like Aeroplan, Avianca, and Flying Blue or redeem them to erase travel purchases on your monthly statement.

Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, then $95 starting the 2nd year

Read more about the Capital One Spark Miles for Business to know whether it's right for your business.

Capital One miles used to be limited to erasing travel expenses from your statements. But, Capital One added airline and hotel transfer partners, which brought a ton of value to their travel rewards program.

To get the best return value on this card, use the airline transfer partners to book partner awards. For example, Avianca is in the Star Alliance and gives you access to premium class seats for less than United would charge.

You can use your Capital One miles as a travel purchase eraser, but you’ll get just a 1 cent per point fixed value. Transfer partners deliver a higher per point value.

Airline Business Credit Cards

Co-branded airline credit cards are great for frequent flyers because they include benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding. It’s important to remember, though, the miles they earn can’t be transferred like flexible points. 

Still, if you fly with a particular airline regularly or you want to add to your airline loyalty account balance for a particular redemption, an airline-specific credit card could be the right choice for you.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 100,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points; 70,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening and another 30,000 Southwest points when you spend $25k during the first 6 months of card membership.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on Southwest purchases
• 2x on internet, cable, and cell phone costs, as well as advertising purchases for social media and search engines
• Perks include a Global Entry fee credit and 4 upgraded boarding positions
• Get 9k Rapid Rewards points each year you renew your card

Annual Fee: $199

I love having Southwest points in my loyalty account! They’re easy to redeem domestically and for Southwest’s international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Their Wanna Get Away fares can be as little as a few thousand points!

Southwest is such a user-friendly loyalty program, too. Award flights are easily canceled with no penalty should your plans change. And, by earning 125k Southwest Rapid Rewards Points in a calendar year, you’ll earn the companion pass that allows you to bring a guest on your adventures for free for up to 2 years! That’s how I “treated” my sister to 2 all-girls trips to Mexico and Costa Rica! 😉

United Business Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 United miles after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x on United purchases, restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, local transit & commuting (including things like tolls, taxis, and ride share costs)
• 5k United miles each year on your account anniversary if you have a United business and personal credit card
• $100 United travel credit after making 7 United flight purchases > $100
• Get 25% off United inflight purchases for things like drinks and wifi
• No foreign exchange fees
• A free checked bag when you fly with United
• 2 United Club passes each year

Annual Fee: $99

United miles are easy to earn with credit cards like this, as well as by transferring Ultimate Rewards points from an Ink Preferred or Sapphire to United.

One of my favorite ways to use United miles is to take advantage of the Excursionist Perk! United allows you to add a free segment to round trip award flights so you can see another city or country for no extra miles before moving on to your destination. Yes, you can fly from the U.S. to Paris and then to Rome for the same number of miles had you just flown directly to Rome!

Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 40,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x on Delta purchases, restaurants, U.S. shipping purchases, and some U.S. Advertising buys
• 1x on all other purchases
• A free checked bag and priority boarding when you fly with Delta
• 20% statement credit on some in-flight purchases
• No foreign exchange fees
• Earn $100 Delta flight credit when you spend $10k on the card in a calendar year

Annual Fee: $0 the first year, then $99 thereafter

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 45,000 Delta SkyMiles and 5,000 Delta Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Plus, get a $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase in the first 3 months as a cardholder.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on Delta purchases and hotels
• 1.5x on single purchases over $5k up to $50k a year
• 1x on all other purchases
• A free checked bag and priority boarding when you fly with Delta
• $85-$100 statement credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry
• Domestic main cabin Companion Certificate when you renew your card
• 20% statement credit on most in-flight purchases
• No foreign exchange fees

Annual Fee: $250

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer, it makes sense to carry a Delta credit card in your wallet. The 3 levels of Delta business cards come with a varying level of perks to help you get the most value and enjoyment when you fly with Delta.

I love using Delta SkyMiles for their flash sales! These can be such an incredible value to destinations within the U.S, as well as to bucket list trips to Europe and Asia.

Delta Reserve for Business

Current Welcome Bonus: 45,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 Delta Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. 

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on Delta purchases 
• 1x on all other purchases until spending $150k in a calendar year, then 1.5x thereafter
• Free Delta SkyClub Access + 2 one-time guest passes
• Centurion Lounge Access when you use the card to buy a Delta flight
• $85-$100 statement credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry
• A free checked bag when you fly with Delta
• Domestic Companion Certificate when you renew your card
• No foreign exchange fees

Annual Fee: $550

Citi Business AAdvantage Platinum Select

Current Welcome Bonus: 65,000 American Airlines miles after spending $4,000 in the first 4 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x on American Airlines purchases, cell phone, internet, cable, and satellite services, as well as on gas and rental car costs.
• No foreign exchange fees
• 1 free checked bag on all domestic flights

Annual Fee: $0 in the first year, $99 in the second year

American Airlines miles can be used to book award flights on American Airlines and their Oneworld Alliance partners. These miles are particularly valuable because American Airlines is only a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy, making them harder to earn than United or Delta miles.

I’ve booked American Airlines web specials for as little as 5k miles and taken advantage of premium class seats on flights operated by partners like Qatar and Cathay Pacific.

Hotel Business Credit Cards

Similar to co-branded airline cards, hotel credit cards come with perks like elevated status, early check-in, upgrades, and free breakfast. Some of these cards even include a free night after hitting a spending tier or renewing your card each year.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 125,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 12x on Hilton purchases
• 6x on U.S. gas stations, restaurants, cell phone service, shipping costs, flights booked with the airline directly and rental cars booked with the car rental company directly.
• No foreign exchange fees
• Automatic Gold Status, with an upgrade to Diamond Status after spending $40k in a calendar year.

Annual Fee: $95

I’ve enjoyed so many stays at Hilton properties around the world and they’ve been made even better with the Hilton status that comes with my co-branded credit card!

The highest tier Hilton properties cost a lot of points per night, but Hilton’s low to mid-level hotels can cost just 10k-30k points per night. Combine this with a co-branded credit card and you’ll get things like free breakfast and preferred rooms, too. 🙂

Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card from American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 6x on Marriott purchases
• 4x on U.S. dining, gas stations, cell phone service, and shipping. Earn 2x on all other purchases.
• Get a free anniversary night each year at hotels priced at 35k points a night and under.
• Marriott Bonvoy points can also be transferred to 40+ airline partners and redeemed for award flights.

Annual Fee: $125

I love that Marriott Bonvoy points can be used to redeem for hotel nights, but can also be transferred to 40+ airline transfer partners. Among these partners are Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, both of which aren’t accessible through any other flexible points program.

Cashback Business Credit Cards

Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business

Current Welcome Bonus: Get $500 after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of opening your account. Get an additional $1,500 when you spend $50,000 within your first 6 months of having the card.

Favorite Card Features:

• Earn 2% back on all purchases with no annual spending cap
• No foreign exchange fees
• Cashback rewards can be redeemed at any time for any amount

Annual Fee: $0 the first year, then $95 when your card renews in the second year

Read more about the Capital One Spark Cash for Business to know if it's right for your business.

If you’re looking to earn cashback rewards for your business bills and purchases, 2% on every dollar spent with no limit is a pretty sweet deal. 

Whether you take the cash or use the rewards as a statement credit is your choice. But either way, the return on your spending can help pay for flight deals and other travel costs that can’t be paid for with traditional points or miles.

Important Things to Know About Applying for Business Credit Cards

The quick tips below will help you apply for business credit cards. To learn more, this guide has everything you need to know about how to apply for a business credit card.

Disclosure:

The Globetrotting Teacher has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Globetrotting Teacher and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Comments & responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.