Business Credit Cards

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® Credit Card

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® Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Offer Ending Soon! Earn a best-ever $900 after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from opening your account.

Favorite Card Features:

• 1.5x on all purchases with no spending cap.
• Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $750 welcome bonus becomes 75k 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® Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Offer Ending Soon!! Earn a best-ever $900 after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from opening your account.

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 $750 welcome bonus becomes 75k 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!

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 15,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months as a cardholder.

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
• 0.0% introductory APR for 12 months starting at your account opening; after this you’ll get a variable rate based on your financial profile and other factors
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $0

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.

American Express Business® Gold Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 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 (See rates & fees details)
• 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
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $295

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months of opening your account

Favorite Card Features:

• 5x on airfare and hotels booked & paid for in advance through Amex Travel
• 1.5x on purchases U.S. Construction materials, hardware suppliers, electronic goods stores, shipping, software & cloud services, as well as on purchases of $5k or more
• $189 CLEAR(R) Credit: Move faster through security at select
  airports and stadiums across the U.S. Use this credit to cover the cost of a CLEAR membership with up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year when you pay with your card.
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to valuable airline partners like Aeroplan, Avianca, Delta, Etihad, and Virgin Atlantic.
• Access the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• 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.
• Unlock more than $1,000 per year in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting, and wireless services.
• $200 Airline credit with one selected airline for incidentals like baggage fees, in-flight purchases, and lounge passes
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $695 

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 50,000 Capital One 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

Capital One miles used to be limited to offsetting 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 its partner United would charge.

You can still use your Capital One miles to cover travel expenses that can’t be booked with points and miles directly, 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 Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 4x on Southwest purchases
• 3x on Rapid Rewards Hotels and Car partner bookings
• 2x on Rideshares
• 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

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on Southwest purchases,
• 2x on rental cars and hotels booked through Southwest's partners
• 2x on rideshares
• 2 EarlyBird Check-ins per year
• No foreign exchange fees
• Each year on your card anniversary, earn 6,000 Rapid Rewards points.
• Use Rapid Rewards points to fly anywhere Southwest flys including Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and Mexico.

Annual Fee: $99

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 135k 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: Earn 75,000 United miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, local transit & commuting (including things like tolls, taxis, and rideshare costs)
• 5k United miles each year on your account anniversary if you have a United business and a United personal credit card
• $100 United travel credit each anniversary year after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more
• No foreign exchange fees
• A first free checked bag when you fly with United - up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply)
• One year complimentary DashPass membership for free delivery & reduced service fees on DoorDash & Caviar. Must activate by 12/31/24
• $100 United travel credit after you book 7 United flights of $100 or more each anniversary year

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $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!

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 75,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Offer ends 3/29/23.

Favorite Card Features:

• Save 15% on Delta operated award flights (partner flights and taxes/fees not applicable) when you use code TakeOff15.
• 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
• Terms Apply

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

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 95,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Offer ends 3/29/23.

Favorite Card Features:

• Save 15% on award award flights operated by Delta (partner flights & taxes/fees not applicable) with code TakeOff15
  3x on Delta purchases and hotels
• 1.5x on single purchases $5k+ up to $50k a year (Purchases made in card bonus categories earn only the higher multiplier.)
• 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
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $250

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer, it makes sense to carry a Delta credit card in your wallet. Delta business cards come with varying levels 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 SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Offer ends 3/29/23.

Favorite Card Features:

• Save 15% on Delta operated award flights (partner flights & taxes/fees not applicable) when using code TakeOff15.
• 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
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $550

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

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.
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases
• 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.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Offer ends 4/5/23.

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
• Hilton Gold Status
• Earn 1 free weekend night after spending $15k in a calendar year. Earn an additional free weekend night by spending an additional $45k in the same calendar year
• Terms Apply

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® American Express® Card

Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of your account opening. Offer ends 5/3/23!

Favorite Card Features:

• 6x for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy program
• 4x on dining worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, cell phone service, and U.S. purchases on shipping.
• Earn 2x on all other purchases.
• Get a 7% discount off standard rate reservations for standard guest rooms at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program when booked directly through Marriott. Terms and conditions apply.
• Get a Free Night Award after your annual renewal month at hotels participating in the Bonvoy program priced at 35k points a night and under. Plus, earn another Free Night Award after spending $60k on your card in a calendar year.
• Marriott Bonvoy points can also be transferred to 40+ airline partners and redeemed for award flights.
• Get Marriott Bonvoy Gold status as a cardholder
• Terms Apply

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.

The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Hyatt points after spending $5,000 on your card within the first 3 months of opening your card. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• $100 in Hyatt credits on Hyatt purchases each year you renew your card ($50 2x a year)
• 9x on Hyatt purchases
• 2x on your top 3 spending categories each quarter through 12/31/23. Then, 2x on your top 2 spending categories thereafter. Eligible categories include: Dining, Shipping, Airline tickets purchased directly with the airline, Local transit & Commuting, Social Media & Search Engine Advertising, Car Rental Agencies, Gas stations and Internet, Cable, and Phone Services.
• 2x on gym memberships
• 1x on all other purchases
• Hyatt Discoverist status + 5 qualifying night credits every year
• Get 10% of your redeemed points back each year when you spend $50k on your card, on up to 200,000 points redeemed
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $199

IHG® Rewards Premier Business Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 140,000 IHG points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn a Reward Night each card anniversary at eligible hotels around the globe + earn Reward Night when you redeem IHG points for a 4-night consecutive stay
• 26x on IHG purchases
• 5x on restaurants, gas, travel, and eligible advertising purchases
• 3x on all other purchases
• 4th night free on award stays
• $100 Credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
• Platinum Elite status for as long as you have the Premier Business card
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $99 

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.