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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

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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months as a cardholder. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R)
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 (or 25% more value) if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal - Member FDIC
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.
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn $900 after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from opening your account.
Favorite Card Features:
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases with no spending cap made for your business
- Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $900 welcome bonus becomes 90k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $0
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn $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 $900 welcome bonus becomes 90k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.
- Member FDIC
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!

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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after spending $3,000 in eligibile purchases using the card in the first 3 months as a cardholder.
Favorite Card Features:
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after spending $3,000 in eligibile purchases using the card in the first 3 months as a cardholder.
- 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
- 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.
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Current Welcome Bonus: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.*
Favorite Card Features:
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards(R) points on the 2 categories your business spends the most on in each billing cycle out of 6 eligible categories. Even if your 2 highest spending categories change, you'll earn 4X points on the first $150k in total purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X after that). Only your top 2 categories each billing cycle counts toward the $150k limit.
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits every month when you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. Annual savings can be up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Get $12.95 back in statement credits every month by paying for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
- Choose from a Gold or Rose Gold card.
- No foreign exchange fees (See rates & fees details)
- Transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like Aeroplan, Delta, ANA, and Etihad.
- *Terms Apply
Annual Fee: $295 ($375 if application is received on or after 2/1/24)
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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 the Membership Rewards(R) points on airfare and hotels booked & paid for in advance through AmexTravel.com
- 1.5x on each eligible purchase at U.S. construction materials, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, shipping, software & cloud services, as well as on purchases of $5k or more
- $189 CLEAR(R) Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR(R) Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card(R).
- No foreign exchange fees
- Transfer Membership Rewards points to valuable airline partners like Aeroplan, Avianca, Delta, Etihad, and Virgin Atlantic.
- With the American Express Global Lounge Collection(R), get complimentary access to 1,400+ airport lounges across 140 countries and counting. You'll have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- 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 your one selected, qualifying airline for incidental fees
- Terms Apply
Annual Fee: $695

Among many other trips, my hubby and I used Membership Rewards points to book our dream honeymoon to Italy!
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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:
- Earn 2x miles per $1 spent on all purchases with no spending caps or restrictions. Miles don't expire as long as the account is open.
- Earn 5x the miles for rental cars and hotels booked using Capital One Travel
- Skip the lines with up to $100 in a statement credit for TSA PreCheck(R) or Global Entry
- No foreign exchange fees
- Transfer miles to Capital One's 15+ airline transfer partners like Aeroplan, Avianca, and Flying Blue or redeem your miles instantly for travel purchases
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.
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from opening your account.
Favorite Card Features:
- 4x pts on Southwest purchases
- 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner bookings
- 2x points on Rideshares
- 2x points on internet, cable, and cell phone costs, as well as advertising purchases for social media and search engines
- Card perks include 4 upgraded boarding positions every year, when available for your travel dates
- Get 9k Rapid Rewards points each year you renew your card
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $199
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in your first 3 months as a cardholder.
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.
- Member FDIC
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!
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account.
Favorite Card Features:
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United(R) purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, as well as on local transit and commuting.
- Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United(SM) Business Card and a personal Chase United(R) credit card
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, get employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards quicker
- $100 United travel credit each anniversary year after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more
- No foreign exchange fees
- Enjoy a free 1st checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club(SM) one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
- $100 United(R) travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year
- Member FDIC
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!
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.
Favorite Card Features:
- Card Members save 15% on award travel With TakeOff 15. Enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on directly-made Delta purchases and at restaurants.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at U.S. shipping purchases and U.S. Advertising buys in eligible media
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent 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 and limitations apply
Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year as a cardholder, then $99 thereafter
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.
Favorite Card Features:
- Card Members save 15% on award travel With TakeOff 15. Enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees
- Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases and hotels
- Earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent on big purchases of at least $5k, up to 50k extra miles each year (Purchases made in card bonus categories earn only the higher multiplier.)
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent 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
- Delta Sky Club(R) Access - Access the Delta Sky Clubs(R) for $50 per person for each visit for you and 2 guests or immediate family members when flying together on Delta. Effective 1/1/24, Delta Sky Club access will no longer be available.
- With Status Boost(R), earn 10k Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $25k in purchases on your Card each calendar year, up to twice per year to help you near Medallion Status. MQMs determine Medallion Status and are different from the Miles you earn for flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges for the new way to earn Medallion Status as a cardholder.
- No foreign exchange fees
- Terms and limitations 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.
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 70,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.
Favorite Card Features:
- Card Members save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases
- Earn 1x on all other purchases until spending $150k in a calendar year, then 1.5x thereafter
- Get complimentary access into Delta Sky Clubs(R) where you can relax before your Delta flight or find downtime between connections.* Also, get two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes every year. *Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will get 15 Visits each year to the Delta Sky Club. For unlimited Visits every year starting on 2/1/25, eligible Card spending must equal $75,000+ between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and every subsequent calendar year. Once all 15 visits are used, Eligible Card Holders can buy extra Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) for $50 per person per visit when paying with the card.
- Centurion Lounge Access when you use the card to buy a Delta flight
- $85-$100 statement credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry
- With Status Boost(R), earn 15k Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $30k in purchases with your Card through 12/31/23, up to 4x each year to help you near Medallion Status.* MQMs determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles earned toward flights. *Effective 1/1/24, this benefit changes and you'll earn toward Medallion Status in a new way with the Card. Learn more.
- A free checked bag when you fly with Delta
- Domestic Companion Certificate when you renew your card
- No foreign exchange fees
- Terms and limitations 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.
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Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Offer ends 7/19/23
Favorite Card Features:
- 12x on eligible purchases made directly with Hilton hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio
- 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 Honors 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.
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Welcome Bonus: Earn 3 Free Night Awards worth up to 50k Marriott Bonvoy(R) points for each bonus night at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy(R) program after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases with your new card in the first 6 months as a cardholder. (Certain hotels have resort fees.)
Favorite Card Features:
- 6x the Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 you spend spend on eligible purchases at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy(R) program
- 4x on dining worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, cell phone service from a U.S. provider, 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 by booking 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.
- Receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status as a Marriott Bonvoy Business(R) American Express(R) 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.
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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
- 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on purchases in your top 3 spending categories each quarter through 12/31/24. Then, 2x on your top 2 spending categories thereafter.
- 2 Bonus Points on gym memberships
- 1 Bonus Point on all other purchases
- Hyatt Discoverist status + 5 qualifying night credits every year
- Earn up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits. When you spend $50+ at any Hyatt property, you'll earn a $50 statement credit, up to 2x each anniversary year.
- No foreign Exchange Fees
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $199
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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 a Reward Night when you redeem IHG points for a 4-night consecutive stay at an IHG hotel.
- Earn up to 26x per $1 on IHG purchases when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- 5x on restaurants, at gas stations, travel, and select advertising purchases
- 3x on all other purchases
- 4th night free on award stays
- Up to $100 Credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- Automatic Platinum Elite status for as long as you have the Premier Business card
- No foreign Exchange Fees
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Kimpton(R), EVEN(R) Hotels, Indigo(R) Hotels, and Holiday Inn(R)
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $99
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.
1. Business credit cards aren’t only for small companies and traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. Side hustles count and solopreneurs can also apply whether their business is digital, sells products, or offers a service.
2. Be honest. Never lie about your business revenue on an application. If your business is new, it’s ok to project a reasonable amount you think the business will earn.
3. You don’t need an EIN. Banks will allow sole proprietors to use their social security number for the application.
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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.