The best business credit cards of January 2026

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If you operate a business, whether part-time or full-time, you may benefit from opening a business credit card. A business credit card helps you keep personal and professional expenses separate, which makes things much easier come tax time. Plus, many business cards allow you to open free employee cards.

CNBC Select reviewed dozens of popular business credit cards so you can choose the best option for your venture. You can read more about our methodology below.

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business is a premium travel card designed for business owners who are on the go. It's a great option if you're looking for luxury travel perks, including lounge access.

Standout benefits: With the Sapphire Reserve for Business, enjoy access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club, plus 1,300+ airport lounges with a complimentary Priority Pass membership. You can bring up to two guests for no additional cost — a rare feature these days.

Who's this for? The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is an excellent pick if you don't want to pay an annual fee thanks to its unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases (earned in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points).

Standout benefits: Our favorite benefit of the Ink Business Unlimited is its flat-rate rewards on all purchases, making it especially attractive if you don't want to deal with tracking bonus categories. The Ink Business Unlimited also offers an intro APR on new purchases, and you can add employee cards at no additional cost.

Who's this for? If you want to earn rewards on common business expenses, such as travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is a great option.

Standout benefits: With the Ink Business Preferred, earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year (then 1X points). You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for 1 cent each toward cash back, gift cards, experiences and more. Points are worth more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠ or transferred to Chase's airline and hotel partners.

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Business features a massive welcome bonus, offering 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. Simply hitting the first half of the bonus is a great return.

Standout benefits: The Venture X Business earns 2X miles on all purchases, so you don't have to worry about spending in specific categories to earn elevated rewards. Capital One also offers a variety of hotel and airline transfer partners, which can boost your points' value to up to 2 cents apiece (or more).

Who's this for? Consider the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express if you're a business owner looking to finance new purchases without incurring interest.

Standout benefits: The Amex Blue Business Plus features an intro APR on purchases (see rates and fees), alongside rewards on everyday business purchases. Terms apply. This card also earns American Express Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to 20 airline and hotel programs — a feature typically reserved for cards with an annual fee.

Who's this for? The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a top-notch business credit card offering over a dozen premium perks. Just be aware of the card's $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Standout benefits: The Amex Business Platinum's luxury travel benefits include a statement credit for Global Entry ($120 every 4 years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every 4.5 years through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider), access to over 1,550 airport lounges through the American Express Global Lounge Collection® (access is limited to eligible cardmembers) and up to $600 in hotel credits (up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection¹Â bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card).

Who's this for? The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is a top choice if you're looking to boost your rewards balance with generous cash back categories related to both business and everyday spending.

Standout benefits: The Ink Business Cash is ideal if you regularly purchase from office supply stores or have significant bills from internet, cable and phone service providers due to its 5% cash back rate on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year (then 1%). You also earn 2% back at gas stations and restaurants with the same stipulations.

Who's this for? Choose the American Express Business Gold Card if you have shifting spending patterns but still want to earn generous rewards on purchases.

Standout benefits: The Amex Business Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month (from six eligible categories). While your top two categories may change, you earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X points). Only the top two categories in each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.

Who's this for? The Signify Business Cash Card by Wells Fargo earns unlimited, flat-rate cash rewards across all your business spending, making it ideal for simple spending and earning.

Standout benefits: You don't have to track bonus categories with the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash Card because it earns a flat 2% cash rewards on every purchase. Plus, if you pair this card with a Wells Fargo credit card that enables travel partner transfers, such as the Wells Fargo Autograph Journeyâ„  Card (see rates and fees), you can convert the rewards you earn into airline miles and hotel points.

Who's this for? If you're a business owner with less-than-stellar credit, you'll have an easier time getting approved for the *Capital One Spark 1% Classic.

Standout benefits: The Capital One Spark 1% Classic features a straightforward cash back structure, earning 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It also features Capital One business benefits like account management tools and integration with business software.

You don't need to be the founder of a large corporation or a restaurateur to be eligible for a business credit card. You may qualify even if you're starting a business or part-time side hustle. Freelance and independent contractor gigs, such as driving for DoorDash or Uber, could help you qualify for a business card as well.

What you'll need

When you're ready to apply for a business credit card, you typically need the following information:

• Business name: If you're a sole proprietor, this can be your name.
• Business address: This can also be your home address.
• Business tax ID: Use an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your Social Security number (SSN) if you're a sole proprietor.
• Estimated revenue: Total revenue before taxes or other expenses are deducted.
• Years in business: How long has your business been around?
• The number of employees: Enter "1" if you have no employees other than yourself.

Business credit card applications also ask for your personal information, including your Social Security number (as mentioned above). When you apply for a business credit card, the issuer typically reviews your personal credit history.

What to do if you're not approved

If you're not instantly approved for the business card you applied for, don't worry. Often, the card issuer just needs time to further review your application. Even if you're outright denied approval for a credit card, you can call the issuer to see why they denied you and what you can do about it.

Business applications are a bit more complicated than a standard consumer credit card application. Sometimes, you may need to send in tax returns or other documentation to verify you have a business. Many factors go into getting approved for a credit card, but calling the issuer and talking to a representative may help move the needle toward approval.

As a business owner, having a separate credit card for business transactions is essential for your bookkeeping. Many business credit cards have built-in spending reports or free employee cards with the option to customize spending limits. On top of that, it makes sense to earn rewards on purchases you're going to make anyway.

Expense tracking

As noted above, business credit cards can help you simplify bookkeeping and keep track of your expenses. Many business card issuers offer integration with popular accounting software such as QuickBooks. You can also add employee cards so that employees can make purchases on their own without utilizing a reimbursement system.

Points, miles or cash back

Aside from helping you cover essential business purchases, business cards can be very rewarding. The top business cards earn cash back, points or miles on everything from online advertising to internet services. These cards also tend to have other useful business benefits, such as credits for software or computer expenses and insurance for business-related travel.

Business credit cards help you streamline bookkeeping and keep personal expenses separate from business transactions. These cards also tend to have higher welcome bonuses and are particularly rewarding for common business expenses.

On the flip side, business card welcome bonus offers may have larger minimum spending requirements. And when you apply, many business cards still pull your personal credit report.

With so many types of business cards available, it can be hard to hone in on the best fit for you. By understanding which credit card perks will be the most valuable for your business and what type of rewards make the most sense, you can quickly narrow down your choice. Then, it's a matter of reviewing the cost of those cards and selecting the an affordable option.

Fees

The cost of a business credit card is generally divided into two categories: fees and interest. If you're able to take advantage of an intro APR offer or pay off your balance in full each month, you won't pay any interest. At that point, you just need to determine whether the card's benefits outweigh the fees.

Many credit card fees are avoidable, such as late payment or returned payment fees. However, there can be annual fees or foreign transaction fees that are more difficult to navigate, so be sure to factor these costs into your decision.

Rewards

Pay attention to the types of rewards a business card earns and which purchases qualify. Most credit card rewards are either cash back or travel rewards. Travel rewards can be more valuable, but redeeming them for maximum value is often more complicated. Cash back is preferable if you want a return on your credit card expenses without the hassle.

Understanding where your business spends the most money is also key to finding the best business card. Some business cards are especially rewarding for shipping purchases, while others offer bonus rewards on advertising. By applying for a credit card with bonus categories that align with your business expenses, you can multiply the rewards you earn.

Benefits

If you choose a business card without considering the benefits beyond rewards, you're missing out on significant value. Some cards offer shopping or travel protections that can help you save money by avoiding the extra costs of rental car insurance or extended warranty coverage.

You may have access to statement credit offers with retailers or service providers, as well. These credits can help offset the card's annual fee, making it easier to justify opening the card.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best business credit cards.

To determine which business cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed business credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cashback).
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

When choosing the best business credit cards the main criteria in our ranking were the rewards rates and added benefits, such as redemption bonuses, insurance coverage and expense management features. Co-branded business cards, such as airline or hotel-specific cards, did not make our final list due to their often limited reward systems and potential to restrict your travel redemption options to a specific brand.

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For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.

*Information about the Capital One Spark Classic for Business has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.