Using a cash-back credit card for business expenses can give you an effective discount of 1% to 5% on the things you buy for your business or side hustle. When choosing a small-business cash-back card, take a look at your expenses. If you spend a lot in traditional business categories like office supplies, gas or telecommunications, consider a card that pays bonus rewards in those areas. If your spending is all over the place, you might be better off with a flat-rate card that pays the same percentage on everything.
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
2% cash back on up to $50K in purchases per year
NerdWallet rating:
5
(out of 5)The
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
pays 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year and 1% after that. Terms apply (see rates and fees). The cap on bonus rewards reduces its appeal to high-spending entrepreneurs, but those with lesser expenses would be hard-pressed to find a richer flat rewards rate on a card with a $0
annual fee. Rewards are automatically credited to your statement each month. Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
2% cash back on all purchases
NerdWallet rating:
4.4
(out of 5)The
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
gives you unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, with no bonus categories to track or spending caps to worry about. That's pretty much the best you can do on a flat-rate card with uncapped rewards. The complications? It's a charge card, so you can't revolve a balance. Plus, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus
has an annual fee of $150
, although you can offset that somewhat with the stellar bonus offer for new cardholders: Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.
Keep in mind that the annual fee could also be a deductible business expense.Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
1.5% cash back on all purchases
NerdWallet rating:
5
(out of 5)As the name suggests, the
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
pays unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It offers a doozy of a sign-up bonus for a card with a $0
annual fee: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Up to 5% cash back in bonus categories
NerdWallet rating:
5
(out of 5)The
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
pays 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services; 2% on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year at gas stations and restaurants; and 1% elsewhere. If those categories match your expenses, you can rack up serious rewards, although the spending caps put a bit of a damper on things. There's also a great bonus offer: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus
1.5% cash back on all purchases
NerdWallet rating:
4.6
(out of 5)The
Capital One Spark Cash Select - $500 Cash Bonus
is the $0
-annual-fee version of Capital One's business cash-back card. The rewards rate is lower at 1.5% on all purchases (although that matches the rate on competing no-fee cards), but the bonus offer is the same: Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
You can also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Up to 3% cash back + customizable rewards
NerdWallet rating:
3.6
(out of 5)The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
stands out because it lets you pick where you earn the richest rewards. You get 3% cash back in a category you choose from a list of six, and 2% back on dining, on up to $50,000 a year in combined spending in those areas. Other spending earns 1% back. The 3% categories, which you can change once a month, are: gas stations (default category); office supply stores; travel; TV, telecom and wireless; computer services; and business consulting services. If your spending doesn't fall nicely into those categories, consider the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
, which offers similar benefits but 1.5%
cash back on all purchases instead.U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Up to 3% cash back + long intro APR
If your business or side hustle has you paying a lot for gas, office supplies or mobile phone service, check out the
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
. It pays 3% cash back on net purchases at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores and cell service providers, and 1% back on everything else. The card offers a competitive welcome bonus, plus: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 Billing Cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 14.74%-23.74% Variable APR
.Methodology
NerdWallet’s credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.
To view rates and fees of the
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, see this page.Compare Cards
| Apply now | Apply now | Apply now |
Annual fee 0 | Annual fee 150 | Annual fee 0 |
Regular APR N/A | Regular APR 13.49%-19.49% Variable APR | |
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening | Intro APR N/A | Intro APR 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months |
Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent | Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent | Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent |