Cards that were crushing it last year might be overshadowed by ones offering aggressive new offers, rewards, and financing perks.
It takes money to make money. And unless you’re a high profitable Fortune 500 company sitting on a big cash reserve, a big portion of the cash that keeps your business up and running or in a position to scale is going to come from some kind of credit -- most likely from credit cards. But which ones are best? New deals come up all the time, so it makes sense to stay on top of what the best business credit cards are at any given moment. This blog post will cover which are the best small business credit cards of 2021.
Why get a business credit card?
Chances are you already have one or more personal credit cards so if you’re a small company or just starting out, you may question why you need a business card. Aside from the obvious convenience of using them to pay for everyday business expenses and major investments, having a designated business credit card makes it easier to separate your company and personal finances.
The reason you want to do that is that having a business credit card protects you from creating potential organizational, legal, and bookkeeping problems that can be a nightmare to untangle.
The business and corporate credit card field has gotten increasingly crowded over the years. It seems a new card pops up every other day. Choosing the best credit card for business for your company will depend on first, what you can qualify for. Second, what you plan to use it for. And third, what kinds of rewards and offers will benefit your business most.
In this directory of the best credit cards for business, I’ll be comparing and contrasting a wide range of current business credit card options. Once you understand what’s out there you can make an informed decision on which financial product is going to be right for your business’s needs.
Best Small Business Credit Cards for 0% APR
Why pay interest on the money you borrow via credit cards when you don’t have to? The following business credit cards charge you nothing by offering an introductory period where you pay 0% APR. This means during this time -- it could be 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, or even longer -- you’ll only pay on the principal of what you borrow. It’s basically an interest-free loan.
During this grace period, you can purchase things and pay down the debt without paying the regular business credit card rates of anywhere from 15% to 22% or more on any balances you carry.
A business credit card that offers a 0% introductory period is a great option for companies who want to make a big purchase or many smaller ones immediately after opening an account. The “immediately” part of the equation is very important because that introductory 0% APR clock starts ticking on day one. So if you wait several months before you use your card to make purchases, you’ll be paying full boat on interest a lot sooner than you think.
Based on the length of the introduction period and other factors, the top picks for 0% intro APR business credit cards include:
Benefits & Rewards
This one gives a very long 0% Intro APR period that lets you pay no interest on purchases for a full 20 months. That’s almost 2 years!
Regular APR
9.99% – 17.99*%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Benefits & Rewards
This one gives has a 0% Intro APR period that lets you pay no interest on purchases for 12 months -- plus the opportunity to earn cashback.
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one gives has a 0% Intro APR period that lets you pay no interest on purchases for 12 months -- plus the opportunity to earn 2X rewards points.
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Best Small Business Credit Cards for Balance Transfers
Refinancing to get a lower interest rate is all the rage when it comes to home mortgages, and the same reasoning applies to balance transfers. So if you’re currently carrying significant debt (and paying a high-interest rate) on one business credit card, it makes sense to do a balance transfer to a card with a lower or 0% intro rate. You can basically refinance that debt on one or more of your business cards by moving it over to one with a lower interest rate. Since you are paying a lower rate, you can more easily and more affordably pay off the debt on the new card.
Beware of being sucked in by thinking you can earn cashback or rewards points for balance transfers. Because typically you can’t.
If you can find a balance transfer offer that has a 0% intro APR period or one that doesn’t charge a balance transfer fee (or both), jump on it. You could potentially save thousands of dollars on interest charges.
Based on a number of factors, the top picks for balance transfer business credit cards include:
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers balance transfers PLUS a very long 0% Intro APR period that lets you pay no interest on purchases for a full 20 months. That’s almost 2 years!.
Regular APR
9.99% – 17.99*%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers balance transfers PLUS cashback rewards including:
Regular APR
20.99*%
Annual Fee
$0 for the first year
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers balance transfers PLUS cashback rewards including:
Regular APR
24.99*%
Annual Fee
$0 for the first year
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
580
Best Small Business Credit Cards for Cash Back
Earning cashback on everything you buy with a business credit card effectively gives you an instant discount on everything you buy. True to their name, cashback business credit cards let you earn cashback for your everyday spending as well as big purchases.
Cashback business credit cards have become very popular. That means there are a lot of options to choose from. Many of them are among the most flexible and simple rewards business credit cards out there. This makes them a good choice for all kinds of business owners.
Based on the amount of cashback you can earn and other factors, the top picks for cashback business credit cards include:
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers unlimited cashback and other rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers unlimited cashback and other rewards including:
Intro APR
$0
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
Intro APR
$0
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers cashback and other rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0 for the first year
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Best Small Business Credit Cards for Ad Spend
If you’re an agency or a small business owner who is actively promoting your clients or your own company, chances are you’re doing it with ads on Facebook, Google, Instagram, Amazon, Twitter, or some other online platform. And you’re probably spending a ton of money doing it each month, so you want your credit card to give you the biggest ROA it can.
Considering that most credit cards offer some type of rewards, including travel points, exclusive perks, and best of all, cashback, it pays to choose your business credit card wisely so you can maximize the dividends you’re earning on ad spend.
The good news is that some of the best business cards available today have been specially designed to reward advertising spending. The even better news is that some do it by offering cashback that can help you scale your business. Here are some of the top picks:
Benefits & Rewards
This one is a great one for earning points on the select categories you spend the most earn on with travel and other benefits that include:
Annual Fee
$295
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Intro APR
$0
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
N/A
Best Small Business Credit Cards for Travel
Hooked on earning travel rewards points? Join the club. And it’s a big one. The good news for companies that want to earn travel rewards points for their ad spend and other expenses is that there are plenty of small business credit cards that will let you do that.
Small business credit cards for travel are ideal for company owners who travel frequently on business or for pleasure or who have employees who frequently have to hop on a plane to travel to see clients or conduct company business.
Based on the amount of travel rewards points you can earn and other factors, the top picks for business credit cards that let you turn purchases into travel perks include:
Benefits & Rewards
This one is great for simple travel rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Benefits & Rewards
This one is a great one for earning points on the select categories you spend the most earn on with travel and other benefits that include:
Annual Fee
$295
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Best Small Business Credit Cards for Low-Interest Rates
If you’re a company with a strong cash flow that lets you pay off your credit card balances in full every month, good for you. However, most businesses aren’t able to do that. If you think you’ll probably carry a balance on your business credit card, you’ll want to look into getting a low-interest business credit card. Although the recommended credit cards listed below have very attractive rates at the low end, when it comes down to it, the interest rate you get will vary based on the market rate and your creditworthiness.
The good news, however, is that there are a number of credit cards—with 0% intro APR periods, competitive bonus offers, and other rewards—that will make it less expensive to carry a balance.
If you’re looking for a low-interest business credit card, top picks include:
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers a 0% intro APR plus unlimited cashback and other rewards including:
Intro APR
$0
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Intro APR
$0
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Best Small Business Credit Cards for No Annual Fee
While we’re on the topic of saving money if you’re looking for the most affordable kind of business credit card check out ones with no annual fee. Cards that don’t require you to pay an annual fee to maintain your account only charge you interest on carried balances or occasional small incidental fees.
So if you’re on a budget or are just starting out, you should definitely look into these top picks for business credit cards that charge no annual fee, including:
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers no annual fee as well as unlimited cashback and other rewards including:
Intro APR
$0
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because, in addition to no annual fees, you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because, in addition to no annual fees, you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Best Small Business Credit Cards for New Businesses
When you start a new business, you typically have a ton of expenses. So it makes sense to cut whatever costs you can. Choosing business credit cards with low expenses and benefits like welcome bonuses, no annual fee, and simple rewards programs—that lend themselves well to businesses who are just starting out.
If you’re just starting out the top credit card picks for new businesses include:
Benefits & Rewards
This one offers a 0% intro APR and unlimited cashback as well as other rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Intro APR
$0
Regular APR
13.24% – 19.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This one is recommended because, in addition to no annual fees, you can make purchases with a 0% intro APR period as well as earn travel rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
700
Best Small Business Credit Cards for Limited Credit
Bad credit is the bane of any business enterprise. Because if you’re in a hole, it’s hard to get out without access to financing.. So, if you have a bad -- or even average -- personal credit score when you apply for a business credit card your application may be denied.
But before you give up in despair, there are business credit cards out there that are designed to accommodate company owners with poor or limited credit. Here is a selection of them that includes:
Benefits & Rewards
This card also offers cashback and other rewards including:
Annual Fee
$0 for the first year
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
660
Benefits & Rewards
This card is good for business owners with bad credit because:
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
450
Benefits & Rewards
This card is great for businesses with past credit challenges and offers:
Annual Fee
$25
Minimum Credit Score Required to Qualify
450
Best Small Business Credit Cards by Issuer
If you’re a business owner who would prefer to get your business credit card from the same financial institution that you have your business bank account with or the one that issued your personal credit card, you can shop by card issuer. In fact, certain credit card issuers offer extra benefits for holders who use more than one of their business financial products.
The following is a listing of top business card offerings from most of the big name credit card issuers compiled by Fundera that will let you explore your options:
The “Best” Small Business Credit Card Is
The One That’s Right for Your Company
When it comes down to it, only you can decide which business credit card is right for what your company needs.
You’ll have to take into consideration things like the type of card, fees, interest rates, rewards programs, card issuer, and more. Some will be more important than others. In addition, you might also want to think about your specific or unique needs might be including considerations like:
When all is said and done, choosing the best small business credit cards for your company should be based on the following considerations: How you intend to use them. What terms and fees you’re comfortable with. How your small business works. And naturally, which cards you can qualify for.
The average small business has 5 credit cards with a balance of about $32k that they have to keep track of. There’s a better way than rotating through dozens of low-limit credit cards to get the funding you need to scale when you can get it all with AdCard — the best card for Facebook ads with the high limits and more you need to grow your business.
Exclusive Cardholder Benefits
