By KBC Associate 
No matter what type of business or side hustle you manage, there’s a great business credit card that can help you earn more rewards with your everyday business spending.
The key is knowing which categories you spend the most on each month — and which cards offer the best rewards in those categories.
Let’s cover some common types of business owners and the cards that will offer the highest long-term earning potential for each.
Comparing the best credit cards for business expenses
Here are our top picks for the best cards to use for your business expenses.
| Credit card | Best for | Welcome offer | Earning rates | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Business | High-spending businesses | Earn up to 350,000 miles: Earn 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus an additional 200,000 miles after spending $200,000 on purchases within the first six months. |
|
$395 |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) | Bonus-earning | Earn 90,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
|
$95 |
| American Express® Business Gold Card | Flexible rewards | Earn 100,000 points when you spend $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. |
*On up to the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar thereafter). Your top two categories may change, and only the top two categories each billing cycle will count toward the $150,000 cap. |
$375 (see rates and fees) |
| Capital One Spark Miles for Business | Everyday business spending | Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year; then $95 |
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Unlimited business cash back | Earn $2,000 cash back after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year. |
|
$150 |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Luxury travel perks | Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel in the first three months of card membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends June 30. |
|
$695 (see rates and fees) |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) | Freelancers | Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) | Office supplies | Earn up to $750 in bonus cash back: Earn $350 after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus an additional $400 cash back when you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months. |
|
$0 |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | No annual fee | Earn 15,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. |
|
$0 (see rates and fees) |
| Unitedâ„ Business Card (see rates and fees) | United Airlines flyers | Earn 125,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$150 |
For side hustlers: A flat-earning-rate credit card
You don’t have to own a brick-and-mortar store to apply for a business credit card. Whether you’re a Lyft driver on the weekends or run a small Etsy store in your free time, you can rack up rewards on your business expenses.
If you don’t have a large budget for monthly business purchases, there are two things to look for in a business card: a flat rewards rate and a low annual fee.
Flat rewards aren’t always as lucrative as some tiered rewards structures, but they allow you to earn points or cash back on every purchase — no matter the spending category. Plus, an annual fee usually isn’t worth it unless you spend thousands of dollars monthly on your business card.
The Amex Blue Business Plus and the Ink Business Cash from Chase offer solid flat-rate rewards, and neither charges an annual fee.
These are exceptional options if you also have an eligible American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards card. Both issuers allow cardmembers to pool points between personal and business accounts, so you can combine rewards for maximum redemption value.
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Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?
For office startups: A card with related bonus categories
Multiple business cards offer rewards in spending categories like office supplies and telecommunications services. If you run your business out of an office, you can earn a great return on your everyday business expenses with these cards.
The American Express Business Gold Card offers flexibility. It offers 4 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases from two eligible categories where you spend the most each billing cycle (1 point per dollar thereafter), 3 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The list of potential bonus categories includes purchases with U.S. media providers for advertising in select online, TV and radio media, U.S. purchases with electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, U.S. restaurant purchases including takeout and delivery, U.S. gas stations, transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, buses and subways and monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly with a U.S. telephone service provider.
Plus, the Capital One Venture X Business is another good option here. It earns a whopping 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
In Capital One’s suite of business cards, the Spark Miles for Business and Spark Cash Plus also stand out as solid cards to earn in travel-related bonus categories, when you transact through the Capital One travel portal.
The Spark Miles for Business will net you 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases for a no annual fee in your first cardmember year, then $95 after that.
The Spark Cash Plus earns an unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2% back on all other purchases for a $150 annual fee.
Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
For retail business owners: A card that offers rewards on advertising
Whether you own a brick-and-mortar boutique or an e-commerce site, chances are you’re spending money each month on advertising your business. Plus, most business cards that offer rewards on advertising also offer rewards in other valuable categories, like U.S. shipping.
Chase’s Ink Business Preferred offers 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined purchases (then 1 point per dollar) in categories like travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and advertising.
Just as with the Ink Business Unlimited, you can pool your points with your personal, eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards cards to help maximize earning and redemption potential. The American Express Business Gold Card is also a stellar choice, with advertising with select U.S. media providers as a potential bonus category.
Related: The best credit cards for advertising
For frequent business travelers: A cobranded card
If you travel the same routes multiple times throughout the year, fly on the same airline and/or stay with the same hotel brand, a cobranded business credit card is a great option.
You’ll get bonus points or miles on every dollar spent with the airline or hotel chain associated with the card; you’ll also get additional perks like free checked bags, preferred boarding and easier paths to elite status.
Cobranded business credit cards make it easier to hit elite status, and some come with benefits like lounge access, early boarding, free seat selection and more.
For instance, the United Business Card offers cardholders two one-time United Club passes, priority boarding, a $125 United travel credit (after making five United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year) and free checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion.
Some cards waive mileage or revenue requirements for elite status after hitting a certain annual spend. Others let you earn elite-qualifying miles or dollars at certain spending thresholds.
A hotel card is a better option if you don’t stick with the same airline when you fly but stay at the same hotel brand often.
It’s important to note some travel cards, such as the Amex Business Platinum, also offer strong perks on hotel stays and airport experiences. This card comes with automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status, plus exceptional lounge access privileges (terms apply, enrollment required for some benefits).
Related: Business cards vs. personal cards: Key differences
Bottom line
The best business credit card for you depends on how — and where — you spend. While each card offers different perks, all of them can help streamline your finances and earn rewards on everyday business expenses.
Best of all, if you own a personal credit card with the same issuer, you might be able to combine points or unlock added travel benefits.
Choosing a business card is an important decision, and just like with personal cards, it comes down to understanding your spending habits and reward goals. So take time to reflect on these factors before choosing the one that best fits your business.
Related: How to pick a strategy for your small-business credit cards
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card, click here.