Small Business Credit Cards That Deliver Big Value

The Commerce Bank Business Platinum Card might be right for your business if you plan to carry a balance and want a reasonable interest rate but can’t get approved for a 0% APR offer.

It has a 10.90% variable APR based on the prime rate and lets you establish individual credit lines for employees if you want them to have company credit cards.

Be sure to make at least the minimum monthly payment on time or your interest rate will increase to 21.99% fixed.

Advantages

• Primary cardholder can establish lower credit limits for employees
• Relatively low APR if you make on-time minimum monthly payments
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees

Minimum Requirements

• Business must be located in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, or Oklahoma
• Accounts with a credit line greater than $50,000 must be paid in full each billing period
• Must agree to be personally responsible for credit card charges with a credit line of $25,000 or less
• Must have annual revenue of $5 million or more to qualify for company liability instead of personal liability

The Spark Classic from Capital One is one to consider if you need a business credit card for average credit.

It has no annual fee, unlimited 1% cash-back on purchases, and free employee cards.

It’s a good choice as long as you won’t carry a balance; the APR is rather high at 24.49% variable.

Advantages

• No annual fee
• Free employee cards
• Personal income can be used o qualify
• Good for businesses with average credit
• Reasonable cash-back rate on all purchases
• Payment history reported to business credit bureaus to help your business build a credit history

Minimum Requirements

• Card must be used solely for business purposes
• Must agree to be personally responsible for credit card charges
• Must not have 5 or more open credit card accounts with Capital One
• Any existing Capital One credit card accounts must be in good standing
• Must not have applied for a Capital One credit card more than once in the last 30 days

The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is a solid choice for businesses that need to establish credit and can’t get approved for an unsecured credit card.

You’ll place a deposit with Wells Fargo for the amount of your credit line, which can be anywhere from $500 to $25,000.

The card has a reasonable $25 annual fee per card (you can add up to 9 employee cards, for a total of 10 cards).

The card’s updated rewards program includes 1.5 % cash back on all purchases.

Points are redeemable for gift cards, cash, and airline tickets.

The reward program costs $50 per company after the first year.

Since you can get better deals on unsecured cards, this is a good card to use for only as long as you need it to build your credit, then move on.

Consider this card if your business has bad credit or no credit.

Advantages

• Low annual fee
• Optional rewards program
• Available for businesses with bad credit or no credit

Minimum Requirements

• $25 annual fee
• Must place a deposit in the amount of your credit limit ($500 minimum)
• Must be an existing customer to apply for card online; otherwise you must apply in person or by phone

The American Express Blue for Business Credit Card is a solid choice if you want an easy sign-up bonus, ongoing reward points, and a low introductory APR.

This card offers 2x Membership Rewards^® points on business purchases up to $50K with no category restrictions

Those points are worth up to $100 when you redeem them for gift cards; other redemption options are available as well.

You also get one point per $1 on all purchases and a 30% annual point bonus, so if you spend $10,000 on the card during the year, you’ll get an extra 3,000 points at the end of that year, making the card’s effective cash back rate an above-average 1.3%.

This card also has a 0% APR on purchases for your first 15 months.

Advantages

• 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
• Above-average rewards on ongoing purchases
• Multiple redemption options for reward points
• No annual fee

Minimum Requirements

• Card can only be used for business purposes
• Must agree to be personally responsible for charges

The American Express SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card doesn’t have a sign-up bonus, but it does have ongoing rewards of 5% cash back on US wireless phone services and at office supply stores.

It also has a unique feature that can help businesses maximize their cashback: 3% back on a category of your choosing, which can be airfare, hotels, car rentals, gas, restaurants, advertising, shipping, or computers.

These cash back rates apply to your first $50,000 in purchases each year.

For all other purchases, you earn 1% cashback.

Many Amex business rewards cards have steep annual fees, but this one doesn’t, so it could be a good business card to keep in your wallet long term.

It also offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months and the ability to exceed your credit limit as long as you pay the amount above your credit limit in full by your payment due date.

If your credit limit is $5,000 and you spend $7,000 one month, you can carry a balance of up to $5,000; you must pay off the remaining $2,000.

Advantages

• No annual fee
• Option to exceed credit limit
• 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months
• High cash-back rate on certain ongoing purchases

Min. Requirements

• Card can only be used for business purposes
• Must agree to be personally responsible for charges
• Your credit history will determine how much you can spend above your credit limit

The Spark Cash Select from Capital One card offers a sign-up bonus of $500 after you spend $4,500 within 3 months of opening your account.

In addition, this card provides unlimited 2% cashback on all purchases, free employee cards, and a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 9 months.

Businesses that are willing to pay an annual fee in exchange for a higher sign-up bonus might consider the Spark Cash from Capital One credit card, which offers higher ongoing cash-back rewards, or the Spark Classic if they need to build up their credit.

Advantages

• Free employee cards
• 0% introductory APR on purchases for 9 months
• Above-average cash-back rate or ongoing purchases
• Generous sign-up bonus with moderate spending requirement

Minimum Requirements

• Card must be used solely for business purposes
• Must agree to be personally responsible for credit card charges
• Must not have 5 or more open credit card accounts with Capital One
• Any existing Capital One credit card accounts must be in good standing
• Existing or previous account holders may not be eligible for sign-up bonus
• Must not have applied for a Capital One credit card more than once in the last 30 days

The Chase Ink Cash Business Card offers a sign-up bonus of $500 after you spend $3,000 within 3 months of opening your account.

The card also has ongoing rewards of 5% cashback on your first $25,000 in spending each year at office supply stores and on phone, internet, and cable television service; 2% cash back on your first $25,000 in spending each year at gas stations and restaurants; and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Cardholders can also take advantage of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months.

Additional cards for employees are free. Because of its generous sign-up bonus, low introductory APR, and ongoing rewards, this is one of the best cashback business credit cards.

Businesses willing to pay a $95 annual fee can take a look at the Chase Ink Plus Business Card which offers an even larger sign-up bonus.

Advantages

• Free employee cards
• High cash-back rate on certain ongoing purchases
• 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months
• Generous sign-up bonus with moderate spending requirment

Min. Requirements

• Must not already have a Chase card with promotional pricing
• Must agree to be personally responsible for credit card charges
• Must spend $3,000 within 3 months of account opening to earn $500 bonus
• Must not have a history of only using a current or prior Chase card for promotional pricing offers