With cash back credit cards, business owners can earn money with every eligible purchase. Are you not sure which cash back business credit card is right for you? Let’s look at the very best cards and their features:
- American Express Blue Business Cash: Best cash back credit card overall
- Chase Ink Business Cash: Best for cash back on large purchases
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited: Best for no limits on purchases
- U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Best for ongoing cash back rewards
- Capital One Spark Classic: Best for new business owners with limited credit history
- Capital One Spark Cash Select: Best for straightforward cash rewards
American Express Blue Business CashTM
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
BEST FOR
Earning 2% cash back every time you swipe and 0% introductory APR for 12 months
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.24% - 19.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- No interest for 12 months
- Earn consistent 2% cash back rewards on every purchase
Cons
- Offers no cash sign-up bonus
- 2% cash back category is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Extended warranty protection: American Express provides up to an additional year of coverage on warranties of up to 5 years. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
- Purchase protection: The issuer will repair, replace, or reimburse you for an item purchased with the card that was damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account each year.
- Baggage insurance: If your luggage is damaged or lost when you travel on a common carrier, such as a plane, trip, ship, or bus, American Express will reimburse you for losses not covered by your own personal insurance.
Why we like it: Thanks to its easy rewards, this is the best overall cash back business card. American Express Blue Business CashTM allows you to earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% after that. This card offers a 0% annual percentage rate (APR) for the first 12 months, a low interest rate, and no annual fee.
Additionally, you can earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $5,000 in qualifying purchases within the first six months and earn an additional $250 statement credit after you spend an additional $10,000 or more in qualifying purchases within the first year. Cash back is credited to your statement automatically.
Once considered to be an elite card accepted by a limited number of retailers, American Express is now accepted by 99% of all merchants. It’s one of the best small business credit cards available.
Chase Ink Business CashSM
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
BEST FOR
Office-based businesses that want top cash back rewards
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- Top rewards for office supply spending
- Introductory APR on purchases
- Cash sign-up bonus
Cons
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- High balance transfer fee of 5%
- Designed mainly for office-oriented companies
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the United States and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less.
Why we like it: This card is the best choice if you anticipate significant expenses for office supplies, internet, cable, and phone since you get a mighty 5% cash back on all of these, up to $25,000. You also get 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other purchases with zero limits or restrictions. For the first 12 months, there’s a 0% APR on all purchases. As an introductory reward, if you spend $7,500 within the first three months, you’ll receive $750 bonus cash back. You have the option to receive cash back as a statement credit or as a direct deposit to your bank account.
Chase Ink Business UnlimitedSM
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
BEST FOR
Pocketing 1.5% cash back on every single purchase
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- 0% APR on purchases
- Unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases
Cons
- Introductory APR period doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- 5% balance transfer fee
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes; it provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less
Why we like it: Make all your spending count with unlimited 1.5% cash back on any purchase with no cap and no annual fee. You can use the Chase Ink Business UnlimitedSM card for all your business expenses without hesitation. Plus, there’s a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months and the same introductory reward as the Chase Ink Business CashSM card. This is a very convenient card if your business-related purchases vary from month to month or if they don’t fall into just two or three categories.
Like the Chase Ink Business CashSM card, you have the option to receive cash back as a statement credit or have it directly deposited to your bank account.
U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World EliteTM Mastercard®
U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®
BEST FOR
0% APR for 12 Billing Cycles
- Limited Time Offer: Earn $500 cash back after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of opening your account
- Earn up to 3% cash back on eligible gas station, office supply store, and cellphone/service provider net purchases
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
- No limit on total cash back earned
- Rewards never expire
- 25% annual bonus based on your prior year's cash rewards, up to $250
- 0% Intro APR* on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles; after that, a variable APR that's currently 13.99% to 22.99%
- No annual fee*
- Great offer from U.S. Bank, a 2021 World's Most Ethical Company® ― Ethisphere Institute, February 2021
Pros
- A 0% APR period on purchases on balance transfers
- 25% annual cash rewards bonus
Cons
- Small introductory bonus offer
- Balance transfer fee
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional 1 year from the expiration of warranties of 5 years or less. An item with a 6-month warranty would be backed for an additional 6 months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
Why we like it: With the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World EliteTM Mastercard® you can get 3% cash back at eligible gas stations, office supply stores, and cell phone/service providers, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. The 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months also applies to balance transfers, in case you need to move over any large balances from other cards. As an introductory bonus, you can earn $500 cash back after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days after opening your account. Plus, there’s no annual fee, no limit on total cash back earned, and rewards never expire. To top it off, this card is the only one on this list that has an ongoing reward—a 25% annual bonus based on your prior year’s cash rewards, up to $250.
There are a few ways to redeem rewards. You can receive them as a statement credit or transfer to a U.S. Bank deposit account, or route them to a U.S. Bank Rewards card, which is a prepaid debit card.
Capital One® Spark® Classic
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
BEST FOR
Fair credit business owners (580 to 669)
- 1% cash back every time you swipe
- Build your business credit through responsible usage
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- Opportunity to build business credit
- Earn fixed-rate rewards even with fair credit scores
- Rewards never expire
Cons
- High APR
- No sign-up bonus
- Reports to personal credit bureaus
- Purchase protection: Capital One will replace, repair, or reimburse you for eligible items in the event of theft or damage within the first 90 days of purchase.
- Extended warranty protection: You’ll get additional warranty protection on eligible items that are purchased with your business card, up to 1 year past the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: You’re covered for damage due to collision or theft when you rent an eligible car with your Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business card.
Why we like it: If you’re starting your business with limited credit history, this no-frills card may be the best choice to help you build credit. Capital One® Spark® Classic offers a flat rate of 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase you make, with no minimum to redeem. You can receive cash back as a statement credit or as a check in the mail. The purchase APR is high (26.99%), with no introductory APR, so you’ll want to pay the balance entirely each month to benefit completely from the 1% cash reward.
Capital One® Spark® Cash Select
Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business
BEST FOR
Businesses that spend less than $19,000 annually
- Introductory reward worth $200 after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No annual fee
- Ability to finance purchases with 0% APR for nine months
Cons
- 0% APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- Can’t redeem rewards for travel or transfer to a travel partner
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad.
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for up to 90 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim.
Why we like it: The Capital One® Spark® Cash Select card offers an easy flat rate of 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make, with no restrictions. You can redeem any amount of cash back at any time and, as with Capital One® Spark® Classic, you’re able to choose cash back towards your statement or receive a check in the mail. It also offers a 0% APR for only nine months, but it has a nice introductory bonus of $200 if you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days. This card is a good choice if you’re looking for straightforward rewards with no category restrictions and can pay your balance entirely each month.
How Cash Back Business Credit Card Rewards Work
With a cash back business credit card, you earn cash rewards as you make eligible purchases with your card. At the end of the billing cycle, you can see on your statement how much you’ve earned. For example, if your eligible business purchases added up to $5,000 at the end of the billing cycle, and your card’s rewards rate is 2%, your cash reward for the month would be $100. The cash back will either be applied as a statement credit, directly deposited into your account, or sent to you as a check in the mail. Some issuers will allow rewards to accumulate over time, and you can choose when to apply them.
How We Evaluated the Best Cash Back Business Credit Cards
We thoroughly researched the best credit cards for small businesses that provide the most lucrative cash rewards. We evaluated APR, annual fee, introductory rewards, and any other benefits. We believe these cards provide the best value for your business.
Bottom Line
Earning cash back rewards is like getting a delayed discount on your purchases since you receive a percentage back on what you spend each month. Earning cash rewards tends to be more straightforward than figuring out how to apply points towards travel or merchandise. Be sure to check out the card’s terms and conditions to see if there’s a spending cap, meaning you can only earn cash rewards up to a fixed limit. For more credit card options, be sure to check out our Credit Card Marketplace.
