Chase Ink Business Cash SM : Overall Best Small Business Credit Card
The card is targeted at recent grads and other small business owners and very much resembles the popular Business Unlimited and Business Gold cards with a 3x points category on travel and technology expenses.
The cards offers a 20% discount on all internet, phone or cable services. The card does not offer any hotel rewards like other premium Chase credit cards and is very much targeted at individuals entering into the new economy, renting a garage, or planning to start a new business.
On a monthly basis, accountholders are offered a maximum of 5,000 points, which is used to offset all recurring internet, phone, or cable expenses (meaning you’ll spend your 5,000 points within 1-2 months as most plans don’t allow for any usage beyond this limit).
The card does not earn any cash back and only offers 5,000 points earned per month which is really mediocre (compared to other cards that offer up to 15,000 to 25,000 points per month). You’ll also receive 5,000 points each time you spend a little beyond the normal spending limit (which is again, on a monthly basis). The card has one other perk that some buyers may find useful – a credit line increase of 500 more points (to a limit of up to 75,000 points) after making your first 6 monthly payments on time.
American Express Business Platinum Card®: Best for Premium Travel Benefits
MasterCard Business Gold Card®: Most Favorable Interest Rates
Discover it Miles® for Business®: Best for Business Cash Back Rewards
Discover Business Cash Back®: Most Favorable Business Cash Back Rewards
Chase Ink Business Cash®: Most Favorable Cash Back Rewards
American Express Business Gold Rewards®: Most Favorable Elite Travel Benefits
Citi Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Business®: Most Favorable Interest Rate
Chase Ink Business Cash®: Best for Business Cash Back Rewards
Discover it Business®: Best for Business Cash Back Rewards
American Express OPEN Small Business®: Best for Frequent Travelers
Discover it Miles® for Business®: Best for Travel Rewards
Chase Southwest Rapid Reward® Business®: Best Rapid Rewards
Chase Ink Business Unlimited®: Best for Business Cash Back Rewards
Chase Southwest Premier® Business®: Best for Premier Rewards
Chase Southwest Rapid Reward® Business®: Best Rapid Rewards
Chase Apple Business Cash®: Most Favorable Cash Back Rewards
Chase Southwest Premier® Business®: Most Favorable Premier Rewards
Chase Ink Business Unlimited®: Best Business Cash Back Rewards
Chase Freedom®: Best for Travel Rewards
Chase Ink Business Preferred®: Best for 3x Points on Shipping & Travel
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business: Best for Fixed-rate Miles & Booking Hotels or Rental Cars
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business: Best for a Simple 2% Cash Back Reward Program
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business credit card is a solid contender among credit cards that offer cash back rewards. However, the Capital One Spark Cash for Business card isn’t one of the best options in the business category. It comes with a flat 2% cash back reward on all purchases. Other business credit cards offer more flexible cash back rewards. But if you don’t travel much and you travel with the card, you’ll earn some cash back rewards right away.
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business card is best for simple spenders, not for building your credit score. The card doesn’t come with a sign up bonus, but it still offers solid cash back rewards for paying your bill on time. Case study: I primarily use the Capital One Spark Cash for Business credit cards for transactions for my business, not for purchasing things for personal use. For example, I swipe my credit card to pay annual office rent and office supplies. That way, my Capital One Spark Cash for Business credit cards are comparatively simple to use.
Chase Ink Business Unlimited SM : Best for a Big Sign-up Bonus With No Annual Fee
4 out of 5 stars based on 35 ratings.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®: Best Travel Rewards Card With No Annual Fee
American Express Blue Business Cash TM Card: Best for Consistent Cash Back Rewards
American Express Blue Business® Plus: Best for 2x Points
U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card: Best for 0% APR for 15 Billing Cycles
Looking for a business credit card without an annual fee? The U.S. Bank Business Platinum card can be a good fit.
While it’s not a rewards card, there is no annual fee, and it comes with a 0% APR for the first 15 statement periods. That’s generally enough time for the credit card to rack up miles (or cash back) for travel rewards. Just note that in order to use the card, your business must be in good standing.
The card also offers a simplified payment online so that you can easily track your payments and charges and set up automatic payments.
While the 0% APR is only available to businesses, individuals may apply.
Learn More at U.S. Bank
Reasons to Consider a Business Credit Card
If you’ve chosen to start up your own small business, one of the most essential components is a good credit score. This is the key factor that will determine how receptive prospective buyers and lenders are to your business plan and ascertain its future success.
A good debit business card is an excellent means to ensure that you have a strong business credit score and good business credit history. This allows you to make business purchases, instantly travel, and carry out your business thoroughly and effectively without suffering from any cash flow issues.
But before you choose an appropriate business credit card from the plethora available, you need to understand the following reasons to consider a business credit card:
The card can be used for business expenses
Even though you have a debit business card, you still need a credit card for business expenses. This is due to the fact that almost all of your business purchases and other transactions will be paid using a credit card. Most of the business cards on the market can take care of your business expenses without any issues.
The Card Is Accepted
Before you get to begin using a debit business card, you need to ensure that the card is properly accepted by all online payment gateways, merchants, establishments, and shops that you need to purchase goods or supplies from.
Business Credit Cards vs Personal Credit Cards
One of the first big decisions you’ll make as a business owner is how to finance your company’s start-ups. Chances are, you’ll wind up with a credit card, and more experienced business owners will have multiple cards to help run various parts of the business.
At both ends of the spectrum, credit cards differ from personal cards. It’s important to understand how to best use each kind.
Business Cards
Business credit cards are ideal if you already have a small business and are looking to expand and finance your growth. Most business cards earn their own rewards and are ones you’re likely to pay off in full each month.
These cards are also more reliable to use for purchases and managing the business than major personal cards like those from Chase and American Express would be.
On the downside, business cards typically have a higher interest rate than personal cards would have, and they’re not always set up with protections that’ll help cover your business if a volatile stock market takes a turn.
Shopping for business credit cards can be a pain, but because they’re useful for your day-to-day expenses, they can be worth it if you don’t want to pay the interest in the end.
What You Need to Apply for a Business Credit Card
Before you apply, gather the following info and documentation to evaluate your eligibility.
Personal Credit History
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can be denied a business credit card if you have a low or bad credit history. This makes it a good idea to request your credit report and score before applying. Your credit report will show the score and list of all your open credit lines and any delinquencies.
Here’s what you must include with your request.
Employer
Proof of the business’s assets or annual sales.
Please note that some credit reporting agencies may interpret certain pieces of documentation differently, especially if they’re not in your native language.
Statement of Business Ownership
The statement of business ownership is a template that covers all the facts for your business that you’ll need for signing a credit card application.
Mailing Address
City, State, and zip code.
How We Evaluated the Best Business Credit Cards
We evaluated more than 200 credit cards in different categories, ranging from cash back to travel rewards and even a few with no annual fee. We focused on cards that emphasized small businesses to ensure that the cards would be user-friendly for entrepreneurs. In particular, we looked for credit cards that had sensible limits, a solid rewards program, and cardholders who were friendly to small businesses. (If you are a small business owner and looking for the best small business credit cards, check out our list.)
Credit card issuers know that small businesses are important and have built card offerings to help them succeed. We found that a majority of these cards were easy to use and provided generous rewards.
Bottom Line
If you are interested in a small business credit card and you are required to have good credit, then consider the different features that the different cards offer. You will want something that can be useful to your business and that can also provide you with great customer service.
Lastly, make sure to pay your annual fee on time. I have a feeling that you will end up enjoying the perks as a result.