The 6 best business cards for startups

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The best business credit cards for startups can simplify expense tracking, provide the funding you need to grow your business, and turn everyday expenses into cash back or points.

Here are the six best credit cards for small business startups, from early-stage operations to venture-backed firms.

Best credit cards for small business startups

• Best for cash back: Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express
• Best for business travel: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Best for advertising and software expenses: American Express® Business Gold Card
• Best welcome offer: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
• Best for venture-backed startups: Brex Card
• Best intro APR offer: U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card

Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express: Best for cash back

Rewards

You’ll earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (up to $50,000 per year, then 1%).

Annual fee

The Blue Business Cash charges no annual fee. (See rates and fees.)

Why we picked this card

If you’re just getting your business off the ground, you probably don’t want to deal with bonus categories or pay annual fees. The Blue Business Cash is the perfect set-and-forget business credit card, earning an automatic 2% cash back on all purchases up to $50,000 annually (1% after that).

The spending cap won’t be a problem for many small businesses. Still, if you anticipate spending more than $50,000 annually ($4,166 each month) on your credit card, you might be better off with a card like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, which offers a slightly lower cash back rate but has no spending cap.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for business travel

Rewards

If your business requires frequent flights and hotel stays, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can help you make the most of those purchases by earning valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. But the Ink Business Preferred isn’t a one-trick pony.

In addition to travel, the Ink Business Preferred also earns a boosted rewards rate on shipping purchases, advertising purchases made with social media and search engines, and internet, cable, and phone services.

When you’re ready to redeem your points, you can choose between cash back, gift cards, travel experiences, and more. The most valuable option is redeeming your points through Chase TravelSM since they’re worth 25% more when redeemed that way.

Annual fee

The Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee.

Why we picked this card

Chase offers several of the best business credit cards. The Ink Business Preferred focuses on travel. You can make the most of every flight, hotel stay, and Lyft ride by earning valuable points you can redeem for travel, cash back, and more.

Consider a few things before applying, though. First, the boosted rewards rate has a spending cap. Once you spend $150,000 in combined purchases in the bonus categories, your cash back rate reverts to 1X.

Second, the welcome bonus requires an unusually high spend: $8,000 within the first three months. If that’s far above your typical spending habits, you’d have to miss out on 90,000 bonus points.

American Express® Business Gold Card: Best for advertising and software expenses

Rewards

With the Amex Business Gold, you’ll earn boosted points in the two categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle. Two of the six possible categories are uniquely beneficial, especially for growth-stage startups.

The first is “U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.” Think of things like Google Drive storage costs, purchasing laptops from Dell, and subscriptions for services like Adobe or Salesforce.

The second standout category is “Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio).” That could mean anything from Facebook ad campaigns to TV commercials.

Annual fee

The Amex Business Gold Card has the largest annual fee on this list: $375 (See rates and fees). That might be a tough sell for some, even with the boosted rewards rate in select categories. Whether it’s worth the fee depends on whether you’ll use the annual statement credits — more on that in a moment.

Why we picked this card

This card's specialized bonus categories (and the fact that they automatically adjust to your spending) make it ideal for some startups.

However, the high annual fee means you have to consider whether this card is worth your while. If reward points were the only draw, we’d say probably not. However, the right business can make up for the annual fee using the card's monthly statement credits.

With the Flexible Business Credit, you can earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly (up to $240 annually) after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. Enrollment is required.

Additionally, get up to a $12.95 statement credit back each month ($155 annually) after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. Together, that’s $395 annually — more than the cost of the annual fee — but are those credits useful for your business?

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Best welcome offer

Rewards

The Ink Business Unlimited keeps rewards simple. You earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase — no bonus categories, no spending cap. You can redeem your rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more.

Annual fee

The Ink Business Unlimited does not charge an annual fee.

Why we picked this card

The Ink Business Unlimited is the perfect low-maintenance cash back card for business owners who want one card to use for everything without worrying about earning enough rewards to justify an annual fee.

One feature is out of the ordinary, though: the welcome offer. A $750 welcome bonus is practically unheard of for a no-annual-fee card. To earn that bonus, you do have to spend $6,000 on purchases within the first three months after opening your account, which is on the high side but not abnormal.

If that feels a bit more than you’d typically spend in three months of running your business, see if you can plan your application around the next time you have to make a large business purchase (new equipment, bulk office supplies, etc.).

Brex Card: Best for venture-backed startups

Rewards

The Brex Card’s reward categories might make you think it’s the same as other business credit cards. Cardholders earn boosted rewards rates on U.S. purchases like rideshare apps, Brex travel, restaurants, and software. What’s interesting is the ways you can redeem your rewards.

With the Brex Card, you can turn the points you earn into billboard advertisements, professional services, offsite events, executive coaching, and even mental health care. You can also transfer your points to its airline partners. Other, more standard options like statement credits are available, too.

Annual fee

The Brex Card has no annual fee.

Why we picked this card

The Brex Card is unlike many cards on this list. First, Brex itself is a startup founded in 2017 with the goal of reinventing the way financial institutions can serve business owners. That’s why the card’s benefits are so unique, from partner perks like Amazon Web Services credits to business-focused rewards redemption options.

On the downside, the Brex Card doesn’t allow customers to carry debt and isn’t accessible for every business — especially small operations. Brex says that it services businesses that meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Received an equity investment of any amount (accelerator, angel, or VC) or plan to in the near future.
• More than $1 million a year in revenue.
• More than 50 employees.
• Tech startups who are on a path to meeting the criteria above and are referred by an existing customer or partner.

Even if you meet one of those requirements, you must make daily or monthly payments on your credit card. In other words, you can’t use the Brex card to carry debt over several months.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card: Best intro APR offer

Rewards

The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card does not offer cash back or points, limiting its long-term value.

Annual fee

This card does not charge an annual fee. Employee credit cards are free as well.

Why we picked this card

The intro APR offer is one reason to get the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card. If you have a large purchase planned — say, if you’re investing in new equipment to scale your business — the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card gives you an uncommonly long period to pay that balance interest-free.

Other than the intro APR, though, this card offers little. It doesn’t earn rewards and offers few business-focused perks except expense tracking.

How to choose the best credit card for your startup

First, ask yourself what you most want from a business credit card. Financing power? Travel rewards? Expense tracking? You can narrow your search by deciding which features serve your business best.

Generally, the best business credit cards offer rewards on business spending and free employee cards. Beyond that, your preference for additional features will influence the best credit card for your business.

Ask yourself the following questions when considering credit cards for your startup.

• Are your business’s expenses varied, or do they generally fall into one or two categories? The answer can help you decide between a flat-rate rewards card or one with bonus categories.
• Do you need access to financing? Some credit cards are charge cards, meaning you must pay in full at the end of every billing cycle. If you need to take on some business debt, look for a credit card (not a charge card) with a 0% intro APR offer.
• Is the annual fee worth it? If the card you’re looking at charges an annual fee, be sure you’ll make up that cost (and more) in rewards, credits, or services.
• Are account management features important to you? Many business credit cards offer expense-tracking tools and integrations with business software. Don’t overlook these features, which can potentially save you time on administrative tasks.
• Can you provide a personal guarantee? Most credit cards require applicants to provide a personal guarantee, essentially a written agreement stating the applicant’s responsibility for any debt charged to the card. If you’d rather not assume that liability, you’ll have to look for specialty cards like the Brex Card that don’t require it.

How to maximize your business credit card rewards

Making the most of your card starts with understanding how business credit cards work, including the specific card’s terms and conditions. It may feel tedious to get into the details, but knowing about every feature ensures you don’t leave money on the table.

• Take advantage of perks like monthly credits and cell phone insurance.
• Explore your card’s partner brands. Many business credit cards have partnerships with brands that give cardholders access to exclusive discounts or bonus rewards.
• Use intro APR offers. Even if you just got a credit card for the rewards, consider whether you’ll need to make a big purchase soon. Many business credit cards offer new customers 0% intro APR for the first year or so. These offers can be helpful if you’ve been waiting to take your business to the next level with a significant investment.

How we rated the best cards for small business startups

To determine the best credit cards for small business startups, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including rewards rates, business-focused perks, annual fees, and overall value for startup founders.

Here are some of the key features we looked for:

• Low or no annual fee
• High credit limits
• 0% intro APR offers
• Rewards on business spending
• Free employee cards
• Expense tracking and management tools
• Flexible payment terms

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. Learn more about our methodology here.

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

The best credit cards for startups offer rewards for business spending, free employee cards, expense tracking, and management tools. Your preference for additional features — no annual fee, 0% intro APR, payment terms, and other business perks — can help you narrow your search and find the right card for your business.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.