Cash back business credit cards are ideal for business owners who wish to simplify how they earn and redeem rewards. With any such card, you earn a fixed percentage of the amount you spend on purchases as cash back.
Getting a cash back business credit card gives you the means to earn a percentage of your business spending as cash back. With some cards, the cash back you stand to earn depends on category-based spending. Using a business credit card for cash back might be particularly beneficial if you pay your credit card bill in full every month.
Depending on the card you get, you may or may not have to pay an annual fee. Most of the top cash back business credit cards we’ve narrowed down on come with no annual fee. Examples include the Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card and the Capital One Spark Cash Select Credit Card.
Some of the best business credit cards offer additional perks, which may include expense management tools, complimentary insurance coverage and travel benefits.
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Business Credit Cards for Cash Back
Quick Summary
With a number of regular rewards cards, there are limitations on how you may redeem your rewards. For instance, you might have to redeem your reward points for travel rewards or use them to shop through specific online partner merchants. With cash back cards, you get the rewards you earn as cash back, and you are free to use this money in any way you want. The top cards we’ve selected take into account aspects such as who they are best suited for, cash back rates and annual fees. You may look for more alternatives further down the page.
Chase Ink Business Cash
Fantastic card for earning rewards on office supplies
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1–5% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
5xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
2xRewards Rate on Dining
We love the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash Credit Card because it lets you earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent per year when you shop at office supply stores as well as for your phone, internet and cable subscriptions. Spending at gas stations and restaurants comes with up to2% cash back. All other purchases give you 1% cash back.
Redeeming your rewards through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is simple. You may redeem your rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, merchandise and more.
Cardholders stand to earn an introductory $750 bonus if they spend at least $7,500 in the first three months. An intro 0% APR offer applies on purchases for the first 12 months.
Additional employee cards come at no extra cost. All cards linked to the primary account benefit through fraud and purchase protection.
You may also look forward to simplified business accounting by integrating your credit card account with your bookkeeping software.
Pros
No annual fees
Generous introductory cash back and APR offers
Redeem points for cash, travel, gift cards and more
Points don't expire for the life of the account
Free employee cards
Complimentary purchase and travel protection
Cons
Foreign transaction fees
Balance transfer and cash advance fees
Get a $750 cash back bonus if you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first three months
Benefit through a 0% intro APR offer on purchases for the first 12 months
Pay no annual fees for as long as your account remains active
Get 5% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend on purchases at office supply stores, as well as on internet, cable and phone services every year
Get 2% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend on purchases at restaurants and gas stations every year
Get 1% cash back on all other purchases
Your rewards remain valid for as long as you keep using your card
Set individual spending limits for employee cards
All cardholders get access to extended warranty, purchase protection, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance and roadside dispatch
Fraud protection safeguards you against fraudulent transactions
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Excellent card for earning unlimited rewards through employee spending
ExcellentCredit Needed
$150Annual Fee
2% Cash BackRewards Rate
2xRewards Rate on Gas
2xRewards Rate on Groceries
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card is ideal for businesses that wish to earn unlimited cash back as it offers 2% cash back on all purchases. It also comes with a sizeable early spend bonus offer through which you can earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus - $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months.
$500 if you spend $5,000 in the first three months, and an additional $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $2,500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.
Employee cards come at no extra cost. Setting up automatic payments and recurring transactions is possible. You get access to different expense management tools. This card comes with no foreign transaction fees. It charges an annual fee of $150.
Pros
Early spend bonus offer
2% cash back for each purchase with no restrictions on categories or spending limits
No monthly APR
Reward points have no expiration date
No fees for foreign transactions and over-limit spending
AutoPay available to pre-schedule payments
Cons
Annual fee of $150
APR penalty of 2.99% if you’re unable to pay your entire balance at the end of each month
Requires you to spend at least $200,000 to avail of the $200 annual cash bonus
The early spend bonus is paid in two tiers: $500 after spending $5,000 within the first three months and an additional $500 when you spend $50,000 within the first six months.
The annual fee is $150.
If employee cards are linked, all earn unlimited 2% reward points.
You can use reward points to buy gift cards or to pay for previous purchases.
You can get an emergency card replacement and a cash advance if your card is lost or stolen.
You can download purchase records in various formats such as Excel, QuickBooks and Quicken.
You can download year-end summaries for budgeting and tax-related purposes.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
A great business card with a flat, simple rewards structure and no annual fees.
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1.5% Cash BackRewards Rate
1.5xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1.5xRewards Rate on Entertainment
We recommend the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card to business owners who do not wish to pay annual fees and keep their rewards earning simple. All purchases earn 1.5% cash back. This card comes with an intro 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months. It also gives you the ability to earn a considerable spend-based welcome bonus.
Employee cards come at no additional cost. Cardholders might benefit through purchase protection, extended warranty, roadside dispatch, auto rental collision damage waiver and travel and emergency assistance services.
Using this card outside of the U.S. might not work well, given that it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Pros
No annual fees
Flat 1.5% cash back
A welcome bonus of $750
0% intro APR for 12 months
Cons
No bonus categories, so some other cards offer more rewards for targeted use cases
A small business card with $750 bonus cash back, unlimited 1.5% cash back, 0% intro APR for the first 12 months and other features.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
A simple cash back rewards card that helps you avoid hassles
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1–2% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
1xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1xRewards Rate on Gas
We like the no-annual-fee American Express Blue Business® Cash Card because it lets you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per year and 1% cash back thereafter. Its 0% APR offer on purchases stays in place for the first 12 months.
As part of this card’s welcome offer, you get to earn a $250 statement credit if you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months. You may earn an additional $250 statement credit if you spend $10,000 or more in qualifying purchases in the first year.
You also get access to multiple expense management tools, free employee cards and complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance.
Pros
No annual fee
Cash back rate of 2% for eligible purchases up to $50,000, then 1%
Intro 0% APR offer
Welcome offer of a $250 statement credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first six months and another $250 after you spend $10,000 in the first year.
Flexible credit limit
Authorized users can be added for no additional fee
Points are redeemed automatically
Cons
Cash back rate has a cap
Foreign transaction fee of 2.7%
Pay no interest for the first 12 months after acquiring the card
Earn 2% cash back for eligible purchases with a cap of $50,000, then 1% after
Enjoy no annual fees for the life of the card
Earn a $250 statement credit for spending $5,000 in the first six months and another $250 after you spend $10,000 in the first year.
Benefit from the Expanded Buying Power feature, which lets you go over the credit limit if you qualify with no penalties or fees
Add up to 99 authorized users, free of charge
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
An excellent no-annual-fee rewards card for Costco members
ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1–4% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
4xRewards Rate on Gas
3xRewards Rate on Dining
We recommend the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card for small businesses that are Costco members and are looking for a no-annual-fee card. Category-based spending lets you earn up to 4% cash back. You may redeem the cash back you earn at Costco Warehouses across the U.S. This card also comes with a competitive APR for purchases.
Using this card when traveling outside of the U.S. makes sense as it does not charge any international transaction fees.
Purchases you make using this card receive cover through extended warranty as well as damage and theft purchase protection.
Cardholders may also use the Citi Entertainment and Citi Concierge services to good effect.
Pros
Pay no annual fees
Pay no foreign transaction fees
Earn 4% cash back on all gas purchases globally for up to $7,000 in spending per year, and 1% thereafter
Earn 3% cash back when spending at restaurants and on eligible travel purchases globally
Get 2% cash back on all non-gas related purchases at Costco and Costco.com
Get 1% cash back on all other purchases
Redeem cash back for cash or merchandise at Costco Warehouses across the U.S. and Puerto Rico
Competitive APR for purchases
Fraud early warning to safeguard your account
Extended warranty and damage and theft purchase protection to safeguard your purchases
Access to presale tickets and special events via Citi Entertainment
24/7 access to Citi Concierge
Cons
Need to be a Costco member to apply
Cash back provided as an annual credit card reward certificate at the close of the February billing cycle
Penalty APR applies in cases of returned and late payments
Cash advance fee
No complimentary travel coverage
$0 annual fee
Competitive APR for purchases
4% cash back on spending of up to $7,000 per year on all gas purchases globally, and 1% thereafter
3% cash back on spending at restaurants and on eligible travel purchases worldwide
All purchases at Costco and Costco.com (other than gas) come with 2% cash back
Spending across all other categories gets you 1% cash back
Redeem earned cash back for merchandise or cash at any Costco warehouse in the U.S. and Puerto Rico
No foreign transaction fees
Complimentary extended warranty and damage and theft purchase protection
Complimentary access to Citi Concierge and Citi Entertainment
Fraud early warning in case of suspicious activity
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
You get to choose from different cash back business credit cards based on the categories in which you spend the most. You also get to filter through your alternatives depending on the specific perks you’re after. Go through the cards listed in the corresponding table to narrow down on one that you might use to good effect.
An excellent no-annual-fee rewards card for Costco members
1–4% Cash Back*
$0
Excellent
MONEYGEEK PRO TIP
When selecting a business credit card with cash back rewards, it is important to be strategic. You should never spend more money than anticipated with the goal of earning cash back from your credit card. — Brett Holzhauer, Personal Finance Journalist
About Our Rankings
Experts at MoneyGeek remain up-to-date about any noticeable change in the world of business credit cards that offer cash back. The ranking process begins by looking at all business cards that exist in our extensive database. The next step is to filter out ones that offer cash back. The cash back business card comparison that follows addresses aspects such as introductory bonuses, cash back rates and annual fees.
If you’re looking for a consumer cash back credit card that you may use for business-related spending, consider checking our selection of top cash back cards for individuals.
Top Rating Criteria for Business Cards
Spending Caps
Welcome Bonuses
Flexibility in Earning & Redeeming
How to Compare Business Credit Cards & Intro Offers
Given the significant number of cash back business credit cards out there, it is important that you compare your alternatives across different parameters.
1
Cash back rate
Depending on the card you get, you might earn a flat cash back rate across all purchases or a higher rate based on specific categories. For example, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card offers flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
The Ink Business Cash Card comes with 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (on up to a combined total of $25,000 each year). It offers 2% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend at gas stations and restaurants each year. All other purchases come with 1% cash back.
The Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi offers 4% cash back on the first $7,000 you spend on eligible gas purchases, including gas at Costco, and 2% cash back on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases. It offers 3% cash back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases globally and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
2
Introductory offers
Some business credit cards come with introductory cash back bonuses. With these cards, you need to spend a predetermined amount within a given period to earn the bonus cash back. For example, a business credit card might offer a $500 cash back bonus if you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months.
3
Annual Fee
Most of the top cash back business credit cards we’ve selected come with no annual fees. Exceptions include the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card, which comes with an annual fee of $150, and the American Express Plum Card, which charges a $250 annual fee. The former functions as a pay-in-full card, meaning you have to pay off your balance in full each month. The latter gives you the ability to carry your balance for up to 60 days without paying interest.
4
Foreign transaction fee
Pay attention to this aspect if you plan to use your card outside of the U.S. because you might need to pay a foreign transaction fee that applies to every international transaction. The Plum Card from American Express and the Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi come with no foreign transaction fees. The Ink Business Cash Credit Card, on the other hand, charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
5
Expense management tools
The best business credit cards tend to come with various account management tools and features. For example, you might get multiple employee cards linked to the primary account to earn more cash back, and you may assign a dedicated account manager to oversee the account. Depending on the card you get, you may integrate your credit card account with popular bookkeeping software and receive year-end summaries.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
We put forward a few important questions to industry experts so our readers may make well-informed decisions surrounding which cash back credit cards to select.
Expert Advice for Finding the Right Card
Why should small business owners favor using business cash back credit cards over consumer cash back cards?
Why should business owners get cash back credit cards with annual fees, given that they can choose from several no annual fee alternatives?
Dr. Christopher M. Scalzo
Associate Professor at SUNY Morrisville
Manel Baucells
David M. LaCross Associate Professor of Business Administration at UVA Darden
Rajiv Baniwal has been writing about different financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he makes sure he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His areas of expertise include mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.