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Credit Cards

12 Best Business Credit Cards of October 2026

UpdatedOctober 1, 2026

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analyses are entirely our own. Learn more about our advertising policy and product review methodology.

Best for business owners who prioritize premium travel perks

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

  • Intro offerAs High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual fee$895
  • You'll earn1-5x
  • Regular APR17.99% - 28.74% Variable
at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

The best business credit cards offer generous earning rates, lucrative perks and additional features that positively affect both your bottom line and your operational efficiency. The right business card allows you to earn rewards while focusing on the day-to-day operations of your enterprise — whether you own a formal business with multiple employees, are just getting your company off the ground or simply do freelance work as a side gig, and it’s important to select the best business card for you.

Business credit cards allow you to separate business and personal spending. They also grant access to more rewards and specialized perks that aren’t typically offered on personal credit cards. Consider how your business is spending the most and what rewards you want to earn when choosing your business card — or cards.

To help you with this choice, check out our curated selection and comprehensive guide on some of the best business cards from our partners below.

Comparing the best business cards

How to apply for a business credit card

  • If you own a small business or just do freelance gigs, you could be eligible for a business credit card. You don’t necessarily need a tax ID or an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to qualify for a business credit card; if you’re a sole proprietor with a small business or side gig, you can usually enter your Social Security number (SSN) instead.

21% of TPG users have at least 1 business credit card in their wallet

Our recent survey revealed that 21% of TPG users carry at least one business credit card in their wallet. Business credit cards typically offer excellent welcome bonuses and other great perks, which isn’t surprising considering their popularity.

Additionally, business credit cards often come with valuable business-specific perks and the ability to earn rewards on common business expenses like advertising, office supplies, and phone bills. Add a business credit card to your wallet to optimize your small business spending.

This information was collected via opt-in surveys of TPG’s roughly 900,000 daily newsletter subscribers in May-June 2024. All data is anonymous and aggregated; you can view our full methodology for collecting and utilizing data here.

How to choose the best business credit card

There’s no single best business card. Instead, the best business card for your small business depends on various aspects. For example, do you prefer earning cash-back rewards, airline miles, hotel points or transferrable currencies? Are you willing to pay an annual fee? What categories does your business spend the most in each year? Do you or your employees travel frequently, and if so, would there be a benefit in having hotel elite status or a checked bag allowance when flying?

Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing a business credit card:

  • 1
    Sign-up bonus

    Find a card that your business can readily meet the minimum spend for its sign-up bonus. A welcome bonus plays a large part in a card’s value as it typically offers more points than can be earned through general business spending.

  • 2
    Annual fee

    If your card features an annual fee, it is important to consider if the card’s perks and benefits outweigh the card’s annual fee.

  • 3
    Bonus categories

    Choose a business card that features elevated earning rates on your regular business spending.

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Frequently asked questions

  • What’s the difference between a business and personal credit card?

    Business and personal credit cards have similar functionalities. Many card issuers allow for personal referrals for business cards. In both cases, you’re extended a line of credit to make purchases, and you agree to pay for those purchases over time based on the cardholder agreement.

    However, business credit cards are geared toward small businesses, and depending on the issuer (or specific card product), you may need to produce formal documentation in order to be approved. In addition, business cards typically include bonus categories or benefits that may hold less appeal to the general consumer. This can include bonus rewards on shipping purchases, statement credits for business-related service providers or embedded technology to help with accounting.

    Additionally, many personal credit cards pair well with business credit cards. Complementary personal/business card combinations can help you diversify your points earning and bonus categories and can play a part in a responsible spending strategy. 

  • What is the best business credit card?

    There’s no single card that would be considered the “best” for every, single small business. Instead, it’s important to consider the type of rewards and selection of benefits that make the most sense for your company. If your company travels internationally often, you would want a business credit card with no foreign transaction fee. If you’re not interested in travel rewards, then a cash-back business card could make the most sense. If your small business spends a bunch of money on client dinners, then a business card with a dining bonus could be the best fit.

  • Can I use a business credit card for personal use?

    While it’s not technically “illegal” to use a business card for personal use, it’s generally against the terms and conditions of most business credit cards. In addition, combining personal and business purchases on a credit card can make it harder to separate legitimate, business-related transactions when tax season rolls around. Finally, business credit cards tend to have fewer protections for cardholders, so using one for personal reasons could backfire.

  • Do business credit cards affect personal credit?

    Sometimes. It all depends on the given issuer, since some will consistently report business card account information to both consumer and commercial credit bureaus, while others won’t. Instead of worrying about this question, though, focus your energy on paying your balance in full and on time each month. This will ensure that any business cards reported to a credit bureau will only impact your score in a positive way.

    Plus, your business credit card could provide multiple benefits to your personal score. This could be done by managing your business credit card account responsibly, which demonstrates you’re a reliable borrower, or lowering your personal credit utilization, for instance. 

  • Can I get a business credit card without a business?

    You certainly can, though each issuer reserves the right to review your application and determine whether you qualify for a business line of credit. In many instances, you can use your Social Security number as a sole proprietor and get approved for a card. Even if you have no business credit history, an issuer will look at your personal credit score and history to determine your eligibility.

  • Can I refer someone to a business credit card from a personal credit card?

    It is possible to refer someone to a business card even if you only have personal cards. Every issuer has their own policy regarding rewarding referrals so you will have to check with your specific card issuer to see if you are eligible for a referral bonus. Check out our in-depth guide on earning referral bonuses on both personal and business credit cards.

  • What is the best small business credit card?

    The best small business credit card will depend on your small business. See what perks and benefits your business is looking for and if the card you're looking at is the best fit for your business spending. You can use our guide above to help you see which card is the best for your business.

  • How many business cards can I have?

    There is no limit to the amount of business cards you can have. It is important to know your business and what cards align most with your spending.

  • How do I check my business credit score?

    While it’s easy and free to check your personal credit score, the process with a business credit report requires jumping through a few more hoops. You can check your business credit score through free services that send alerts when your score or report changes. However, you often have to pay additional fees to view unlimited full reports. 

    Tracking your business credit score may be a bit harder, but it’s not any less important than your personal credit report

  • What is the difference between a business credit card and a business line of credit?

    The wording of these two may be similar, but the features of a business credit card and a business line of credit are very different. 

    A business credit card is like a personal credit card because it allows borrowers to spend with a predetermined credit limit at an annual percentage rate (APR). Most business cards are unsecured, and borrowers can be approved for one without proof of assets or collateral. 

    A business line of credit is a revolving business loan with a preset credit limit. To be approved for a business LOC, your business’s financial picture and creditworthiness are considered. Sometimes, approval is based on collateral. LOCs are meant to cover day-to-day operative expenses that may exceed a credit limit on a credit card, such as payroll.

How we rate cards

Our top picks for business credit cards offer important features like bonus rewards on business spending and free authorized user cards for employees. So whether you run your own enterprise solo or have several employees on your roster, there’s a business card to suit your specific needs. To learn more about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our methodology here.
  • Welcome bonus

    The best business cards feature solid welcome bonuses that can maximize value for your business.

  • Annual fee

    Our best business cards feature annual fees that fit smaller and larger budgets.

  • Earning rates

    We chose cards with elevated earning rates across various business expenses.

  • Redemption options

    Our best business cards have various redemption options, providing flexibility for business owners.

  • Added benefits

    The value of additional business-related perks on the card was factored into our ratings.

Pros + cons of business credit cards

  • Pros

    • Using business credit cards responsibly can help you build your business credit score, which differs from your personal credit score
    • Business credit cards can earn cash back, points or miles on every dollar you spend in categories not always covered by personal credit cards
    • Business credit cards provide business-friendly perks like travel insurance, complimentary hotel stays and bonus points on expenses like shipping or software
    • Opening a business credit card can separate personal and business expenses
    • Some business credit cards offer higher welcome bonuses than personal credit cards
  • Cons

    • Carrying a balance and using your card irresponsibly can damage your business credit score
    • The cost of borrowing on business credit cards is higher than traditional loans
    • You’re still personally responsible for business credit card debt
    • Having too many card applications can negatively affect your credit score
    • Some business credit cards have high spending requirements for lucrative welcome bonuses