6 Best Credit Cards for Your Online Business in 2024

Finding the right credit card for your online business can help you separate personal expenses from your business, making bookkeeping simpler. It helps you see where your money is going and build your business budget each year.

It’s also a great way to calculate business expense deductions come tax time, whether you spend on inventory, advertising, shipping, website hosting services, or travel, for example. With competitive cashback and rewards programs, every purchase you make — from a morning latte to office supplies — is an opportunity to earn. 

By understanding your card’s reward system and paying off the balance each month, you’re not just spending; you’re also building a stash of financial benefits to use in the future while making money online.

To help find the perfect match for your online venture, let’s explore these top 6 credit cards for your online business, comparing their key features and benefits.

1. American Express Blue Business Plus

American Express has built a reputation on exclusivity and luxury. In reality, they are a widely used credit card that has similar requirements to qualify as other credit card companies. Plus, the flexible membership rewards system on this card lets you earn cashback or buy gift cards, travel, and products with points.

Amex also stands out for its customer service and dispute resolution. The Blue Business Plus card has no annual fee and a decent rewards rate. With a 0% introductory APR, it can be good for newer businesses, but it does require good to excellent credit to qualify. 

• Annual fees: $0
• Introductory offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card in the first 3 months 
• Rewards program: Accumulate membership reward points with no expiration; use points to buy gift cards, travel, Amazon purchases, and more
• Customer service: Access to 24/7 customer support
• Promotional APR: Introductory 0% for new cardmembers for the first 12 months
• Standard APR: Variable rate of 18.49% – 26.49%
• Security features: Fraud protection and purchase protection
• Best for: New online businesses seeking an introductory APR and a wide range of redemption options

2. American Express Business Gold Card

If expenses for your online business tend to be the same couple of products or services each month, the Amex Business Gold Card might be a good fit. The annual fee is hefty at $295, but the introductory rewards point bonus of 70,000 could make that annual cost worth it in the first year.

After that, the payoff comes from their 4x points multiplier on your top two eligible expense types that could save you enough to offset the annual fee. The list of eligible expense categories is pretty liberal, including items like shipping, advertising, restaurants, airfare, and gas. You’ll also still be accruing 1x points on other eligible purchase categories.

• Annual fees: $295
• Introductory offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
• Rewards program: Generous points system with bonus categories: 4x points on your top two eligible categories (points cap applies; 1x points on other eligible purchases)
• Customer service: Excellent customer support and personalized assistance, 24/7
• Promotional APR: Introductory 0% for new cardmembers for the first 12 months
• Standard APR: Variable rate of 18.49% – 26.49%
• Security features: Fraud protection and purchase protection
• Best for: Established online businesses looking for premium rewards and benefits on the expense categories they use the most

3. Chase Ink Business Preferred

Online business owners can enjoy a generous rewards program with Chase Ink Business Preferred, including cash back and points for expenditures like social media advertising and shipping. 

They offer new cardholders 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account — that equates to $1,000 cash back. They offer a bonus multiplier for travel, so you’d get $1,250 toward travel rewards as long as you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

• Annual fees: $95
• Introductory offer: 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening. 
• Rewards program: 3x points on shipping and additional business categories. Points don’t expire.
• Customer service: Excellent customer support and personalized assistance, 24/7
• Promotional APR: No introductory APR
• Standard APR: Variable rate of 21.24% to 24.24%
• Security features: Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases. Zero liability policy so you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Best for: Business owners who love travel rewards 

4. Chase United Business

Online business owners who love to travel can benefit from the rewards of airline credit cards, especially if you favor a particular airline. This card from Chase helps you earn miles toward United Airlines purchases and comes with some additional cool bonuses.

You can get one free checked bag each time you fly and membership in the United lounges. You’ll also enjoy 2x miles on United Airlines purchases and specific purchase categories, so it’s kind of like double earning — miles for spending money on the card, and then miles for buying tickets from United. Just be sure to pay off your balance each month in full, especially since there’s no introductory APR.

• Annual fees: No fee for the first year, then $99 
• Introductory offer: 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. 
• Rewards program: Earn two miles per $1 spent on United purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
• Customer service: Dedicated travel customer support
• Promotional APR: No introductory APR
• Standard APR: 21.99%–28.99% variable APR
• Security features: Fraud protection and travel insurance coverage
• Best for: Online businesses with frequent travel needs and a focus on airline rewards

5. Ramp

If you are looking for a corporate card for you and your employees and have a $75,000 minimum in a bank account, consider Ramp. Account holders get a virtual or physical card powered by Visa, and there’s no annual fee. 

You must pay off the balance each month. Ramp then rewards you with a cashback rate of 1.5% with no limit, so every time you spend, you earn. 

This simple approach to rewards can be helpful if you don’t know what your frequent expense categories are yet, or if you don’t want to manage a complex rewards program. This option is for corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships, so if you are a sole proprietor, this one is not for you. 

• Annual fees: No fee
• Reward programs: 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases; helpful business management tools like spending limits on each card to help you stay in budget
• Customer service: Live support available 
• Promotional APR: No APR since balance must be paid in full each month
• Standard APR: No APR since balance must be paid in full each month
• Security features: merchant and transaction level card controls, fraud and spending alerts
• Best for: incorporated businesses that prefer no personal credit check and a simple rewards approach

6. Bank of America Business Advantage Travel

Another option for travel lovers is the Business Advantage Travel card from Bank of America (BOA). You get 30,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, making this introductory reward more accessible than others with higher spending requirements.

Additionally, BOA doesn’t charge an annual fee. It does require excellent credit. 

• Annual fees: No fee
• Introductory offer: 30,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening, which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit toward travel or dining purchases 
• Rewards Program: Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time, no matter how much you spend. Points don’t expire.
• Customer service: Access to 24/7 customer support
• Promotional APR: 0% on purchases for the first nine billing cycles
• Standard APR: After the intro APR offer ends, a variable APR that’s currently 18.49% to 28.49% will apply
• Security features: Fraud protection and purchase protection
• Best for: Online business owners looking for travel rewards and no annual fee

Why Get a Business Credit Card

Getting a business credit card can be a smart move for many reasons. For one thing, it’s a fantastic way to separate personal and business expenses, making tax time a whole lot less stressful. 

Plus, a business credit card can help you build your business credit rating, which can be essential when you need to secure larger loans or lines of credit down the line. Also, the rewards programs save your business money via cash back, airline miles, or other perks that can really add up when used for everyday business expenses. 

Lastly, some cards provide additional benefits like travel insurance or purchase protection, giving you added peace of mind. So, a business credit card doesn’t just simplify your financial management — it can also give your business a real boost.

How To Maximize Rewards

Here are a few tips to help you maximize your credit card rewards, but remember, the key to maximizing credit card rewards is using your card responsibly and strategically. It’s always about making your card work for you, not the other way around. 

• Use your card for everyday purchases: The more you use your card, the more rewards you rack up. So, you may want to use your card for routine expenses like groceries, bills, gas, and even small purchases.
• Understand your card’s reward system: Every card’s reward system is different — make sure you know yours inside out. Some cards offer higher rewards for certain types of spending, like dining or travel. Leverage these categories if they align with your spending habits.
• Look for signup bonuses: Many cards offer significant bonuses for spending a certain amount within the first few months of opening the account. If feasible, time your major purchases around this period to take advantage of these bonuses.
• Pay off your balance in full: Rewards are only beneficial if you’re not saddled with interest. Make it a habit to pay off your balance in full each month to truly enjoy the benefits of your rewards.
• Don’t rush to redeem your points: It might be tempting to use your points as soon as you earn them, but patience often pays off. Save up your points for bigger rewards or special promotions.

Who Is Eligible for a Business Credit Card?

Anyone can potentially qualify for a business credit card. It’s not just for big corporations. If you’re a freelancer, a solopreneur, or you run an e-commerce side hustle, you’re in the game. Even microbusinesses like selling homemade crafts or offering dog-walking services can qualify you. 

The key is that you need to have some form of business activity to show. Remember, the card issuers are mainly interested in how you plan to use the card and your ability to pay back any debt accrued. So, don’t underestimate your micro gigs – it can open up new opportunities for financial flexibility and growth.

What To Look For in a Business Credit Card

When choosing a credit card for your online business, it’s important to consider a few key features that can help you reduce costs, manage cash flow, and even earn rewards. 

• Annual fees, as you can see in the list above, can vary widely. Some cards have no annual fee, while others might charge a significant amount but offer perks that could make it worthwhile, like high reward rates or free travel insurance.
• The rewards program is another crucial factor. Some cards offer cash back on all purchases, while others give you points or miles that can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or other rewards. The best choice depends on your spending habits and preferences.
• Interest rates can also be a game-changer. Even if you plan to pay off your balance in full each month, it’s always good to have a low interest rate as a safety net.
• Customer service accessibility and helpfulness make a big difference when you need help with your account. In case of any issues, you want to be sure that the card issuer will provide supportive and efficient assistance, as well as credit monitoring. Zero liability when your card is used fraudulently is another great benefit.
• Check out the promotional and standard APR. Some cards offer a low or 0% introductory rate, which can be helpful if you intend to make a large purchase and pay it off over time. Just be sure to understand when the regular APR will kick in and what it will be.

Final Words

Credit cards are not necessary to run your online business, but they offer a practical way to make business purchases with fraud and security protection. They also help you make extra money, and as an online business owner, every reward point, mile, or cashback bonus adds up.

You can also leverage the budgeting tools, spending limit features, and fancy charts and graphs credit card companies provide when they analyze your spending. This can simplify your bookkeeping for taxes and also keep you aware of how and when you spend money.