Best Business Credit Cards of 2026

Business credit cards separate personal and business expenses, build business credit, and earn rewards on the purchases you’re already making. The right card can return 2-5% on common business spending categories.

Quick Summary: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers the best overall value with 3X points on travel and select business categories, plus 100,000 points welcome bonus worth $1,000+ in travel. For maximum cash back simplicity, the Ink Business Unlimited® delivers 1.5% on everything with no category tracking.

Detailed Reviews

1. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred combines a massive welcome bonus with valuable earning categories and access to Chase’s premium travel redemption ecosystem.

The Good:

• 100,000-point bonus worth $1,000+ in travel (potentially $2,000+ with transfers)
• 3X on shipping, internet/cable/phone, travel, and advertising (up to $150K combined)
• Points transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners
• Points worth 25% more through Chase Travel℠
• Employee cards at no additional cost
• Cell phone protection up to $600
• Primary rental car coverage (saves ~$25/day)
• No foreign transaction fees

The Not-So-Good:

• $95 annual fee
• $8,000 spend requirement for bonus is significant
• 3X categories have $150,000 annual cap
• Only 1X on non-category spending
• Requires good personal credit

Best For: Businesses spending significantly on advertising, shipping, or telecommunications who want premium travel redemptions. The bonus alone justifies the first-year fee many times over.

Point Valuation: 100,000 Chase points = $1,000 cash back, $1,250 through Chase Travel, or $1,800-2,200 transferred to partners like Hyatt or United.

3. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash maximizes rewards on common business expenses with 5% categories that align perfectly with typical small business spending.

The Good:

• 5% on office supplies, internet, cable, phone (first $25,000/year combined)
• 2% at gas stations and restaurants (first $25,000/year combined)
• 1% on everything else
• $350 bonus after $3,000 spend in 3 months
• No annual fee
• Employee cards at no extra cost
• 0% intro APR for 12 months
• Points combinable with Sapphire ecosystem

The Not-So-Good:

• Category caps limit high spenders
• Only 1% on non-category purchases
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No travel perks
• Limited bonus compared to Ink Preferred

Best For: Small businesses with predictable spending on office supplies, telecommunications, and meals. Perfect complement to Ink Unlimited for comprehensive coverage.

Category Math: Max all categories: ($25,000 × 5%) + ($25,000 × 2%) = $1,250 + $500 = $1,750/year before general spending.

5. Brex Card

Brex revolutionized business cards by eliminating personal guarantees and credit checks, making it ideal for startups and businesses wanting to keep personal credit separate.

The Good:

• No personal guarantee required
• No personal credit check
• 8X on rideshare, 5X travel booked through Brex, 4X restaurants, 3X recurring software
• No annual fee
• Real-time expense management and controls
• Bill pay integration
• Accounting software integration (QuickBooks, Xero)
• Virtual cards for each subscription/vendor

The Not-So-Good:

• Requires $50K+ in business bank account or monthly spend
• Not for sole proprietors or very early startups
• Must pay balance in full (no revolving credit)
• Points generally worth less than Chase/Amex
• Rewards rates have decreased over time

Best For: Funded startups and growing businesses that want advanced expense management without personal credit risk. Excellent for managing subscriptions with virtual cards.

Qualification Path: Most businesses need either $50K+ in Brex Cash or $200K+ in connected bank accounts, or meaningful monthly spend.

Building Business Credit

Why Business Credit Matters

• Separate liability: Business credit doesn’t affect personal credit (usually)
• Higher limits: Business cards often have higher credit limits
• Business loans: Strong business credit helps with future financing
• Vendor relationships: Some suppliers check business credit

How to Build Business Credit

Step 1: Establish Your Business

• Get an EIN from the IRS
• Register your business formally (LLC, Corp, etc.)
• Open a business bank account
• Get a business phone number

Step 2: Start with Accessible Cards

• Apply for starter business cards
• Cards like Ink Business Cash accept newer businesses
• Some cards only do soft pulls for pre-approval

Step 3: Use and Pay Responsibly

• Make regular purchases
• Pay in full monthly (or at least on time)
• Keep utilization reasonable

Step 4: Monitor and Expand

• Check business credit reports (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business)
• Add vendor accounts that report (net-30 accounts)
• Apply for additional cards after 6-12 months

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an LLC to get a business credit card? No. Sole proprietors can apply using their Social Security number. However, having a formal business structure (LLC, Corp) and EIN can help with approval and higher limits.

Will a business card affect my personal credit? It depends. Many issuers (Chase, Amex) report to personal credit bureaus, which can help or hurt your personal score. Some (Capital One for certain cards) don’t report. Late payments typically affect both regardless.

Can I use a business card for personal expenses? Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. It complicates accounting, may violate card terms, and can create legal/tax issues if your business is audited.

What’s the difference between corporate and small business cards? Small business cards are designed for businesses with under $25M in revenue and are tied to personal credit. Corporate cards are for larger businesses, don’t require personal guarantees, and have separate underwriting.

How much revenue do I need to qualify? There’s no strict minimum for most small business cards. Even part-time freelancers or side hustles qualify. Be honest about revenue—lying is fraud.

Can I get a business card with bad personal credit? It’s difficult. Most business cards check personal credit. Options include secured business cards or fintech alternatives like Brex (if you have business revenue/funding).

Bottom Line

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers the best overall value for most businesses. Its 100,000-point welcome bonus, valuable 3X categories, and Chase ecosystem access make it worth the $95 annual fee many times over.

For no-fee simplicity, the Ink Business Unlimited® delivers solid 1.5X returns on everything—especially powerful when paired with a personal Chase Sapphire for enhanced travel redemptions.

Small businesses with predictable spending on office supplies and telecommunications should add the Ink Business Cash® to capture 5% on those common expenses.

The bottom line: The best business credit card matches your spending patterns and rewards preferences. Most businesses benefit from having 2-3 cards that cover different category bonuses while maintaining a flat-rate fallback for everything else.