Best Credit Cards for Small Business Owners

Running a small business means managing expenses carefully. The right business credit card can earn thousands in rewards annually, separate personal and business finances, and build your business credit profile.

Here are the best options for small business owners in 2026.

Best No Annual Fee: Chase Ink Business Unlimited

Why we like it: Unlimited 1.5% back on everything with no annual fee, plus a strong welcome bonus.

Feature	Details
Annual Fee	$0
Welcome Bonus	75,000 points after $6,000 in 3 months
Rewards	1.5X on everything
Point Value	1.25¢+ when paired with Ink Preferred

Best for: Businesses wanting simple, flat-rate rewards without category tracking.

Best for Travel Perks: American Express Business Platinum

Why we like it: Premium travel benefits including lounge access, airline credits, and elite status.

Feature	Details
Annual Fee	$695
Welcome Bonus	150,000 points after $20,000 in 3 months
Rewards	5X flights, 1.5X on purchases $5,000+
Key Perks	Centurion Lounges, $200 airline credit, Dell/Indeed credits

Best for: Business owners who travel frequently and can use the extensive credits.

Best for Startups (No PG): Brex Card

Why we like it: No personal guarantee required for qualifying businesses.

Feature	Details
Annual Fee	$0
Welcome Bonus	Varies
Rewards	Up to 8X on rideshare, 5X travel, 4X restaurants, 3X software
Key Feature	No personal guarantee (for funded startups)

Best for: Venture-backed startups that qualify for Brex’s underwriting.

The Chase Ink Strategy

The Two-Card Combo

Many business owners use two Ink cards together:

Ink Business Cash for:

• Office supplies (5X)
• Phone and internet (5X)
• Gas and dining (2X)

Ink Business Unlimited for:

• Everything else (1.5X)

Combined value: 2-5X on categorized spending, 1.5X floor on everything else, $0 total annual fees.

The Three-Card Stack

Add Ink Business Preferred to unlock:

• Transfer partners (Hyatt, United, etc.)
• 1.25¢/point in Chase Travel portal
• 3X on travel, shipping, advertising

Strategy: Earn on Cash and Unlimited, transfer to Preferred for premium redemptions.

Why Use a Business Credit Card?

Separate Business and Personal Finances

Mixing personal and business expenses:

• Complicates taxes
• Weakens liability protection (for LLCs/Corps)
• Makes bookkeeping a nightmare

A dedicated business card solves this.

Build Business Credit

Business credit cards can help establish your business credit profile, separate from personal credit. This matters for:

• Future business loans
• Vendor credit terms
• Leasing equipment

Higher Credit Limits

Business cards often have higher limits than personal cards—useful for larger business expenses.

Better Expense Tracking

Business card statements categorize spending, making tax time easier. Many integrate with accounting software.

Employee Cards

Add employees as authorized users with individual spending limits. Track who spends what.

Personal Guarantee Explained

What It Means

Most business cards require a personal guarantee (PG). This means:

• You’re personally responsible if the business can’t pay
• It may appear on your personal credit report
• The bank can pursue your personal assets for unpaid debt

Cards Without Personal Guarantee

Very few cards skip the PG:

• Brex: For funded startups meeting their criteria
• Ramp: For businesses with bank balance requirements
• Some corporate cards: For larger established businesses

For most small businesses, a personal guarantee is unavoidable and normal.

Maximizing Business Card Rewards

Track Your Spending Categories

Know where your money goes:

• Advertising (Google, Facebook, print)
• Shipping (USPS, UPS, FedEx)
• Office supplies (Staples, Office Depot)
• Software subscriptions
• Travel
• Phone and internet

Match cards to your actual spending.

Time Large Purchases for Bonuses

Have a big expense coming?

1. Apply for a new card
2. Use the expense for minimum spend
3. Earn the welcome bonus

$15,000 in planned advertising? That’s the perfect time for Amex Business Gold (100,000 points after $15,000 spend).

Stack Multiple Cards

Different cards for different categories:

• Ink Cash for office supplies (5%)
• Business Gold for advertising (4X)
• Ink Unlimited for everything else (1.5X)

Use Employee Cards Strategically

Employee spending counts toward:

• Minimum spend requirements
• Category bonuses
• Annual spending thresholds

The Bottom Line

Chase Ink Business Preferred is the best overall business card for most small business owners. The 100,000-point bonus, 3X categories, and transfer partner access provide exceptional value for $95/year.

For no annual fee, the Ink Business Cash + Ink Business Unlimited combo covers all spending with 1.5-5X earnings.

For premium travel benefits, the Amex Business Platinum delivers lounges, status, and credits—but requires significant travel to justify the $695 fee.

Choose based on your spending patterns and whether you’ll use travel perks. The right business card can easily return $1,000+ annually in rewards while keeping your finances organized.