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Using a small-business rewards card gives business owners a way to easily earn extra points for travel or earn extra cash back on their spending. Banks are more motivated than ever to find new customers, and that means welcome offers can be rather generous. In this article, we'll discuss some of the best no-annual-fee business rewards credit cards, comparing the welcome offers available to new applicants, key features of the cards, and the ongoing perks the cards offer for keeping them in your wallet.
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A Note on Popular Business Cards
Although many of the most popular business credit cards charge an annual fee, there are some absolute gems that don’t. If your business spends less than $20,000 a year, it’s hard to justify paying $100 or more for an annual fee. It's going to take a lot of spending before you get into positive territory with your rewards on an after-fee basis.
However, there are some offers as high as 75,000 points or $750 cash back, lucrative bonus categories for your spending, and two of the top overall cards for everyday spending. With these offers, the odds are good that one of these no-annual-fee cards can help you supercharge your rewards. It's worth noting that most of these cards charge a foreign transaction fee, with the two Capital One cards being exceptions.
Plus, you may qualify for a business credit card without realizing it. More on that below.
Our Top 3 No-Annual-Fee Business Credit Cards
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card features a sign-up bonus of up to $750 cash back —$350 once you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and an additional $400 once you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months. This is one of the most lucrative cards in Chase’s stable of business credit cards. The bonus is awarded as points you can redeem as cash back at 1 cent per point (yielding up to $750). Alternatively, if you hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), you can combine your cash back with points for potentially much higher returns.
In addition to the sweet welcome offer, the Ink Cash earns 5% cash back at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services and 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year, plus 1% back on other purchases.
You're effectively earning 5x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on $25,000 of annual spending in the 5% categories. If maxed out, this would net you 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points to transfer to Chase's 14 airline and hotel partners or $1,250 cash back annually. These are massive returns from a card with no annual fee.
Related: Ink Cash full review
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is another Chase card featuring a great bonus. New cardmembers can earn $750 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Again, this bonus is received as points that you can cash out (at 1¢ apiece) or combine with rewards from Ultimate Rewards points-earning credit cards.
The Ink Unlimited earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no category restrictions or spending caps. This makes it the perfect Ultimate Rewards companion card for your business. Get 1.5% cash back on all expenses that don't fall into bonus categories on other credit cards. Then, combine those earnings with other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards to redeem at a higher value via Pay Yourself Back, the Chase travel portal, or transfers to travel partners.
Related: Ink Unlimited full review
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You've got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
Simply put, we consider the Blue Business Plus the best business card on the market for everyday expenses — the cream of the crop. The card earns 2x Membership Rewards points on all business expenses, all day, every day. There are no category restrictions, and you'll earn 2x on the first $50,000 spent each year, then 1x.
Unlike the Chase Ink cards mentioned above, which require a partner card to transfer points to travel partners, points earned on the Blue Business Plus can be transferred to any of the 21 Membership Rewards airline and hotel partners without holding another card.
Related: Blue Business Plus full review
No-Annual-Fee Business Rewards Cards at a Glance
| Credit Card | Welcome Offer | Rewards Earning Rate | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card | Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. | Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. | No annual fee (Rates & Fees) |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. | Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply. | No annual fee (Rates & Fees) |
| Capital One Spark Cash Select | $500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site. | $0 |
| Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business | 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening | 1.5 Miles per $1 on every purchase. | $0 |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. | Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. | $0 |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® | Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account. | Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center. Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. | $0 |
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That's why you've got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
This is the cash-back cousin of Amex's Blue Business Plus. With the Blue Business Cash, cardholders earn a solid 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% (issued as a statement credit). The card also offers a generous $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
Related: Blue Business Cash full review
Capital One Spark Cash Select
- $500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- 1.5% cashback on every purchase
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee
- 1.5% cashback on every purchase
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
With the Spark Cash Select, you can earn a welcome bonus of $500 and a solid 1.5% cash back on all spending without worrying about categories or annual earning limits. There's no annual fee, and you can turn your cash back into Capital One miles if you have a card that earns them.
Related: Spark Cash Select full review
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
- Earn 50,000 Miles Miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening; worth $500 in travel if redeemed for a fixed-value, or potentially much more when transferred to airline partners
- 1.5 Miles per $1 on every purchase
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee
- 5X Miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 1.5 Miles per $1 on every purchase.
The Spark Miles Select earns an unlimited 1.5 miles on all purchases, with no cap on how many miles you can earn. New applicants can earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles, as well.
Miles are worth 1¢ each in the Capital One Travel portal or when redeemed as statement credits. In addition to redeeming for a fixed value, Capital One miles transfer to 19 airline and hotel partners. That fact makes the Spark Miles Select one of the most versatile cards without an annual fee!
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
- 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center
- 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 3% cash back at office supply stores
- 3% cash back at cell phone service providers
- 3% cash back at restaurants
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
Off the radar for many points and miles fans, the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® is a solid choice for business owners looking for a no-annual-fee rewards card. New cardmembers receive $500 in cash back after you spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account. The card earns 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, office supply stores, restaurants, and cell phone/service providers, plus 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Related: Business Triple Cash Card full review
Who Can Apply for a Business Credit Card?
Consultants, resellers, service providers, and even freelancers can qualify for a small business card.
The nature of employment has gone through a lot of changes. As a result, more of the workforce has moved to freelance, remote, or consulting roles. And look how many people are reselling items online these days. Due to this, it makes even more sense to separate your work and personal expenses.
One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by using a business credit card. Plus, you can earn bonus rewards on an entire range of categories not available with consumer cards, such as shipping fees, advertising costs, internet bills, or phone expenses.
Fortunately, most small business cards don’t require a Federal EIN or Tax ID number to apply. Sole proprietors who use their Social Security Number to apply are routinely accepted, as are those without any employees, shiny offices, or millions of dollars in revenue.
Working a few hours per week from home as a consultant or selling products on eBay is often a sufficient reason to justify applying for a business card. Of course, this is provided that you can back up the fact that you run a small business if the bank asks for further information.
Related: How To Get a Business Credit Card in 3 Steps
Final Thoughts
Low- or no-annual-fee credit cards can help business owners access much-needed funds to help their businesses grow. With any of the cards above, you can earn rewards on your business expenses. In fact, some of the cards listed offer the highest returns on the categories offered of any credit card — consumer or business — without charging an annual fee. There should be one on this list that works well for your business needs.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (Rates & Fees)
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