AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Capital One offers three versions of their Spark Cash card, and each one delivers cash back rewards that don't require any knowledge of travel loyalty programs to redeem. If you're thinking about opening a new account, the key factors to consider are the welcome bonus (and business spending required to earn it), the ongoing earning rate on purchases, and the annual fee to hold the card long term.
Spark Card Cash Back Earning Rates
Each Spark Cash card offers unlimited cash back on all purchases, but the cards that earn at a higher rate are more expensive to hold long term.
- The Capital One Spark Cash Select offers 1.5% cash back with no annual fee.
- The Capital One Spark Cash offers 2% cash back with an annual fee of $0 intro for first year; $95 after that.
- The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers 2% cash back with an annual fee of $150.
From a long-term perspective, it makes sense to pay a $95 annual fee for the Spark Cash to earn 2% instead of 1.5% back when your annual spending is above $19,000. Since the Spark Cash Plus also earns 2%, it only makes sense to upgrade further if you can benefit from the welcome bonus or expect to qualify for a waived annual fee by consistently reaching $150,000 in annual spending.
Maximize Your Spark Cash Welcome Bonus
- $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
If you'll spend less than $15,000 over the next 3 months: If you have few business expenses to charge to a card, the Spark Cash Select is your best option. With no annual fee and a $500 welcome bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, you'll maximize your returns without worrying about offsetting an annual fee.
This card ideally suits a business with low or modest expenses that can be charged to a credit card.
- 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- 2% Cash Back on every purchase
- 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.
Spend between $15,000 and $30,000 in the next 3 months: At $15,000 in spending, you can earn the signup bonus on the Spark Cash, putting it firmly in the top spot. You'll earn a bigger $1,500 welcome bonus once you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months from account opening, plus an ongoing 2% cashback rate that easily offsets the annual fee.
This card hits the sweet spot for many small businesses. The spending requirement is reasonable, and you won't need to track bonus categories or plan your purchases to maximize rewards.
- Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere-with no limits or category restrictions
- 2% Cash Back on every purchase. 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.
Spend over $30,000 in the next 3 months: Step up to the Spark Cash Plus. At $30K, high-spending businesses come out ahead with a massive $2,000 welcome bonus (once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months) and the same 2% cash back rate.
The $150 annual fee is higher, but Capital One waives it entirely if you spend $150,000 in a calendar year – perfect for established businesses with significant expenses.
Why Earn Cash Back with Spark Cards?
Unlike cards with complex bonus categories and caps, the Spark Cash cards keep it simple with unlimited cash back on every purchase. There's no need to remember which card to use where – just swipe your card and earn your rewards. Plus, you can redeem your cash back with no minimum redemption requirement.
A hidden perk: if you also have a Capital One Venture branded card, you can convert your Spark Cash rewards to Venture Miles 1:1. This effectively turns your business spending into flexible travel rewards, allowing you to choose between cash back or travel redemptions based on your needs.
Final thoughts
Choosing between the three Spark Cash cards comes down to which bonus you can earn with your upcoming business expenses. The no-annual-fee Spark Cash Select is best for spending under $15,000, the regular Spark Cash wins between $15,000 and $30,000, and the Spark Cash Plus takes the lead above $30,000. No spreadsheet needed—just pick the card that matches your expected business spending and start earning rewards.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.