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How to solve the spend management issues wrecking your budget
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Spend management is like the hot potato of corporate finance; no one wants to handle it. It often feels overwhelming, and because of the challenges teams face with spend management, they often avoid it altogether or treat it with a hands-off approach.
According to Ardent Partners, the average organization manages less than two-thirds of their total company spend, despite the fact they could save between 6% and 12% of every dollar placed under spend management. One Harvard Business School professor found that overspending is a significant reason why two out of every three startups fail.
So, why aren’t companies taking control of total company spend? They often lack supporting tools, processes, and people to manage spend effectively. These companies then miss out on savings and growth opportunities.
The good news? Companies can address common spend management challenges by automating their financial processes and customizing spend controls. If you’re not sure where to start, here are the most common spend management challenges finance experts see company’s run into, and how to solve them.
Problem: lack of control
With a traditional spend management workflow, employees will submit their expense reports after already making a purchase and often several weeks or months later, usually without purchase orders. In addition to this challenge, some of the charges may not even belong to the cardholder since they often share corporate credit cards with unauthorized employees due to limited access.
So controllers aren’t finding out about out-of-policy spend until after the fact (when it’s much harder to address), and sometimes avoid addressing it altogether because of the tension it can create among teams.
Many finance teams react to overspending by tightening expense policies. However, it’s nearly impossible to account for every situational expense without also hurting the procurement planning processes.
Without a dynamic expense policy solution, including timely pre-approvals and personalized expense policies, finance teams often feel like they have two choices: allowing overspending or completely shutting down purchasing power. This struggle results in reactive processes rather than ones that are preventative and proactive.
In the end, finance teams are left in a constant state of crisis management where maverick spend or out-of-policy spend, overspending for services, and even duplicate spend become the norm.
Solution: customize spend controls
Gone are the days of reactive spend management. With a spend management software solution that syncs with unlimited corporate cards (both virtual and physical), you can consistently enforce policy with automated custom card controls. These guardrails improve your decision-making processes and empower your team while protecting your bottom line.
“With Ramp, I can put money in my employee’s hands and be confident that spend is controlled and reviewed,” says Ro CFO, Aron Susman.
With spend management software, you can set personalized card controls (down to the day, time, vendor, and transaction amount) and establish approval chains for a better benchmark. In addition, the software will prompt cardholders to request pre-approval for expenses that fall outside of the personalized limits. Approvals can happen in real-time with a single click, which streamlines the process.
“Having different entities in different states with card limits and expirations has been very helpful,” says Michelle Penczak, CEO of Squared Away.
Problem: limited expense tracking
It isn’t easy to analyze spend or build a strategy for managing it when you don’t have complete knowledge of company spending in the first place. Unfortunately, lack of real-time visibility is a common problem.
This lack of visibility is especially true for growth-stage startups with an overwhelming amount of capital expenditures (CAPEX), small or nonexistent finance departments, and a lack of concrete processes to handle expenditures and budgeting. These factors also result in scattered financial records and incomplete spend data.
It’s time-consuming to track down financial information when it’s scattered across email chains, billing statements, paper receipts, and forms—and it’s almost impossible to gain a complete picture of spend without these. When you lack a process to aggregate data, it’s difficult even to know what you’re missing.
Prior to implementing a spend management solution, Shortcut was manually processing expenses, which led to accounting difficulties.
“There wasn’t really any visibility on what employees were spending on and how much, so there was no control over when the sync would occur,” says Shafak Ilyas, Senior Accountant at Shortcut. “This lack of visibility led to a timely, inefficient, and inaccurate process.”
As a company evolves and business needs fluctuate, the issue of visibility compounds further for controllers scrambling to keep up. Many expenses end up not being correctly categorized or even tied to operating budget line items at all. They often get lost in a bloated “miscellaneous expenses” category and silently wreak havoc on companies’ budgets. This lack of visibility often leads to duplicate spend hiding in plain sight. For example, SaaS creep and shadow IT, among others.
Lack of spend visibility is especially critical when you consider how many tool subscriptions companies have. According to Blissfully, the average company has between 102 and 288 SaaS application subscriptions (which doesn’t even include the number of duplicate subscriptions). At the average midsize company, 5.8 of those are duplicate subscriptions, wasting around $135,000 annually.
With a traditionally manual spend management process, it’s next to impossible to maintain visibility on this many subscriptions. And managing SaaS subscriptions is just one example of what controllers are trying to keep up with.
Solution: automate expense tracking
A spend management system centralizes all of your cash flow management into a single platform for ultimate visibility and functionality. This design reduces context switching and helps you avoid scattered audit trails by automatically updating data fields as the transaction happens.
“With Ramp, people are no longer hiding behind their expenses,” says Teo Evanick, Financial Controller at Mode. “Everyone can log in and see every transaction the instant it happens, forecast spend, and correct wasteful behavior. What a relief.”
Problem: faulty analysis
Faulty analysis is the result of two things: inaccurate reporting and lack of skill that leads to erroneous conclusions.
To manage spend effectively, you need reports that will accurately reflect the state of your financials. Too often, reports have incomplete or faulty data—which leads to weak financial forecasting.
Manual data entry processes often lead to errors—such as duplicate entries, missing or unreported data, amounts attributed to the wrong accounts, and inaccurate financial statements with no clear audit trail to validate the data. In fact, according to the Global Business Travel Association, 19% of expense reports have errors.
Jose Ramon-Batista, a former Staff Accountant at WayUp, says their old manual process of data entry was at the core of issues with their financial reports.
“Employees wouldn’t submit their expense reports until two months later,” says Ramon-Batista. “That wasn’t great for the accuracy of our financial reporting.”
It’s also difficult to manually analyze spend data. You may have an abundance of data, but without the right spend analysis process, your finance teams will struggle to track and manage it all.
According to McKinsey, “...at one midsize manufacturing company with approximately $2 billion in annual revenue ... procurement had data on more than 20,000 transactions for a single category, each with four to five statistically significant drivers of price.” In other words, it’s no surprise that finance teams are overwhelmed and find it hard to keep accurate reports.
Red Antler faced this same issue prior to finding a new spend management solution.
“Given our volume of purchases, expense management was an incredibly cumbersome process,” says Head of Creative Production at Red Antler, Christina Cooksey. “Because client work and timelines dominate, expenses were often put off.”
Without a skilled finance team, even the most accurate data is hard to apply to spend management. Especially if your team doesn’t include a strong financial analyst to surface actionable insights from the data and draw critical comparisons, the data will not be very useful.
For example, according to a Flexera report, survey respondents estimated 12% of total IT spend is wasted, but research shows it’s actually 30% or more. Businesses that don’t have a financial team capable of uncovering these insights may not even know that they’re missing wasted spend in their reporting.
Solution: use AI to surface unique insights
Spend management software uses AI-driven technology to draw out details and make connections that even a full finance department would have difficulty realizing. These insights are surfaced through automated cost-savings prompts and visualization dashboards that highlight cost-saving opportunities. No financial analyst needed.
“Ramp constantly sends me reminders to change certain plans in order to save money for the business,” says Penczak. “For example, I know that I need to go in and change our Asana [pricing] plan because I’ve gotten 15 reminders from Ramp that doing so can save us $1,000.”
Here are just a couple of examples of companies that have found significant savings through spend management software:
- Candid immediately found over $250,000 in savings after implementing an expense management software.
- Eight Sleep was able to reduce AWS costs and saved over $5,000 in Amazon Web Services alone after being notified of duplicate spend by their expense management software.
Problem: lack of optimization
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Especially if you’re part of a small team, you don’t have the time to painstakingly tackle inconsistencies—like hunting down that missing documentation, addressing data sourcing issues, or taking advantage of savings opportunities. Lack of time ultimately makes it feel impossible to optimize spend management.
Penczak said her team faced this situation prior to finding a new strategy.
“I didn’t have the time to search [for cost savings], and I didn’t delegate it to my team, because they honestly had bigger and better things [to do],” says Penczak.
Solution: automate workflows
Spend management software reduces the tasks employees spend hours doing manually via automation and AI so your team can fully optimize spend with minimal time or effort.
“What I like about Ramp compared to any other solution is the fact that we can automate manual workflows for every employee,” says JJ Fliegelman, Co-Founder at WayUp. “We can create rules for vendors and specific categories that automate spend management. The more we can automate, the better, and that’s the power of Ramp.”
The software also automatically collects and categorizes expense data. For example, employees are prompted via email or SMS to submit receipts for expenses at the point of purchase. This data is then automatically matched to the transaction in the software, so there are no lost receipts or guessing which expense they belong to.
“Expenses are completed the day of purchase, often within minutes,” says Cooksey. “All we have to do is text their receipt and a message with charge details.”
Time savings don’t end with data collection and categorization. Spend management software also can sync with bookkeeping software like QuickBooks to automate a significant amount of accounting functions. For example, Squared Away saved 50 hours per month with spend management software, and Shortcut now closes its books 86% faster since implementing a spend management platform.
“With Ramp, everything is quicker,” says Ilyas. “I can sync whenever I want. Closing the books used to take a couple of days, and now it takes about an hour a month.”
Save time and money with Ramp
Here at Ramp, we don’t think you should have to choose between effectively managing your company’s spend and having enough time to run the rest of your business. Learn more about how we’ve helped save our customers over $10 million and close their books five times faster each month with our spend management solution.
Spend management and expense policies go hand-in-hand. Without an effective expense policy, you'll create a void in your spend management. But what exactly makes an expense policy effective? Read our e-book to learn how to create a policy that works for you, your team and your business. You can also check out our expense policy generator here.
FAQs
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How Ramp helped Rustic Canyon Restaurant Group promote a culture of financial awareness and responsibility
- The Ramp Card is ideal for incorporated businesses
- Comes with automated expense management tools
- Provides 5% net savings on average
- Features AI-powered tools for detailed spending insights and cost-cutting recommendations
- Integrates seamlessly with accounting software to aid financial tracking and reporting
- No annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or card replacement fees
- Best for businesses aiming to streamline financial operations and enhance savings
- Offers 5% net savings on average through expense-cutting features
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Automated expense management features like spending limits and receipt-matching
- Integration with accounting platforms including NetSuite, Quickbooks, and Xero
- Offers AI-powered cost-saving insights
- Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards
- Not available to sole proprietors or unregistered small businesses
- Requires $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
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Card Details
The Ramp Card is an innovative corporate card, particularly suited for LLCs, that combines automated expense management features with 1.5% universal cashback rewards. It offers detailed spending insights with AI-powered recommendations for cutting costs, and integrates seamlessly with accounting software to simplify financial tracking and reporting. Cards come with no annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or card replacement fees. Ramp is an excellent choice for businesses that want to streamline their financial operations while saving money.
Pros
- 1.5% universal cashback rewards
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Automated expense management features like spending limits and receipt-matching
- Integration with accounting platforms including NetSuite, Quickbooks, and Xero
- Offers AI-powered cost-saving insights
- Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards
Cons
- Primarily focused on cost-cutting, which might not suit all business needs
- Geared mainly towards U.S. businesses, which may limit its appeal for international transactions
Ramp’s charge card program comes with the additional perk of tools designed to help your business track and reduce its spending.
- No personal guarantee
- No annual fee
- Valuable cash back
- Additional tools to track spending
- Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards with custom limits
- Not available to sole proprietors
- Must have $75,000 in liquid assets
- Unlimited free virtual and physical employee cards
- 1.5% cashback on purchases
- Customizable spending limits for employees
- Real-time transaction visibility
- Connects with accounting systems like QuickBooks and NetSuite
- Automates bill payments and invoice processing
- Provides a comprehensive audit trail and expert support for negotiations
- Unlimited virtual cards
- Real-time expense tracking
- Integration with accounting software
- Automated bill payments and invoice processing
- Requires full balance payments monthly
- Limited to businesses with most of their operations in the U.S.
- Corporate card and spend management platform
- Free employee cards with custom spending limits
- Unlimited 1.5% rewards on all purchases with no fees
- Built-in fraud protection ensures that your organization's finances are always secure
- Offers an average savings of 5% by identifying cost-saving opportunities
- No annual fees or interest
- Custom spend and vendor controls
- High credit limits
- Automatic receipt matching and expense categorization
- Not available to sole proprietors
- As a corporate charge card, balance can't be carried monthly
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Corporate card and spend management platform
- Unlimited employee cards with custom spending limits
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Offers an average savings of 5% by identifying cost-saving opportunities
- Assists with software price negiotations
- No annual fees or interest
- Custom spend and vendor controls
- High credit limits
- Automatic receipt matching and expense categorization
- Not available to sole proprietors
- As a corporate charge card, balance can't be carried monthly
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Corporate card and spend management platform
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited employee cards with custom spending limits
- Accounts payable software
- Uses business revenue to determine eligibility and credit limit
- No annual fees or interest
- Custom spend and vendor controls
- High credit limits
- Automatic receipt matching and expense categorization
- Only available to corporations, LLCs, and LPs
- As a charge card, balance can't be carried monthly
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Corporate card and spend management platform
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited employee cards with custom spending limits
- Automated receipt matching
- Accounts payable software
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- Integrates with accounting platforms like NetSuite, Quickbooks, and Xero
- No credit check or personal guarantee required
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must be a corporation, LLC, or LP to qualify
- Must have most of your operations and business spending in the US to qualify
- Corporate card with built-in spend management
- 1.5% cashback on purchases
- Automated expense reports on fuel spending
- Advanced financial management features
- Unlimited free employee cards
- Requires a registered business and $75,000 in a U.S. business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full monthly
- Corporate card with customizable spending controls
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- No personal guarantee or credit check required to qualify
- Advanced expense management automations and accounting integrations
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must be a corporation, limited liability company, or LP to qualify
- Must have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (though international purchases are supported with no foreign transaction fees)
- Corporate card with customizable spending controls
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- Credit limits up to 30 times higher than traditional credit cards
- Sales-based underwriting makes for an easier qualification process
- Advanced expense management automations and accounting integrations
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must be a corporation, limited liability company, or LP to qualify
- Must have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (though international purchases are supported with no foreign transaction fees)
- Corporate card with customizable spending controls
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- No credit check or personal guarantee required for eligibility
- Advanced expense management automations and accounting integrations
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must be a corporation, limited liability company, or LP to qualify
- Must have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (though international purchases are supported with no foreign transaction fees)
- Corporate card with customizable spending controls
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- Advanced expense management automations and accounting integrations
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must be a corporation, limited liability company, or LP to qualify
- Must have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (though international purchases are supported with no foreign transaction fees)
- Corporate card with customizable spending controls
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
- Must have $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- Advanced expense management automations and accounting integrations
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Must be a corporation, limited liability company, or LP to qualify
- Must have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (though international purchases are supported with no foreign transaction fees)
The Ramp Corporate Card is ideal for startups without a credit history. You just need an EIN number and $75,000 in a business bank account to qualify, and there's no credit check or personal guarantee required. Ramp's corporate card offers 1.5% cash back on purchases and built-in expense management software to streamline your business finances.
Some of its features include receipt matching, subscription management, and AI-powered spending insights. Ramp is an excellent choice for startups that are aiming to earn rewards on business purchases while managing expenses.
- Ramp Corporate Card includes built-in spend management and travel-specific features
- Ability to set and enforce your company's travel spending policy on employee cards
- Features a travel dashboard displaying complete trip itineraries and flight information for each employee
- Offers 1.5% cashback on all purchases, including those made through travel booking platforms
- Provides AI-powered finance automation and insights
- Real-time expense reporting, customizable spending controls, and card templates for efficient financial management
- Seamless integration with over 100 applications, including travel management platforms
- No annual, application, or late payment fees
- Universal cashback reward applicable to all types of travel expenses
- Advanced financial management features suitable for tracking travel spending
- Compatibility with 100+ applications for streamlined travel expense management
- Requires a registered business and $75,000 in a U.S. business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full monthly
The Ramp Card is an innovative corporate card, particularly suited for LLCs, that combines automated expense management features with 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases. It offers detailed spending insights with AI-powered recommendations for cutting costs, and integrates seamlessly with accounting software to simplify financial tracking and reporting. Cards come with no annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or card replacement fees. Ramp is an excellent choice for businesses that want to streamline their financial operations while saving money.
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Automated expense management features like spending limits and receipt-matching
- Integration with accounting platforms including NetSuite, Quickbooks, and Xero
- Offers AI-powered cost-saving insights
- Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards
- Primarily focused on cost-cutting, which might not suit all business needs
- Geared mainly towards U.S. businesses, which may limit its appeal for international transactions
The Ramp Card is an innovative corporate card, particularly suited for LLCs, that combines automated expense management features with 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases. It offers detailed spending insights with AI-powered recommendations for cutting costs, and integrates seamlessly with accounting software to simplify financial tracking and reporting. Cards come with no annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or card replacement fees. Ramp is an excellent choice for businesses that want to streamline their financial operations while saving money.
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Automated expense management features like spending limits and receipt-matching
- Integration with accounting platforms including NetSuite, Quickbooks, and Xero
- Offers AI-powered cost-saving insights
- Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards
- Primarily focused on cost-cutting, which might not suit all business needs
- Geared mainly towards U.S. businesses, which may limit its appeal for international transactions
Card Details
The Ramp Card is an innovative corporate card, particularly suited for LLCs, that combines automated expense management features with 1.5% universal cashback rewards. It offers detailed spending insights with AI-powered recommendations for cutting costs, and integrates seamlessly with accounting software to simplify financial tracking and reporting. Cards come with no annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or card replacement fees. Ramp is an excellent choice for businesses that want to streamline their financial operations while saving money.
Pros
- 1.5% universal cashback rewards
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Automated expense management features like spending limits and receipt-matching
- Integration with accounting platforms including NetSuite, Quickbooks, and Xero
- Offers AI-powered cost-saving insights
- Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards
Cons
- Primarily focused on cost-cutting, which might not suit all business needs
- Geared mainly towards U.S. businesses, which may limit its appeal for international transactions
A premium business travel card offering high reward rates on travel purchases and access to luxury travel benefits. As a pay-in-full card, it requires full monthly balance payments. Late payments are subject to a fee.
- Earns high rewards on travel purchases
- Includes travel perks such as airport lounge access
- No foreign transaction fees
- Offers travel accident insurance and lost luggage reimbursement
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Limited value for businesses that don't travel frequently
Corpay One Mastercard is a charge card that you can use to make purchases as well as pay both your bills and vendors.
- You have 51 days to pay off your balance
- No annual fee
- Additional tools to automate spending
- Requires a personal guarantee
- To get rewards, you must pay off your balance within the same calendar month as the charge
If you spend $4,500 in the first 150 days as a cardholder with the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card, you’ll get an additional $500 cashback as an introductory bonus.
- $100 software credit toward FreshBooks or QuickBooks
- No annual fee
- Introductory offer is 0% interest for 15 months
- After 15 months, interest rate increases
- Requires a personal guarantee
A customizable rewards card that allows businesses to earn extra points in categories where they spend the most.
- Earn 2x points in the top two categories where your business spends the most each month
- No annual fee for the first year
- Free employee cards
- Exclusive offers and discounts
- Annual fee after the first year
- Requires good to excellent credit
The American Express Business Platinum Card is a travel rewards credit card focused on international travel.
- Long introductory APR period for both purchases and balance transfers
- 80,000 welcome bonus points offer if you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Easy account management with online and mobile access
- High annual fee
- Requires good to excellent credit
- Limited employee cards
Bank of America’s card lets you customize your rewards and offers additional cashback when you use a Bank of America business checking account.
- Intro offer includes 0% interest for the first 9 months and a $300 statement credit bonus if you spend $3000 within the first 90 days of account opening
- No annual fee
- Checking account owners can have cashback deposited directly into checking account
- After nine months, interest rate increases to 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR
- Requires a personal guarantee
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business Card offers a higher earning rate of 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. It's an enhanced version of the Spark Miles Select, providing greater rewards in exchange for an annual fee.
- Earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, with no limits
- Travel benefits, including no foreign transaction fees
- Free employee cards, which also earn 2 miles per dollar
- Offers a one-time bonus miles reward after meeting initial spending requirements
- Flexible redemption options for travel, cash back, or gift cards
- Comes with an annual fee
- Requires good to excellent credit to qualify
- May not be the best choice for businesses with minimal travel expenses
This credit card aimed at small business owners offers unlimited rewards and a $750 welcome bonus if you meet spending requirements.
- No annual fee
- Offers unlimited cashback
- Cardholders have payment flexibility to determine the date of their monthly payment
- Requires a personal guarantee
- If you carry a balance, the interest rate can be steep
Previously known as Tillful, Nav Secured is a secured business credit card designed for businesses looking to build or improve their credit.
- Helps in building business credit as it reports to major business credit bureaus
- Requires a refundable security deposit, which sets the credit limit
- No annual fee
- Offers the opportunity to transition to an unsecured card based on creditworthiness and payment history
- Requires a security deposit upfront
- Lower credit limit based on the amount of the security deposit
- Lacks some of the reward features or cash-back options that other business cards offer
- Corporate card with a focus on global payments
- Unlimited virtual cards available via the Brex dashboard
- Cards are accepted in 210+ countries
- Points-based rewards with different points per spending category
- Includes expense management tools and Mastercard benefits
- No credit check or personal guarantee required
- No annual or account fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- Limited to specific business types (C-corp, S-corp, LLC, and LLPs) with equity investors, high annual revenue, or a certain number of employees
- Higher rewards require an exclusivity agreement with Brex
- New users must pay off their balance daily
- Travel rewards credit card focused on international travel
- Virtual cards available via browser extension or your American Express account
- Earns 5x membership rewards on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- Earns 1.5x points on other select purchases
- The card comes with a $695 annual fee and 0% introductory APR, followed by a high variable APR
- High travel rewards rate
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold Status
- Access to travel perks and airport lounges
- No foreign transaction fees
- High annual fee of $695
- You must spend $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Benefits primarily focused on travel
- Business credit card with travel rewards
- Virtual cards available via Citibank’s virtual card program
- Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at gas stations, air travel, and hotels
- Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at restaurants and supermarkets
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- 60,000 point welcome bonus if you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- No expiration on points
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- Limited choice in transfer partners for travel rewards
- Fewer travel reward options than some other cards
- Business credit card designed for frequent travelers
- Virtual cards available via Capital One's browser extension
- Spending requirement of $4,500 in the first three months to qualify for its welcome bonus
- Credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- Rental car coverage and airport lounge access
- Option to transfer miles to different airline and hotel partners
- Unlimited 2X miles on purchases across categories
- Unlimited 5X miles on rental cars and hotel bookings made through Capital One Travel
- Introductory offer of 50,000 miles
- Annual fee is waived for the first year
- High $95 annual fee
- No introductory APR period
- Fewer perks than other business cards
- 1.5% cashback on every business purchase
- $750 welcome bonus if you spend $6000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Rewards can be redeemed for cashback, gift cards, travel and other options through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Free employee cards
- Unlimited 1.5% cashback rewards
- 0% intro APR period for 12 months
- Rewards never expire
- No bonus reward categories
- Not the best card for balance transfers
- High foreign transaction fees
- Business credit card suited for frequent travelers
- Must spend $4,500 in the first 3 months to qualify for the welcome bonus
- Annual fee of $95, which is waived for the first year
- Credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- Rental car coverage and airport lounge access
- Option to transfer miles to different airline and hotel partners
- Unlimited 2X miles on purchases across categories
- Unlimited 5X miles on rental cars and hotel bookings made through Capital One Travel
- Welcome offer of 50,000 miles
- High $95 annual fee
- No introductory APR period
- Fewer perks than other business cards
- Cashback rewards card with no annual fees and 0% introductory APR
- Flat-rate cashback rewards rate of 2% across categories
- Annual $50,000 spending limit before cashback rewards halve from 2% to 1%
- 12-month introductory 0% APR
- Cash back rewards
- Purchase protection
- American Express isn't accepted at all vendors
- High APR after the introductory period ends
- Spending caps on cashback rewards
- $900 bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months
- 5% cash back on office supplies and telecom services (up to $25,000 annually)
- 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 annually)
- 1% on all other purchases
- Offers 0% intro APR for 12 months
- 3% foreign transaction fees
- The card comes with a welcome bonus
- You can request as many employee cards as you need at no additional cost
- You have to spend $6,000 within the first 3 months after opening your account to qualify for the welcome bonus
- The rewards program can be difficult for some cardholders to navigate
- $25,000 annual limits put a cap on your largest cash-back earning categories
- Balance transfer card that offers 0% APR for nine billing cycles
- You can transfer your high-interest rate from another card to save on interest payments
- Offers unlimited rewards with five points for every dollar spent
- Redeem points for cash back, statement credits, or merchandise
- Cash Flow Insight
- Software integrations
- $200 cash bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Rewards expire
- Short introductory APR period
- 1.5% cashback on every purchase
- Earn up to 75% more cashback if you have a business checking account with Bank of America
- 0% intro APR for nine billing cycles
- $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months
- $100,000 in travel accident and auto rental insurance
- You can use your credit card as overdraft protection for your Bank of America checking account
- Unlimited cashback
- Travel insurance
- $300 statement credit
- Short introductory APR period
- Lower cashback without a Bank of America account
- Offers 3 points for every $1 spent on purchases like gas and office supplies
- Points never expire so nonprofits can use them at their discretion
- For larger purchases, U.S. Bank also offers 0% APR for 15 billing cycles, making it a good option for balance transfers
- Includes up to 5x the points on certain categories like car and hotel rentals
- Extended introductory period
- 3% cash back
- $100 software credit
- Balance transfer fees
- Must book travel through rewards center
- No accounting and software automation
- Automatic rebates on recurring costs from more than 200 vendors
- 4% rebates on hotels and dining, 1% rebates on gas, and more
- No personal guarantee needed to qualify
- Organizations need at least five years of history and $100,000 in annual revenue or two years with $500,000 annual revenue for eligibility
- Automatic rebate program
- Purchase protection
- No annual fee
- Must meet stringent qualifications
- 2+ years of business history
- No accounting and software automation
- Offers a $900 bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months
- Provides 5% cash back on office supplies and telecom services (up to $25,000 annually)
- 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 annually)
- 1% on all other purchases
- Offers 0% intro APR for 12 months
- 3% foreign transaction fees
- The card comes with a welcome bonus
- You can request as many employee cards as you need at no additional cost
- You have to spend $6,000 within the first 3 months after opening your account to qualify for the welcome bonus
- The rewards program can be difficult for some cardholders to navigate
- $25,000 annual limits put a cap on your largest cash-back earning categories
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- Offers between 1% to 5% cashback on eligible purchases
- Not all purchase categories qualify for rewards
- Comes with an introductory 0% APR period followed by a high variable APR
- Annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses
- Bonus cash-back categories
- No annual fees
- Introductory APR period on purchases and balance transfers
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Cash-back rewards program is difficult to navigate
- Designed for frequent business travelers who prefer flying with Delta Airlines
- Offers travel perks specifically for Delta, including Medallion Qualification Miles
- 3x miles on Delta purchases and 1.5x miles in specific categories after $150,000 annual spend
- Includes a 110,000 bonus miles offer after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club access, priority boarding, and baggage insurance
- High earning potential on Delta purchases
- Valuable travel benefits with Delta, including lounge access and priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- The rewards program can be difficult to navigate
- You’ll have to pay an annual fee to have this card
- Many applicants find it difficult to be approved for American Express business credit card offers
- Business credit card with travel and purchase protections
- Card comes with a $10,000 minimum credit limit, with the opportunity to raise it
- 2% to 2.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Free employee cards with custom spending limits
- Welcome bonus of $1000 if you meet spending requirements
- No foreign transaction fees
- "Flex for Business" provides payment flexibility on eligible purchases
- You have to spend $10,000 in three months to qualify for the welcome bonus
- High annual fee
- High interest rate if you carry a balance
- Business credit card tailored for travel expenses
- Spending requirement of $4,500 in the first three months to qualify for its welcome bonus
- Annual fee of $95, which is waived only for the first year
- Credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- Rental car coverage and airport lounge access
- Option to transfer miles to different airline and hotel partners
- Unlimited 2X miles on purchases across categories
- Unlimited 5X miles on rental cars and hotel bookings made through Capital One Travel
- Introductory offer of 50,000 miles
- High $95 annual fee
- No introductory APR period
- Fewer perks than other business cards
- Approves their business credit cards within 48 hours of applying
- If you’re approved, you’ll get a virtual card right away so you can start spending before your physical cards arrive
- Cards offer universal cashback rewards on all purchases, with business-specific features
- 24/7 customer service available by phone or email
- No annual fee
- Cashback is universal across purchase categories
- Fast approval process
- Good to excellent credit required
- Must have monthly business revenue exceeding $2,500 to apply
- Business credit card for frequent travellers who prefer Marriot Bonvey hotels
- If you meet all of the requirements, including good to excellent credit, you could be approved near instantly
- Offers rewards specific to Marriot chain hotels, including a free night award annually and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- 125,000 introductory bonus points if you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months
- Marriot Gold Elite status awarded with card ownership
- One free night’s stay at a Marriot hotel every year
- $150 annual fee
- Rewards less valuable for non-Marriott hotel stays
- Find out whether you pre-qualify for First National Bank Of Omaha’s secured credit card in under a minute on their website
- Choose your credit limit to set on your card, as long as the limit is between $2,000 and $100,000
- Annual fees and variable APR rate aren't very competitive, but it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a secured card
- High credit limits
- Doesn’t require a good credit score
- Interest can be earned on the security deposit
- $39 annual fee
- A deposit equal to 110% of the credit limit is required
- No unsecured card option
- Offers 2 miles per dollar spent without any restrictions or maximum limits
- No annual fees for the first year
- Welcome bonus of 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 within the first 3 months of opening an account
- If you’re approved for the card, you can call Capital One’s customer support to see if you qualify for an instant virtual credit card
- If you do, you won’t have to wait for your physical card to arrive
- Unlimited 2X miles on purchases across categories
- Unlimited 5X miles on rental cars and hotel bookings made through Capital One Travel
- Introductory offer of 50,000 miles
- High $95 annual fee
- No introductory APR period
- Fewer perks than other business cards
- Corporate card available on an invite-only basis to U.S. companies
- Requires a Stripe account to request access
- Charges transaction fees on purchases rather than having a monthly or annual fee
- Each card transaction costs between 1% and 2.9% plus an additional fee of between 0.30 and 0.80 cents
- Earn 1.5% cashback on purchases
- No credit check or personal guarantee required
- No foreign transaction fees
- Stripe's corporate card program is in beta with limited access
- Transaction fees lower the value of cashback rewards on purchases
- Corporate card available to registered businesses with an EIN number and U.S. business bank account
- Requires an SSN, but only for a soft credit check, so there's no impact on your credit score
- Comes with expense management software
- Points-based rewards with bonus points in different categories
- Doesn't require a hard credit check or personal guarantee
- Low cash-on-hand requirement of $20,000
- No annual fee
- Requires SSN for a soft credit check
- Fair credit is needed to qualify
- Must use 30% of your credit line in a given month to earn rewards
- Foreign transaction fees
- Corporate card with a focus on global payments
- Caters to venture-backed or mid-market companies
- Doesn't accept small businesses
- Global cards are accepted in 210+ countries
- Points-based rewards with different points per purchase category
- Includes expense management tools and Mastercard benefits
- No credit check or personal guarantee
- No annual or account fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- Limited to specific business types (C-corp, S-corp, LLC, and LLPs) with equity investors, high annual revenue, or a certain number of employees
- Higher rewards require an exclusivity agreement with Brex
- New users must pay off their balance daily
- Rebates up to 5¢ per gallon at Shell stations
- Provides detailed, custom reports for tracking
- Offers 15% savings at participating Jiffy Lube locations
- Savings on fuel purchases at Shell
- No setup, monthly, or annual fees
- Useful financial management tools
- Rewards limited to Shell and Jiffy Lube
- Expensive to carry a balance
- 6x points on Marriott Bonvoy hotel purchases
- 4x points on select categories including gas stations
- 75,000 point welcome bonus
- Annual free hotel night
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Rewards less valuable for non-Marriott hotel stays
- Moderate annual fee
- 5% cashback on categories including office supply stores, internet, cable TV
- 2% cashback on gas stations and restaurants
- 1% cashback on all other purchases
- Sign-up bonus of $750 bonus cashback
- Free employee cards
- Generous rewards
- Includes rental car insurance
- Cap on 5% and 2% cash back categories
- Foreign transaction fees
- 3% cashback in the rewards category of your choice, including gas stations and EV charging
- 2% cashback on dining
- 1% cashback on all other purchases
- $300 welcome bonus offer
- Flexible cashback redemption options
- Cardholders with a Bank of America checking account can earn up to 75% more rewards
- Foreign transaction fees
- 9 months 0% intro APR period is shorter than competing cards
- 0% intro APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- 3% cashback on categories including gas stations/EV charging stations
- 5% cashback on prepaid hotels and car rentals
- 1% cashback on all other purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles
- $100 annual statement credit for SaaS subscriptions
- Intro APR applied to purchases and balance transfers
- Generous rewards with no cap
- Lacks benefits outside of cashback rewards
- Requires high credit score
- Corporate card designed for venture-backed or mid-market companies
- Functions as a charge card, requiring daily or monthly balance payments, with no option to carry a balance from month to month
- Points-based rewards with different points per purchase category
- Includes expense management features and Mastercard benefits
- No personal guarantee or credit check required to qualify
- Flexible rewards system with up to 8x points on certain categories
- No annual or account fees
- Limited to specific business types (C-corp, S-corp, LLC, and LLPs) with equity investors, substantial annual revenue, or a significant number of employees
- Top rewards require an exclusivity agreement with Brex
- New users must pay off their balance daily
- Corporate card available to registered businesses with an EIN number and U.S. business bank account
- Comes with expense management software
- Points-based rewards with bonus points in different categories
- Requires only a soft credit check, so it won't temporarily affect your credit score
- Doesn't require a hard credit check or personal guarantee
- Lower capital requirement of $20,000
- No annual fee
- Requires a soft credit check
- Fair credit is needed to qualify
- To earn rewards, you have to use 30% of your credit line in a given month
- Foreign transaction fees
- Business credit card with travel and purchase protections
- Card comes with a $10,000 minimum credit limit, with the opportunity to raise it
- 2% to 2.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Free employee cards with custom spending limits
- Welcome bonus of $1000 if you meet spending requirements
- No foreign transaction fees
- "Flex for Business" provides payment flexibility on eligible purchases
- High annual fee
- Requires significant initial spend to unlock the sign-up bonus
- Limited expense management features compared to specialized cards
- Card comes with $5,000 minimum credit limit
- Points-based rewards with flexible redemption options, including cash back
- Offers 3x points on purchases in eligible spending categories like shipping, advertising, internet services, and travel bookings
- Welcome bonus of 100,000 points
- Unlimited employee cards
- Ability to transfer your rewards points to partner programs
- $95 annual fee
- Must spend $15,000 within the first three months of account opening to earn welcome offer
- Rewards program includes categories and limits that make it more complicated to earn maximum rewards
- No spend management capabilities beyond account alerts
- Business charge card that requires full monthly balance payments
- Designed for larger, higher-spending businesses
- Carrying a balance incurs a 2.99% fee
- 2% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited cashback rewards
- 0% interest when used as intended
- $1,000 early spending bonus
- 2.99% monthly fee to carry a balance
- Must spend $50,000 in your first six months to access to $1,000 bonus cash
- Must spend $200,000 per year to access the $200 annual cash bonus
- Limited spending management features
- Secured credit card that requires a security deposit, which becomes the account’s line of credit
- You can choose your own credit limit
- Offers interest on your security deposit
- Designed to help build business credit through responsible use
- Improve your business credit report quickly when you use the card responsibly
- Low annual fee compared to other secured credit cards
- Choose your own credit limit
- Earn interest on your security deposit
- Access instant rebates with over 40,000 retailers
- Your security deposit must be 110% of the credit limit you choose. So, if you want a $50,000 credit limit, you’ll need to make a $55,000 security deposit
- Although the annual fee is relatively low, you’ll still have to pay just to have the card
- Doesn’t come with any spending management features
- Travel rewards credit card focused on international travel
- Provides 5x membership rewards on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- Additional rewards on eligible purchases
- The card comes with a $695 annual fee and 0% introductory APR, followed by a high variable APR
- 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels via Amex Travel
- 1.5x points on select business purchases and large purchases
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold Status
- Access to travel perks and airport lounges
- No foreign transaction fees
- High annual fee of $695
- You must spend $15,000 in the first three months of card membership to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- The rewards program is relatively complex, so it may be difficult for some users to get the most out of the rewards program
- Benefits primarily focused on travel, less so on other business expenses
- Secured credit card designed to help businesses build credit
- Only a soft credit check is required
- Offers 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- Flexible cashback redemption options
- Offers the opportunity to transition to an unsecured credit card after a history of responsible use
- No annual fee
- High APR and 4% balance transfer fees
- Requires a minimum security deposit of $1000
- Limited spend management features
- Business credit card designed for small businesses
- Offers 1% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free employee cards with custom spending controls
- No foreign transaction fees or ATM fees
- No annual fee
- Only requires a soft credit check and a FICO score of 670 or higher
- High APR if you carry a balance
- A personal guarantee is required
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities, nonprofits, trusts, or clubs
- Corporate card designed for venture-backed or mid-market companies
- Functions as a charge card, requiring daily or monthly balance payments, with no option to carry a balance from month to month
- Points-based rewards with different points per purchase category
- Includes expense management features and Mastercard benefits
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Flexible rewards system with up to 8x points on certain categories
- No annual or account fees
- Limited to specific business types (C-corp, S-corp, LLC, and LLPs) with equity investors, substantial annual revenue, or a significant number of employees
- Top rewards require an exclusivity agreement with Brex
- New users must pay off their balance daily
- Corporate card available to registered businesses with an EIN number and U.S. business bank account
- Comes with expense management software
- Points-based rewards with bonus points in different categories
- Requires only a soft credit check, so it won't temporarily affect your credit score
- Doesn't require a hard credit check
- No minimum credit score requirements
- Lower capital requirement of $20,000
- No annual fee
- Requires a soft credit check
- To earn rewards, you have to use 30% of your credit line in a given month
- Foreign transaction fees
- Business credit card designed for small business owners with fair credit or a limited credit history
- 1% cashback rewards on purchases
- Free employee cards
- Offers the ability to choose your own payment due date
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
- Can help build credit if used responsibly
- High APR if you carry a balance
- No intro offers
- Secured credit card that requires a refundable security deposit
- The security deposit acts as the credit line
- No bank account or credit check is required to qualify
- Money can be funded through online banking, money order, or Western Union
- Doesn't require a credit check for approval
- Reports to the credit bureaus to help build your credit score
- Access to credit education and financial management tools
- Annual fee required
- Higher interest rates compared to some other cards
- No rewards program or cashback incentives
- Limited benefits beyond credit building
- Corporate card available to registered businesses with an EIN number and U.S. business bank account
- Comes with expense management software
- Points-based rewards with bonus points in different categories
- Requires only a soft credit check, so it won't temporarily affect your credit score
- Doesn't require a hard credit check
- Lower capital requirement of $20,000
- No annual fee
- Requires a soft credit check
- Fair credit is needed to qualify
- To earn rewards, you have to use 30% of your credit line in a given month
- Foreign transaction fees
- Corporate card designed for venture-backed or mid-market companies
- Functions as a charge card, requiring daily or monthly balance payments, with no option to carry a balance from month to month
- Points-based rewards with different points per purchase category
- Includes expense management features and Mastercard benefits
- Flexible rewards system with up to 8x points on certain categories
- No annual or account fees
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Limited to specific business types (C-corp, S-corp, LLC, and LLPs) with equity investors, substantial annual revenue, or a significant number of employees
- Top rewards require an exclusivity agreement with Brex
- New users must pay off their balance daily
- Business credit card with the option to pay in full or carry a balance, with different APR rates for each option
- Points-based membership rewards
- Employee cards available for $50 each
- Requires a good to excellent credit score to qualify
- Welcome bonus of 70,000 points if you spend $5000
- Flexible payment options
- Up to 55 days with no interest
- High annual fee
- Default 30% APR rate
- No airport lounge access or travel emergency medical coverage
- Charge card with customizable spending controls
- 2% cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
- Balance is due each month with a minimum payment requirement
- Requires a good to excellent credit score to qualify
- Welcome bonus of $3000 if you spend $100,000 in the first 6 months
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
- High annual fee
- 2.99% late payment fees
- Offers fewer expense management features than some cards
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is designed for small business owners looking to build or rebuild their credit. As a secured credit card, it requires a refundable security deposit, which acts as a line of credit. It offers 1.5% cash back, without any caps or category restrictions.
The card carries no annual fee and has a variable APR, typically ranging from 18.49% to 28.49%. This card is suitable for businesses with limited or poor credit that still want to earn rewards on their spending. Additional features include fraud protection, overdraft protection, and online and mobile banking.
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card is meant for businesses that spend significantly on groceries and gas. It offers a cash-back rewards rate of 6% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. It also includes 3% cash back on transit, including taxis/rideshare, parking, trains, and buses. Other purchases earn 1% cash back.
This card comes with an annual fee of $95, which is waived for the first year, and a variable APR typically ranging from 19.24% to 29.99%. It also includes car rental loss and damage insurance, as well as return protection.
The Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is suited for businesses with frequent travel needs or those that spend the most in categories like shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising. It offers 3 rewards points per $1 spent in these categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year) and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
The card carries an annual fee of $95 and a variable APR typically ranging from 121.24% to 26.24%. Additional features include travel insurance, extended warranty protection, and cell phone protection.
The Capital One Spark 1% Classic Credit Card is tailored for small businesses, particularly those with fair credit that are aiming to build or improve their credit history. This card offers a 1% cashback on all purchases, without any limits or specific categories.
There's no annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for small business owners. The card's APR is 30.74% variable rate. It also includes benefits like free employee cards, fraud coverage, and year-end summaries, which can be valuable for managing business finances and monitoring expenses.
- Focused on rewarding travel, shipping, advertising, and other business expenses
- Features a sign-up bonus of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months
- Points can be redeemed for 25% more value through Chase Ultimate Rewards for travel
- Annual fee of $95 with no introductory APR
- Earns 3x points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising on up to $150,000 in combined purchases annually
- All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar
- High rewards rate in specified business categories
- Significant sign-up bonus, albeit with a high spending requirement
- Points are more valuable when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Added protections like trip insurance and cell phone coverage
- High spending threshold to earn the welcome bonus
- Annual fee
- The higher rewards rate is limited to the first $150,000 in combined category spending
- Ideal for businesses that frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels during travel
- Offers substantial rewards for hotel-related purchases, and additional benefits for dining, gas, and mobile phone services
- Features a moderate annual fee, ideal for frequent guests at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- Earns 6x points on Marriott Bonvoy hotel purchases
- Earns 4x points on U.S. restaurant, gas station, wireless telephone services, and shipping purchases
- All other eligible purchases earn 2x points
- Includes a welcome offer of 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months, with each night valued up to 50,000 points
- Provides a free night award annually, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, and 15 Elite Night Credits annually
- High rewards rate at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Additional rewards categories beneficial for common business expenses
- Annual free night award adds value for frequent travelers
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status enhances the hotel experience
- Focus on Marriott Bonvoy limits flexibility in hotel choices
- Moderate annual fee
- Rewards less valuable for non-Marriott hotel stays
- Higher APR can be costly if balances are carried over
- Ideal for business travelers who fly with Delta Airlines
- Offers travel perks specifically for Delta, including Medallion Qualification Miles
- Earns 3x miles on Delta purchases and 1.5x miles in specific categories after $150,000 annual spend
- Includes a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months
- Offers Medallion Qualification Miles boosts, priority boarding, and baggage insurance
- Cardholders will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club starting February 1, 2025, with the possibility of unlimited visits if $75,000 is spent annually starting in 2024
- Additional benefits include a $240 Resy Credit, $120 Rideshare Credit, up to $250 Delta Stays Statement Credit, and Hertz President's Circle Status
- High earning potential on Delta purchases
- Valuable travel benefits with Delta, including lounge access and priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- High annual fee
- Benefits and rewards are primarily limited to Delta Airlines
- Requires a significant amount of spending to unlock full benefits
- Not ideal for businesses that use multiple airlines
- Budget-friendly business travel rewards card
- Provides unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases
- Offers 3x points on travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
- No annual fee
- Features a 0% introductory APR for the first 9 months, followed by a variable APR rate
- Includes a welcome offer of 30,000 bonus points after meeting the spending requirement within the first 90 days
- Business Platinum Honors Tier cardholders can earn up to 75% more points
- No annual fee
- Additional points for travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
- Extra rewards for existing Bank of America accounts
- Requires excellent credit for approval
- Relatively low sign-up bonus compared to some competitors
- Higher-end of APR range can be costly if balances are carried
- American Express Business Platinum Card is ideal for businesses who travelinternationally
- Earns 5x membership rewards on flights and prepaid hotels booked via American Express Travel
- Additional rewards on other eligible purchases
- Features a $695 annual fee
- 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels via Amex Travel
- 1.5x points on select business purchases and large purchases
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold Status
- Access to travel perks and airport lounges
- No foreign transaction fees
- High annual fee of $695
- Complex rewards structure
- Requires good to excellent credit to qualify
- Benefits primarily focused on travel, less so on other business expenses
The card is fairly standard. The lack of bonus features and rewards spending cap don’t make this card a standout option for big spenders.
- 3% cashback in the rewards category of your choice (choose from gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV, telecom, wireless, computer services and business consulting services) default category is gas stations
- 2% cashback on dining purchases (Earn 3% and 2% cashback in the combined choice category and dining purchases up to $50,000)
- Unlimited 1% cashback on all other purchases
- Cardholders with a Bank of America checking account can earn up to 75% more rewards
- Foreign transaction fee makes it difficult to take this card overseas
- 9 months 0% intro APR period is shorter than competing cards
- 0% Intro APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
Businesses that spend lots of time in the air will enjoy the travel cashback opportunities with this card. But while the 0% APR intro period is 12 months, you might find yourself struggling to keep up with payments once the higher regular APR kicks in each month.
- 1.5% cashback rewards on purchases
- 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Free employee cards
- Ability to set up spend control limits for employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks variety of bonus rewards categories
- 0% intro APR doesn’t apply to balance transfers
Chase’s Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is a no-frills 0% APR credit card. With a flat rate of 1.5% cashback on every business purchase, you earn cash whether you’re spending money on office supplies, gas, or business outings. However, if the majority of your business takes place overseas, this isn’t the card for you. High foreign transaction fees make it a pain to travel internationally.
- Unlimited 1.5% cashback on all business purchases
- Rewards never expire
- Welcome bonus if you spend enough in the first 3 months of account opening
- No bonus reward categories
- Not the best card for balance transfers
U.S Bank’s Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard comes with no annual fee, 0% APR for 15 billing cycles, and 3% cashback on select purchases. However, when stacked up against other 0% APR business cards, it leaves a lot to be desired in rewards.
- Intro APR applied to purchases and balance transfers
- Earn 3% cashback on eligible purchases at gas stations/EV charging stations, restaurants, cell phone service providers, and office supply stores
- 1% cashback on all other business purchases
- No limit on cashback earned
- Lacks benefits outside of cashback rewards
- Requires high credit score for lackluster rewards
The Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business offers 1.5% cashback on all purchases. There are two versions of the card: one for excellent credit, offering a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 in the first three months, and another for good or excellent credit, which features a 0% intro APR for 12 months. The card also includes Visa Business Benefits, including free employee cards, fraud coverage and alerts, and account management tools.
- 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
- No annual fees
- Access to business-grade protection and account management tools
- Visa Business Benefits
- Higher APR for the good credit version compared to the excellent credit version
- The welcome offer varies based on creditworthiness
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® comes with a cashback rewards system, offering between 1% to 5% on eligible purchases. However, not all purchase categories qualify for rewards. The card comes with an introductory 0% APR period followed by a high variable APR. It has no annual fee and an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses.
- Bonus cash-back categories
- No annual fees
- Introductory APR period on purchases and balance transfers
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Cash-back rewards program is difficult to navigate
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card comes with a straightforward rewards structure and minimal fees. This card offers a flat cash-back rate of 1.5% and includes perks such as free employee cards, travel and purchase protections, and an introductory 0% APR period on purchases for the first 12 months. The card offers a welcome bonus of $750 if you spend $6,000 in the first three months after account opening.
- 1.5% cashback rate
- Welcome bonus if you spend enough in the first three months
- Free employee cards
- Requires good to excellent credit, which might be a barrier for some businesses
- Primarily beneficial for U.S.-based businesses, limiting international appeal
- Less expense management features than corporate cards
The American Express Business Gold Card is a premium credit card tailored for LLCs and businesses that prioritize earning rewards in their high-spend categories. This card adapts to your spending habits, automatically earning you 4X points in the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle (from a select list), on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year. The card comes with some expense management features and the ability to add employee cards for $50 each.
- Variety of rewards redemption options
- Option to add employee cards for $50 each
- No foreign transaction fees
- High annual fee
- Rewards benefits are capped after a certain spending limit
- Limited to U.S.-based businesses
- Focus on certain spending categories may not align with all business expenditure patterns
- Requires good to excellent credit
Brex is a corporate card designed for venture-backed or mid-market companies. It functions as a charge card, requiring daily or monthly balance payments, with no option to carry a balance from month to month. The card has a points-based rewards system with different points per purchase category. The card also includes expense management features and Mastercard benefits.
- Flexible rewards system with up to 8x points on certain categories
- No annual or account fees
- No personal guarantee or credit check required for eligibility
- Limited to specific business types (C-corp, S-corp, LLC, and LLPs) with equity investors, substantial annual revenue, or a significant number of employees
- Top rewards require an exclusivity agreement with Brex
- New users must pay off their balance daily
- 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging, up to $7,000 per year, then 1%
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees and worldwide car rental insurance
- Purchase protection and travel emergency assistance
- Acts as a Costco membership ID
- High cash back on gas and Costco purchases
- Extensive travel and purchase protections
- Cash back redemption only available annually
- Requires Costco membership to qualify and use
- Offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 9 billing cycles
- After the introductory period, the APR ranges from 18.49% to 28.49% variable
- No annual fee is required
- Earns 3 points per dollar on travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
- Earns 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases
- Provides a sign-up bonus of 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 9 billing cycles allows for interest-free spending initially
- No annual fee
- Earns 3 points per dollar on travel booked through Bank of America Travel Center, enhancing reward potential for frequent travelers
- High variable APR after the introductory period, ranging up to 28.49%, can be costly if balances are carried over
- Rewards program heavily favors travel spending, which may not suit businesses with diverse spending needs
- Sign-up bonus requires spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, which may be steep for some small businesses
- Offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49%
- There is no annual fee for this card
- Cardholders earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Benefits include purchase protection, extended warranty, and auto rental collision damage waiver
- No foreign transaction fees are applied to international purchases
- Employee cards can be added at no extra cost, with individual spending limits available
- Earns cash back on every purchase without category restrictions
- Includes valuable purchase protection and extended warranty benefits
- Allows for easy management of employee spending
- High APR after the introductory period
- Cash back rate may not compete with specialized category cards for specific expenses
- Lacks travel perks like airport lounge access or free checked bags which are common in other business cards
- Offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49%
- There is no annual fee for this card
- Cardholders earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Benefits include purchase protection, extended warranty, and auto rental collision damage waiver
- No foreign transaction fees are applied to international purchases
- Employee cards can be added at no extra cost, with individual spending limits available
- Earns cash back on every purchase without category restrictions
- Includes valuable purchase protection and extended warranty benefits
- Allows for easy management of employee spending
- High APR after the introductory period
- Cash back rate may not compete with specialized category cards for specific expenses
- Lacks travel perks like airport lounge access or free checked bags which are common in other business cards
- 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable rate of 18.49%–24.49%
- No annual fee
- Personal guarantee required
- Earns 5% cash back on office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each year
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each year
- 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit
- Offers 5% cash back on office supplies and telecom services
- Provides 0% APR for the first 12 months
- No annual fee
- Cash back rewards capped at $25,000 annually in bonus categories
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Variable APR up to 24.49% after introductory period
- Offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- No annual fee
- Provides a $750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months
- APR ranges from 18.49% to 24.49% variable after any introductory offer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Includes benefits like free employee cards, year-end summaries, and downloadable purchase records
- Simple flat cash back rate on all purchases
- No annual fee
- Generous welcome bonus of $750 after meeting the spending requirement of $6,000 within the first three months
- Lacks bonus categories which might limit potential rewards for specific spending
- High-end of APR range could be costly if carrying a balance
- Rewards structure may not be as competitive for businesses with high spending in specific categories
