Purchase order vs. invoice: what's the difference?
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If you’re new to the procurement process it’s not uncommon to initially be confused about the difference between a purchase order,also called a PO, and an invoice. While both documents often contain similar information, each has its own distinct purpose. And being able to understand each one, and properly utilize themis critical to the financial performance of any business.
In this article, we’ll cover the definition and significance of both a purchase order and an invoice. We’ll explain the differences and explore how small businesses can use this information to improve vendor spending and expense management across their organizations.
Access Ramp's free PDF example and template of the purchase order and commercial invoice in our Accounting Documents Library.
What is a purchase order?
A purchase order is a document issued by a company as a request for goods or services from a supplier. The initial purchase order is the first step in the procurement process. And it outlines the products or services required, including details such as quantity, price, and date of delivery.
Once a purchase order is finalized and approved by both the buyer and the seller, it becomes a legally binding document. Then it functions as the record of the agreement between the two parties. After the goods or services detailed in the purchase order have been delivered, the supplier will send a corresponding invoice to be paid by the buyer at a future date.
Why are purchase orders important to streamline?
Understanding and using purchase orders correctly is critical for nearly all businesses. Beyond being necessary for acquiring goods and services that are integral to the business, purchase orders can provide businesses with some significant benefits.
Tracking orders and inventory management with purchase orders
Using a purchase order system allows small business owners to easily track shipments and purchase activity. This helps you avoid costly mistakes like placing duplicate orders. And for small businesses, the visibility provided by the PO system only becomes more important as the company grows. Because as there is more growth, the inventory grows too, making it harder to keep track of sometimes.
Using purchase orders for budgeting
Maintaining a thoughtful expense management strategy and sticking to your budget is critical for any growing business. In the absence of an organized purchase order system, businesses risk miscalculating costs or the number of goods needed for a project. Over time, such mistakes can have a negative long-term impact on the bottom line.
Using a purchase order to resolve disputes
Relationships with vendors don't always run smoothly; deliveries might be arriving late, quantities may be off, or the price on an invoice could be different than what was originally agreed upon. In any of these instances, a purchase order can serve as a record of the transaction, and be utilized as evidence in the event of a dispute between a business and its supplier.
What should purchase orders include?
A purchase order can be more or less complex depending on the size of the order and the specific goods or services being requested. Generally,a standard purchase order should include the following:
- Name of the vendor and buyer
- Address of the vendor and buyer
- Contact information of the vendor and buyer
- A detailed description of required goods and/or services, including quantity
- The unit price of goods and/or services
- Delivery date
- Any additional instructions for delivery or terms of the agreement
- Purchase order number (PON)
What is an invoice?
An invoice is a document sent to a business from a supplier after goods and services have been delivered. The invoice acts as a formal request for payment and contains the details regarding the items purchased, the unit cost, and the total amount due to the supplier. Many invoices will also include specific instructions or options for payment. Invoices are legally binding documents reflecting the official sale of goods, and the buyer must honor the payment terms as outlined in the agreement.
Why is invoice creation so important for small businesses?
At the most basic level, invoices are basically bills. They’re important because they serve as reminders of purchases made and help businesses keep track of money owed to vendors. Similarly, vendors rely on invoices to request payment. And to keep track of money owed for delivering goods and services. But how invoices are treated across an organization has additional implications, and businesses should take care to optimize invoice management for the following reasons:
Tax-filing
Filing taxes isn’t a fun activity whether you’re a large or a small business. But it can be an absolute nightmare if invoices aren't organized and properly recorded. In order to save time, money, and frustration, it’s critical to streamline accounting processes across the board, including how invoices are filed, categorized, and accessed.
Additionally, businesses might consider integrating automated invoice processing technology to increase oversight. It can help keep track of payments due and eliminate the chance of missing an invoice on a tax statement.
Aiding accounts payable/receivable
As small businesses and startups get off the ground, it's critical to ensure that the company’s balance sheet is as accurate as possible. This can help make bookkeeping less complicated as the business scales. All unpaid invoices should be properly organized and easily accessible to make accounts payable, or debts owed to vendors and suppliers, as transparent as possible.
Similarly, vendors need to create detailed invoices in order to keep track of accounts receivable.s outstanding payments owed to the company are important for accurately projecting future cash flow.
Providing transparency to any potential or existing investors
Invoices, whether related to purchases or sales, tell a story on the balance sheet about the overall financial health of the company. Naturally, existing and potential investors will be interested in how efficiently a company manages expenses across the organization and collects outstanding debts.
What should you include on your invoices?
When you create an invoice you should add as much detail as possible to avoid any confusion about the products or services being purchased as well as the associated cost. This will help minimize disputes and prevent delays in payment caused by inquiries regarding the invoice. Additionally, businesses often choose to customize the presentation of their invoices to reinforce brand recognition.
At the bare minimum, a typical invoice should include the following:
- Name of the buyer and the vendor
- Address of the buyer and the vendor
- Contact information of the buyer and the vendor
- Invoice number
- Date of invoice
- Detailed description of required goods and/or services, including quantity
- Unit price of goods and/or services, including value-added tax rate (VAT)
- Total amount due
- Any additional instructions regarding how the invoice should be paid
- Due date for payment and any fees that will be added for late payment
To cFollow the steps above to create your invoice, or check out our free invoice generator.
Purchase orders vs invoices
While both purchase orders and invoices are related to the purchase of goods and services, they are two entirely separate documents with different intended use cases. The easiest way to remember the difference is to consider who is issuing the document. And at what point in the procurement process the document is being issued.
With that in mind, the two primary differences between a purchase order and an invoice can be described as follows:
1) Purchase orders are issued by the buyer to the seller as a request for goods or services. Invoices are issued by the seller to the buyer as a request for payment.
2) Purchase orders are issued before the delivery of goods and services. Invoices are issued after goods and services have been received.
Purchase orders and invoices also differ in terms of layout, as well as the specific information contained in each document. For example, an invoice includes the value-added tax on the price of goods, whereas the purchase order does not. Additionally, the purchase order might include instructions regarding how the item should be prepared or delivered, whereas the invoice merely confirms which items have been purchased and the associated cost.
What are the similarities between purchase orders and invoices?
Purchase orders and invoices are different documents with different use cases, however, there are a number of similarities that might result in unnecessary confusion. Here are a few of the main similarities between the two:
- Both relate to the purchase of goods and/or services
- Both include descriptions of goods and/or services being purchased, including quantity
- Both include the unit price of goods and/or services
- Both have implications for budgeting and expense management
Unlock the future of spend management with Ramp
As your small business or startup begins to take off, chances are you won’t have too many problems understanding and utilizing purchase orders and invoices. But while cutting through the confusion surrounding these two documents is one thing, incorporating them into the bigger picture and optimizing your procurement and spend management processes is another.
This is where the Ramp platform comes in: By centralizing financial management processes and replacing time-consuming, manual accounting procedures with automation, not only does keeping track of financial documents becomes effortless, but new methods are continuously revealed for cutting costs and improving your organization’s bottom line.
At a glance, here’s what you can expect to accomplish after implementing Ramp's vendor management and expense management solutions:
Streamline procurement
Procurement is often bogged down by manually calculated purchase orders and drawn-out approval processes. Ramp streamlines procurement across the board by introducing a centralized platform that allows for a seamless, automated approval process with real-time alerts, providing employees with access to the services they need exactly when they need them.
Eliminate wasted spend
Certain SaaS platforms may be critical to your operation, but in the absence of comprehensive oversight of active subscriptions, businesses often continue paying for services that aren't being utilized. Ramp not only enhances visibility, revealing all instances of wasted spend from a centralized location, but allows automated spend controls to be enforced, easily restricting how much team members spend on services, and which individual vendors can charge your company.
Automate outdated processes
From collecting and matching receipts, to expense categorization and bookkeeping, businesses today waste too much time and too many resources manually executing tedious processes. Ramp’s tools can be used to automate all of the above, saving accounting teams countless hours that would be better spent on strategic financial planning, dramatically increasing accuracy, and reducing the possibility of human error.
Finally ready to transform your accounting processes and unlock the future of spend management with Ramp? Click here to get started.
- 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
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
- 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