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The best travel rewards business credit cards
It doesn't matter if you're self-employed, own a small business, or just travel frequently for work; your business spending should be rewarded. The best way to make the most out of your everyday business expenditures is by using a reward credit card. With the right travel reward business credit cards, you can earn cashback or points towards future travel plans without having to spend more than you normally do.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
- Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases–with no limit to the amount you can earn
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
- Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases–with no limit to the amount you can earn
The Ink Business Preferred® credit card is the best overall travel rewards business credit card because of its flexibility in using points for cashback or travel rewards. At Chase, you can get a 1:1 or points transfer to 10 airline travel partners and three hotel travel partners or redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, or the Apple store. When redeeming rewards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, your points are worth 25% more when redeemed directly for airfare, car rentals, cruises, and hotels.
There are other perks with the Ink Business Preferred® credit card, like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, roadside assistance, rental car insurance, purchase extended warranty protection. Your employees can also get free cards, which you can easily track online and set spending limits anytime. This travel rewards business credit card also offers cell phone protection, which offers damage and theft protection up to $500 per claim for all cardholders, including employees. And, if you like the card, you can refer other business owners and get up to 100,000 additional points each year when they are approved for a Chase business card.
Pros:
Introductory welcome bonus
No foreign transaction fee
Points are worth 25% more when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
Tiered rewards program
Referral bonus
Cons
$95 annual fee
5% balance transfer fee
Higher cashback rewards limited to the first $150,000 annual spend
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account.
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account.
If you aren't loyal to one airline, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business may be the best travel rewards credit card for your business. The annual fee is waived in the first year, and you get 50,000 bonus miles -- equal to $500 -- after spending $4,500 in the first three months. You can easily download purchase records at any time in various formats, like QuickBooks or Excel, which can make accounting much easier.
Miles can be used to book hotels, flights, and vacation packages to over 15 travel partners, including Air France KLM, British Airways, JetBlue, and Qantas. There are no blackout dates or seat restrictions, and Capital One does not put a minimum on points redemption when redeemed for travel. When you have to renew Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can activate a $100 travel credit to offset the cost. There are no foreign transaction fees when using the Capital One Spark Miles for Business credit card internationally, and the card also includes free roadside assistance you can use anywhere.
Pros:
The first year $0 annual fee
Free employee cards
Transfer miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs
No blackout dates or points minimums to meet
Cons:
$95 annual fee after the first year
No intro APR
Requires excellent credit
Capital One Spark Miles for Business Card
- Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
- Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card may come with a $250 annual fee, but the seasoned business traveler can easily make up for it with incentives. You can get a statement credit up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, 20% off on qualifying in-flight purchases, first checked bag free (up to $60 value), Cabin 1 Priority boarding, and the coveted Status Boost® to get you closer to Medallion® Status.
Each year when your card renews, you get a companion certificate to allow a person of your choosing to fly free with you. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees when flying internationally and get complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge when you purchase your Delta flight ticket with your business credit card.
Pros:
Companion certificate
Travel credits and lounge access
Welcome bonus
Cons:
High annual fee
Low mile earn on purchases less than $5,000
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent.
If you have large business expenses coming up and want to save on interest, consider the Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Master Credit Card. It comes with no annual fee and a generous 0% APR on purchases for the first 9 billing cycles, then a variable APR 18.24% - 28.24%, the best of all travel business rewards credit cards. When you spend at least $3,000 in the first 90 days, you get 30,000 bonus points which can be redeemed for travel and dining purchases as a $300 statement credit.
With the Business Advantage card, there is no limit to how many points you can earn, and they don't expire. If you have a Bank of America business checking account and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business, you earn up to 75% more points per purchase. This card has no annual fee or international transaction fees. Points can be redeemed for non-travel related incentives like cash back or gift cards. But if you want the most out of your points, book car rental, hotel stays, and plane tickets through the Bank of America Travel Center with no blackout dates.
Pros:
0% intro APR for 9 billing cycles
Welcome bonus points
No annual fee
No limit to earning rewards
Cons:
Must have excellent credit to be approved
Existing Bank of America customers get the best perks
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card
Best hotel travel rewards card for business
The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card is a great choice for business owners who frequent Hotels by Wyndham properties in over 95 countries worldwide. The Wyndham Rewards program offers a way for you to rack up points quickly with everyday expenditures like gas, marketing, and utilities. For spending $1,000 in the first 60 days and at least $2,000 in the first six months, you can earn 90,000 bonus points, which can mean up to 12 free nights at Hotels by Wyndham.
Being a Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card cardholder also gets you immediate Diamond level membership, which comes with its own perks, such as suite upgrades and welcome gifts at check-in. There is no limit to how many points you can earn in a year with the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card. If Wyndham properties aren't your thing, you can still use your points for several redemptions, including car rentals, plane tickets, airline partner transfers, gift cards, merchandise, and more.
Pros:
0% intro APR for 6 months
Free employee cards
Annual bonus
Unlimited earning potential
No foreign transaction fee
Transfer points outside hotel network
Cons:
$95 annual fee
Hotel awards may be subject to blackout dates
Low redemption value outside hotel redemptions
How did we choose these cards?
When choosing the best travel rewards business credit cards, we considered several factors, like annual fees, APRs, redemption and introductory offers, earning structure, new cardmember bonuses, and other perks and benefits. Based on the information compared on dozens of business credit cards, these are some of the best available today.
The information referenced here may not be the most up to date. Fee structures, perks, special offers, rates, and requirements are subject to change without notice. Rates and fees are usually based on the prime rate and are subject to fluctuation.
Which card is the right one for your business?
The best travel rewards credit card for your business is one that meets your purchase needs and goals for travel. The business credit cards featured here have a mix of benefits, perks, rewards, and fees to consider when deciding which is the best for your business.
Before you apply for a business credit card, you should be prepared to provide both your personal and business information on the application. Using the card wisely and considering the additional cost of annual fees and accruing interest can help you make the right choice when compared to other perks and incentives.
If you don't already have a business checking account to keep your business and personal finances separate, you should consider which is the best option for your business before applying for a credit card. Separating your personal and business finances will protect your personal assets if the business were to default on a credit card or other loan agreement.
What is the best business credit card for airline miles?
The best business credit card for airline miles depends on your preferred airline. If you have one, you may get the best perks from a branded airline card, like the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card or United Business Mileage Plus. If you don't have a preference, we suggest the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card.
How do you get points for business travel when you have to use a business credit card?
When you have to use a business credit card, the right card will get you points for business travel, even if the purchase isn't travel related. For example, the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card offers 3x points on advertising, internet services, and cell phone service. For the best results, use your business travel rewards credit card for as many qualifying purchases as possible so you can get the most rewards available.
What are the best cash back business credit cards?
The best cashback business credit cards offer several ways to earn and redeem cash for everyday business purchases. The Capital One Spark Cards for Business is a suite of three cashback business credit cards to choose from based on your spending habits and credit history. With the Ink Business Cash by Chase, earn up to 5% in cashback on every dollar you spend. And the Discover It Business Credit Card matches all the cashback rewards you earn in the first year.
Are there alternative cards worth considering?
There are other noteworthy alternatives to consider. But we didn't include these cards because they have high annual fees, require excellent credit to be approved, and may have restrictions on receiving rewards.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates & Fees): This card has a steep $695 annual fee but includes up to a $200 airline fee statement credit and up to $200 in annual Dell credits per year. Airline lounge membership is also included, with Priority Pass access to American Express Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs. If you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months of opening the card, you get an additional 120,000 points while regularly earning 5 points on American Express Travel bookings and 1.5 points on all eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to a total of $2 million per calendar year.
- United Club℠ Business card: This card comes with a hefty $450 annual fee and requires excellent credit. You can earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases and 1.5 miles on all other purchases. The welcome offer is 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 spent in three months. If you regularly travel United, this card gets you to access to the United Club, Premier airport access, and Hertz President's Circle status.