I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page.
Many readers can get a business card and probably should. Getting a small business card is one of the things you should do as you start your business. It’s often the first resource many business owners look to as they start to grow. A small business card allow you to separate business from personal expenses and builds the credit history and identity of your business.
It also opens up a whole world of additional rewards possibilities. Here are my favorites right now.
The card offers a $100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year. They even encourage you to have both a business and personal United card because you’ll receive a 5,000-mile “better together” bonus each anniversary when you have both the United Business Card and a personal Chase United credit card.
It earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel — that’s airlines, hotels, rental cars, tolls, even Uber — and shipping and advertising on social media and search engines, so great for anyone who advertises on Facebook or Twitter, or who spends money advertising with Google. It also comes with $600 protection against theft or damage when you use it to pay your cell phone.
- The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has an initial bonus offer to earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Your ongoing spend will earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.
- The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has an offer to earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Ongoing earn is rich especially 5x categories: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Think of both of these offers as 75,000 points, which – if you have an Ultimate Rewards card whose points transfer to airline miles and hotel points – can be combined into one of Chase’s annual fee Ultimate Rewards products, and then transferred to a variety of loyalty program partners.

The card offers first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries. There’s preferred boarding on American Airlines flights as well. And each eligible mile earned from purchases also earns a Loyalty Point towards elite status.
The card earns More Rewards: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. 1X is earned for other purchases. 4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year. Terms apply. Eligible categories are: airfare purchased directly from airlines; U.S. purchases for advertising in select media; U.S. purchases at gas stations; U.S. purchases for shipping; U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers.
Points transfer to:
- Star Alliance: Aeroplan, ANA, Singapore, Avianca
- oneworld: AsiaMiles, British Airways, Iberia, Qantas
- SkyTeam: Aeromexico,Air France KLM, Delta
- Non-alliance: Etihad, Emirates, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic
- Hotels: Choice, Hilton, Marriott
This is a $295 annual fee card. Terms apply. See rates and fees.
In my experience Chase, Citibank, American Express, Barclays and Bank of America do not report non-delinquent small business card accounts to personal credit. (Capital One usually does, but says that they won’t for their new Spark Travel Elite card.)
This accomplishes two things for you.
When I am eyeing a Chase card I will naturally restrict myself to only considering new small business rewards credit cards.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here