Best Cash Back Business Cards of August 2022

Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

You can earn big rewards when you use a cash-back business credit card for your monthly business expenses. There are a lot of cash-back business cards on the market, but not all of them offer generous welcome bonuses and additional perks.

To qualify for a business credit card, you don’t need to be a large corporation; small-business owners and folks working side gigs (such as Uber drivers, childcare providers, freelancers, and tutors) are eligible. 

These are 7 of the best cash-back business cards for August 2022.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Best for earning up to 5% back in business categories: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Best Chase card with unlimited flat-rate cash back: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best for big spenders: Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Best for choosing your own bonus categories: Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for up to 2% cash back on all purchases: American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best intro APR offer: U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®

Best Capital One card with unlimited flat-rate cash back: Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit

Compare cash-back business credit cards

Chase Ink Business Cash

Why the Ink Business Cash card is worth it: The no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® credit card earns bonus rewards on popular spending categories with flexible redemption options. Its welcome bonus offer is one of the highest available on any no-annual-fee business credit card.

Welcome bonus offer: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.  

The Ink Business Cash® credit card is marketed as a cash-back card, but it actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are worth 1 cent each toward cash back, travel booked through Chase, or gift cards.

Cardholders earn:

• 5% cash back (5 points per dollar) on the first $25,000 spent (then 1x) in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year
• 2% cash back (2 points per dollar) on the first $25,000 spent (then 1x) in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
• 1% cash back (1 point per dollar) on all other purchases with no cap

The Ink Business Cash® credit card’s large welcome bonus offer and decent cash back rewards make it a great choice for your business’s monthly spending for no annual fee. Keep in mind 5x and 2x bonus points are capped after the first $25,000 spent per year in each bonus category, after which you’ll only earn 1 point per dollar. So if your business expenses easily exceed the $25,000 cap, you might want to consider a different cash-back business card. 

Employee cards are free and earn cash back rewards on purchases. You’ll get access to bookkeeping software to track accounts and receive alerts, and you can set up account management for tracking expenses and maintaining records. 

You can redeem your points for cash directly or as a statement credit, as gift cards, travel purchases booked through Chase (like airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, activities, and cruises), and for other products and services from third-party merchants.

Plus, if you have an annual-fee Chase card (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card) you can combine your points, then transfer them to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. By doing so, it’s possible to get even more value from your rewards.

Another benefit of the Ink Business Cash® credit card is the 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening (then a 14.74% – 20.74% Variable APR). If you plan on spending a large chunk of cash on supplies/technology/equipment, the intro APR offer could help you pay off large expenses over time without incurring high interest charges.  

Ink Business Cash® credit card cardholders also receive decent purchase and travel protection benefits, such as auto rental insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.

Review: Chase Ink Business Cash card review

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

Why the Ink Business Unlimited card is worth it: The no-annual-fee Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns unlimited cash back on all business purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. Cardholders also can earn a large welcome bonus offer and receive a generous intro APR offer. 

Welcome bonus offer: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.  

Like the Ink Business Cash® credit card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are worth 1 cent each toward most redemptions. You can earn an unlimited flat-rate 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

You can earn a substantial welcome bonus offer, and there’s a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months (then a 14.74% – 20.74% Variable APR). 

Just like the Ink Business Cash® credit card, you can redeem your points for cash directly or as a statement credit, gift cards, travel booked through Chase, and for other products and services from third-party merchants. Your points won’t expire as long as the account is open, employee cards are free, and you’ll get access to tools that can help your small business.

Ink Business Cash® credit card cardholders also receive benefits like fraud protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, extended warranty protection, travel and emergency assistance services, and purchase protection. There is a foreign transaction fee. 

Review: Chase Ink Business Unlimited card review

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Why the Spark Cash Plus is worth it: The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a great card for businesses that need the flexibility of no preset spending limit. Cardholders earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases and a sizeable welcome bonus offer for a moderate annual fee of $150. Plus, big spenders can earn an additional yearly bonus. 

Welcome bonus offer: Earn $500 after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 after spending $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.

You can earn 2% unlimited cash back rewards on every purchase, with no categories to keep track of, and no preset spending limit (spending limit is determined by spending behavior, payment history, credit profile, and other factors) with the Capital One Spark Cash Plus. The card also earns 5% cash back rewards on hotels and rental cars when you use Capital One Travel for your bookings. In addition, you earn a $200 bonus when you spend $200,000 in a year.

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has no regular APR because you pay the full balance each month (if you don’t, you’ll be charged a 2.99% monthly late fee). 

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus allows managers to access accounts from multiple devices, track and monitor employee purchases, lock and unlock employee cards, and receive alerts on flagged purchases. Also, employees earn rewards when they use their cards. 

You can redeem rewards toward a statement credit, check, or gift card. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has a bunch of benefits like no foreign transaction fees, free employee cards, travel and purchase protection, and payment flexibility.

Review: Capital One Spark Cash Plus card review

Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards

Why the Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit card is worth it: The no-annual-fee Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good choice if you want the ability to choose your own 3% cash-back category (from a list). It also comes with a generous welcome bonus offer and a handful of good benefits.

Welcome bonus offer: Earn a $300 statement credit after making $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening

The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is unique in that it allows you to choose a 3% cash back bonus category from a list of popular business expenses (gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom and wireless, computer services, or business consulting services). Cardholders also earn 2% cash back on dining and 1% back on all other purchases. (3% and 2% cash-back categories are capped at $50,000 per year in spending combined; after that, you’ll earn 1% back).

The good thing about this card is you can change your 3% category once each calendar month, so it’s ideal for businesses with variable expenses. For instance, one month you might have big travel expenses for your business, but the next you might spend a lot upgrading computer equipment — by switching your 3% category to fit your purchases, you can maximize the cash back you earn.

The welcome bonus offer is quite generous for a no-annual-fee card: $300 statement credit after making $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. You’ll also receive a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 9 billing cycles (then a 14.49% – 24.49% Variable APR). 

Your rewards won’t expire as long as your account is active. You can redeem your cash rewards as statement credits, as a direct deposit, or for credit to a qualifying Merrill account. Plus, if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, you can earn up to 75% more rewards (depending on how much you have on deposit/invested with Bank of America or Merrill).

The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with additional benefits like cash flow management tools, travel accident insurance, and car rental insurance. The card does have foreign transaction fees, so it’s not a good pick for international purchases.

Amex Blue Business Cash card

Why the Blue Business Cash card is worth it: The American Express Blue Business Cash Card earns 2% cash back on the first $50,000 spent per calendar year (then 1% back). It comes with a decent welcome bonus, a good intro APR offer, and a selection of travel and shopping benefits. 

Welcome bonus offer: Earn $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months.

You earn 2% cash back on all purchases (up to $50,000) each year – you’ll earn 1% cash back then after – with the American Express Blue Business Cash Card for no annual fee. Along with the welcome bonus offer, you can receive 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening (then a 15.49% – 23.49% Variable APR). The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a great option for businesses looking to pay off large purchases over time.  

Employee cards can be set up with spending limits (you can do so online or by calling American Express), as well as alerts and management through the American Express App. 

The cash back you earn from the American Express Blue Business Cash Card is awarded as Reward Dollars, which can only be used toward a statement credit. But if you’re not looking to redeem for statement credits, or would like more rewards options, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card isn’t a good fit. Further, if you plan on spending well over $50,000 annually, you should consider a different cash-back business card without a spending cap.

The American Express Blue Business Cash Card includes benefits like car rental loss and damage insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, and access to Amex Offers**.

Review: Amex Blue Business Cash card review

US Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards

Why the US Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards card is worth it: The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Card earns unlimited bonus cash back on select categories like gas, office supply stores, travel, and cell phone service providers with no cap and no annual fee. Cardholders also receive a good intro APR offer, annual software credit, plus decent rewards and perks (including World Elite Mastercard benefits). 

Welcome bonus offer: Earn $500 cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases on the account holder’s card in the first 150 days of opening your account.

You’ll earn 3% cash back at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants, and earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. You’ll also earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals when you use the Travel Rewards Center for your bookings.

The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Card is ideal for businesses that spend big in these  bonus categories, and those who would benefit from the decent intro APR offer. You’ll also earn a $100 software credit every year towards subscriptions like FreshBooks or Quickbooks.

The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Card has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles (then a 16.24% – 25.24% (Variable) APR). 

The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Card does have a foreign transaction fee, which doesn’t make it ideal for travel. The card also has a high spending requirement before you can unlock the bonus. It’s almost important to keep in mind that purchases made by authorized users don’t count towards the minimum spending requirement. 

You can redeem rewards as a statement credit or a direct deposit (the minimum to redeem is $25). You can also redeem rewards with Real-Time Rewards which you can then use to cover eligible purchases charged to your card. 

The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Card has a few additional perks, including World Elite Mastercard benefits and Access to Rewards Center Earn Mall.

Review: US Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards card review

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit

Why the Spark 1.5% Cash Select card is worth it: The no-annual-fee Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit earns cardholders unlimited cash back on all purchases with no limits or category restrictions. You’ll also earn additional cash back rewards on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It’s ideal for business owners with excellent credit looking for a straightforward card with generous cash-back rewards.

Welcome bonus offer: Earn $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

You’ll earn 1.5% unlimited cash-back rewards on all purchases with the Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit. You’ll also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars when you book through Capital One Travel. You can redeem rewards as a statement credit, or as either a check or cash. 

Employee cards are free and you can track employee spending and set spending limits, as well as earn rewards on their purchases. You can also lock a misplaced, lost, or stolen card from your Capital One account.

The 5% cash back is a decent deal if you already use Capital One Travel for your bookings. However, the Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit has no intro APR offer, just a regular APR rate of 14.74% – 20.74% (Variable).

The Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit has benefits like roadside assistance, purchase records, $0 fraud liability, extended warranty, and payment flexibility. There’s no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. 

Review: Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit review

Cash back business cards frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How do I choose the best cash-back business card for me?

If you’re considering a cash-back business card, view your business’s recent expenses and choose a cash-back card that has bonus categories to match your spending. If your typical expenses don’t fall into these categories, a card that earns a flat rate of cash back across all purchases is probably a better choice.

Similarly, if there are specific perks and benefits (like employee card benefits, no foreign transaction fees, or travel and purchase protection) that you’re looking for, try to find a card that has all the desired attributes. 

Are rewards earned on a cash-back business card taxable?

Credit card rewards are usually considered rebates on purchases and not income. Therefore, cash back earned on a business card is generally not taxable. However, you should always consult with a tax professional about your personal tax situation.

Can you use an EIN to get a business card?

An employee identification number (EIN) is an identification number issued by the IRS to businesses. You can use your EIN and your Social Security Number (SSN) to apply for a business card. Sole proprietors (such as those selling online, freelancing, or other side gigs) can apply for a business credit card with just their SSN — no EIN necessary. 

Are you eligible to get a business credit card if your personal credit score is low?

Even if you apply with an EIN, the card issuer will still ask for your SSN to check your personal credit history and factor that into their decision to approve you. If you have a low credit score, you may not qualify for the best small-business credit cards, but you might still be eligible for business cards geared toward those with limited or fair credit, such as the Capital One®️ Spark®️ Classic for Business
. And if you have bad credit, you may be eligible for a secured credit card, which can also help you boost your credit score with responsible use.

Can you use your business card for personal expenses?

Technically you can use your business card for personal purchases, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Keeping business and personal expenses separate makes things easier at tax time, for starters, so making personal purchases on your business credit card can make things more difficult to track. Some credit card issuers also take a dim view of making personal purchases on a business credit card, so it’s best to avoid the practice.