There are a lot of reasons why having a credit card for your business is helpful, from money-saving benefits to simplifying your expense management. On top of all the perks, these cards typically offer valuable welcome bonuses worth a couple hundred dollars to over $1,000.
To help make your next business credit card decision easier, CNBC Select has gathered business credit cards with the best welcome bonuses and ranked them based on specific benefits and features. (See our methodology for information on how we chose the best business credit card welcome bonuses.)
Best business credit card welcome bonuses
- Best for limited-time bonus: Capital One Venture Business
- Best for no annual fee: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for travel rewards: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for 0% intro APR: U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
- Best for cash back: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
- Best for luxury perks: Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card
Best for limited-time bonus
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Business not only earns valuable transferable miles, but it also has an unusually large limited-time welcome bonus for a card with a sub-$100 annual fee.
Welcome bonus: Earn up to 150,000 bonus Capital One Miles: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $7,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening and an additional 75,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 in the first six months from account opening. The full bonus is worth at least $1,500 in travel.
Standout benefits: Every year, you'll receive $50 in travel credit to apply toward bookings you make through the Capital One Business Travel portal. You can also earn up to $50 in statement credits annually for qualifying advertising and software purchases.
The Capital Venture Business has a simple and lucrative rewards program because you earn at least 2X miles on every purchase and you can transfer those miles to travel partners.
- Earns flexible travel rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Choice Privileges and Emirates Skywards
- Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Up to $100 in annual credits
- Has an annual fee
- High spending requirement to earn the full welcome bonus
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Limited-time offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles—75,000 miles once you spend $7,500 in the first 3 months, and an additional 75,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 6 months
- 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
- Receive up to $220 in credits: Receive an annual $50 travel credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel, up to an annual $50 statement credit for purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants, plus up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Terms and conditions apply
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- $95 annual fee
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
- Top rated mobile app
Best for no annual fee
Who's this for? The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a good option for business owners who don't want to deal with an annual fee.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Standout benefits: The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card earns at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase. This is a stellar rate of return for a business credit card with no annual fee.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a flat-rate cash-back card with a strong intro-APR offer for purchases.
- Intro APR for purchases
- Valuable welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- You can't transfer rewards to travel partners without pairing it with another Chase card
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Best for travel rewards
Who's this for? The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is worth considering if you want to earn valuable travel rewards that can be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Standout benefits: The Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned with this card can be redeemed in all sorts of ways. When you book travel through the Chase TravelSM portal, points are worth more. You can also transfer your Chase points to over a dozen hotel and airline partners at a 1:1 ratio, allowing you to potentially book expensive hotels and flights for fewer points.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent business card with useful benefits, valuable rewards and a generous welcome bonus.
- Earns flexible travel rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Valuable welcome bonus worth $1,125 in travel when redeemed through Chase Travel
- Strong travel and shopping protections
- No intro APR offer
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 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
- Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Go further when you book with Chase TravelSM. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for 0% intro APR
Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card offers small business owners an unusually long intro APR offer.
Welcome bonus: Earn $750 in cash back after spending $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days from account opening.
Standout benefits: New U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card members receive an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card is a no-annual-fee business card that earns cash back rewards on a variety of business and everyday categories.
- Annual $100 software statement credit
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Not very rewarding for purchases you make outside of the bonus categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Center when using your card.
- Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Balance transfer fee
Either 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
Best for cash back
Who's this for? The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has an incredible cash-back welcome bonus that makes the most sense if your business averages $10,000 or more in monthly credit card expenses.
Welcome bonus: Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first three months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year one.
Standout benefits: As its name suggests, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus earns 2% cash back on every purchase, so you won't be limited to specific bonus categories. Plus, you can get the card's $150 annual fee refunded every year when you spend at least $150,000 on the card.
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is especially rewarding for businesses with a lot of credit card spending. It offers an additional bonus the first year and an ongoing annual fee refund, but both benefits have six-figure spending requirements.
- High flat-rate rewards
- Valuable welcome offer
- Has an annual fee
- High spending requirement to earn the welcome offer and qualify for the annual fee refund
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Enjoy big purchasing power so you can spend more and earn more rewards. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
- Streamline your accounts payable process, employee spending, and more from your online account with free business management tools
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards
- $150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
- Your card is designed to be paid in full. However you have the option to carry over a portion of your balance with interest if needed. Pay at least the minimum payment amount by your payment due date, otherwise you'll be charged a 2.99% late fee
- For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back
- Top rated mobile app
Best for luxury perks
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card not only earns valuable rewards but also provides cardholders with premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access.
Welcome bonus: Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first three months from account opening
Standout benefits: Every year, Venture X Business cardholders receive up to $300 in credits for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus every account anniversary (worth at least $100 in travel). These two benefits provide enough value to justify the card's $395 annual fee.
The Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card has all the benefits you expect with a premium business card, including flexible travel rewards, airport lounge access and travel insurance.
- Extremely valuable welcome bonus
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other business credit cards
- High annual fee
- No airport lounge access for employee cardholders
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Your card is designed to be paid in full. However you have the option to carry over a portion of your balance with interest if needed. Pay at least the minimum payment amount by your payment due date, otherwise you'll be charged a 2.99% late fee
- Top rated mobile app
How to qualify for a business credit card welcome bonus
Earning the welcome bonus on a business credit card is similar to earning one on a consumer credit card. You'll have a certain amount of time to spend enough on your new card to meet the minimum spending requirement. Business credit cards tend to have higher intro bonus spending requirements, but they can also offer more time to complete the minimum spending; sometimes you'll have six months or more.
When you open a new credit card, it's always important to understand the fine print and what does or doesn't count toward earning the welcome offer. Certain transactions typically won't count toward the minimum spending requirement, including the card's annual fee, cash advances and any purchases that are returned and credited back to the card.
If you add employee cards to your account, the purchases made with these cards usually count toward earning the welcome bonus. However, sometimes employee spending won't help you qualify for a sign-up bonus. For example, employee spending on the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business card won't count toward earning the welcome bonus as the terms specifically refer to purchases made on the account owner's card.
FAQs
What do you need to do to earn a business credit card sign-up bonus?
To qualify for a business credit card intro bonus, you typically need to spend a certain amount on eligible purchases with the new card within a limited time. Keep in mind that balance transfers, cash advances and annual fees won't count toward a minimum spending requirement.
What's a good business credit card to start with?
The best business credit card to start with is the one that best suits your business needs and provides the most useful rewards for you. It's generally best to start with a no-annual-fee card, and if you anticipate needing to finance business purchases, you may want to consider a business card with an intro APR offer.
Do you need an EIN to get a small business credit card?
Depending on how your business is structured, you may not need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to qualify for a business credit card. As a sole proprietor, you can typically use your Social Security number (SSN) as your business tax ID.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every business credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best business credit cards for sole proprietors.
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Our methodology
To determine which business cards offer the most valuable intro bonuses, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
In addition to the cards' welcome offers, we compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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