Henley Griffin, MBA

If you’re running a small business, then you likely could use a credit card to purchases supplies and other things for the business.

But how you do you know which credit card is the best one for you to use for this purpose?

Plenty of credit cards target business owners, but at the end of the day you need a credit card that works for you, instead of the opposite.

There are several business credit card options, and figuring out which is the best to get as a small business owner can be tricky.

That’s why we asked some experts for their take on it.

Let us look at the top choices for the best credit cards for small business owners and some of their features.

1. Amex Gold

The American Express Gold card offers a really strong return rate on advertising and gas, two big expenditures for businesses.

These categories earn 4x the points, which allow you to use those amassed points to either travel, or cover other business expenses.

recommended by: Alex Miller, Founder & CEO of UpgradedPoints.com, Rene Langer, Founder of Pick HVAC, and Willie Greer, Founder of The Product Analyst

2. Amex Blue Cash

AmericanExpress credit cards are the best for company use as they provide the biggest cashback as compared to other credit cards.

This cashback is very important since it can reduce the cost of something that you are buying for the company.

For instance, you can use this on your hotel stay for a business trip. You can find the cheapest deals in a hotel, use the card, then only pay a cheaper amount as it provides good cashback. Hence, you will save a lot for your company.

recommended by: Jeff Webster, Operations Manager of Clicks Marketing, Nelson Sherwin, Founder of PEO Companies, and Scott Nelson CEO of MoneyNerd

3. Chase Ink Business Preferred

If you plan to spend a lot (read $5K+ per month) on social media advertising), then the Chase Ink Preferred is the best bet.

The annual fee is quite small at roughly $100, but you receive 3X points for every dollar spent on ads.

In our situation, we expect to spend approximately $10,000 a month on Facebook ads. That’s $120K X 3 points =360,000 points on ads alone.

We assume those Chase points are worth about 2 cents each, so it ends up meaning we receive $7,000 worth of points with a card that only cost $100!

recommended by: Sean O’Dowd, CEO of Close Concierge, Andy Wang, Co-founder of Knives Sensei, Justin Carpenter, owner of Modern Maids, Isaac Bullen Asia Pacific Director of 3 White Hats, Jenna Lofton of Stock Hitter, Austin Henderson, Founder of All About Pools, Tomy Boboy, Founder of Everyday Finance, Jack Shepler, Founder of Ayokay, and Kristin Young, Founder of Snorkel & Hike

4. Chase Ink Business Unlimited

Chase Ink Business Unlimited, an annual fee-free business credit card that mirrors the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card, a consumer credit card that also earns unlimited 1.5 percent cashback, is one of the finest credit cards for small businesses.

Cashback is earned through Ink Business Unlimited’s Ultimate Rewards points, which may be redeemed for cash, gift cards, travel purchases, and other products.

A significant sign-up incentive of $750 is available after you spend $7,500 in purchases within three months, as well as a 12-month 0% APR promotion on purchases.

The latter is uncommon among credit cards for small businesses.

recommended by: Kevin Jourdan, Co-founder of Dot Market, Connor Brown, Founder of After School Finance, Lillian Dodd, Founder of The Hobby Kraze, Adam Knihtila, CFO of Adam Kae & Associates, and Mark Wilcox, Founder of Camping Forge

5. AmEx Business Platinum Card

For a frequent traveler like myself, it has everything I need from a business credit card.

While the annual fee is high compared to some other options, the perks make up for it.

My favorite thing it offers is 5x points on hotels and flights.

It also gives you elite hotel status at certain chains, airport lounge access, trip insurance, and more.

The signup reward is incredible at 100,000 points.

While it may not be worth it if you don’t fly or travel much, I have found that it quickly pays for itself. It even covers the cost of getting TSA Precheck.

recommended by: Ravi Parikh, CEO of RoverPass, John Medina, Founder of John Medina Buys Houses, and Sarah Walker, Founder of Dog Food Desire

6. Capital One Spark Business card

We love our credit cards for our small business! We rack up points on them and we use those points to reward our staff or run influenced campaigns.

Our favorite credit card is the Capital One Spark Business card.

On this card we get 2 points for each dollar spent, which equals 2% back on everything we spend . This can add up quickly and we highly recommend this card!

recommended by: Matthew Meier, Founder of MaxTour, Ralph Severson, Owner of Flooring Masters, Joel Phillips, Founder of Home Guide Corner, and Kieren Windsor of Smart Home Insider

7. Business Platinum US Bank Credit Card

The Business Platinum US Bank Credit Card was a great tool to finance some of my company’s startup expenses.

It was an excellent option for my business because it has a 0% interest rate for the first 18 months.

These terms gave me plenty of time to get my business off the ground and pay off the card while building my company’s credit.

recommended by: Jake Irving, Owner of Willamette Life

8. Citi Corporate Card

Low cost & flexible designation of card liability.

Fees, Rewards & Perks
Annual price: S$160.5
0.40 miles (1 pt) per S$1 spend
Free travel accident insurance, up to S$1 million per cardholder
Free annual coverage of employee misuse (US$25k/cardholder, US$1.65
million/company)

Citi Corporate Card is fairly simple and, therefore, is quite easy to use.

Every S$1 spend earns 1 Citi ThankYou Point, which is equivalent to 0.40 miles.

Points can alternatively be redeemed for cash rebates or rewards vouchers.

Companies have the option to decide between Sole Corporate Liability, Joint & Several Liability, or Cardmember/Personal Liability.

Essentially, these designations reflect who assumes responsibility for making on-time card payments.

recommended by: Andy Ha, Head of Marketing for Clooms

If you’ve got a bit of travel on the horizon, then you might want to maximize those credit card rewards by picking a travel credit card.

Travel credits cards often let you earn things like airline miles and hotel points, which you can use to cash in on free flights and hotel rooms.

But there’s a lot of different credit cards out there targeting travelers, so how do you find the right travel credit card for you?

Keep reading for our tips on finding the right credit card for your travel hacking adventures.

Look For No Foreign Transaction Fees

If you’ll be traveling abroad, then you need a credit card that doesn’t penalize you for spending money in a currency other than you own.

What you need to look for is a card that has no foreign transaction fees. This means that you won’t incur a fee for a foreign currency to USD conversion.

“Though many cards have excellent sign-up bonuses that can lead to thousands of points to be redeemed for travel rewards,” says Maggie Turansky of The World Was Here First, “the majority of these cards seem to charge a conversion fee when paying in a foreign currency. If you want to get the most out of your credit card while travelling abroad while also saving as much money as possible, then finding a card that doesn’t charge these fees is absolutely essential.”

Tim White of Mile Pro also agrees. He says, “As a frequent International traveler, being able to use my card anywhere in the world without paying astronomical conversion fees is very important. “

“One of the most important features for a travel credit card is to have no foreign transaction fees,” says David Leiter of The World Travel Guy.

Gene Daniels of Learning CBD Oil echoes the same sentiment. “A lot of card users may not be aware of foreign transaction fees since they don’t happen when you’re using your card in the United States (i.e. domestically), but as soon as you go to a different country and start using your card you’ll get dinged for a fee — usually 3 percent on top of your purchase!”

“My #1 tip on picking the right travel credit card is to search for cards that come with no international fees, says Brian Wills of Nuts About Coffee. “Many banks offer credit cards that are specifically designed for international use and they don’t charge for use abroad. This is hugely beneficial because you can rest assured that you won’t get a surprise bill full of fees when you get home.”

What Are Your Spending Habits?

“You also need to identify your top credit card spending habits, as you will often be rewarded for things like gas and grocery purchases to name a few. For my family,” says Petra Amara of Rowing Crazy, “we make many large ticket purchases for our family business, so we have been able to capitalize on additional rewards points as a result.”

“Once you have identified your travel and spending habits, you will easily be able to narrow down which travel credit card will benefit you the most in the long run,” recommends Gracey Young of House Fragrance.

“Apart from zero international transaction fees, get a travel card that is geared to your purchase lifestyle,” says Sam Lepak of New Rich Nomads.

“For example, if you fly then get one with points for flying. Or if you dine out, then get one towards dining. Don’t change your purchase behavior for the credit card and don’t pay unnecessary fees.”

Know What Type Of Rewards You Want

“Travelers need to decide whether they want simple points that have a fixed value, or more complicated points that have a variable value,” says Andrew D’Amours of Fly Trippers. “That’s the most important. “

“Whether the rewards program belongs to a bank, a hotel chain, or an airline is secondary contrary to the popular myth,” D’Amours goes on to say.

“What matters is to decide which type of point system to dive into. Simple is great for beginners, but more complicated offers potential for unlimited value and outsized value if you learn how to use them.”

“I like to use cards that either give me cash back on every purchase or where I earn non-branded rewards that I can use on anything,” says Rolf Hansen of Luxury Cars A to Z.

“For instance, when I’m traveling within the United States I like to use my American Express Gold card because it gives me Membership Rewards points that I can use for everything from hotel stays to restaurant gift cards to free flights.

Determine If You Want Other Perks

“If you want premium travel perks, like airport lounge access or expedited airport screening, it makes sense to go with a premium travel card,” says Garth Adams of I Know The Pilot.

“This could include cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express.”

“If you don’t take advantage of airline lounges,” says John Taylor Garner of Card Curator, “there’s no need to pay the hefty annual fees of the AMEX Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve card. If you do like lounges, they can save you a lot of money.”

“Some travel credit cards offer perks like money back when you use Uber,” says David Douek of Beeco Green. “That’s why I love the Platinum Card from American Express because it earns me Uber credits each year.”

Plan The Trip And Then Pick The Credit Card

The #1 tip for picking the right card for travel is to start planning a trip, and then pick your credit card based on what can get you to that trip the fastest, says Alex Miller of Upgraded Points.

“Is it a certain kind of points you need to accumulate to get there? A specific hotel brand in that city or country that you can transfer points to?”

“Does the card provide lounge access for flights while you travel there? If you work backwards, and start by looking at your trip first, it’s much easier to select a card based on that vs the other way around.”

“I like to look for credit card offers that come with a big sign up bonus, like enough air miles to fly for free,” says Kenneth Byrd of Curl Centric.

“Of course, this is ideal if I’m not set on flying at a certain time. Then, I just wait for offers that meet my needs and book the trip after getting that offer. That’s how I’ve been able to fly to Hawaii for free in the past.”

Do You Want To Pay An Annual Fee?

“If you only travel occasionally, a credit card with lower annual fees that can earn bonus rewards on everyday purchases might be a better fit than a card with a high annual fee,” says Thomas Kanze of Nomadific.

“This way you’re able to earn valuable points or miles to help cover the costs of airfare or hotel stays for your one or two trips each year.”

“Annual fees vary on the cards, and some are more worth it than others,” says Spiro Koulouris of Gout and You. “My Chase Marriott card has a low annual fee, but I also get a free hotel night each year that’s worth more than the annual fee.”

Is A Co-Branded Card A Good Option?

You may want to consider if the card is co-branded or general purpose, like a Marriott Visa card or a generic Chase credit card.

“Co-branded cards narrow your options,” says Sharon Gourlay of Tasmania Explorer, “but since they are issued in collaboration with an airline or hotel, they can have additional benefits such as free checked luggage or accommodation upgrades.”

“Do you find yourself using the same airline or airline alliance (SkyTeam, Oneworld, etc.) for the majority of your flights? If this is the case,” says Tanya Brothen of Travel Upgraded, “it’s worth it to invest in that airline’s most rewards-heavy credit card.”

“For example, when a work assignment had me flying Delta and other SkyTeam airlines multiple times per year, I signed up for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card. It gave me access to Delta’s Sky Club lounges, priority boarding, bonus miles on Delta purchases, and other Delta perks.”

How Is The Interest Rate?

“You might think it would be relatively simple to find the card with the lowest interest rate, no (or lower) annual fee, the most generous signing bonus, and the best reward;” says Michelle Henry of Outdoor Dog Fun, “unfortunately, this is not the case.”

“You definitely want the lowest interest rate. However, if you can repay the expenses in full each month, the interest rate is not a problem because the interest rate only applies to the balance after each month’s maturity date.”

“Since most credit cards have a low introductory rate, it’s important to pay attention to the true interest rate,” recommends Tauraus Sinkus of 21 Day Hero. “Because when that intro rate is up, you’ll be on the line for the higher rate for any balances that you carry.”

The Top Travel Credit Cards As Recommended By Frequent Travelers

1. Barclays Arrivals+ Card

The Barclays Arrivals+ card is my favorite credit card to use for travel, says Steven Evans of Air Fryer Bro. You earn points for all purchases, with some purchases (like travel) earning extra points. Then, you cash in the points for a statement credit and you earn more points back if you put that credit towards travel expenses. Plus, no foreign transaction fees!

Connor Brown of After School Finance agrees. My everyday credit card is the Barclay Arrivals, says Brown, which is hands down the best card for travel. You get points back on all purchases and then you can use those points for pretty much anything, but it’s a better deal for you to apply those points as payment toward your travel.

2. Capital One Venture card

I like the Capital One Venture card, says Michael Barnett of Performer Life. I earn back on everything, so I use it for all my purchases and then enjoy the rewards of travel.

Since I’m always grabbing lunch out, the Capital One Venture card is my most-used credit card, says Michael Fayard of Fayard Law. I love that my lunch expenses and every day expense earn me free or discounted travel.

3. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

I do a lot of domestic travel for work and always fly on Delta, which makes the Delta Skymiles Gold card from American Express my top pick for a travel credit card, says Alex Griffin of Oxford Gold Group. It’s got a great signup bonus too.

4. Capital One Quicksilver card

The Capital One Quicksilver card is definitely one of the best rewards travel credit cards, says Tommy Gallagher of Top Mobile Banks. You get 1.5% back on everything and you get $200 cash back after spending $500 in the first 3 months. There is also no annual fee.

Jenny Muscolo of Connection Copilot also recommends the Capital one Quicksilver card for earning rewards for every day purchases.

5. Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Sapphire Reserve comes with a super easy-to-use $300 travel credit, notes Hafiz Muhammad Ali of Omnicore Agency, which effectively reduces the annual fee to $250.

People routinely scoff at the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $550 annual fee, but you can easily make a profit on that card, says Andy Medearis, of Deals Points.

You can then get more than the $250 annual fee in value by utilizing the card’s airport lounge access, including restaurants and spas, $120 Peloton credit, $60 DoorDash credit, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, and purchase protection, adds Medearis.

Personally, the trip delay insurance has saved me a lot of money.

For example, my wife and I missed our connecting flight in Chicago due to snow. While everyone on the plane was freaking out, I was booking a room at the Park Hyatt, dinner reservations at an upscale sushi restaurant, and transportation because I knew that Chase would cover my $500+ in expenses due to the delay.

For international students, acquiring a credit card in a foreign country like the USA is often a challenge with all the requirements put in place by the card issuers.

For example, you need to provide your social security number (SSN) to apply for a credit card.

Luckily, this is always not the case.

Students’ credit cards are particularly designed for students mainly because they have low-interest rates, lower fees, and in most cases, they have many perks and rewards.

The best credit cards for international students are most likely to accept students with little or lack a credit score or credit history.

And, have no foreign currency exchange fees.

There are several credit card options, and figuring out which is the best to get as an international student can be tricky.

Let us look at the top choices for the best credits for international students and some of their features.

Best credit card option for international students studying in the United States of America: Deserve® EDU MasterCard

Deserve® EDU Mastercard is the best credit for any international student studying in the USA.

The credit card allows students to build better credit without an annual deposit or fee, earn a cashback reward, and some decent perks.

In addition to that, it is an excellent option since applying does not require a security deposit, a credit history, or a social security number. 

This credit card is primarily designed to reward students with positive financial habits and health.

The card has up to a $5,000 credit limit and offers unlimited 1% cashback on all purchases.

The purchases do not include money orders, prepaid cards, or any remotely resembling a cash equivalent. 

One major benefit of this card is Amazon’s Student Prime membership for one year for students who spend $ $500 in the first three billing cycles using the card.

The lifetime value for this benefit is $59. It also comes with a theft and phone damage insurance of up to $600. 

The card has a mobile app that allows students to manage their cards, including enabling international transactions and card lock.

It also has reward redemption, which comes in the form of a statement credit. The reward statements are automatically issued in amounts of $25 once the limit you reach their limit.

Best credit card option for United States Students studying abroad: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for students

Bank of America®’s Travel Rewards credit card for students is an excellent option for frequent student travelers.

The card provides several great benefits with no foreign transaction fees, no annual fee, and for every one dollar spent on purchases, you earn 1.5 points.

With the card, you get a $200 cash reward bonus in the first 90 days of spending $1000. The

This credit card allows you to get 3% cashback on a category of your choice as well as 2% at wholesale clubs and grocery stores.

Alternatively, you can get a $2500 combined wholesale club/ grocery store /choice category quarterly purchases and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.

With the card, you can update your category choices for future purchases on each calendar month using online banking or mobile banking or leave it like that; it stays the same.

With the chip technology now, you can get enhanced protection and security at chip-enabled terminals.

Finally, you can maximize your cash back for each of the categories of your choice: home improvement /furnishings, gas, travel, dining, online shopping, or drug stores. 

Best credit card option for building credit: Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®

Journey® Student Credit Card-Capital One® is an ideal credit card option for any student or anyone who builds their credit and gets a reward for it.

Early or on-time payment of bills is an essential part of building your credit as you also enjoy a 1% cashback on all purchases that go up to 1.25%.

Other benefits with the card include:

• No annual fee.
• An increase in credit limit after the first five monthly payments on time.
• No foreign transaction fees.

The Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® is majorly about helping students or other people build their credit.

For that reason, students with limited credit files have a high chance of getting approval than with any other cards. 

Best student credit card option for no fees: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card stands out as one of the many credit cards with No fees whatsoever: no over limit fee, no annual fee, no late fee, no foreign transaction fee.

The card provides 1% cashback for all the purchases and 1.5% cashback after making on-time payments in the first 12 months.

Instead of entirely relying on your credit history, Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card checks your digital financial records when deciding on your credit approval or determining their potential risk. 

It’s an option for students with no or little credit histories.

It has an advanced Petal’s mobile app with automated payments and makes it easy to track and manage your payments and quick pre-approval rate.

If you are looking for a card with no fees or are worried about getting yourself in trouble with fees, this is a great option. 

Best credit card option for Rewards and Bonuses: Discover it® Student Cash Back

Discover it® Student Cash Back Credit Card is a popular student credit card because of its various rewards, such as rewards for maintaining good grades and several huge bonuses.

Other benefits of the card include no foreign transaction fee or annual fee, 1% cashback on all your purchases, and 5% cashback up to $1500 combined quarterly purchases.

Your list of merchants is usually changed each quarter. 

With the card, all your credit payments get reported to the major USA credit bureaus.

However, Discover it® Student Cash Back requires a social security number for international students’ credit card applicants.

Our selection process

We scanned through multiple student cards and focused more on those that accepted alternative ways of validating identity or determining associated risks.

These two factors are very important for international students, especially those who have no access to Social Security Numbers (SSN)

We also considered cards that charge reasonable transaction fees, which can be beneficial for students with limited resources or those aiming at making savings on their purchases.

We also looked at those that offer rewards, such as cashback or points that can be utilized in other areas such as traveling and hotel bookings.

Making the most out of your international student card

Student credit cards are ideal assets, especially for international students who often find it hard to get credit cards abroad.

While it’s a great privilege, it comes with great responsibility.

To receive the best credit-building miles out of your student cards. You must at least make the monthly minimum required payments on time and in full.

You may also want to set up recurring payments, so you don’t skip a payment by mistake.

You may also want to set up recurring payments, so you don’t skip a payment by mistake.

If you use a card with an exclusive 0% purchase APR for a limited time — say, to buy school supplies to cover an emergency — make sure you pay off the balance before the introductory term expires to prevent interest charges.

After the intro cycle ends, your APR will be determined by the lender’s evaluation of your credit risk.

Important Note: The student cards presented above are not evergreen. As you continue to grow your credit, you can try other credit cards offering more or better perks.

We all know that it is not necessarily easy to get approved for a certain credit card.

Some credit cards have specific credit requirements that you need to meet in order to get them.

Others require a certain amount of credit history before you can get approved.

However, not all credit cards are so difficult to get.

Here are eight credit cards that are easy for you to get approved for, in no particular order. 

1. Surge MasterCard

It is easy to get approved for the Surge MasterCard. One of the reasons for this is the fact that the Surge MasterCard is specifically designed to help you rebuild your credit.

It does so by reporting your payments to all the major credit bureaus.

All you have to do is continue to make your monthly payments on time, and it will help you improve your credit score.

Since this card is made to help you rebuild your credit, you do not have to worry about getting approved if you have fair or bad credit. 

2. Milestone MasterCard

Another card that offers you easy approval is the Milestone MasterCard.

You can get approved for this credit card even if your credit score isn’t very good.

It is important to keep in mind that this credit card also has a fairly low credit limit of only $300 minus the annual fee.

The annual fee for this credit card ranges from $35-99, so the credit limit is really less than $300.

You can increase your credit score with this card as well if you make your payments on time since the account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the United States.

3. Discover It Student Cash Back

College students may need a credit card that is easy to get approved for since they may not have too much credit history in the first place.

All you need in order to qualify for this credit card is to be at least 18 years old, a college student, and enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or university.

There is no annual fee associated with this credit card. You only need fair credit to get approved for this, but you can get accepted if you are just starting out your credit history, too.

You do have to authorize Discover to contact you via text or phone to get approved for this card, however. 

4. Secured Mastercard from Capital One

The Secured Mastercard from Capital One is an excellent choice if you are looking for a credit card that is easy to get approved for if you have no credit history.

You do have to provide a refundable security deposit of $49,$99, or $200 in order to qualify for this card.

This serves as collateral, so this credit card can have a $200 credit limit.

You can deposit more money initially, up to $1,000, if you want to have a higher credit limit on this credit card.

There is no annual fee for this card. You can get approved for this credit card if you have bad or limited credit. 

5. Discover It Secured Credit Card

To qualify for the Discover It Secured Credit Card, you have to deposit cash collateral with Discover Bank that is an amount equal to the credit line for the credit card.

You have to deposit at least $200. You also have to be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old in order to qualify for this card.

Additionally, you have to authorize Discover to perform a hard pull of your credit reports and allow them to contact your bank, employer, and others.

You must also let Discover reach out to you via phone or text.

This card has no annual fee, and you can get this credit card if you’re new to credit or trying to rebuild your credit score. 

6. OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card

It is very easy to get approved for the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card. You do not even have to go through a credit card to get approved for this card.

Your security deposit is the exact same amount as your credit limit. This can range from a minimum of $200 to a maximum amount of $3,000.

This card reports your payments to the three major credit bureaus to help you build your credit. The annual fee for this credit card is $35.

You have to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and you must have a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification number in order to qualify.

You also have to have sufficient monthly income to afford all the expenses of using this card.

7. NetSpend Visa Credit Card

You don’t need a credit check or even a bank account in order to get approved for this credit card. In fact, you are not even required to maintain a minimum balance with this card.

You can buy the card for $9.95 at a retail location. Since this is a prepaid card, you can only spend the amount that is on the card and nothing more.

As a result, you don’t have to worry about overdraft fees.

You have to be 18 years old or older, have the ability to prove your identity, and be able to lawfully enter into contracts in your state of residence.

The annual fee for this card is up to $9.95 monthly. 

8. Petal 2 Visa Credit Card

This is an easy credit card to get approved for because you do not even need to have any credit history whatsoever to get it.

You do not have to pay an annual fee for this card.

You also get 1-1.5% cashback on purchases.

This credit card reports your account activity to all three major credit bureaus, so you can start off with good credit if you make your payments on time.