Best Cash Back Business Cards
Business cash back cards return a percentage of your spending as statement credits or direct deposits. Unlike points, cash back is straightforward: no redemption complexity, no expiry, and the value is always clear. Here is a breakdown of the best options and the category rates that drive them.
Cash Back Rates by Spending Category
Office Supplies and Telecom
Up to 5%Office supply stores, internet service, and business phone plans often earn the highest cash back rates on business cards. Cards targeting small businesses frequently offer 5% in this category up to a spend cap, recognizing that paper, printer ink, and broadband are universal business costs.
Online Advertising
Up to 3-5%Search ads and social media advertising have become one of the largest variable expenses for modern businesses. Several card issuers now offer dedicated bonus categories for digital advertising platforms, typically earning 2% to 5% back. If paid search is a significant line item for your business, prioritize cards with this category.
Travel and Dining
Up to 2-3%Most cash back business cards earn 2% on travel and dining as their second-tier category. This applies to airlines, hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and food delivery services. Businesses with regular client entertainment or employee travel can earn hundreds of dollars per year at this rate.
Gas Stations
Up to 2-5%Fuel expenses reward differently depending on the card type. General cash back business cards typically earn 2% at gas stations, while cards specifically designed for vehicle-heavy businesses can earn up to 5%. Fleet operators and delivery businesses should look for dedicated gas cards with spend caps that align with their actual fuel volume.
All Other Purchases
Up to 1-1.5%The base earn rate on all other purchases ranges from 1% to 1.5% on most business cash back cards. For high-volume businesses with diverse spend that does not fit neatly into bonus categories, cards with a flat 1.5% on everything may outperform cards with high category rates but a 1% base.
Top Cash Back Business Cards
Business Cash Back Card
Flat-rate cash back on every dollar your business spends
Annual Fee
$0
APR Range
18.99% - 26.99%
Intro APR
None
Base Earn
1.5%
Sign-Up Bonus
$300 cash back
after $3,000 in purchases in first 3 months
Rewards Rates
- 5%5% on office supplies and internet/phone
- 2%2% on travel and dining
- 2%2% at gas stations
Employee Cards
Free employee cards with individual spending limits
Expense Management
- +Quarterly and year-end summaries
- +Free employee cards
- +Integration with QuickBooks and Xero
- +Itemized monthly statements
Pros
- +No annual fee saves money from day one
- +High 5% rate on office and telecom expenses
- +Simple rewards with no category activation required
Cons
- -Base rate of 1.5% is lower than some premium cards
- -No travel perks or lounge access
Credit required: Good to Excellent (670+)
Small Business Rewards Card
Flexible rewards that adapt to how small businesses actually spend
Annual Fee
$0
APR Range
17.99% - 25.99%
Intro APR
0% for 9 months on purchases and balance transfers
Base Earn
1%
Sign-Up Bonus
$250 cash back
after $2,500 in purchases in first 3 months
Rewards Rates
- 3%3% on your top 2 highest-spend categories each quarter
- 2%2% on all other eligible purchases
Employee Cards
Free employee cards; set individual monthly limits
Expense Management
- +Automatic category detection
- +Mobile app with spend analytics
- +Year-end expense summary report
- +Sync with accounting software
Pros
- +Automatically maximizes your top spending categories
- +No annual fee
- +Short intro APR useful for early purchases
Cons
- -Category rotation can be unpredictable quarter to quarter
- -Cap on 3% earn rate at $50,000 per year
Credit required: Good to Excellent (670+)
Corporate Spending Card
Built for mid-market companies needing spend controls and reporting
Annual Fee
$0
APR Range
18.49% - 26.49%
Intro APR
None
Base Earn
1.5%
Sign-Up Bonus
$500 cash back
after $10,000 in purchases in first 3 months
Rewards Rates
- 1.5%Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Employee Cards
Unlimited employee cards at no additional cost; role-based permissions
Expense Management
- +ERP and accounting system integrations (SAP, NetSuite, QuickBooks)
- +Customizable approval workflows
- +Real-time spend dashboards
- +Automated expense policy enforcement
- +Physical and virtual cards per department
- +Audit-ready transaction exports
Pros
- +Enterprise-grade spend management at no annual fee
- +Unlimited employee cards with granular controls
- +Integrates with major accounting platforms
Cons
- -Flat 1.5% is lower than category-specific cards
- -Higher sign-up spend requirement
Credit required: Good to Excellent (670+); personal guarantee may be required
Business No Fee Card
Zero annual fee with solid everyday rewards
Annual Fee
$0
APR Range
18.24% - 26.24%
Intro APR
0% for 12 months on purchases
Base Earn
1%
Sign-Up Bonus
$200 cash back
after $2,000 in purchases in first 3 months
Rewards Rates
- 3%3% on office supplies
- 2%2% on dining
- 2%2% at gas stations
Employee Cards
Free employee cards; no-fee authorized users
Expense Management
- +Year-end summary
- +Mobile receipt capture
- +Category spend tracking
- +QuickBooks sync
Pros
- +No annual fee ever
- +12-month intro APR for new purchases
- +Solid everyday category bonuses
Cons
- -Base 1% earn rate is modest
- -Lower credit limits for newer businesses
Credit required: Good (650+)
Flat Rate vs. Category Cash Back: Which is Better?
Choose flat rate if:
- +Your spending is spread across many categories with no single dominant type
- +You value simplicity and do not want to track rotating categories
- +You spend over $100,000 per year and want consistent returns on every dollar
- +You run payroll or large invoices through a card for float
Choose category cash back if:
- +One or two categories make up the majority of your business spending
- +Your office supply, internet, and phone bills are significant monthly costs
- +You spend heavily on digital advertising and want to offset that cost
- +You are willing to use a second card for out-of-category spend