Best no annual fee business credit cards of December 2023
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Published 5:43 a.m. UTC Dec. 12, 2023
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Your business doesn’t have to pay an annual fee to get a credit card packed with value. In fact, some of the best business credit cards have no annual fee, and they can earn your business rewards and other perks, too.
We analyzed a broad swath of business credit cards in the no-annual-fee category, from a variety of issuers, to curate a list of the very best. Whether you want cash back or an intro APR, there’s a card on our list for you. Here are our selections.
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express *
The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best no annual fee business credit card
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Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select *
The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best no annual fee business card for travel rewards
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Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card *
The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best no annual fee business card for flexible earnings
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
: Best no annual fee business card for straightforward earning
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U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card *
The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best no annual fee business card for unlimited cash back
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The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card *
The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best no annual fee business card for straightforward rewards
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best no annual fee business credit cards of December 2023
Best no annual fee business credit card
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
*The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best no annual fee business card for travel rewards
Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select
*The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best no annual fee business card for flexible earnings
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
*The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best no annual fee business card for straightforward earning
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best no annual fee business card for spending on typical business expenses
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best no annual fee business card for unlimited cash back
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
*The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best no annual fee business card for straightforward rewards
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
*The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn a one-time $750 cash bonus once you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 on the account owner’s card in the first 150 days of opening the account.
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
If your business can spend up to $50,000 on a credit card each year (that’s an average of $4,167 a month) the Blue Business Plus Credit Card (terms apply) is built for you. It earns Membership Rewards® points at a competitive flat rate (until you hit the annual spending cap, after which the rate drops). The points earned are highly flexible and are worth a penny each when used book travel directly with Amex. Or, transfer them to anyone of nearly two dozen airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value.
The card also offers a flexible spending limit and a helpful introductory APR offer on purchases – a boon for any business.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies.
The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
Capital One’s Spark Miles Select card is ideal for business owners that yearn to earn travel rewards, but can’t stomach the idea of an annual fee. The card earns at the same straightforward rate on all your spending. Those earnings can be used to book travel via Capital One or transferred to any of Capital One’s 15+ travel partners, although none are domestic airlines.
The Spark Miles Select card also lacks foreign transaction fees, so if your spending or travel is international, you won’t have to pay any surcharges.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Welcome bonus: $750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- APR: 18.49% to 24.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers.
The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is one of the best rewards credit cards for business owners seeking elevated earnings that can change along with their spending habits. The card offers elevated cash-back rewards on purchases in a bonus category of your choice as well as a solid cash-back rate on dining — up to a yearly combined spending cap.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 3% cash back in the category of choice, 2% cash back on dining purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year and then 1% thereafter.
- Welcome bonus: $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first nine billing cycles, then a 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 4% of each transaction applies.
Why this card made the list
For those who don’t have time or the interest to stay on top of revolving bonus categories or spending caps, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card offers a simple 1.5% cash back on purchases. Plus, it has a lucrative welcome bonus for new cardholders.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $900 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then a 18.49% to 24.49% variable APR applies to purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
Why this card made the list
The Ink Business Cash Credit Card can help your business earn significant cash back in common areas of business spending. Plus, it comes with a generous welcome offer and a helpful introductory APR offer on purchases that can give you extra time to pay off a big buy.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 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, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $900 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49% applies to purchases and balance transfers. There’s a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card offers a trifecta of intriguing attributes in its no-annual-fee package. From the unlimited rewards potential in several spending categories to the intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers to the $100 credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks, the card is chock-full of benefits for your business.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 150 days of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% (balance transfers must be completed within 30 days to qualify for the intro rate). A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
If you prefer straight cash-back over earning points, the Blue Business Cash Card (terms apply) offers an easy-to-digest earning structure that mirrors the Blue Business Plus card and lets you redeem your earnings for statement credits.
In addition to an intro offer on purchases, you can also take advantage of the expanded buying power feature when you may need to occasionally make a purchase that reaches just beyond your credit limit
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (automatically rewarded via statement credits), up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
- Welcome bonus: $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a 18.49% to 26.49% variable APR.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered include:
- Rewards value of a card.
- Any introductory APR offers.
- Welcome bonus value.
- Extras that a business owner might benefit from include extended warranty coverage, purchase protection, return protection and/or cellphone insurance.
- Any credits for business products like accounting software or subscription services.
How to get a business credit card with no annual fee
You typically need good to excellent credit (FICO scores of 670 or higher) to qualify for a business credit card with no annual fee. Creditors are likely to examine your personal credit history and income to determine if you qualify, and may review your business credit history and income as well.
Choosing the best no-annual-fee business credit card
To choose the best business credit card with no annual fee, start by identifying your biggest business expense. If your largest expense is office supplies, for example, you can maximize your rewards by applying for cards with the biggest multiplier (and no rewards caps) in that category.
Beyond bonus categories, make sure to compare any other card features before applying. Depending on your business, any and all of the following could dictate whether a card is right for you, including:
- Credit score/history requirements.
- Fees, such as foreign transaction and balance transfer fees.
- Rewards on everyday spending.
- Welcome offers.
- Ability to add employees to the account.
- APR range.
Some business credit cards have annual fees and some don’t. High-annual-fee credit cards are more likely to come with luxury perks, like complimentary airport lounge access and reimbursement for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee. However, you can still earn significant rewards with a card that has no annual fees.
There are several credit cards geared toward new businesses and businesses with below-average credit.
If you have poor or no credit, consider applying for a secured business credit card, which you can qualify for by making a cash deposit. If you have fair or average credit, you may qualify for a card like the Capital One Spark 1% Classic * The information for the Capital One Spark 1% Classic has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , which accepts applicants with limited credit history.
Just keep in mind that these kinds of cards tend to have much higher than average APRs, often ranging from 25% to 30%, so you may want to work on improving your credit and revenue in order to qualify for a higher-tier of cards with lower APRs.
The best way a small business can avoid credit card fees is by choosing credit cards selectively. Before applying for a card, check to see what fees the card has, including a foreign transaction fee, annual fee, late fee or balance transfer fee.
If you have multiple credit cards, you can also use them strategically. For example, if only one card has $0 foreign transaction fee, use that card while traveling abroad.
You can also avoid interest charges on most cards by paying off the balance in full every month.
If you’re in the position to do so, you should pay off your full business credit card balance each month. Credit cards typically have high interest rates, so by paying off your full balance you can avoid costly interest charges.
*The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card, Capital One Spark 1% Classic, Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
