The Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards

Finding the right credit card for your business can be an important step in the financial progress of your operations. After all, business credit cards can help you separate your personal and business finances, build business credit, and, of course, access a line of credit to support your business expenses. Plus, with all of the business credit card options on the market, you’ll likely be able to find a card with a reward structure that will allow you to actually earn while you spend.

With this in mind, if you’re looking to truly maximize your spending, you’ll want to explore no annual fee business credit cards. As the name implies, these business credit cards will grant you access to all of their rewards, perks, and capabilities, without having to pay an annual service fee for your account.

What are the best business credit cards with no annual fee and which one is right for your business?

We’re here to help you find out. We’ll break down the top no annual fee business credit cards and provide all of the information you need to determine which card will best fulfill your business needs.

The Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards

• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card From Chase
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card From Chase
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card From American Express
• Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®
• American Express® Blue Business Cash Card
• Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business
• Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard®
• Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
• Discover it® Business Card
• Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
• Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

Looking for a flat-rate rewards business credit card so that you don’t have to worry about thresholds or spending categories? If you’d prefer this type of no-fee business credit card, then you might consider the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card.

With this card, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Additionally, if you spend $6,000 within the first three months of opening your account, you’ll receive a $900 cash back welcome bonus.

Moreover, this Chase no annual fee business credit card offers free employee cards and a 12-month 0% intro APR period on purchases. As we’ve mentioned, after the 12 months are up, a variable APR will set in at a rate depending on the market and your creditworthiness.

Therefore, of all the options on our list of the best business credit cards with no annual fee, the Chase Ink Unlimited is going to be a top choice for a simple, straightforward cash back rewards program.

Looking for the best business credit cards with no annual fee and cash back? If so, you might consider the Chase Ink Business Cash card.

With this no annual fee business credit card, you’ll earn:

• 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services, up to a combined $25,000 spent annually
• 2% cash back on gas and restaurants, up to a combined $25,000 spent annually
• An unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases

In addition, if you spend $6,000 on purchases within your first three months with the Chase Ink Cash card, you’ll be able to access a signup bonus of $900 cash back.

Moreover, like the Blue Business Plus card, this business credit card with no annual fee also offers a 12-month 0% intro APR period. As we mentioned above, after the 12 months are up, your APR will set in at a rate that will depend on your creditworthiness and the market Prime Rate.

Therefore, whether you want to make a big purchase and pay it off over time or earn cash back on typical small business purchases, the Ink Cash is definitely one of the best no annual fee business credit cards out there.

The next option on our list, the Blue Business Plus from American Express, is not only one of the best business credit cards with no annual fee, but also one of the best options for a lengthy 0% intro APR period.

When you get a business credit card with a 0% intro APR period, you can make a big purchase and pay it off as gradually as the length of the intro period allows.

Therefore, with the Blue Business Plus, you’ll have a 12-month 0% intro APR period during which time you’ll be able to carry a balance interest-free. After this 12-month introductory period, however, your APR will set in at a rate that will depend on the market Prime Rate and your creditworthiness, so you’ll want to be sure to check the issuer’s terms and conditions to get the latest APR information.

This being said, if you can pay off your balance within the Blue Business Plus’s 12-month 0% intro APR period, using a credit card can actually be more cost-effective than taking out a small business loan.

Additionally, the Blue Business Plus card has a long-term rewards program: You’ll get 2x rewards points for every dollar of the first $50,000 you spend every year and after that, you’ll get 1x rewards points for every additional dollar you spend.

Moreover, this card is the best business credit card with no annual fee for business owners who need flexibility with their spending limit. To an extent, if you’re able to pay your balance on time, Amex won’t punish you for stepping over your spending limit with the Blue Business Plus.

The next option on our list of the best small business credit cards with no annual fee, the Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards card, boasts a number of perks—including, of course, no annual fee, and great travel rewards earning potential.

With this no-fee business credit card, you’ll earn 3 points for every dollar spent in the Bank of America travel portal (on hotels, airlines, and cars), and an unlimited 1.5 points on every dollar you spend on all other purchases. You’ll be able to redeem your points for travel with no blackout dates, as well as redeem them for cash back or gift cards.

Additionally, if you become a Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors member with Bank of America, you’ll be able to earn 75% more points for every dollar you spend.

This being said, however, on top of these sustained rewards, you’ll also have the opportunity to access a signup bonus of 30,000 points if you spend just $3,000 in the first 90 days after opening your account. Moreover, this Bank of America business credit card has no foreign transaction fees and offers a nine-month 0% intro APR period. After this period is up, though, your APR will set in at a rate that will depend on the market Prime Rate and your creditworthiness.

With all of this in mind, if you’re looking for a business credit card with no annual fee as well as top travel rewards (among others) this may be one of the best options for you.

For a no annual fee business credit card option that’s similar to the Blue Business Plus but allows you to earn straight cash back instead of points, you might consider the Blue Business Cash card. With this American Express business card, you’ll earn:

• 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per year
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

The cash back you earn will be automatically credited to your statement—meaning you’ll be contributing to paying your bill as you spend.

In addition, this Amex business credit card with no annual fee also includes a 0% intro APR period for 12 months. Of course, after the 12 months are up, you’ll be subject to a variable APR based on the market rate and your creditworthiness.

Finally, the Blue Business Cash will also allow you to spend past your credit limit, as long as you’re paying your balance on time.

The Capital One Spark Cash Select card, in fact, is very similar to the Chase Ink Unlimited, with a few noteworthy exceptions.

First, like the Ink Unlimited, the Spark Cash Select allows you to earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Your rewards won’t expire for the life of your account with Capital One, plus, you can redeem your cash back in any amount.

In addition, this no-fee small business credit card gives you the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus—$200 if you spend $3,000 within three months of opening your account— $300 less than the Chase welcome bonus.

Nevertheless, this Capital One Spark business credit card also offers free employee cards and a nine-month 0% intro APR period. Once again, after this intro period is over, your APR will set in at a rate depending on the market and your creditworthiness.

Although this 0% intro APR period is shorter than the Chase Ink Unlimited, the Spark Cash Select also has the benefit of no foreign transaction fees, which the Ink Unlimited does not have.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a straightforward cash back card without transaction fees, the Spark Cash Select is going to be one of the best no annual fee business credit cards for you.

Another of your top business credit cards for cash back and no annual fee is the Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards card.

With this card, you’ll earn:

• 3% cash back in the category of your choice (on the first $50,000 in combined choice category and dining purchases per year)
• 2% cash back on dining
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

There are no limits on the amount of cash back you can earn and you’ll have the option to redeem your rewards as a statement credit, cash, or have the cash deposited into a Bank of America checking or savings account. Plus, if you qualify for the Preferred Rewards program through Bank of America, you’ll earn 75% more cash back on every purchase.

Additionally, this no annual fee business credit card offers a welcome bonus of $300 if you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days after opening your account.

Moreover, the Business Advantage Cash Rewards card also includes a 0% intro APR period for nine months—after which time a variable APR will set in based on the market and your creditworthiness.

With all of this in mind, this card is a great option if you want to maximize your cash back based on where you spend the most—and of course, avoid paying an annual fee.

Although the majority of the best business credit cards for travel will require an annual fee, the Capital One Spark Miles Select is one option that will not.

In fact, this no-fee small business credit card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and a competitive travel rewards program. This being said, the Spark Miles Select earns an unlimited 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase—making it one of the most straightforward travel-specific rewards cards out there.

In addition, your miles won’t expire as long as your account is open and you’ll be able to use your miles to fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions.

Moreover, if you spend $3,000 within the first three months with your card, you’ll receive a welcome bonus of 20,000 miles. Plus, this business credit card with no annual fee offers a nine-month 0% intro APR period, allowing you to make big purchases and pay them off interest-free after you open your account. As we’ve already mentioned, after the intro APR period is up, your APR will set in at a rate that depends on the market and your creditworthiness.

With this in mind, then, if you’re looking for the best no annual fee business credit cards that offer travel-specific rewards, there’s no doubt that the Spark Miles Select is going to be a top option.

For a no annual fee business credit card with one of the most unique startup bonuses out there, you might consider the Discover it Business Card.

The Discover it Business Card is actually the only business credit card offered by Discover—and in addition to no annual fee, this card also has no penalty APR, no over limit fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no late fees on your first late payment—making it one of the best no-fee small business credit cards on the market.

Additionally, this Discover card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which can be redeemed at any time. On top of receiving straight cash back, Discover also allows you to redeem your rewards for gift cards, charitable donations, account credit, or electronic deposits.

Moreover, as we mentioned, this no annual fee business credit card comes with a unique startup bonus: Discover offers an unlimited match on all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year with the card. Therefore, if you’ve earned $100 in cash back after one year, Discover will automatically add an additional $100 to your account within the next one or two billing periods.

Plus, this card also offers a 12-month 0% intro APR period, making it a great option for businesses looking to make larger purchases and pay them off within those 12 months. Not to mention, you’ll be earning cash back on those large purchases that will then be matched once the 12 months have concluded. This being said, however, after the 0% intro APR period is up, your APR will set in at a rate that will vary based on the market and your creditworthiness.

On top of all of these benefits, you can add employee cards with spending limits to your Discover it account and earn rewards for all their purchases. You’ll also have access to Discover’s 100% U.S.-based customer service.

So far, the options that we’ve discussed on this list of the best business credit cards with no annual fee will require a pretty good credit history for you to qualify. This being said, if you need a business credit card for fair credit, you might consider the Capital One Spark Classic.

The Spark Classic not only has no annual fee, but it also allows you to earn cash back as you work on building your credit.

This no-fee small business credit card usually considers potential cardholders with a FICO score of 580 or higher. Plus, you earn 1% cash back on every dollar you spend, with no limits on the amount you can earn. Additionally, the Spark Classic has no foreign transaction fees, includes fraud coverage, and allows you to add employee cards for free.

With this in mind, it’s important to note that Capital One does report business credit card usage to personal credit bureaus, which is a double-edged sword—if you use the card responsibly, you can improve your personal credit score (in addition to your business credit score), but if you miss payments, your FICO score could drop.

On the other hand, if you need a business card for bad credit, you’re likely going to have to turn to secured credit cards. Unlike unsecured, or traditional, business credit cards, secured cards require that you put down a cash deposit as collateral when you open your account.

This being said, however, if you’re looking for a secured business credit card with no annual fee, you can turn to the Capital One Secured Mastercard.

When used responsibly, this card can help you build credit, as Capital One will report your spending and payments to all three major credit bureaus. Additionally, the Capital One Secured Mastercard offers a flexible security deposit, granting you an initial $200 credit line after you make a deposit of $49, $99, or $200.

Plus, if you make your first five monthly payments on time, you’ll get access to a higher credit line without needing to make an additional deposit.

Therefore, although this no-fee secured business credit card does not offer a rewards program, it’s a great option for building credit and increasing your ability to qualify for a no annual fee business rewards credit card in the future.

Ultimately, any of the options on our list of the best business credit cards with no annual fee could be a great choice for your business. This being said, in essence, a no annual fee business credit card is right for you if:

• You don’t want to pay an annual fee to access heightened rewards.

On the other hand, the reason that no annual fee business credit cards might not be the right option for you is just as simple:

• You’re willing to pay an annual fee to access heightened rewards.

Typically, the benefit of business credit cards with annual fees is that these options include even more competitive and luxury reward programs.

At the end of the day, only you can decide which business credit card is right for you.

This being said, unless you have the funds and are looking to access a luxury business credit card, choosing a no annual fee business credit card is going to allow you to truly maximize your spending.

Therefore, choosing the best business credit card with no annual fee for you will involve thinking about a number of factors, and which of these factors is most important to your business. In your decision-making process, you might consider:

• Type of rewards (cash back, travel-specific, rewards points)
• Rewards structure (tiered vs. flat-rate)
• Foreign transaction fees
• 0% intro APR period
• Welcome bonus
• Qualification requirements

Once you’ve determined what factors will make the biggest impact on your final decision, you’ll be able to narrow down your no-fee business credit card options—and finally, choose the card that will be best for your business.