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If you're running a small business, every penny counts. Fortunately, there are business credit cards that skip the added cost of an annual fee while still enabling you to earn rewards, add employee cards and build your credit profile.
CNBC Select has named the best no-annual-fee business credit cards in a variety of categories to help you choose the right one for your company.
Best no-annual-fee business credit cards
- Best for everyday purchases: Ink Business Unlimited® credit card (see rates and fees)
- Best for cash back: The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for office supplies: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for welcome bonus: Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo
- Best for travel rewards: Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- Best for 0% intro APR: U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
- Best for building business credit: *Capital One Spark 1% Classic
Best for everyday purchases
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 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 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
Who's this for? The Ink Business Unlimited is great for any business owner looking for a simple and rewarding card because it earns an above-average return on every purchase with no spending caps.
Standout benefits: You'll earn at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Plus, you can transfer your rewards to Chase's travel partners if you have a Chase credit card with that feature, like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).
Best for cash back
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is an ideal fit for a growing business because it offers an intro APR for purchases and a generous cash-back rate.
- Valuable intro-APR offer for purchases for 12 months
- No annual fee
- Additional cash back is capped
- It 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 a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.74% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on the first $50,000 of purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That's why you've got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power*.
- * The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee. Terms Apply. Learn More.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Refer to Terms and Conditions
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Who's this for? The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a great fit if you want to maximize your cash-back rewards.
Standout benefits: You'll earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases of up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back.
Best for office supplies
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a no-annual-fee cash-back business card that's especially rewarding at office supply stores and gas stations.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Intro APR for purchases
- No annual fee
- Bonus spending categories have annual limits
- 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 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 in combined spend
- Earn 2% cash back on dining and gas each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 spent in combined spend.
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- As a Chase cardmember, you'll be automatically checked for a credit line increase at least every 6 months.
- Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership.
- No Annual Fee
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- 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
Who's this for? You can maximize your rewards for office supply store purchases with the Ink Business Cash Credit Card, which can include electronics or other expensive purchases.
Standout benefits: This card is one of the most rewarding options for office supply stores and internet, cable and phone bills. It earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases in those categories each account anniversary year. Once you hit that limit, you'll earn 1% cash back on those purchases.
Best for welcome bonus
- High flat-rate rewards
- Intro APR for a year on purchases
- No annual fee
- Airport lounge access has a per-visit fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Who's this for? The Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo offers a generous welcome bonus for a business cash-back card that doesn't have an annual fee.
Standout benefits: The Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash Card earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on every purchase.
Best for travel rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a great option if you're starting a business because it's affordable, earns flexible travel rewards and offers an intro-APR on purchases for a year.
- Valuable intro-APR offer for purchases for 12 months
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
- No annual fee
- Bonus rewards for purchases are capped
- Few useful travel insurance benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- 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.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.74% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You've got the power to spend above your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Who's this for? The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a good choice for business owners who want to earn travel rewards.
Standout benefits: You'll earn 2X American Express Membership Rewards points on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year. After that, all purchases earn 1X points. These are some of the most valuable travel rewards because you can transfer them to a long list of airline and hotel partners, such as Delta SkyMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy and many more.
Terms and limitations apply.
Best for 0% intro APR
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.
Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card is a great option for bigger ticket items, as it offers a low intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 billing cycles.
Standout benefits: This card has a generous intro-APR offer for a business credit card, plus it earns rewards in a number of useful spending categories, like gas and office supplies.
Best for building business credit
The Capital One Spark 1% Classic is a good fit for business owners who want to build their credit because it's available if you have fair credit and there's no annual fee.
- No annual fee
- Good for building credit history because it only requires a fair credit score
- Low rewards rate and no bonus spending categories
- High APR
Who's this for? The *Capital One Spark 1% Classic is a solid choice for business owners looking to improve their credit scores because they can qualify with a fair credit score.
Standout benefits: The card doesn't come with a welcome bonus, but users can earn an unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase for their business and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
More on our best no-annual-fee business credit cards
Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Best for everyday purchases
Rewards
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Ink Business Unlimited card comes with purchase protection, extended warranty protection, rental car collision coverage, roadside assistance and travel and emergency assistance services.
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card
Best for cash back
Rewards
- 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in purchases per year (then 1%)*
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
*Terms and limitations apply. Cash back is earned as a statement credit.
Welcome bonus
Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases on your card within your first three months of card membership.
Annual fee
$0 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
In addition to earning cash back, eligible purchases you make with your Amex Blue Business Cash Card are covered by purchase protection and an extended warranty.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Best for office supplies
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 (then 1% cash back)
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1% cash back)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers purchase protection, extended warranty protection, travel and emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch and primary rental car collision coverage (when renting for business purposes).
Signify Business Cash Card by Wells Fargo
Best for welcome bonus
Rewards
- 2% cash rewards on all purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $500 cash rewards bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
You can transfer rewards to Wells Fargo's travel partners if you pair the Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo with a Wells Fargo credit card that enables travel partner transfers, such as the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card (see rates and fees) or Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees). It also offers travel accident insurance and rental car insurance. You can enroll to receive a Priority Pass airport lounge membership, but this card's membership doesn't come with any complimentary visits, so you'll have to pay a per-visit fee.
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
Best for travel rewards
Rewards
- 2X points on up to the first $50,000 in purchases per year (then 1X)*
- 1X points on all other purchases
*Terms and limitations apply
Welcome bonus
Earn 15,000 points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership.
Annual fee
$0 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express comes with several cardholder protections, including *rental car insurance, extended warranty and purchase protection.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card
Best for 0% intro APR
Rewards
- 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center
- 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)
- 3% cash back on eligible purchases at office supply stores
- 3% cash back on eligible purchases at cell phone service providers
- 3% cash back on eligible purchases at restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs)
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn $500 in cash back; just spend $4,500 on the account owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card offers you a low intro-APR, earns 3% cash back in helpful rewards categories, and comes with a $100 credit for recurring software subscription expenses, such as QuickBooks.
Capital One Spark 1% Classic
Best for building business credit
Rewards
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Capital One Spark 1% Classic has no foreign transaction fees and comes with extended warranty coverage and roadside assistance.
Learn more: *Capital One Spark 1% Classic
FAQs
How many business credit cards can you apply for at once?
The number of business credit cards you can have varies depending on the card issuer, but many banks will allow you to have more than one business credit card. The number of credit cards your business can have is also limited by the amount of credit a card issuer will offer you.
Is it better to have no annual fee?
Credit cards with annual fees tend to have more benefits and features. However, that doesn't necessarily make them 'better' as you should pick a card that matches your needs. Also, remember that credit card annual fees can be deducted as business expenses.
What does it mean if a credit card has no annual fee?
Many more premium credit cards come with an annual fee charged to cardholders for simply having the card active in their wallet. If it has no annual fee, you could hold the card forever and not incur any fees.
What are the benefits of cards that don't charge an annual fee?
Having no annual fee can be helpful for credit card holders who simply want to save on their purchases by earning rewards. Annual fees are typically for users who want to extract additional value from the card benefits offered.
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 credit card list 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 no-annual-fee business credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which business cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed business credit cards with no annual fee issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
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 cashback).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
The main criteria in ranking the best business credit cards without an annual fee are the rewards rates and added benefits, such as insurance coverage, intro APRs and other features. The more perks a card has, the more likely it is to rank on our list.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Read more
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
Information about the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
