Which business credit cards offer cashback?

A business card with cashback helps you earn money back on every dollar your company spends. It returns a percentage of your purchases as cash, which you can apply toward your balance or use to reinvest in your operations. Unlike other reward types, like travel or points-based cards, cashback cards offer direct savings that are easy to track and use.

If you're comparing options, it’s not just about the cashback rate. You’ll want to consider spending categories, annual fees, limits, and how rewards are redeemed. Some cards offer flat-rate cashback on all business purchases. Others give you higher returns in specific categories like travel, gas, or software subscriptions.

Understanding the impact of cashback on your business

Cashback rewards effectively function as an automatic discount on your operating expenses, directly improving your bottom line without requiring changes to your business operations or spending habits. Businesses and individuals in the U.S. made over 58.5 billion credit card payments annually, totaling more than $5.83 trillion.

If you have regular monthly expenses, using a business credit card with cashback ensures your business earns back a portion of what it already spends. You can use these returns to:

• Offset operating costs
• Reinvest in growth opportunities
• Improve cash flow management
• Build emergency reserves

A manufacturing business spending $20,000 monthly on supplies with a 1.5% cashback card earns $3,600 annually—essentially a free employee bonus or equipment upgrade.

Factors to consider when choosing a cashback business card

Beyond the reward percentage, you need to evaluate cashback structure, annual fees, redemption flexibility, and additional perks to identify truly valuable cards. A 1.5% flat-rate card often outperforms a 3% category card when your spending doesn't align with those bonus categories.

Cashback structure

Business cashback cards offer different reward structures:

• Flat-rate cashback: Provides the same percentage on all purchases regardless of category. These cards typically offer 1.5-2% on everything, making them ideal for businesses with varied spending patterns.
• Tiered cashback: Offers higher percentages in specific spending categories like office supplies, internet services, or travel. For example, you might get 5% on office supplies, 3% on advertising, and 1% on everything else.
• Rotating categories: Provides boosted cashback in categories that change quarterly. While these can maximize returns, they require more management and spending strategy adjustments.

The best structure depends on your spending patterns. Analyze your largest expense categories over the past six months to determine where higher cashback percentages would benefit you most.

Annual fees vs. rewards potential

Cards with annual fees often offer higher cashback rates or additional benefits that can outweigh the cost. Calculate your break-even point:

Annual fee ÷ cashback percentage = spending required to break even

For example, with a $95 annual fee and 2% cashback, you need to spend $4,750 annually ($396 monthly) to break even. Any spending beyond this generates net positive returns.

Welcome bonuses and intro offers

Many business cashback cards offer substantial welcome bonuses after meeting a minimum spend requirement in the first few months. These bonuses can range from $300-$1,000, providing immediate value.

Make sure to consider the ones with:

• Achievable spending thresholds based on your normal business expenses
• Introductory 0% APR periods for large upcoming purchases
• First-year fee waivers that enhance initial value

Redemption options and flexibility

Cashback cards offer varying redemption methods, each affecting how quickly and easily you access your rewards:

• Statement credits reduce your next bill automatically
• Direct deposits transfer cash to your business checking account
• Physical checks require a manual deposit
• Gift cards or merchandise typically provide less value per dollar earned

Cards with automatic redemption and no minimum thresholds simplify accounting and ensure you receive every penny earned. Ramp's cashback is automatic and applied as a statement credit at the end of each billing cycle. There's no need to manually redeem rewards, and there's no minimum threshold to earn cashback.

Additional benefits beyond cashback

While cashback is valuable, complementary benefits can significantly increase a card's overall value:

• Expense tracking and reporting tools
• Employee card controls
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranties
• No foreign transaction fees

These features save time and money beyond the cashback percentage, particularly for businesses that need detailed expense categorization or want to automate accounting processes.

For example, a card with built-in expense management might save your finance team 5-10 hours weekly on manual receipt tracking and categorization. At an average cost of $35/hour for accounting staff, this automation delivers $700-$1,400 in monthly labor savings, potentially exceeding the actual cashback earned from purchases. Similarly, purchase protection on a $5,000 equipment investment that malfunctions after the manufacturer's warranty expires could save thousands in replacement costs.

Credit requirements

Traditional business cashback cards typically require good to excellent personal credit scores (670+) and established business credit history. Newer businesses or owners with limited credit history might need to start with secured business credit cards, build credit with business credit cards that don't require a credit check, or use personal guarantee options.

Some modern business cards approve companies based solely on their business performance and financial health rather than credit scores. This innovative approach evaluates your company's bank balances, cash flow patterns, and revenue stability instead of founder credit history. Businesses with strong finances can qualify regardless of how long they've been operating, often receiving higher credit limits that actually match their spending needs.

Common business expense categories

When evaluating business credit cards, it's important to understand how different cards treat various spending categories. Some cards offer tiered rewards for specific categories, while others provide consistent cashback across all purchases.

Most businesses allocate significant spending to these key categories:

• Office supplies and services: This category typically includes office furniture and equipment, stationery and organization supplies, and printing services.
• Telecommunications: Business operations depend on reliable communication services, including internet services, phone systems, and cable/satellite services.
• Travel expenses: For businesses with travel needs, relevant expenses include airfare, hotels, car rentals, and restaurants.
• Digital advertising: With marketing budgets increasingly allocated to digital channels, advertising is a major expense for many businesses.
• Software subscriptions: Modern businesses rely on various software solutions for operations, accounting, project management, and customer relationship management.
• Shipping and freight: E-commerce businesses and companies with physical products often have significant shipping expenses.

For each of these categories, consider whether your spending volume justifies choosing a card with category-specific bonuses versus a higher flat-rate card. Category bonuses can seem attractive, but calculate whether your actual spending patterns align with these bonus categories or if a straightforward flat-rate card would provide better overall returns.

7 business credit cards that offer cashback

The best business credit cards that offer casback include Ramp with integrated expense management, Capital One offering 2% flat-rate rewards, American Express providing 2% on initial spending, Bank of America featuring introductory APR promotions, and Chase delivering a generous $750 welcome bonus—each designed for different business priorities.

1. Ramp Business Credit Card

The Ramp Corporate Card is a smart choice for growing businesses that want control, savings, and simplicity. It offers cash back on every purchase, with no annual fee, interest, or foreign transaction charges. Unlike traditional small business credit cards, Ramp doesn’t require a personal guarantee or credit check, making it accessible for startups and scaling teams.

You get unlimited physical and virtual cards, built-in expense controls, and real-time tracking, all designed to help finance teams move faster and reduce waste. With deep accounting integrations and over $350,000 in partner rewards, Ramp goes beyond payments to streamline the entire spending process.

Some of its key features include:

• Cashback rewards on purchases
• Built-in expense management software
• No personal guarantee or credit check required
• Up to over $350,000 in partner offers
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
• Accepted in 200+ countries through the Visa global network

2. Capital One Spark Cash Plus

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a charge card designed for businesses with significant monthly expenses and the ability to pay balances in full each month. It offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, with no category restrictions, and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. The card has no preset spending limit, allowing purchasing power to adapt based on your business’s spending behavior, payment history, and credit profile.

While it carries a $150 annual fee, this fee is refunded each calendar year you spend $150,000 or more. Additionally, new cardholders can earn a $2,000 cash bonus after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months, with an additional $2,000 bonus for every $500,000 spent in the first year. The card also offers free employee cards with customizable spending limits, purchase protection, extended warranty, and travel assistance services.

Some of its key features include:

• 2% unlimited cash back on all purchases
• No preset spending limit
• No foreign transaction fees
• $2,000 welcome bonus after $30,000 spend in 3 months
• Free employee cards with spending controls

3. American Express Blue Business Cash Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a solid option for small businesses seeking straightforward cash-back rewards without an annual fee. By using this business credit card, you get 2% cash back on eligible purchases up to $50,000 annually, then 1% thereafter, with rewards automatically credited to your statement.

New cardholders can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Additional features include Expanded Buying Power, allowing you to exceed your credit limit based on usage and payment history, and the ability to add up to 99 employee cards at no extra cost.

Some of its key features include:

• 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in purchases per year; 1% after
• No annual fee
• $250 welcome bonus after $3,000 spend in 3 months
• Expanded Buying Power to exceed credit limit
• Automatic cash back redemption

4. Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® is a straightforward cashback card built for simplicity and value. You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with no need to track spending categories. There's no annual fee, and new cardholders can earn a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.

The card also comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 9 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 17.49%–27.49%. Businesses that qualify for the Preferred Rewards for Business program can boost their cash back by up to 75%.

Some of its key features include:

• Straightforward 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• No annual fee
• Generous welcome bonus
• Introductory 0% APR on purchases
• Enhanced rewards through Preferred Rewards for Business program

5. Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card offers a straightforward rewards structure, making it ideal for business owners seeking simplicity. Cardholders earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with no need to track spending categories.

The card comes with a generous welcome bonus of $750 after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. Additionally, it provides a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, followed by a variable APR of 17.49%–23.49%. The card charges no annual fee, and you can add employee cards at no extra cost with individual spending limits.

Some of its key features include:

• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• $750 welcome bonus after $6,000 spend in 3 months
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months
• Redeem rewards for cash back, business travel, or gift cards via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Free employee cards with spending limits
• Includes purchase protection and extended warranty

How to maximize your business cashback rewards

To maximize your cashback returns, first analyze your expense reports from the past 6-12 months to identify spending patterns. This analysis helps you spot your main spending areas and develop an effective strategy. If you have major concentration in specific categories, you can select cards that offer higher rewards in those areas. Alternatively, if your spending is distributed across various categories, a flat-rate card provides consistent returns on all expenses without the complexity of tracking categories.

Companies using business credit cards with varying offers often time major purchases strategically around welcome bonus qualification periods, promotional cashback offers, or before reaching annual category spending caps. Some businesses use multiple cards to capture the highest cashback rate on specific categories—using one card for office supplies, another for travel, and a third for everything else. Another approach is stacking credit card rewards with vendor loyalty programs, cash rebate apps, and shopping portals to potentially double your effective cashback on certain purchases.

Keep in mind that these optimization techniques require significant management attention, creating administrative burdens and approval delays. They become increasingly difficult to implement systematically as your business grows, which is why straightforward, flat-rate cashback is often the most efficient approach for scaling companies.

Redeeming cashback rewards

Redeeming cashback from your business credit card depends on how your issuer structures its rewards program. The most common method is applying the cashback as a statement credit, directly reducing your monthly balance. Some issuers also let you transfer rewards as a direct deposit to a linked business checking account. This gives you more control over how and when you use the funds.

In some cases, issuers like Chase or American Express offer additional redemption options, including travel, gift cards, or merchandise through their rewards portals. While these choices add flexibility, they may not offer as much value as a simple cash redemption.

Ramp takes a different approach by applying cashback automatically to your account. There’s no need to track points, meet thresholds, or initiate redemptions. That saves time and ensures you don’t leave rewards unused.

Redemption policies vary, so reviewing your card’s terms is important. Some require you to reach a minimum cashback balance, often around $25, before you can redeem. Others may include expiration rules tied to account inactivity or product changes. Around 72% of cardholders actively try to earn rewards, showing how important cashback has become in managing business finances.

How Candid increased cashback earnings by 180% with Ramp Corporate Cards

Candid turned to Ramp for a corporate card solution that could support their international growth while increasing finance efficiency. But the switch to Ramp also allowed Candid to earn significantly more cashback rewards on their business spending. Previously, under 5% of Candid's total spend was on cashback-earning cards. That number has now risen to 14% with Ramp, generating $44,000 in rewards. "Our old program had cashback and certain expense categories that were better than others. But the percentage was lower," said Dmitriy.

For growing businesses like Candid, Ramp's combination of high-limit corporate cards with built-in spend management and industry-leading cashback rewards has been a game-changer. By streamlining expense processes and maximizing savings opportunities, Ramp helps companies free up valuable time and capital to invest back into their business as they scale.

Discover Ramp's corporate card for modern finance

Learn more

Turn everyday spending into savings with the right cashback card

The best cashback business credit cards help you earn while you spend. Whether you’re covering software subscriptions, travel, or everyday operations, the right card can return a portion of that spend to your bottom line.

Ramp’s corporate card stands out for businesses that value automation, speed, and control. It offers cashback on all purchases, without any limits, interest, or foreign transaction fees. You don’t need to manage points or activate categories. Cashback is applied automatically, with no redemption steps. Ramp also requires no personal guarantee and integrates directly with accounting tools, helping you streamline spend and compliance in one place.

At Ramp, transparency and integrity are core values guiding our content. We believe in the exceptional value of our products, which may shape our perspective. Our methodical approach involves competitor analysis, comparison of credit cards, and frequent reviews to maintain reliability. Review our full methodology for choosing the best business credit cards.