- Best charge cards for small businesses
- How do charge cards work?
- How do charge cards affect your credit score?
- Charge cards vs. debit cards
- What are the benefits of using a business charge card?
- Which credit card issuers offer charge cards?
- Grow your business with the Ramp corporate card
A charge card is a payment card that requires the full balance to be paid off each month and has no preset spending limit. It can be an American Express, Mastercard, or Visa, for example, and—like a credit card—is accepted wherever that network is supported.
Many business owners need ongoing access to additional capital beyond what’s available in their business bank accounts. While credit cards and small business loans offer funding solutions, they often come with high fees and interest rates, making them costly financial options. That’s where charge cards come in.
Business charge cards are an alternative that give owners more flexibility than traditional business credit cards. This guide will explore how charge cards work and what to keep in mind before deciding if this financial product is right for you.
Best charge cards for small businesses
Here’s the shortlist of best business charge cards:
- Ramp Corporate Card
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus Business Card
- American Express Business Platinum Card
- American Express Business Gold Card
- Stripe Corporate Card
- Nav Prime Card
Ramp Corporate Card
Ramp Corporate Card
- Offers a comprehensive platform that includes expense management, travel booking, procurement, and accounts payable
- Unique cost-cutting features and AI-powered savings insights to help companies reduce business expenses
- No annual, application, or late payment fees
- Access to over $350,000 in partner rewards and perks from leading companies
- Only available to US-based corporations and LLCs, excluding sole proprietors and unregistered businesses
- Requires a minimum of $25,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balances must be paid in full each month, which may not provide the flexibility some businesses need for managing cash flow
The Ramp Corporate Card is a powerful charge card designed to maximize savings and efficiency. With no fees, no interest, and no personal guarantee required, it offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Unlike traditional cards, Ramp goes beyond rewards—its AI-driven expense management and automated savings insights help businesses cut unnecessary costs. With no preset spending limit, it scales with your company’s needs.
Additional perks include real-time expense tracking, seamless integrations with accounting software, and free employee cards.
Ramp isn’t just a charge card, it’s a financial optimization tool that helps your company spend smarter. It’s the ideal solution for fast-growing businesses.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Business Card
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Business Card
- Unlimited cashback rewards
- Offers $150 statement credit to cover annual fee
- 0% interest when used as intended
- $1,200 early spending bonus
- 2.99% monthly fee to carry a balance
- Must spend $30,000 in your first 3 months to access $1,200 bonus cash
- Must spend $150,000 per year to access the $150 annual cash bonus
- Limited spend management features
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus gives cardholders unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, with no category restrictions, so it is ideal for businesses with diverse spending.
Additional benefits include free employee cards, no foreign transaction fees, and a $200 annual cash bonus after spending $200,000 in a year.
American Express Business Platinum Card
American Express Business Platinum Card
- Advanced travel perks
- Statement credits
- Up to 5x points back
- High annual fee
- You have to travel often to make the most use of this card
- 5x points back only applies for flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
Designed for frequent travelers, the American Express Business Platinum Card offers 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, plus 1.5x points on eligible business purchases over $5,000. It features premium perks like airport lounge access, airline fee credits, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement, and hotel elite status.
With no preset spending limit, it adapts to business needs.
The $695 annual fee is steep, but high-value rewards and travel benefits make it ideal for businesses that spend heavily on travel and large purchases.
American Express Business Gold Card
American Express Business Gold Card
- High points back, especially in two categories of your choice
- No spending limit
- Expense management tools
- High annual fee
- After the due date, you’ll be charged a late payment fee of $40 or 2.99% of the amount owed
- Points system is more complex since you have to monitor your spending across multiple categories
The American Express Business Gold Card offers 4x Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible spending categories each month (up to $150,000 annually), such as advertising, gas, dining, and technology. The card has no preset spending limit, adjusting based on business needs. Additional perks include travel benefits, purchase protection, and employee card options.
While it carries a $375 annual fee, businesses that maximize its rewards can offset the cost.
Stripe Corporate Card
Stripe Corporate Card
- No credit check or personal guarantee required: Approval is based on your business’s financial health rather than personal credit
- No foreign transaction fees: International purchases won’t incur additional charges, saving money on global spending
- Straightforward cashback program: Earn cashback on eligible purchases without complicated redemption processes
- Limited access due to beta program: Currently, only select businesses are eligible to participate in the corporate card program
- Transaction fees reduce cashback value: Fees on certain transactions can diminish the overall benefit of cashback rewards
- No rewards bonus categories: Cashback rates remain flat regardless of spending categories
Stripe functions differently from traditional credit cards. As a payment processing platform, it enables businesses to accept various online payment methods, including credit cards.
Rather than offering a line of credit like a bank-issued credit card, Stripe serves as a bridge between your customers and your bank account. When a customer makes a payment through Stripe, the funds—after deducting a processing fee—are transferred to your account.
Nav Prime Card
Nav Prime Card
- No credit check: This eliminates the risk of a hard inquiry impacting your personal credit score
- No security deposit: You don't need to put down any upfront funds to obtain the card
- Builds business credit: Responsible use of the card can help establish and improve your business credit history with major credit bureaus
- Two tradelines: Nav reports two tradelines to credit bureaus each month, potentially accelerating credit building
- High monthly fee: The card costs $49.99 monthly to use
- Limited spending power: As a charge card, you must pay your balance in full each month
- No rewards or perks: Even other cards you can get with just an EIN offer rewards programs, cashback, or other perks. This card doesn't
The Nav Prime Card is a charge card designed to help businesses—especially startups—build business credit without a personal credit check.
Unlike traditional credit cards, it has no preset credit limit and requires linking an external bank account, which serves as the funding source for purchases.
With no interest charges, it’s an ideal option for businesses looking to establish credit, manage cash flow, and gain financial insights without the hurdles of traditional credit approval.
Summary of the best business charge cards
- Corporate card with customizable spending controls
- Cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
- Must have $50,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
Annual Fee
$0
APR
N/A
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Business Card- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn a one-time $1,200 cash bonus after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Pay-in-full charge card, meaning your balance must be paid in full every month
- No preset spending limit, adapting to your needs based on spending behavior, payment history, and credit profile
APR
N/A
Fees
$150
American Express Business Platinum Card- Earn 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
- Access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide with the American Express Global Lounge Collection
- Get up to $400 in annual statement credits for U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies
- Receive up to $200 in airline fee credits per calendar year for incidental fees on your selected airline
APR
19.49%–28.49%
Fees
$695
American Express Business Gold Card- Business credit card with the option to pay in full or carry a balance, with different APR rates for each option
- Points-based membership rewards
- Employee cards available for $50 each
- Requires a good to excellent credit score to qualify
APR
19.49–27.49% (variable)
Fees
$375
Stripe Corporate Card- Corporate card available on an invite-only basis to U.S. companies
- Requires a Stripe account to request access
- Charges transaction fees on purchases rather than having a monthly or annual fee
- Each card transaction costs between 1% and 2.9% plus an additional fee of between 0.30 and 0.80 cents
- Earn 1.5% cashback on purchases
APR
N/A
Fees
$0
Nav Prime Card- The Nav Prime Card is designed specifically to help businesses establish or improve their business credit history.
- You don't need a personal or business credit history to qualify for the card.
- It's a charge card, meaning the entire balance must be paid in full each day.
- Your card usage impacts your credit report.
- The card doesn't offer rewards like cashback or points.
APR
N/A
Fees
$600 ($49.99 monthly)
How do charge cards work?
Charge cards allow you to buy various goods and services like a credit card. However, charge cards do not have any preset limits. You also will not accrue any interest on your charge card. The only requirement is that you pay back your balance in full at the end of each month. Penalty fees and late fees may apply if you do not pay off your charge card’s balance at the end of the month.
How do business charge cards impact cash flow management?
Business charge cards help manage cash flow by offering flexible spending without a preset limit while requiring full payment each billing cycle. This ensures businesses avoid long-term debt and interest charges, promoting financial discipline. However, companies must have strong cash flow to cover expenses each month. That’s why charge cards are ideal for businesses with predictable revenue.
How do charge cards affect your credit score?
A charge card will not affect your personal FICO score, but it will impact your company’s business credit score. Charge card issuers will send your payment history to the major business credit bureaus. However, charge cards will not impact your credit utilization ratio since there is no preset limit.
Payment history is the most important component of your business credit score. A charge card impacts this category, but it also plays a role in the age of your credit, inquiries, and credit mix. Each of these factors also contributes to your business credit score.
If you take out a charge card and pay the balance in full each month, your business credit score will go up. A higher business credit score will help you qualify for better rates and terms on future business loans. However, falling behind on charge card payments and making late payments will negatively impact your credit score.
Are charge cards good for business?
Yes, charge cards can be great for businesses, but whether they are the right choice depends on your company's financial habits and needs.
Charge cards vs. debit cards
How do charge cards differ from credit cards? Here is a table comparing charge cards versus credit cards based on the key differences:
Feature | Charge Cards | Business Credit Cards |
|---|---|---|
Credit Limit | No preset limit; spending adjusts based on history | Fixed credit limit; requires manual request for an increase |
Spending Power | Increases automatically based on payment history | Limited by the assigned credit limit; can request increases every 6-12 months |
Balance Carryover | Must be paid in full each month | Can carry a balance but accrues interest |
Interest Charges | No interest (since full balance is required monthly) | High APR on unpaid balances |
Credit Utilization Impact | Does not impact credit utilization ratio | Affects credit utilization ratio, which can influence credit score |
Access to More Capital | Readily increases spending ability based on payment patterns | May require personal loans or financing for additional funds |
Rewards & Bonuses | Offers welcome bonuses, rewards programs, and perks | Also offers rewards, bonuses, and perks |
Flexibility | Greater flexibility due to no preset limit and automatic spending adjustments | More restrictive due to fixed credit limits |
Charge cards are ideal for businesses that can pay in full each month and want flexibility and higher spending power, while credit cards offer the ability to carry a balance but with interest costs.
What about charge cards vs. credit cards vs. debit cards?
Charge cards require full payment each month with no preset spending limit, while small business credit cards allow you to carry a balance with interest and have a fixed credit limit. A debit card pulls funds directly from a linked bank account, meaning you can only spend what’s available, with no credit or borrowing involved.
» Learn more: How to apply for and get a business credit card
What are the benefits of using a business charge card?
Charge cards offer several advantages, but every financial product has its drawbacks. These are the pros and cons to consider before deciding if a charge card is right for you.
Pros
- No interest payments
- These cards have welcome offers, rewards programs, and other perks
- No preset spending limits make it easier to access cash flow
- Business owners can give charge cards to their employees and manage them
- Charge cards can improve your business credit score if you make on-time payments
Cons
- You must pay your balance in full by the end of the month
- Charge cards do not impact your credit utilization ratio
- Charge cards may have different eligibility requirements, like cash on hand
- Penalty fees can apply for late payments
Which credit card issuers offer charge cards?
Small business owners and corporations can choose from many charge card issuers. Some of the companies that offer business credit cards also offer charge cards. These are some of the issuers that offer charge cards:
- Ramp
- American Express
- Capital One
- Chase Bank
- Tomo
- Sunoco
- Stripe
Business owners should compare each card’s welcome bonus, rewards, fees, and features when deciding which card is right for them.
Grow your business with the Ramp corporate card
Charge cards let businesses access more capital than they could with business credit cards. However, some charge cards don’t offer much beyond the basics. You should get a charge card that rewards you for every purchase and has a bunch of other great perks. That’s where the Ramp corporate card comes in handy.
Ramp allows business owners to issue an unlimited number of cards and save an average of 5% through cost-cutting features. These cards also let you tap into higher limits that are up to 30 times higher than traditional options. Ramp also streamlines your accounting by generating reports that can save you a lot of time during tax season.
Don't miss these
“Our previous bill pay process probably took a good 10 hours per AP batch. Now it just takes a couple of minutes between getting an invoice entered, approved, and processed.”
Jason Hershey
VP of Finance and Accounting, Hospital Association of Oregon
“When looking for a procure-to-pay solution we wanted to make everyone’s life easier. We wanted a one-click type of solution, and that’s what we’ve achieved with Ramp.”
Mandy Mobley
Finance Invoice & Expense Coordinator, Crossings Community Church
“We no longer have to comb through expense records for the whole month — having everything in one spot has been really convenient. Ramp's made things more streamlined and easy for us to stay on top of. It's been a night and day difference.”
Fahem Islam
Accounting Associate, Snapdocs
“It's great to be able to park our operating cash in the Ramp Business Account where it earns an actual return and then also pay the bills from that account to maximize float.”
Mike Rizzo
Accounting Manager, MakeStickers
“The practice managers love Ramp, it allows them to keep some agency for paying practice expenses. They like that they can instantaneously attach receipts at the time of transaction, and that they can text back-and-forth with the automated system. We've gotten a lot of good feedback from users.”
Greg Finn
Director of FP&A, Align ENTA
“The reason I've been such a super fan of Ramp is the product velocity. Not only is it incredibly beneficial to the user, it’s also something that gives me confidence in your ability to continue to pull away from other products.”
Tyler Bliha
CEO, Abode
“Switching to Ramp for Bill Pay saved us not only time but also a significant amount of money. Our previous AP automation tool cost us around $40,000 per year, and it wasn’t even working properly. Ramp is far more functional, and we’re getting the benefits at a fraction of the cost.”
Frank Byers
Controller, The Second City
