Top 8 Fuel Cards for Small Businesses [2024]

Small business expenses add up quickly, especially if you are driving often or have a fleet of company cars that need to fuel up weekly. One way to make your small business spending go further is with fuel credit cards that reward you for spending.

Fuel cards work similar to other reward credit cards, but you can expect the highest cashback rates when you spend on gas. Depending on the fuel card you choose for your small business, there might be other perks and bonuses that will make being your own boss a little sweeter. See our top fleet and fuel card choices for small business owners.

Best fuel and fleet cards that reward small business owners

• U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard^®
• Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card
• Costco Anywhere Visa^® Business Card by Citi
• Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card
• Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®
• Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

The best fuel cards for small business cards

Card	Annual Fee	Best for
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	$95 (waived first year)	Frequent business trips
Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	$95	Wyndham customers
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi 4.2 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	$0	Costco customers
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card 4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	$0	Everyday business expenses
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® 4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	$99 (waived first year)	American Airlines customers
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	$125	Marriott Bonvoy customers

U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard^®

If you are regularly on the road to attend businesses and conferences, the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard^® might be an ideal choice. You can elevate your airport experience because this card gives you an annual membership to Priority Pass, which grants you access to over 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide. You can also use this card overseas without worrying about foreign transaction fees, which can be 1% to 3%, depending on the card.

Another perk worth mentioning is that you'll receive a $25 statement credit after every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare transactions you put on your card.

The main downsides to this card are the annual fee ($95 (waived first year)) and the lack of transfer partners. It is not a good fit for those who don’t spend a lot on traveling or gas, since you won’t get the maximum cash back for your spending habits. Evaluate your small business spending to see where you do spend the most and look for the best business card that offers three to four times cash back in those categories.

Learn more in our full U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard^® review.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card is best for frequent travelers who often stay at Wyndham properties and wish to maximize their rewards. You will also love that you are automatically upgraded to diamond level with this card, which means perks like suite upgrades and a welcome amenity at check-in.

If you have an employee or team, you can take advantage of their complimentary employee cards, which helps you track and control your business expenses and team spending.

This card might not be ideal for travelers who prefer staying at a variety of hotel brands and seek a more versatile rewards program. There is a $95 annual fee for this card, which can cut into any benefits you might earn with the card.

Learn more in our full Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card review.

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Business Card by Citi

If you want a $0-annual-fee card that earns a lot on gas, you might consider the Costco Anywhere Visa^® Business Card by Citi. The Costco Anywhere Visa^® Business Card by Citi is best for frequent Costco shoppers and business owners with high expenses on gas, dining, and travel, as they can maximize the cashback benefits offered by the card. We appreciate that the card has a high cashback rate with a $0 annual fee — which is a bonus since you will need to pay for a Costco membership.

This card might not be suitable for individuals or businesses that don't regularly shop at Costco or those who prefer cards with immediate rewards and more frequent cashback redemption options.

Learn more in our full Costco Anywhere Visa^® Business Card by Citi review.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card is among the best choices for business owners who want a versatile credit card. Small business owners who have significant expenses in the bonus categories, such as office supplies, telecom services, gas, and dining will earn the most cash back.

However, this card might not be a good fit for you if you do a lot of international travel and spending, since the foreign transaction fee can add up quickly.

The biggest downsides of this card are its spending caps and the limited scope of categories. While 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 is nice, not all businesses will have significant spending in those areas.

Apply now or see if the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card is a good fit for you in our full review.

Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®

For those that love to travel with American Airlines, this card offers a generous welcome offer, and you will earn the same points on eligible travel and gas purchases.

It also has a number of interesting benefits, including the potential to earn a companion certificate for domestic travel after spending $30,000 or more in purchases each year. This could be quite useful if, for example, you have a business partner with whom you travel often.

The biggest downsides of this card are the $99 (waived first year) annual fee and the lack of an intro APR on purchases. In addition, balance transfers aren’t allowed with this card.

If you don’t like being stuck with one airline company, then this is not the card for you. Plus, we think there are other travel reward cards that make the annual fee worth it.

For example, you won’t earn as many points back on gas purchases with the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, but you will earn more on travel, get travel perks like VIP lounge access, and have the flexibility to redeem your cash back on the travel partners you prefer.

Learn more in our full Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^® review.

Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card has a high annual fee of $125 — which is not waived the first year like many other credit cards. However, it does offer increased points back on gas purchases and Marriott purchases.

This card will also give you automatic Gold Elite status at Marriott, with benefits like room upgrades and bonus points on hotel stays. It’s also worth noting that Marriott has more than 39 different airline transfer partners.

If you like flexibility in your business travels, being tied to one hotel chain might make it difficult to book on a budget and maximize your points.

Apply now or learn more in our full Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card review.

What is a fuel card?

A fuel card, also known as a gas credit card, is a type of card that earns rewards or cash back when you spend money on gas or fuel. These credit cards are often co-branded with specific gas station chains but can also be more general, offering rewards at any available gas station. In addition, some fuel cards offer cash back or rewards for electric vehicle (EV) charging, reflecting the move in the auto industry toward low-emission vehicles.

Typically, the rewards you earn from fuel cards come in the form of cash back or points. For instance, fuel cards might offer 3% cash back or 3 points per dollar on every purchase of gas. In this example, every $100 you spend would yield $3 cash back or 300 points. There are usually several redemption options, including statement credits, cash back, or the option to redeem for travel.

Fuel cards often come with additional benefits, such as discounts or rebates on in-store purchases at gas stations. They might also include rewards for other major spending categories, such as groceries, entertainment, or travel.

Fuel card vs. small business gas card

A small business credit card is a type of credit card designed for businesses rather than individuals. Small business owners can use these cards to manage business expenses and separate them from personal expenses. They might also offer rewards and perks geared toward common business expenses.

The difference between small business credit cards and fleet cards is that the latter is designed for businesses that own and operate multiple vehicles (a “fleet”). If you are a driver who uses Uber, you may not need a fleet fuel card. However, if you decide to start a taxi company, a fleet card might be useful.

Fleet cards

As mentioned, a fleet card is a credit card designed for businesses with multiple vehicles. These cards help businesses manage costs related to fuel and maintenance. They might offer detailed reporting on fuel costs and can sometimes be used to restrict purchases to only fuel and other vehicle expenses. These cards may offer cash back, rewards, or discounts on purchases of gas or fuel.

How to know if your company needs fleet cards?

Not every small business will need fleet cards; here’s how you know if it is the right choice for your business:

• You have multiple vehicles to maintain: Maybe your company uses more than one van or specialized vehicles to get the job done. Fleet cards make it easier to fill up without needing to pass around one credit card.
• You want easier expense tracking: Fleet cards connect all of your fuel spending, making it easier to track, rather than dealing with employee reimbursements or adding up expenditures from multiple cards.
• You want to manage drivers: If you are trying to keep your drivers on a budget, understanding their fuel usage and driving behavior can help. You can also set limits on fleet cards to prevent employee overspending.

What are the benefits of fuel cards for small businesses?

If you have a small business with a vehicle fleet, there can be many benefits to applying for a small business fuel card. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Cost savings: Fuel cards often give you cash back on fuel purchases and related categories like travel, restaurants, and office supplies.
• Expense management: Fuel cards make it easier to manage expenses, as they often provide real-time reports on fuel consumption and purchases.
• Limit purchases: These cards often give you the option to set spending limits, both on the amount of spending and on the types of spending. This can help ensure the card is used only for fuel and vehicle-related expenses.
• Credit terms: Some fuel cards have interest-free credit terms, allowing businesses to manage expenses more effectively.
• Other benefits and perks: Fuel cards often come with a variety of other benefits and perks that you may find beneficial.

Generally, fuel cards have perks that can help you save money and manage your expenses more effectively. These are all benefits you wouldn’t have if you were to pay with cash.

FAQs

Fuel cards that didn’t make our list

While we chose hotel and airline specific cards that earned two to three times the cash back, we did stay away from gas station-specific cards. The main reason was because the option of gas station offerings vary depending on area, and sticking with one gas company can restrict you from filling up at the most affordable option in your city.

Some business gas cards are beneficial for companies, like the Chevron and Texaco Business Access Card, which is fee-free and can earn a 6-cent discount per gallon starting at 500 gallons. If your company relies on Chevron and Texaco primarily, then this could be a good choice, but we didn’t think the perks were a good fit for every small business in every area. Plus, the reward is a discount rather than cashback rewards that can be used to further benefit your company.

Bottom line

Fuel cards, or gas credit cards, offer rewards and discounts on gas, with some offering discounts for EV charging. These cards often have discounts on related categories, like travel, restaurants, and flights. Often, these cards have other benefits, like automatic reporting and the ability to set purchase limits. However, they can sometimes have annual fees, so be sure to check the card’s fees and terms before you sign up.

Up to 5% Cash Back

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

Apply Now

Current Offer

Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

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

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Solid rewards on office supply, telecom spending, gas, and dining
• Generous welcome offer
• Intro APR on purchases
• $0 annual fee
• Valuable purchase and travel protections

Drawbacks

• Bonus rewards capped after $25,000 annual spend in each category
• No bonus rewards for travel or advertising purchases
• Foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Card Details

• Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
• Earn 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
• Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
• 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• No Annual Fee
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Member FDIC