If you're a business owner looking for the perfect credit card, you should take a close look at what Capital One has to offer. It has a total of five different credit cards catering to small business owners, including cards offering cash back or miles for your business expenses and spend.
Most business owners can find a Capital One business credit card that's right for them. There are cards with and without annual fees, as well as cards offering generous bonus offers to new cardholders.
The only tricky part will be choosing which card is best for your business — and this Capital One business credit cards guide will help you decide.
What Capital One business credit cards offer
Capital One business credit cards fall into two categories: cashback cards and mile rewards cards.
- Capital One cashback cards let you earn money back on your purchases, and cash back can be redeemed at any time. Your cash back never expires, and there is no minimum amount needed to redeem it. This makes it easy to recoup costs on business purchases, as you can simply redeem your cash back for a statement credit or check as soon as you spend.
- Capital One mile rewards cards offer you the chance to earn miles you can redeem with Capital One Travel or more than 10 different airline partners. The flexible redemptions of this rewards program mean that you can go virtually anywhere in the world using your Capital One miles.
Capital One credit cards also provide other benefits beyond the chance to earn cash back or miles. You won't pay a foreign transaction fee with any of your cards, so you don't need to worry if you use them abroad. And you can get free employee cards and set business spending limits on those cards. That way, your staff can help you earn rewards, and you don’t have to worry they'll overspend.
Capital One business card rewards, welcome offers, and annual fees
Card name | Reward details | Welcome offer | Annual fee |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months | $150 |
Capital One Spark Miles for Business | 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars and booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on every purchase, every day | Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months from account opening | $95 (waived first year) |
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business | Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel, and an unlimited 1.5X miles on all other purchases made with all cards associated with the account | Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months | $0 |
Capital One Spark Cash Select | Unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | Earn a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening | $0 |
Capital One Spark Classic for Business | 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase for your business, plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | None | $0 |
Which card is right for you?
Picking the best Capital One business credit cards for you can be a challenge, but there are a few key features to look for when considering business cards from Capital One, including:
- Annual fees: The Capital One Spark Cash Plus charges an annual fee of $150, and Capital One Spark Miles for Business also has an annual fee of $95 (waived first year). But they come with the chance to earn more rewards compared with their free counterparts.
- Travel benefits: Capital One's mile rewards cards come with travel-related perks that cashback cards don't offer. This includes rewards on bonus categories such as car and hotel bookings made through Capital One Travel, as well as the chance to get credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck with the Spark Miles Select card.
- New cardmember welcome bonuses: Each Capital One business credit card offers new cardmembers a sign-up bonus except for the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. However, spending requirements vary by card. Travel cards offer their bonus in the form of miles, while cashback cards provide cash bonuses.
You'll want to consider the type of spending you do, the amount you spend, and what rewards are most valuable to you when deciding which card is best.
If you're a big spender but not a jet-setter
Big spenders who prefer cash back to miles may prefer the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card. That's because you'll pay an annual fee of $150 for the Capital One Spark Cash Plus but get unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
You'll need to spend at least $7,500 on your card each year to make up for the $150 annual fee. But once you hit that spending target, you'll have covered the card's cost, and the extra cash back will simply put more money in your pocket.
Other perks of the Capital One Spark Cash Plus may help justify the fee as well. For example, it gives you extended warranties on your purchases, zero fraud liability, and auto rental collision insurance.
Find more information in our Capital One Spark Cash Plus review.
If you're a frequent traveler and a big spender
If you often make travel purchases and want to use your rewards with travel partners, one of the best small business credit cards for you would likely be the Capital One Spark Miles for Business or the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business.
-
The Capital One Spark Miles: Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars and booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
- The Capital One Spark Miles Select: Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel, and an unlimited 1.5X miles on all other purchases made with all cards associated with the account
Keep in mind that the Capital One Spark Miles card comes with a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. On the other hand, the Capital One Spark Miles Select doesn't have Global Entry or TSA Precheck benefits.
Get more details in our Capital One Spark Miles for Business review and Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business review.
If you want cash back on a tight budget
Another option to consider, especially if you're on a tight budget, is the Capital One Spark Cash Select.
You'll get just 1.5% cash back on all purchases instead of 2% back on the Spark Cash Plus card, but you'll pay a $0 annual fee. And, you'll earn a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening of opening your account.
Learn more in our Capital One Spark Cash Select review.
If you have average credit
All of the Capital One business cards require excellent credit except one: the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. This card is available to those whose credit score is only average. But it's still a great card with plenty to offer, including 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase for your business, plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and a $0 annual fee.
If you have excellent credit, on the other hand, you'd be better off with either the Spark Cash Select or the Spark Cash Plus.
Find out more information in our Capital One Spark Classic for Business review.
Capital One Business Credit Cards are a great option for most business owners
Whether you prefer cashback rewards or miles or are on a big budget or a small one, there's a Capital One Business credit card for you. Now you know what features each business card from this credit card issuer offers so you can pick the best business credit card for your spending that provides the rewards most valuable to you.