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If you’re looking for an affordable business card with a simple, yet generous rewards program, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus may fit the bill.
While this card doesn’t offer a ton of fancy perks or bonus categories, its best feature is its simplicity: you simply earn a flat 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and you can redeem your cashback rewards at any time with no minimums.
Because it's a charge card, not a credit card, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus can offer business owners flexibility as expenses fluctuate month to month. But, it's important to note that you will need to pay off your balance in full each month.
This Capital One Spark Cash Plus review will help you decide if it’s the best option for you.
Unlimited 2% Cash Back
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Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Current Offer
Earn $1,200 after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$150
Rewards Rate
2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Who should get the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card?
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is an ideal card if you don’t tend to spend the bulk of your funds on travel, shipping costs, or technology. While there are other business cards that give you bonus rewards for these common types of business spending, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus doesn’t offer bonuses but instead provides a generous 2% cash back on every purchase you make.
To get the most from the card, you’ll want to make sure you spend enough to offset the $150 annual fee.
Thankfully, there are perks that can help balance out the fee, including:
- Annual $200 cash bonus when you spend at least $200,000
- Auto rental collision insurance that offers primary coverage when renting a vehicle for business purposes.
- Extended warranties that double the length of manufacturer warranties.
- Purchase protection that entitles you to repair or reimbursement of eligible items damaged within 90 days of purchase.
Card basics
| Card type | Business |
| Issuer | Capital One |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $150 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn $1,200 after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months of account opening |
| Reward rate | 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| Recommended credit score | Excellent |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus benefits and perks
- Generous early spend bonus: Cardholders can earn $1,200 after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months.
- Simple rewards program: Earn 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Cash back never expires and can be redeemed at any time.
- Free cards for employees: Get as many employee cards as you need at no extra cost and earn rewards for purchases made by employees. You also have the option to set spending limits for employee cards.
- No foreign transaction fee: Purchases can be made abroad without any fees being charged. Other cards charge as much as 3% when purchases are made outside of the U.S. or in foreign currencies.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Rest easy with this benefit that offers primary coverage for losses caused by collision or theft on car rentals for business purposes.
- Purchase security: If you have a problem with an eligible product you purchased with your card, you can get it repaired or replaced, or you can be reimbursed for its cost within 90 days of the purchase.
- Extended warranty: Visa1 will double the length of your manufacturer’s warranty for eligible purchases made on your card.
- Accounting made easy: You can download transactions into popular business accounting programs, including Quickbooks, Excel, and Quicken. Cardmembers also get year-end summaries of business transactions, which can simplify the budgeting process.
- Zero fraud liability: With this card, you get zero fraud liability, which offers valuable protection if your card is lost or stolen.
- Capital One Entertainment: Receive special access to music, sporting, and dining events through the Capital One Entertainment portal. You have the option to use your rewards, your card, or a combination of the two to pay for tickets.
Drawbacks to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card
- Annual fee: This card comes with an annual fee of $150. If you are looking for a business card with no annual fee, there are other options that could be a better fit.
- High minimum spend requirement: While the early spend bonus is generous with this card, you also need to spend a relatively large amount to earn it. If you don't have hefty business expenses each month, you may not be able to spend enough to earn the welcome offer.
- Charge card: Because it's a charge card, you don't need to worry about high APRs. Instead, you'll need to make sure you can pay your balance in full each month.
Earning & redeeming cash back with the Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Earning cash back is simple with your Capital One Spark Cash Plus card. Simply use this cashback card for any business expense and earn at least 2% cash back.
To earn the maximum rewards possible, take advantage of the opportunity to get free cards for your employees so you can earn cash back for their spending as well. Also, don't forget about earning 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Maximizing your redemptions
One of the nice things about the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is that you don’t need to worry about redeeming for specific types of rewards — such as travel with particular airlines — in order to get the most bang for your buck. That’s because you can simply redeem your cash back any time and will always get the same cashback rate.
Your cashback rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit, check, or gift card. You can also choose to set up automatic redemptions either when you meet a certain spending threshold or for a set time each calendar year. There’s no expiration to your cash back, nor are there minimum amounts required to redeem, so you can redeem your rewards whenever you want.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus FAQs
What type of credit limit can I expect to receive with the Capital One Spark Cash Plus?
There is no preset spending limit on the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, but because it's a charge card you'll need to pay off your balance in full each month.
What credit score is needed to qualify for the Spark Cash Plus card?
To qualify for the Spark Cash Plus card, you’ll likely need to have excellent credit.
Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus worth the annual fee?
Whether the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is worth the annual fee depends on if you’re able to take advantage of the perks. It also depends on how much money you spend and earn rewards on.
What are some lesser-known benefits offered by the Spark Cash Plus?
The ability to download purchase records to multiple formats is one of the lesser-known benefits of the Capital One Spark Cash Plus. This makes accounting easy and can help ensure you’re keeping track of and claiming all tax-deductible expenses for your company.
Purchase protection and extended warranty protection are also lesser-known features that could be beneficial if you find yourself with a new product that gets broken or a product that breaks just after the manufacturer warranty has expired.
Other cards to consider
While the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a solid business rewards card, if doesn't sound like the right fit, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card or the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card may be worth considering. With the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express, you can earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that. Plus, it has a $0 annual fee.
If you'd rather earn a higher rewards rate for certain types of spending, The Ink Business Cash Card may be a good option for you. This credit card offers 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. It also has a $0 annual fee.
Unlimited 2% Cash Back
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Why We Like It
Earn $1,200 after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months
See how these cards compare:
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The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn 2% points at eligible purchases on up to $50,000 spent each year, after that 1%
- No annual fee. Terms apply,
- See rates and fees | Terms Apply
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- 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
- $0 annual fee
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 18.49% - 24.49% Variable)
- Up to 5% cash back