Which credit card is best for office supply purchases?

The credit card that is best for you is heavily dependent on your business needs and can vary from person to person. Based on potential point earnings, the Ink Business Cash card can offer up to 5x points on all shipping purchases, which could amount up to 125,000 in point earnings per year.

Do I qualify for a business credit card?

If you operate any enterprise that produces an income, you may be eligible for a business credit card. Even something as simple as selling items on eBay could qualify as a business. If you’re unsure if you’re eligible for a business credit card, check out our guide on how to get a business credit card. Or consider consulting with a customer service representative of the company whose card you may be applying for.

What type of office supply store purchases qualify for rewards?

To qualify for bonus points, the merchant must be primarily an office supply store that specializes in selling a variety of office supplies, like Staples or Office Depot. Stores that sell a wide variety of general goods that may include office supplies, for example, department stores or electronics stores, are not included in this category. These include merchants like Walmart and Amazon.

Is there a card with no annual fee that earns rewards for office supply purchases?

Both the Ink Business Cash card and the Amex Blue Business Cash card offer 5x Ultimate Rewards and 2% cash-back (up to $50,000 per calendar year and 1% thereafter), respectively, and have no annual fee.

The 7 Best Business Credit Cards for Office Supply Purchases [Office Depot, Staples, and More]

Updated: October 22, 2024, 7:44am CDT

Edited by:

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Best Overall Credit Cards for Office Supply Purchases
Additional Credit Card Options for Office Supply Purchases
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Big or small, every business needs to keep the essentials stocked in order to get the job done. If your business is spending a significant amount on office supplies each month, the right business rewards card can earn you hundreds of thousands of extra points or thousands of dollars in cash-back each year.

Fortunately, it’s easy to maximize your returns on office supply purchases, and there’s a great credit card for almost every business need. Here’s a breakdown of which small business credit cards may be right for you and how they can benefit your business — and its office supply needs.

Best Overall Credit Cards for Office Supply Purchases

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Welcome OfferEarn $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.
Up to $750

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
Up to $750

Annual Fee

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 17.74% - 25.74% variable thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.

When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 17.74% - 25.74% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
Travel insurance and purchase protection

Cons

Spending caps in bonus categories
Low points earning outside of bonus categories

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

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
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

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 17.74% - 25.74% variable thereafter.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

How to Earn on Office Supply Purchases

The Ink Business Cash card is a stellar option for small business owners. It’s one of our top choices when it comes to maximizing what you get back from spending money on office supplies.

The card features lucrative 5% cash-back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each year (based on the date you started the account, not January 1).

Cardholders also earn 2% cash-back for each $1 of the first $25,000 spent each year on combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants. The Ink Business Cash card offers cardholders great benefits and savings for no annual fee.

Here’s how the Ink Business Cash card rewards you for buying office supplies:

Best Uses: Office supply stores that specialize in selling a variety of office supplies. (Note: Merchants that sell a wide variety of general goods that may include office supplies, like department stores or electronics stores, are not included in this category.)
- Examples of Bonus-Earning Merchants: OfficeMax, Office Depot, Staples
Rewards: 5% per $1 spent at office supply stores. Also earns 5% per $1 spent on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services. The 5% applies to the first $25,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year.

Hot Tip:

You can use your Ink Business Cash card to purchase gift cards at office supply stores for airlines, restaurants, gas stations, and more, effectively earning you 5% back. Keep in mind that this category is capped at $25,000 in purchases per account year.

Why We Like Earning Ultimate Rewards Points

Ultimate Rewards points are a valuable reward currency because you have a lot of ways to redeem them. You can get the maximum value for your points by transferring them to one of Chase’s many airline or hotel partners.

You can also use the Chase Travel portal to book your next vacation at a 25% bonus, or 1.25 cents per point. Redeem points for statement credits or gift cards at 1 cent per point.

There are plenty of redemption options, but transferring your points to one of the various transfer partners will give you the best return in value.

Huntington Voice Business Credit Card℠

How to Earn on Office Supply Purchases

The Huntington Voice Business Credit Card℠ is another solid option for business owners who prioritize cash-back rewards. The card earns 4% cash-back on up to $7,000 in purchases per quarter in 1 of 10 categories, including office supplies. The other 9 categories include:

Gas stations
Travel and entertainment
Restaurants
Discount and warehouse stores
Grocery stores
Electronics, computer, and camera stores
Department, apparel, and sporting goods stores
Home improvement stores
Auto parts and service stores

The ability to earn 4% cash-back on up to $7,000 on purchases per quarter represents a potential savings of $1,120 per year. Not bad for a business card with no annual fee!

Why We Like Earning Cash-Back

Business owners know that money saved is as good as money earned. With the right business credit card, you can watch the savings pile up on your most common purchases.

If you don’t want to fuss with point-earning or transferable rewards, cash-back is probably for you. Cash-back earned on your Huntington Voice Business card is applied automatically to your monthly statements, allowing you to offset expenses as you make them.

Hot Tip:

If your business needs more office supplies than the earnings cap on a card, it may make sense for you to hold 2 cards. For example, you could use the Ink Business Cash Card on $25,000 in office supplies, then use the Huntington Voice Business card for an additional $28,000 to earn 4% cash-back. That would net you 125,000 Ultimate Reward points and $1,120 in cash-back every year!

Additional Credit Card Options for Office Supply Purchases

American Express^® Business Gold Card

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Business Gold Card

U.P. Rating

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

American Express^® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Welcome OfferEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
100,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$2,200

Annual Fee

$375

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros & Cons

Pros

4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection

Cons

$375 annual fee (rates and fees)
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.49% to 27.49% variable APR.*
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
*Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The newly revamped Amex Business Gold card provides up to $395 in statement credits annually upon enrollment. Cardmembers can receive up to $240 back every year (in the form of $20 back each month) for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores.

In addition, cardmembers receive up to $155 back annually for the cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership. Walmart+ members receive numerous benefits, including free shipping with no minimum purchase requirement. If you frequently purchase office supplies from Walmart, your business can save quite a bit of money on shipping.

The Blue Business^® Plus Card from American Express

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

U.P. Rating

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Welcome OfferEarn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
15,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$330

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-840)

Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).

The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.

Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.

Pros & Cons

Pros

2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost

Cons

No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
You’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Business owners who hold the Amex Blue Business Plus card earn 2x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the card on all business purchases, including all office supplies.

The 2x Membership Rewards earnings are capped at $50,000 in purchases, but hitting that limit will earn you 100,000 Membership Rewards points. Afterward, all purchases earn 1x point per dollar.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

U.P. Rating

Take control of your cash-back with the Amex Blue Business Cash card, and earn 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Take control of your cash-back with the Amex Blue Business Cash card, and earn 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.

Welcome OfferEarn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
$250

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Looking for a way to keep tabs on your office supply costs and business travel expenses while earning cash-back? Then The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card could be a good fit.

This card offers expense management solutions that are designed to give companies more control, along with a much clearer picture of their business spending. In doing so, the more you spend, the more cash-back you can earn.

Pros & Cons

Pros

2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in spend, then 1% back thereafter
No annual fee
Travel and purchase protection

Cons

Not ideal for those who spend a lot on a specific category like groceries or gas

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

APR: 17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

If you find yourself making frequent trips to office supply stores to keep your business stocked with essentials, you can earn 2% cash-back on all of those purchases with the Amex Blue Business Cash card. Bonus earnings are limited to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (1% thereafter), amounting to a potential $1,000 in cash-back.

U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard^®

The no-annual-fee U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard presents a solid proposition to cardholders, earning an uncapped 3% cash-back on cellphone service, gas, and office supply store purchases.

Better yet, cardholders receive a 25% annual bonus based on their prior year’s reward earnings, though this bonus is limited to $250.

Bank of America^® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Card

The no-annual-fee Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards card offers 3% cash-back on office supply stores and gas station purchases and a further 2% cash-back at restaurants.

The savings are capped at $50,000 in purchases per year, but cardholders who can meet this cap can save a massive $1,500 each year.

Final Thoughts

If you find that your business’s office supply expenses are mounting, the right business credit card can really save you in the long run. If you can’t decide which card is best for you, consider both how much office supplies are costing you and the amount you spend on other relevant bonus categories.

If you’re partial to earning flexible rewards, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Ink Business Cash card, especially when it’s paired with a premium card like the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card.

But if it’s simple cash you’re after, earning a capped 2% cash-back with a card like the Amex Blue Business Cash card is a fantastic option.

No matter which card you choose, do yourself and your business a favor by using a great small business credit card and watch the rewards pile up!

Hot Tip:

Don’t spend a lot at office supply stores? Check out these guides on best business credit cards for shipping purchases, advertising, or cellphones to maximize your business spend.

Information regarding the Huntington Voice Business Credit Card℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
Information regarding the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Information regarding the Bank of America^® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.