Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

Is a Corporate Credit Card Right for Your Business? [7 Alternatives]

Stephen Au's image
Stephen Au
Stephen Au's image

Stephen Au

Former Senior Content Contributor

483 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 24U.S. States Visited: 22

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used...
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
Keri Stooksbury's image

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

49 Published Articles 3407 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50U.S. States Visited: 28

With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
& Kellie Jez
Kellie Jez's image

Kellie Jez

Director of Operations & Compliance

6 Published Articles 1212 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10U.S. States Visited: 20

Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...

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.

As your business grows, you’ll be introduced to a totally new set of challenges. In addition to expanding headcount and accounting for more supplies or raw materials, your purchasing needs will undoubtedly expand.

And that’s where many people look to get a corporate card. However, corporate cards generally only make sense for a tiny fraction of companies; in fact, these really only make sense for large enterprises with hundreds of employees.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best cards for large businesses to get — but first, we’ll show you why you should consider alternatives to traditional corporate cards.

Is a Corporate Credit Card Right for Your Business?

Unless you have hundreds of employees that each requires a credit card to make purchases, it probably isn’t practical to get a corporate card.

The benefits and rewards you get from corporate cards are muted compared to business cards; most corporate cards offer benefits related to administrative tasks, such as expensing and accounting capabilities.

However, corporate cards rarely ever offer any outsized rewards, which renders them limited in value. Instead, consider getting a business card that offers excellent rewards and add employee cards.

That way, you can meet your purchasing needs while racking up lots of points.

The 7 Best Business Card Alternatives to a Corporate Credit Card

Card Summary

SCROLL FOR MORE

Card

Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee

Benefits for Large Businesses

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • ELEVATED OFFER: Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months.
  • Annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
  • No preset spending limit**
  • Complimentary employee cards (Business Green Rewards Card from American Express), up to 99 total employee cards (rates & fees)
  • 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels purchased through AmexTravel.com
  • 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories and on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million purchases every calendar year)
  • Access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass (upon enrollment), Plaza Premium Lounges, and more
  • Great travel insurance
American Express® Business Gold Card
  • ELEVATED OFFER: Earn 100,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months.
  • Annual fee of $375 (rates & fees)
  • No preset spending limit**
  • The annual fee for employee cards is $95 for the first five cards and then $95 for each card thereafter, up to 99 cards (rates & fees)
  • 4x points on the top 2 categories where your business spend the most every billing cycle, up to the first $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card
  • $2,000 cash-back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year.
  • Annual fee of $150
  • No preset spending limit**
  • No-additional-fee employee cards
  • 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2% cash-back on all other purchases
  • Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000
Capital One Venture X Business CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.
  • Earn 150,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Annual fee of $395
  • No preset spending limit**
  • No-additional-fee employee cards
  • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles on other purchases
  • $300 annual Capital One Travel credit
  • 10,000 bonus miles after every account anniversary year
  • Complimentary access to Priority Pass Lounges, Capital One Lounges, and Plaza Premium Lounges
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • Travel insurance
The Plum Card® from American Express
  • No welcome offer available.
  • Annual fee of $250 (rates & fees)
  • No preset spending limit**
  • Up to 99 employee cards for no additional fee (rates & fees)
  • Earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date
  • The flexibility to carry your balance for up to 60 days with no interest
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
  • Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Annual fee of $95
  • Employee cards for no additional fee
  • 3x points in select business categories for the first $150,000 in combined purchases every cardmember year
  • Terrific travel insurance
  • Cell phone insurance
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express*

  • Earn 15,000 points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months
  • Annual fee of $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
  • No preset spending limit**
  • Up to 99 employee cards for no additional fee
  • 2x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
  • 1x points on other purchases

*All information about the Amex Business Green card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

**No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

ELEVATED OFFER
The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
150,000 points
$3,300
$695
18.99% - 27.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros
  • 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
  • Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
  • Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
Cons
  • High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
  • Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
  • Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
  • Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
  • $695 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 18.99% - 27.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Business Platinum card is one of the most heralded business cards — a must-have if you have a large business.

To start, this card has no preset spending limit and allows you to add up to 99 total employee cards (we recommend employee Amex Business Green cards to avoid additional annual fees; rates & fees).

But in terms of rewards, you’ll earn 5x points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, plus 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories and on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in these purchases every calendar year):

  • U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers
  • U.S. electronic goods retailers
  • U.S. shipping providers
  • U.S. software and cloud system providers

Looking at the travel benefits (enrollment required), this list will blow you away:

And to help you run your business, the Amex Business Platinum card also offers:

Wrapping up, this card also has no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Why We Like Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points

By our valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 2.2 cents each, which makes them the most valuable transferrable rewards currency available.

With a maximum earning of 5x points, the Amex Business Platinum card can earn you a return on spending of around 11%. But the best way to get the most value from those points is to use those points to book luxury award flights through the Amex transfer partners, especially if your large business routinely pays for its employees to fly in business or first class anyway.

But if you don’t plan on using points for award travel, you can also redeem your points in these ways:

  • AmexTravel.com bookings
  • Gift cards
  • Charity
  • Statement credits
  • Online shopping

These other redemption methods won’t yield nearly as much value as booking award travel through transfer partners, which can net you upwards of 10 cents per point in value, especially if you book flights like Emirates first class or Lufthansa first class.

American Express® Business Gold Card

ELEVATED OFFER
American Express® Business Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)
Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
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.*
100,000 points
$2,200
$375
18.99% - 27.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

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
  • 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
  • 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 18.99% to 27.99% 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: 18.99% - 27.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! The current public offer is 100,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Business Gold card is our runner-up card option for large businesses. It shares a lot of similar characteristics with the Amex Business Platinum card that large business owners like.

To start, there’s the same no preset spending limit perk available — and the annual fee for employee cards is $95 for the first five cards and then $95 for each card thereafter, up to 99 cards (rates & fees).

This card earns 4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories in which your business spends the most every month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year):

  • 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, TV, radio)

Your 4x earnings are adjusted from month to month automatically based on which categories you spend the most on, so you won’t need to spend any time choosing bonus categories.

Additionally, the Amex Business Gold card has QuickBooks integrations, and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Bottom Line: The Amex Business Gold card offers great rewards at a lower cost, but it doesn’t have the luxury travel benefits that the Amex Business Platinum card does. 

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card

Capital One Spark Cash Plus CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card offers an unlimited 2% cash-back on all purchases and helpful features for business owners.

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card offers an unlimited 2% cash-back on all purchases and helpful features for business owners.
$2,000 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year.
Up to $4,000+
$150
N/A
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)

The information regarding the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.


The Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card is great for business owners looking to improve their bottom line by earning 2% cash-back on all purchases without a high annual fee. Further, with no preset spending limit, the ability to get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000, and no-additional-fee employee cards, there is something that every business owner will love (rates & fees).

Pros
  • Unlimited 2% cash-back on all purchases
  • 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • No preset spending limit
Cons
  • Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
  • Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
  • Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
  • $150 annual fee – Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
  • Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
  • For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: N/A
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is a fan favorite among business owners. If you don’t have time to manage your rewards and search for award travel, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card could be an amazing product for you.

The card has no preset spending limit and you can add up to 99 employee cards for no additional annual fee, with up to 1,200 virtual cards for no additional annual fee.

This fantastic card earns up to 5% cash-back:

  • 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2% cash-back on other purchases with no caps or category restrictions

Another feature of this card is the ability to get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000!

One hidden secret about the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is that you can convert your cash-back rewards to Capital One miles if you also have a Capital One miles credit card such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. In that situation, you’d be able to convert your cash-back to Capital One miles at a ratio of 1% to 1x.

There are a bunch of other benefits available from the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, including zero fraud liability, integrations with Quicken, QuickBooks, and Excel, as well as employee card spending limits, roadside assistance, extended warranty, no foreign transaction fees, and fraud alerts.

Why We Like Earning Capital One Miles

Capital One Miles is a transferrable rewards program just like Amex Membership Rewards, which means you can get some amazing value with your miles. We value Capital One miles at 1.8 cents each.

Obviously, the best way to use your Capital One miles is to book luxury business and first class flights through transfer partners, but you can also redeem your points for statement credits, gift cards, Amazon.com transactions, online shopping, Capital One Travel bookings, and more.

Just remember that your redemption value will be 1 cent per point or less with these alternate redemption methods compared to up to 10 cents per point with luxury award travel.

Capital One Venture X Business Card

The Capital One Venture X Business card is one of Capital One’s other charge cards. As we mentioned with the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, the Capital One Venture X Business card has no preset spending limit, as well as the ability to add up to 99 employee cards and 1,200 virtual cards, all with no additional annual fees.

It’s essentially the ultra-premium business version of the Capital One Venture X card. Also, the Capital One Venture X Business card has no personal guarantee, which could be a huge benefit.

You can earn up to 10x miles on your purchases:

  • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles on other purchases

Also, you’ll get some fantastic travel benefits including:

  • Up to $300 annual Capital One Travel credit
  • 10,000 bonus miles after each account anniversary year
  • Complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Priority Pass Lounges
  • Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • Awesome travel insurance, including primary rental car coverage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Plus, you can enjoy purchase protection, extended warranty, no foreign transaction fees, and zero liability fraud protection when using the Capital One Venture X Business card.

The Plum Card® from American Express

The Plum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Instead of normal cash-back, earn an unlimited 1.5% early pay discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date. You'll see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Instead of normal cash-back, earn an unlimited 1.5% early pay discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date. You'll see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.
No welcome offer
No welcome offer
$0
$250
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-840)

Cash flow can be unpredictable. Sometimes, you can pay bills right away, and other times, it may be easier to wait. Either way works out in your favor with The Plum Card® from American Express!

With this card, you can pay your bill early and earn an unlimited 1.5% early pay discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date. Or, you can take up to 60 days to pay without interest when you pay your Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.

For those who run seasonal businesses or whose incoming cash flow is unpredictable, the card can provide you with payment alternatives that most other cards don’t.

Pros
  • Earn 1.5% cash-back on your purchases, or receive 60 days to pay back your purchases with no interest
  • No foreign transaction fees or employee card fees (rates & fees)
  • Rental car insurance
Cons
  • Charges an annual fee
  • Limited benefits
  • Paying early pays off: earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.
  • Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest‡, when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.‡
  • Terms Apply. Learn More.
Financial Snapshot
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

There isn’t a rewards center for this card; the cash-back earned is applied directly to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.

Another sleeper card option for large business owners is the Amex Plum card. Despite its unassuming name and its status living in the shadows of Amex’s flagship Membership Rewards cards, this is a potentially awesome choice for you.

To start off, the Amex Plum card is a business charge card, which means there’s no preset spending limit, so your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history. Also, you can add up to 99 employee cards with no additional annual fees.

The Amex Plum card has a unique perk: earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges paid within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date.

Alternatively, you also have extra days to pay, with the flexibility to take up to 60 days to pay without interest (just make the minimum payment by your Payment Due Date).

Other benefits include QuickBooks integrations and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Bottom Line: We recommend the Amex Plum card to large businesses that are constrained with cash flow. Thanks to the ability to take up to 60 days to pay without interest, you can manage your finances a bit more effectively with longer grace periods. 

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
90,000 points
$1,800
$95
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

Pros
  • 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
  • Cell phone protection
  • Purchase protection
Cons
    • No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
  • Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
  • Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Ink Business Preferred card is an absolute behemoth credit card if you’re looking for excellent rewards from a business credit card.

The card earns 3x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these select business categories:

  • Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines
  • Internet, cable, and phone services
  • Shipping purchases
  • Travel

By earning 3x points on up to $150,000 in these categories, you’ll earn 450,000 Ultimate Rewards points every year, which is worth around $9,000 by our valuations!

Additionally, you can earn 5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025.

The Ink Business Preferred card also offers a 25% redemption bonus on Chase travel portal bookings and Pay Yourself Back.

Keep in mind that this card does have a traditional credit limit, but we’ve seen business owners get approved for enormous credit limits upwards of $100,000.

Lastly, there’s cell phone protection, purchase protection, awesome travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and no-additional-fee employee cards.

Why We Like Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most valuable points, worth 2 cents each. Earning 3x points is equivalent to a 6% return on spending.

Despite getting a fantastic ROI as is, you can get even more value by transferring points to airline and hotel partners for luxury award travel like Singapore Airlines First Class Suites.

You can also redeem points for statement credits, Chase travel portal bookings, Pay Yourself Back, gift cards, statement credits, Amazon.com purchases, Apple purchases, and online shopping.

Business Green Rewards Card from American Express

Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This entry-level business card earns points for your business spending, which you can redeem in a simple-to-use rewards program. Business owners will appreciate the suite of tools designed to simplify finances.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)All information about Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.
This entry-level business card earns points for your business spending, which you can redeem in a simple-to-use rewards program. Business owners will appreciate the suite of tools designed to simplify finances.
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases with the Business Green Rewards Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
15,000 points
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95

The information regarding the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 


Most people recognize the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express by sight due to its classic green design. Many of you have probably carried that card yourself at one time.

But did you know the familiar Green Card is available for your small business too?

The Amex Business Green card gives you the same great benefits of the personal card with added benefits for business owners!

  • Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases with the Business Green Rewards Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 2x for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases at amextravel.com
  • Earn 1x for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
  • Terms Apply
Financial Snapshot
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The last card we’ll be discussing is the Amex Business Green card.

This charge card has no preset spending limit, plus, you can add up to 99 total employee cards for no additional annual fee.

Combining these 2 benefits together makes the Amex Business Green card a worthwhile contender for large business owners.

Right now, you’ll earn:

  • 2x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
  • 1x points on other purchases

Other perks include access to the Global Assist hotline. Of course, you can auto-categorize your expenses in QuickBooks using this card, too.

Final Thoughts

For most businesses, getting a corporate card just doesn’t make sense. The rewards you get from true corporate cards are lackluster, and the main benefits hinge on expense and account management.

You’d only want to get a corporate card if you have more than 100 employees.

The better solution for you would probably be to get a business card with either no preset spending limit or a very high credit limit.

Even if you’re spending millions of dollars per month, you could potentially get that spending done with a charge card from Amex or Capital One, which would be huge.

Overall, the best cards for large businesses generally belong to Amex, Capital One, and Chase.


The information regarding the American Express® Corporate Green Card and American Express® Corporate Gold Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Plum Card® from American Express, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a corporate card and a business card?

A corporate card is a card specifically for corporations or some LLCs only, while a business card is generally open to sole proprietorships, gig workers, corporations, and everything in between.

Corporate cards are usually best if the company has more than 100 employees who have company purchasing needs.

However, corporate cards are much more difficult to qualify for, and they may even come with additional fees for the corporation beyond what business cards require.

Can an LLC get a corporate card?

Yes, some LLCs can get corporate cards. The eligibility rules vary by card issuer, so be sure to check the terms and conditions before submitting an application.

Can you use a corporate card for personal use?

Although there’s nothing illegal about using a corporate card for personal purchases, most cardmember agreements stipulate that you’ll only use the corporate card for corporate purchases.

Does a corporate card help your credit?

In general, corporate cards build your business credit, but not your personal credit. However, some business cards actually show up on your personal credit report, which can be a good thing if you’re looking to build your credit.

Can you be declined for a corporate credit card?

Yes, corporate cards are pretty difficult to get approved for. In general, you need to meet minimum revenue requirements, company size requirements, corporate credit history requirements, and transaction volume requirements.

How much is the American Express® Corporate Green Card?

The minimum annual fee for the Amex Corporate Green card is $75, and there’s also a $90 annual fee to participate in Membership Rewards.

Does the American Express® Corporate Gold Card give lounge access?

The Amex Corporate Gold card has a $100 LoungeBuddy credit, which can be used towards lounge access.

Stephen Au's image

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status