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Running a construction business? As you accept more projects and grow your portfolio, your business expenses may follow suit.
If you spend a lot of money on business credit cards, you’ll want to make sure that you’ll be able to handle evolving business needs as your company grows.
We’ll walk you through all of the absolute best business cards that you can have for your construction business.
Let’s get to it!
What To Look for in a Credit Card for Construction Businesses
Running a construction business is expensive.
Between keeping up with your inventory of raw materials, renting and buying construction equipment, paying your employees, and getting all of the right permits and licenses, the costs will add up.
The best cards for construction businesses will have high credit ceilings, excellent rewards, and flexible financing terms.
That way, you can get as much as you can out of every dollar you spend, whether it’s on lumber or labor. Getting an incremental 1% or 2% back on large business expenses can make a huge difference in the long run. And of course, it always helps if you can get benefits for travel, too!
Let’s take a look at our favorite credit cards for construction businesses.
The 6 Best Credit Cards for Construction Businesses
Get an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges 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 Please Pay By date.
Take up to 60 days to pay your bills with no interest
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!
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
120,000 points
$2,640
$695
19.49% - 27.49% 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.
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.
5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
Statement credits on select purchases with your card
35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
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)
Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your 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 everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your 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.
Our favorite card for construction businesses is, without a shadow of a doubt, the Amex Business Platinum card. This card has proven time and time again to be a business owner’s best friend.
It offers the holy trinity of perks that business card owners look for:
High credit limit (in this case, there’s no preset spending limit)
Top-shelf luxury benefits
Awesome rewards
Let’s be specific — the Amex Business Platinum card earns:
5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
1.5x Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases inkey business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year)
1x Membership Rewards on all other purchases
These key business categories include:
Construction material and hardware suppliers
Electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
Shipping providers
This card is one of the only ones to offer bonus rewards on construction material and hardware suppliers, which makes this card a match made in heaven for construction businesses.
Plus, you can earn bonus points on large purchases, which construction businesses have plenty of.
Maxing out the $2 million cap per calendar year means accumulating a total of 3 million Amex points, worth a whopping $66,000!
Additionally, this card offers the most exceptional benefits of a business card in the world.
The kicker on this card, though, is the fact that there is no preset spending limit, meaning you won’t have to worry about maxing out a credit limit in the same way you might with a traditional credit card.
Why We Like Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points
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 Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every $1 you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every $1 you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
50,000 miles
$900
$0 intro for the first year, $95 after that
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 Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a great option for business owners looking for an uncomplicated rewards card that earns double miles on every purchase they make and offers access to transfer partners, all for a low annual fee.
Pros
Unlimited 2x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
5x miles per $1 spent on hotel and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge per year
Up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Access to Capital One transfer partners
No foreign transaction fees
Free employee cards
Extended warranty coverage
Cons
Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account
Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
The Capital One Spark Miles card is one of our absolute favorite business credit cards for those who are strictly interested in earning rewards on odd categories of business spending.
To start off, there’s usually an awesome welcome bonus — but the main reason we like this card is that it earns an unlimited 2x Capital One miles per dollar spent on every purchase for your business.
That’s equal to a return on spending of 3.6%; plus, earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The Capital One Spark Miles card offers zero fraud liability, the ability to create virtual card numbers, extended warranty, 2 complimentary visits per year to the Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges, no-fee employee cards, and no foreign transaction fees.
Why We Like Earning Capital One Miles
Capital One Miles is similar to American Express Membership Rewards.
The difference is we believe that Capital One miles are worth slightly less at 1.8 cents apiece, mostly because of a less comprehensive list of transfer partners.
Hot Tip: Store-specific credit cards, like those offered by The Home Depot, may offer special financing but not as much cash-back (if any) or rewards as other cards mentioned on our list.
3. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (No Annual Fee, LOW Intro APR)
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 Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$900
$900
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
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)
As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Pros
1.5% cash-back on all purchases
No annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Employee cards at no additional cost
Earn flexible rewards
Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
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.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The Ink Business Unlimited card is the top choice from Chase, which is famous for its terrific credit card offerings.
First off, enjoy a huge welcome offer — beyond that, get an unlimited 1.5% cash-back for all business purchases. There’s no need to think about bonus categories, caps, or anything like that.
One of the best parts of the Ink Business Unlimited card is that you can convert your 1.5% cash-back to 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points if you also have a card that accumulates Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
By doing so, you’ll double the value of your rewards — your return on spending goes up to 3% instead of 1.5%, based on our valuation of 2 cents per Ultimate Rewards point!
The Ink Business Unlimited card has 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, making it one of the best 0 apr business credit cards, as well as primary rental car insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, zero liability fraud protection, and no-fee employee cards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards are slightly more valuable than Capital One miles but slightly less valuable than Amex Membership Rewards.
Remember, the Ink Business Unlimited card alone doesn’t earn Ultimate Rewards points, but if you have a different card that earns Ultimate Rewards, such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can convert your rewards to Ultimate Rewards points.
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. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card offers an unlimited 2% cash-back on all purchases and helpful features for business owners. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months.
$1,200
$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 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 free employee cards, there is something that every business owner will love.
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
Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000
Complimentary employee cards
No foreign transaction fees
Extended warranty coverage
Payment flexibility (pick your own due date)
Cons
$150 annual fee
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere – with no limits or category restrictions
Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile
Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000 or more
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
$150 annual fee
Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is one of the most unassuming cards out there — but it’s super useful for high-spending business owners.
First of all, this card consistently offers a large welcome bonus, albeit usually with a larger spending requirement than other cards.
This particular product has no preset spending limit, so it’s similar to the Amex Business Platinum card in that sense.
You’ll earn an unlimited 2% cash-back on every purchase with no limits or category restrictions, plus get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000.
But one of the most useful tidbits about this card is that if you also have a Capital One Miles card such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can convert your cash-back to Capital One miles at a 1% to 1x ratio.
5. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
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.
Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
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.
15,000 points
$330
No annual fee
18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 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.
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
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
Charges foreign transaction fees
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, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® 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.
You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
*The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply
Financial Snapshot
APR: 18.49% - 26.49% 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.
The Amex Blue Business Plus is one of our favorite credit cards in the world because it has a very attractive earning structure.
This card is straightforward and a great earner with 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases on the first $50,000 every calendar year. After that, you’ll earn 1x Membership Rewards points.
That means you’ll get a 4.4% return on spending for the first $50,000 you spend per calendar year, which is phenomenal for a card without an annual fee.
Plus, employee cards are at no cost, and you can leverage the Expanded Buying Power and access Amex Membership Rewards (including transfer partners).
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, get an unlimited 1.5% discount when you pay early for eligible days within 10 days of your statement closing date. The discount will be applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Please Pay By date.
Instead of normal cash-back, get an unlimited 1.5% discount when you pay early for eligible days within 10 days of your statement closing date. The discount will be applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Please Pay By 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 get an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges 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 please pay by date. Alternatively, you can take up to 60 days to pay with no interest, when you pay your minimum 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.
Paying early pays off: get an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges 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 Please Pay By date.
Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest‡, when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.
Use the power of the Plum Card to buy big for your business.
There is no special rewards center for this card; the cash-back earned will be applied directly to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Please Pay By date.
The very last card we’ll discuss is the Amex Plum card — it’s not one that we discuss much, given our focus on points and travel, but it can make or break certain cash flow-strapped businesses.
This product was created specifically to help businesses that have delays in invoicing and payment fulfillment from vendors.
To start, this card gives you an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges 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 Please Pay By date.
And although this card doesn’t offer any rewards, it does offer the ability to take up to 60 days to pay your bills with no interest — all you need to do is make your minimum payment by the payment due date. This is a super-niche benefit, and the 60-day 0% interest period is the biggest selling point.
It also has no preset spending limit, which 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.
At a high level, running a construction business is complicated, to say the least.
Between getting paid on time, maintaining a stocked inventory of materials, and finding good-quality labor, the last thing you need in your life is more complexity.
That’s why you can stick to any of the cards we’ve recommended to make the most of your business purchases or facilitate the smooth operation of your business.
For rewards and benefits, you can’t beat the Amex Business Platinum card, which has awesome rewards, an abundance of benefits, and no preset spending limit.
Other worthwhile options include the Capital One Spark Miles card, Ink Business Unlimited card, Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, and Amex Blue Business Plus card.
Lastly, the Amex Plum card allows you to take up to 60 days to pay your bills with no interest, which can be an amazing benefit for businesses that are strapped with cash flow.
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 Spark Cash Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles for Business 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 Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of The Plum Card® from American Express, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Jeriden Villegas via Unsplash
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a best card in construction?
The best card in construction is, without a doubt, the Amex Business Platinum card. The benefits and rewards you will get as a construction business owner are second-to-none.
Can I get a credit card if I'm an independent contractor?
Yes, you can absolutely get a credit card if you’re an independent contractor. If you’re a sole proprietor, you can apply for a business credit card under that business structure.
Is the Amex Blue Business Plus card worth it?
It is absolutely worth it for the right business. If you spend less than $50,000 per year on your business and want to earn valuable rewards without an annual fee, this is one of the best cards to have. You’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent, which is worth a return on spending of around 4.4%!
What are the best credit cards for construction businesses?
We think that the best credit cards for construction businesses are the Amex Business Platinum card, Capital One Spark Miles card, Ink Business Unlimited card, Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, Amex Blue Business Plus card, and Amex Plum card.
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.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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