The 6 Best Business Credit Cards for Real Estate Investors [September 2024]
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Top Picks (Quick Summary)
Card | Welcome Bonus | Benefits for Real Estate Investors |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
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| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card |
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| American Express® Business Gold Card |
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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card  |
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1. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Top Pick, No Preset Spending Limit*)
Terms Apply / Rates & Fees
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
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.
- 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)
- 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.
- APR: 18.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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.)
Our absolute favorite business card for real estate investors is the Amex Business Platinum card.
You’ll enjoy unmatched travel benefits, including access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including the swanky Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta the same day), Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner, International American Express Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment, select Lufthansa Lounges, and select Virgin Clubhouse lounges.
You ’ll also enjoy a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, access to the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, an annual airline fee credit of up to $200, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status upon enrollment, a 35% Pay with Points rebate on select flights, and even up to $400 in statement credits for Dell purchases in the U.S. (in the form of 2 equal credits of $200 semi-annually).
The card also earns 1.5x on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year). This can be very handy for real estate investors, where your contractor and materials costs, as well as tax payments, might easily eclipse $5,000!
Hot Tip: The Amex Business Platinum card is one of the few cards that can earn bonus points at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, as well as electronic goods retailers, and more.
Another significant benefit of this card is that you won’t be restricted to any preset spending limit* in the way you might be with a traditional credit card. American Express will evaluate your spending habits and allow you to spend large amounts of money if they believe you can pay it back.
That’s an incredible value proposition for real estate investors when you consider the fact that real estate expenses can be very high.
2. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Best No Annual Fee Card, LOW Intro APR)
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.
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
- 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
- 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
- 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 superb for those who want to earn straightforward rewards without worrying about bonus categories.
This credit card is fantastic because it comes with a substantial welcome bonus and it earns a flat 1.5% cash-back on all business purchases, regardless of category. It also earns uncapped rewards, so you’ll earn 1.5% cash-back with no ceiling.
But perhaps the best aspect is that you can convert your 1.5% cash-back to 1.5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you also hold an Ultimate Rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
The cherry on top is the fact that this credit card has no annual fee, and you might love the introductory 0% APR benefit to help you avoid accruing interest on balances.
Other appreciated benefits are the ability to add employee cards at no additional cost, primary rental car insurance, purchase protection, zero liability fraud protection, and extended warranty protection for your business.
3. American Express® Business Gold Card (Best for Earning Lots of Points)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesGet 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
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.
- 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
- $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
- APR: 18.99% - 27.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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 one of the mainstay options for business owners. It’s easy to see why this card is one of our favorite picks because of its extraordinary bonus categories.
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)
There are some familiar categories like advertising, restaurants, and gas stations, as well as some new categories like transit purchases and electronic goods!
One of the biggest benefits of this card is that you get to enjoy these 4x bonus categories without having to worry about choosing which bonus categories — they’re automatically chosen to earn you the most points every month.
If you spend $150,000 in a year on these purchases, you’d end up with 600,000 Amex Membership Rewards points, which is worth around $13,000+! You can’t forget about the welcome offer, either.
Similar to the Amex Business Platinum card, the Amex Business Gold card doesn’t have a preset spending limit*, which could seriously help you make the purchases and transactions you need to manage your business. Normal cards can’t do that!
Plus, 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).
Bottom Line: The Amex Business Gold card is a fantastic choice if you’re a real estate investor that tends to spend a lot on business meals, advertising, and gas stations.
4. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Best Overall Business Card)
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.
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.
- 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
- 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
- APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
The Ink Business Preferred card is one of our top business credit cards overall, and it’s a popular choice for real estate investors. This card offers a huge welcome bonus, lots of perks, and a low annual fee.
This is an Ultimate Rewards card that allows you to earn 3x points on your first $150,000 spent every cardmember year on these business categories:
- Travel
- Shipping purchases
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines
Although you probably won’t be spending a whole lot on travel and shipping purchases in your everyday life as a real estate investor, the advertising and telecommunications categories could come in handy.
You will also earn 5x points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025.
These points are redeemable for airline and hotel transfers, travel with a 25% bonus (1.25 cents per point) when booked through the Chase travel portal, as well as gift cards, cash-back, and more.
This card comes with purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, cell phone protection insurance, primary rental car collision insurance, other travel protections, and no foreign transaction fees.
5. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (No Annual Fee, LOW Intro APR)
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy 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 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.
- 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
- 10% Business Relationship Bonus if you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
- Spending caps in bonus categories
- Low points earning outside of bonus categories
- 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
- 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
- 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
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 24.49% variable thereafter.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The last option we’ll be discussing is the Ink Business Cash card, which offers a niche value proposition without the burden of an annual fee.
This card will earn 5% cash-back on up to $25,000 in purchases every cardmember year on cell phone, landline, internet, and cable TV purchases and at office supply stores. Lyft purchases also earn 5% cash-back through March 31, 2025.
Also, the card will earn 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 in purchases every cardmember year on gas stations and dining purchases. You’ll earn 1% cash-back elsewhere.
If you happen to have large transactions at office supply stores as a real estate investor, this card can offer you some of the best rewards.
Your 5%, 2%, and 1% cash-back is convertible to 5x, 2x, and 1x Ultimate Rewards points, respectively, if you have an Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
Other benefits include no annual fee, zero liability fraud protection, and a 0% introductory APR perk.
6. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesEarn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
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.
- 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
- 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
- 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, 17.99% - 25.99%, 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.
- APR: 17.99% - 25.99% 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 card is, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding small business credit cards. This card earns a straightforward 2x points on everyday business purchases, up to $50,000 per year, then 1x thereafter.
You’ll also be able to access no-annual-fee employee cards, and access to Amex Membership Rewards (rates & fees).
The only drawback of this card is that the 2x points earning is capped at $50,000 per year. This might be fine if you’re a small-scale real estate investor, but once you build up your portfolio, you might burn through $50,000 pretty quickly.
*No Preset Spending Limit on an American Express card 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.