The 5 Best Business Cards for Shipping Purchases in July 2024 [FedEx, UPS etc]
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When it comes to maximizing your return on shipping purchases, small business owners are in luck. There are many great options that fit a large variety of needs. Here’s all the information dissecting what those cards are and how they can benefit the shipping needs of your business.
Top Picks (Quick Summary)
Card | Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee | Benefits for Shipping Purchases |
| American Express® Business Gold Card |
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| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
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| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card |
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Best Overall Credit Cards for Shipping Purchases
1. American Express® Business Gold Card (Top Pick, 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:
- NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- NEW! U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- NEW! 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 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
- The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- *Terms Apply
- APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
How to Earn on Shipping Purchases
The reward earnings on the Amex Business Gold card are incredibly flexible. So much so that every single bonus category is eligible for 4x earnings, but your actual spending determines which 2 categories receive the bonus each statement period.
Sound simple enough? That’s because it is! This benefit ensures your greatest expenses receive the greatest rewards. If shipping is consistently one of your biggest expense categories, you’ll receive 4x earnings for those purchases.
If your business spends a significant amount on shipping purchases, the Amex Business Gold card could be very lucrative for you. The 4x points applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from the select categories, but those whose business needs meet that cap can earn a whopping 600,000 Membership Rewards points every year!
Here’s how the Amex Business Gold card rewards shipping purchases:
| Best For | Examples of Bonus Earning Merchants | Rewards |
| Purchases made in the U.S. for courier, postal, and freight shipping services |
*You will NOT earn additional rewards on shipping costs added to retail purchases. | 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on 2 categories.
4x points applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year. |
2. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Huge Welcome Bonus, Great Card Overall)
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 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 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
How to Earn on Shipping Purchases
With the Ink Business Preferred card, business owners will earn 3x Ultimate Reward points per $1 spent on purchases made within all 4 of the bonus categories — including shipping purchases.
Similar to the Amex Business Gold card, there is a $150,000 annual cap on total 3x category earnings, after which you will earn 1 point per dollar spent. If you’re reaching this level of spending on your shipping purchases, or any other 3x categories, that’s a total of 450,000 Ultimate Rewards Points per year.
In addition to the 3x points you earn on shipping purchases, you’ll also earn 3x points on travel, advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines, internet, cable, and phone services.
Here’s how the Ink Business Preferred card rewards shipping purchases:
| Best For | Example of Bonus Earning Merchants | Rewards |
| Shipping merchants include couriers, postal and freight shipping companies, express shipping services, and mailbox stores |
*You will NOT earn additional rewards on shipping costs added to retail purchases. | 3 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent (on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases; then 1 point per $1) |
Why We Like Earning Ultimate Rewards Points
Ultimate Rewards points are not only valuable but flexible. You can use your Ultimate Reward points through Chase Travel, where you’ll receive a 25% bonus, or redeem points for cash back, gift cards, and other experiences.
If you want to maximize your Chase Ultimate Reward points, make the most of them by using one of their airline or hotel transfer partners. Transferring Ultimate Reward points can help you book business class flights and 5-star hotel stays for just a fraction of the retail value.
Hot Tip: If your business spends a lot on shipping purchases or any of the other bonus categories, the Ink Business Preferred card may be an excellent choice for you. Maximizing the $150,000 purchase limit for 3x categories will generate 450,000 Ultimate Reward points. These would be worth $5,625 in travel when redeemed via the Chase Travel travel portal, or potentially even more when used with transfer partners!
3. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesTake control of your cash-back with the Amex Blue Business Cash card, and earn 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.
Looking for a way to keep tabs on your office supply costs and business travel expenses while earning cash-back? Then The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card could be a good fit.
This card offers expense management solutions that are designed to give companies more control, along with a much clearer picture of their business spending. In doing so, the more you spend, the more cash-back you can earn.
- 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in spend, then 1% back thereafter
- No annual fee
- Travel and purchase protection
- Not ideal for those who spend a lot on a specific category like groceries or gas
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% – 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, 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
- APR: 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 as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars
How to Earn on Shipping Purchases
If your business has frequent shipping expenses, you can earn 2% cash-back on all purchases, including shipping, with the Amex Blue Business Cash card. Bonus earnings are limited to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, amounting to a potential $1,000 in cash-back. After you reach the capped spending, you earn 1% cash-back. For extra ease, your cash-back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
There is no limit to the amount of cash-back you can earn with the card, so you can use the card without fear of your cash-back capping out!
Here’s how the Amex Blue Business Cash card earns cash-back on shipping:
| Best For | Examples of Bonus Earning Merchants | Rewards |
| Purchases made in the U.S. for courier, postal, and freight shipping services |
| 2% cash-back |
Why We Like Earning Cash-Back
You know the saying, “cash is king.” When you’re running a business, your bottom line matters and every little bit you can save adds up.
If you don’t have any desire to fuss with point-earning or transferable rewards, naturally cash-back is the best option for you. Cash-back earned on your Amex Blue Business Cash card is applied automatically to your statements, allowing you to offset expenses as you make them.
Additional Credit Card Options for Shipping Purchases
4. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Best No Annual Fee, 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 $750 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
With an uncapped 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase your business makes, including shipping, the Ink Business Unlimited card is a great no-annual-fee credit card is worthy of consideration.
Cardholders can redeem their Ultimate Rewards points for cash-back; however, transferring your Ultimate Rewards points to premium Chase credit cards such as the Ink Business Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card will give cardholders outsized value for their hard-earned points.
5. Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesA great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.
Business travelers who opt for Marriott as their hotel chain of choice will definitely want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. The card offers great benefits to cardholders like a complimentary hotel night once a year, complimentary Gold Elite status, and multiple point redemption options.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
- Moderate annual fee of $125 (rates and fees)
- No premium perks like airport lounge access
- WELCOME OFFER: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
- Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
- Terms apply.
- APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Are you a business owner who not only spends a lot of time at their local shipping center but also travels often? If so, the Marriott Bonvoy Business card could be perfect for you. With the Marriott Bonvoy Business card, cardholders earn 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program as well as 4x on U.S. purchases for shipping.
Marriott Bonvoy loyalists will love the additional card perks like complimentary Gold Elite status and an annual free night award.
Bottom Line: If the shipping needs of your business exceeds the earnings cap on a certain card, holding 2 cards could be optimal for you. For example, you could place your first $150,000 in shipping purchases to earn 4x with the Amex Business Gold card, and an additional $50,000 to earn 2x with the Amex Blue Business Plus card. This method would net you a total of 700,000 Membership Rewards points.
*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.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.