Some business credit card rewards to look for
Quick insights
- Business credit card rewards programs can offer flexibility and cater to specific industry needs.
- These cards may allow you to earn rewards at a flat rate or at an accelerated rate for certain spending categories.
- Choosing a rewards program that aligns with your business's spending habits can help you maximize your rewards earning potential.
Choosing the right business credit card can be a game-changer for business owners looking to boost their rewards. These cards tend to offer rewards tailored to different business spending patterns, potentially allowing you to earn rewards on your everyday business expenses and offset costs.
For example, a retail business owner who travels frequently for trade shows and sells products online might benefit from a business credit card with 3x points on travel and shipping. Some cards may offer higher rewards rates on other common business expenses like dining, advertising, gas stations, office supply stores and more.
In this article, we'll explore business credit card rewards programs, discuss potentially beneficial rewards categories for various industries and provide some actionable tips on how to help increase your rewards earnings.
Understanding business credit card rewards programs
Business credit card rewards programs are designed to reward cardmembers for purchases using the card. Rewards may come in the form of cash back or points. When choosing a business credit card, it's often beneficial to consider the types of rewards offered and how they align with your business needs.
For instance, if you own a consulting agency and need a well-equipped office space, a credit card that offers higher rewards rates on office supplies might be a good option. If you're a freelancer, a card that provides either higher rewards rates on categories like travel or technology purchases or a flat rate cash back card might be more suitable for maximizing business credit card rewards.
Some business credit cards offer welcome bonus offers, which might allow you to earn points more quickly than you would otherwise. However, you'll typically need to reach a certain spending threshold within a designated timeframe to earn these bonuses.
Maximize points with industry-friendly spending categories
Business expenses can vary based on your industry and operational needs. Some business credit card rewards programs have spending categories—specific types of purchases that earn cardmembers rewards—that more closely match these needs. Here are some examples:
- Retail Businesses: Retailers may want to consider credit cards that offer higher rewards rates on common expenses like utilities or shipping.
- Restaurants: Credit cards that offer rewards on advertising and utilities may be beneficial.
- Construction Firms: Cards that reward qualifying purchases at gas stations and office supply stores might help offset costs.
- Freelancers: Programs with higher rewards rates on categories like travel and office supplies or flat rate cash back cards could be advantageous.
If travel is important to your business, you may want to think about more than just the rewards rate for travel purchases. Some cards—typically those with an annual fee—offer additional benefits like airport lounge access or travel credits.
Additionally, when evaluating a business credit card, you might want to assess whether the rewards program can adapt to your business's changing needs.
Maximizing your business credit card rewards
With some planning, you may be able to boost your rewards. Here are some potential considerations:
- Understand the rewards earning structure: Familiarize yourself with the credit card's rewards program, including any rotating categories or spending thresholds.
- Use the credit card for all eligible business expenses: This can help you earn rewards on all of the business purchases you routinely make.
- Make large purchases with the credit card: This could help you meet welcome bonus offer requirements, earn additional rewards and receive any purchase protection benefits (coverage that reimburses you for certain purchases made with the card).
- Redeem rewards strategically: Consider options like statement credits, travel bookings or gift cards.
By following these tips, you could potentially maximize your business credit card rewards and make the most of your business expenses.
How to find the right business credit card
When comparing different business credit card rewards programs, you may want to consider the following tips :
- Assess your business’s spending habits to identify categories where most expenses occur and note any upcoming major expenses.
- Evaluate rewards programs, looking for those that most closely match your spending habits.
- Note any welcome bonus offers, including the rewards you could earn and whether you can reasonably meet the spending requirement.
In addition to rewards, features like employee credit cards, expense management tools and benefits could help you manage cash flow and support business growth. Explore Chase for Business® credit cards to find the right rewards program and card features for your business.
In summary
The right business credit card rewards program can help your business thrive by providing potentially valuable rewards and benefits. By understanding the different types of rewards programs, choosing a card that caters to your industry's specific needs and using it strategically, you could increase your rewards earning potential and help offset costs.
