How small businesses use credit cards to boost their bottom lines — and to help streamline their operations

We typically spend a lot of time on personal credit cards here at The Points Guy. By picking the right cards (and then using them responsibly), the average consumer can earn hundreds of dollars a year in rewards — whether it’s cash back, airline miles or flexible points that can be used in a variety of ways.

However, small businesses can also use credit cards to earn rewards — in fact, one could argue that these products can be even more valuable to business owners than they are to consumers.

Regardless of the size of your enterprise, here’s how you can boost your bottom line — and streamline your operations — with a small-business credit card.

Getting started

Getting a small business off the ground can be a massive undertaking. Depending on the nature of your operations, you may need to invest in inventory, advertising, equipment or a number of other up-front expenses. This can sometimes happen weeks or even months before you have any income.

Thankfully, small-business credit cards can offer immediate capital to help in these early phases. In fact, some cards even offer an introductory 0% annual percentage rate on purchases — like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees), which offers a 0% introductory APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (after that, a 17.49%-23.49% variable APR applies). This can help defray the impact of some of those hefty initial expenditures.

And don’t worry if you haven’t yet formalized your business with a Federal Employer Identification Number, or EIN. Many business credit cards allow you to apply (and get approved) as a sole proprietor using just your Social Security number. This is a great starting point before you’ve established your operations and have a steady stream of income.

Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?

This is exactly how Dorie and Michael, owners of a glass-blowing studio named Shiny Sparkle Labs in Brooklyn, New York, got started. They began with a simple, no-annual-fee card to fund their early operations — and then added additional cards as they built their business credit to diversify their rewards and enhance their earning potential.

Valuable rewards

Speaking of rewards, this is another great feature of small-business credit cards. Whether you’re looking for cash back to reinvest in your operations or travel rewards to put toward your next trip, you’re in the driver’s seat for supporting your unique enterprise. In fact, many cards offer rewards in business-friendly categories that may match your common expenses, including online advertising, telecommunication purchases, office supplies and dining out for entertaining potential clients.

For example, one of my own small-business credit cards is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees), which I opened years ago as a sole proprietor before having an established limited liability company, or LLC. I love the earning rates on this card:

• 5% back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (on up to $25,000 in combined spending each account anniversary year)
• 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $25,000 in combined spending each account anniversary year)
• 1% back on all other purchases

Even better? The vast majority of small-business cards have no cap on the rewards you can earn.

No matter how you’re spending your money, there’s a business credit card that can put valuable rewards in your pocket.

Business-friendly perks

Beyond just the rewards you can earn, many business credit cards layer in a variety of perks designed specifically with small-business owners in mind. While typically found on the more premium cards, they can nevertheless go a long way toward offsetting a card’s annual fee — and in many cases, these are purchases you were already planning on making.

As an example, the recently launched Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) includes the following statement credits:

• Google Workspace: Earn up to $200 in annual statement credits on purchases made directly with Google Workspace through Dec. 31, 2027.
• DoorDash: Receive a complimentary DashPass membership plus up to $25 in DoorDash credits each month, including a $5 monthly promotion at restaurants and two $10 promotions each month for groceries, retail orders and more through Dec. 31, 2027.
• ZipRecruiter: Earn up to $400 in annual statement credits on purchases made directly with ZipRecruiter ($200 from January to June and $200 from July to December) through Dec. 31, 2027.
• Lyft: Get up to $10 in monthly in-app credits to use on rides through Sept. 30, 2027.
• Gift cards: Earn up to $100 per year in statement credits when you purchase gift cards from a curated collection on giftcards.com/reservebusiness ($50 from January to June and $50 from July to December) through Oct. 31, 2028.

If you’re currently using any of these providers, be sure to investigate whether this card — or others on the market — could be a good fit.

Tools to manage spending

Finally, most small-business cards have tools built right in to streamline your operations and control spending. This includes integration with bookkeeping software, which can help make your invoicing and tax preparation very straightforward. You can also add employee cards to your account. In fact, many cards allow you to set individualized spending limits on these authorized users, which can ensure each employee has what they need to make purchases for the business without worrying about overspending.

In addition, many business credit cards feature flexible payment options to ensure you’re managing your business’s cash flow.

The best part? These tools are typically built right into eligible cards; there’s no additional purchase or fee to enable them.

Bottom line

As a small-business owner, you have a lot to manage on a daily basis. Thankfully, there’s a product that can help ease these burdens across many facets of your operations: business credit cards. From helping you get started to earning valuable rewards and unlocking numerous perks, the right card can help improve your bottom line. And with built-in tools to manage spending and cash flow, these cards can boost your efficiency — putting valuable time back in your pocket to focus on growing your business.

If you own a small business — or are planning to start one soon — be sure to look into which business credit card is the best fit for you.