If you’re self-employed, you know how important it is to have a good credit card. It helps you to track your expenses better, earn rewards, and take advantage of other opportunities.
But it can be difficult to figure out which credit card is right for you. That’s why I’ve put together a list of the 10 best credit cards for the self-employed.
I’ll go through the important information you need to know about each one, so you can pick the right card for your needs.
Whether you’re looking for a card with a low-interest rate, great rewards, or other benefits, there’s sure to be one here that will suit you.
So let’s get started!
Overview of 10 Best Business Credit Cards for Self-Employed
Card Name | Welcome Bonus | Annual Fee | Regular APR |
1. Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express | $250 statement credit | No Annual Fee | 16.24% – 24.24%, variable |
2. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Earn $900 bonus cash back | No Annual Fee | 17.49% – 23.49% Variable |
3. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Earn $900 bonus cash back | No Annual Fee | 17.49% – 23.49% Variable |
4. Capital One Spark Miles for Business | 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first three months of account opening | No annual fee for the first year; $95 after that | 25.24% variable |
5. Amazon Business Prime American Express | Earn up to $125 back | No Annual Fee | 18.49% – 26.49% variable |
6. PNC Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Business Credit Card | $100 | No Annual Fee | 17.99% Variable |
7. Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Up to $1,000 | $150 | See Terms |
8. Ink Business Preferred Credit Card | 100k bonus points | $95 | 20.24%-25.24% Variable APR |
9. U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard | $500 | 0$ | 18.49% – 27.49% (Variable) |
10. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 60,000 bonus points ($750) | $95 | 20.24%-27.24% Variable APR |
1. Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express
Reward: Earn 2% cash back on up to $50K/yr, then 1%. Cash back credited to the statement. Terms Apply.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%.
Purchase intro APR: 0% for 12 months
If you’re looking for a new business credit card that won’t cost you an annual fee and will reward you with some sweet cash back, the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a great choice.
You’ll get an impressive 2% cash back on purchases up to $50,000 each year – and then an unlimited 1% cash back after that – all without paying a cent in fees.
Plus, you’ll get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months and a 17.74%-25.74% Variable APR afterward.
And if that wasn’t enough, you can get a $250 statement credit just for making $3,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
That’s a great way to buy yourself some time to pay down a big purchase. You won’t find a better deal than the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card – no annual fee and a solid cashback rate.
What you need to apply for Blue Business Cash™ Card:
- Legal business information
- Legal personal information
- And some other informations
Pros and Cons of Blue Business Cash™ Card:
Pros | Cons |
Annual fee is: $0 | The foreign transaction fee is high |
Earning rewards | No travel rewards |
0% Introductory APR on purchases | Limited spending per year for 2% cash back |
Awesome expanded buying power feature |
2. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Reward:
- 5% cash back on $25K/yr office/cable/internet/phone
- 2% on $25K/yr gas/restaurant
- 1% all others.
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Purchase intro APR: 0% for 12 months
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is pretty awesome!
You get an amazing $900 cashback after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from opening an account – that’s a lot of cash!
Plus, if you spend $25,000 on office supplies, phone services, internet, and cable, you get 5% cashback, and 2% cashback if you spend on restaurants and gas stations – that’s awesome!
And if you’re looking for an introductory 0% APR period, this card has you covered too.
It’s definitely one of the best business cards for self-employed people.
What you need to apply for Ink Business Cash® Credit Card:
- Legal Name, Address
- Company TIN
- Other legal information
Pros and Cons of Ink Business Cash® Credit Card:
Pros | Cons |
No annual fee | The foreign transaction fee is high |
The welcome bonus is appreciating | Limited bonus rewards |
Earning rewards | |
0% Introductory APR on purchases | |
Bonus offer for new cardholders |
3. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Reward: Earn $900 bonus cash back after $6,000 spent in 3 mos
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Purchase intro APR: 0% for 12 months
If you’re looking for an amazing credit card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is definitely worth considering. It doesn’t require an annual fee and offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
That’s a great deal, especially considering there are no restrictions on how much you can rack up in cash back.
Plus, if you spend $6,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account, you’ll get a bonus of $900 cash back – that’s an insane deal!
You can also redeem your travel points, gift cards, cash back, and more.
This card is a great way to save money, with no annual fee and a generous cash-back program.
What you need to apply for Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card:
- Legal personal information
- Legal TAX ID
- Legal business information
Pros and Cons of Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card:
Pros | Cons |
The annual fee is: $0 | The requirements of a sign-up bonus are tough to fulfill for some |
Introductory APR period | Introductory APR is not available for balance transfer |
Bonus offer for new cardholders | The foreign transaction fee is available |
An awesome sign-up bonus | |
Unlimited rewards |
4. Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Reward: Spend $4,500, get 50K miles ($500 in travel).
Foreign transaction fee: $0
Purchase intro APR: None.
Here is the Capital One Spark Miles Card; it’s got a lot of great features to make your life easier, no matter where you’re headed.
One of the best features is that you’ll get unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase and a great unlimited 5X miles when you book hotels or rental cars.
Plus, you’ll get an impressive 50,000 bonus miles just for spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 3 months of having the card.
And, the best part? There’s no foreign transaction fee, so you can use your card wherever you go without worrying about costly fees.
Plus, you’ll get a free employee card, so your employees can benefit from the same great features.
And to top it all off, you’ll get 2 miles for every dollar spent on almost everything, with no limit or categories.
So, what are you waiting for? Get the Capital One Spark Miles Card today and start getting rewarded for your hard work!
What you need to apply for Capital One Spark Miles Card:
- Legal names
- Legal address
- Legal SSNs
- Legal business name, address
- Business tax ID number (TIN)
Pros and Cons of Capital One Spark Miles Card:
Pros | Cons |
Amazing rewards rate | Annual fee is available after a year |
Doesn’t require foreign transaction fee | Introductory APR is not available |
The sign-up bonus is high | The regular APR is high |
5. Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Reward: 1% to 5% cash bonus.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Purchase intro APR: N/A
Have you ever dreamed of having a card that gives you cash back on almost every purchase? Well, Amazon Business Prime American Express is the way to go!
It offers a 5% cash bonus on purchases from Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods Market by Amazon Business Prime American Express.
Plus, it provides 2% cash back on purchases from U.S. gas stations, restaurants, and wireless telephone services. And you get 1% cash back on all other purchases.
But that’s not all! It also gives you a $125 Amazon.com gift card when you sign up, and there’s no annual or foreign transaction fee! That’s an awesome benefit.
However, there could be some issues with acceptance internationally since it is an American card.
But with all the travel benefits it provides, it’s definitely worth looking into.
What you need to apply for Amazon Business Prime American Express Card:
- Current UK Bank or Building Society account
- Permanent UK home address
- Amazon Business Prime membership
- Age should be 18 or 18+.
Pros and Cons of Amazon Business Prime American Express Card:
Pros | Cons |
Welcome bonus is available | Introductory APR is not available |
Doesn’t require foreign transaction fee | Requires Amazon Prime membership |
Several rewards opportunities |
6. PNC Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Business Credit Card
Reward: Spend $3,000, get $250 cash back in the first 3 months billing cycles.
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Purchase intro APR: 0% for 9 billing cycles.
If you’re self-employed and looking for an awesome credit card, then consider the PNC Cash Rewards Visa Signature Business Credit Card.
It offers unlimited 1.5% fixed cash back for spending to get rewards for all purchases.
Plus, when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months of billing cycles, you’ll earn a $250 cash bonus. That’s pretty sweet!
On top of that, the APR is only 0% for the first 9 billing cycles. After that, the regular APR is still quite reasonable, ranging from 15.24% to 24.24% variable.
And the best part is that this card has no annual fee. So you can enjoy the 1.5% cash back on all purchases without worrying about extra costs.
Plus, as a bonus, you can also get great travel benefits from this card. So don’t miss out on this great offer – get the PNC Cash Rewards Visa Signature Business Credit Card today!
What you need to apply for PNC Cash Rewards Visa Signature Business Credit Card:
- Your social security number
- Your gross annual income
- You monthly housing payment
- Your company’s tax ID
- Company’s annual revenue
Pros and Cons of PNC Cash Rewards Visa Signature Business Credit Card:
Pros | Cons |
Introductory APR is available | Requires foreign transaction fee |
High rewards | Redeem reward’s limitation |
Welcome bonus | |
No annual fee |
7. Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Reward: $1,000 cash bonus.
Foreign transaction fee: None
Purchase intro APR: N/A
If you’re self-employed, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is a great way to get cash back on all your purchases.
Though the annual fee of $150 may seem steep, you can’t beat the 2% cash bonus on all purchases.
Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees, so that you can use it anywhere in the world. And if you need extra cards for employees, you can get those for free.
Plus, you’ll get a $500 cash bonus if you spend $5,000 in the first three months and a $500 bonus for spending $50,000 in the first six months. That’s pretty sweet.
But the really cool part is that if you spend $200,000 or more, you get a $200 cash-back bonus each time.
And if you ever need to, you can lock your card anytime, whether missing or for any other reason.
With all these benefits, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is a great option for self-employed people.
What you need to apply for Capital One Spark Cash Plus card:
- Legal personal information
- Legal business information
- TAX ID and more.
Pros and Cons of Capital One Spark Cash Plus card:
Pros | Cons |
Free employee cards | Introductory APR is not available |
Doesn’t require foreign transaction fee | High annual fee |
Sign-up bonus | |
Several rewards |
8. Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Reward: 1 point, 3 points, and 100k bonus points,
Foreign transaction fee: None
Purchase intro APR: N/A
If you’re self-employed, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is an awesome option! With this card, you can get 100k bonus points after spending $15,000 within the first three months – that’s an amazing deal.
You’ll get three points for every dollar spent on certain categories and one point for every purchase per dollar.
Plus, there’s a bonus offer for new cardholders. And that’s not all; the card also offers many benefits to travelers, from high rewards in shipping, internet, cable, and telephone services, to the ability to use it anywhere without any transaction fees.
All in all, it’s an awesome card with great rewards and benefits that make it well worth considering.
What you need to apply for Ink Business Preferred Credit Card:
- Legal personal information
- Legal business information
- TAX ID and others
Pros and Cons of Ink Business Preferred Credit Card:
Pros | Cons |
Doesn’t require foreign transaction fee | Introductory APR is not available |
Sign-up bonus | High annual fee |
Several rewards |
9. U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard
Reward: 1%, 3%, and 5% cash bonus
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Purchase intro APR: 0% for first 15 billing cycles
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard is the perfect choice for self-employed professionals looking for a convenient and reliable credit card for their business needs.
This card offers amazing benefits, including 5% cash back on car rentals booked and prepaid hotels directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 1% cash back on other purchases, and an awesome welcome bonus.
It offers a 3% cashback bonus on the purchasing of:
- Gas
- Restaurants
- EV charging stations
- Office supply stores and
- cell phone service providers
However, you can get a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 within the first 150 days. Plus, there is no limitation on earning rewards, and the rewards don’t expire. That’s great!
But the best part is, if you use this card for software subscriptions like QuickBooks or FreshBooks, you will get an annual $100 statement credit.
And all of these benefits are available to you without any annual fee. Talk about a sweet deal!
So if you’re looking for a reliable and convenient credit card for your business needs, the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard is the perfect choice for you.
What you need to apply for Ink Business Preferred Credit Card:
- Legal business information
- Legal personal information
- TAX ID and others
Pros and Cons of Ink Business Preferred Credit Card:
Pros | Cons |
The annual fee is: $0 | Requires foreign transaction fee |
Introductory APR is available | Balance transfer fee |
Sign-up bonus | |
Several rewards |
10. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Reward: 1 to 5 points on several purchases.
Foreign transaction fee: None
Purchase intro APR: N/A
With an annual fee of just $95, you get many impressive benefits and rewards. I am going to talk about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
For starters, you’ll get 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases (1st 3 months from opening account) – that’s equivalent to $750!
Plus, you’ll get 5x rewards on travel purchases, 3x on dining, $50 annual rewards on hotel credit, and 2x rewards on all other purchases related to traveling.
With all these rewards, you’re sure to get a lot of bang for your buck. Additionally, there are plenty of other rewards and bonuses available.
Whether you’re looking for a great travel card or just want to take advantage of all the rewards and bonuses, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the perfect choice for self-employed travelers.
What you need to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:
- Legal personal information
- TAX ID
- Other important information
Pros and Cons of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:
Pros | Cons |
The foreign transaction fee is $0 | Annual fee |
Bonus offer for new cardholders | The eligibility for getting rewards can be sometimes tough to fulfill |
Sign-up bonus | |
Several rewards |
So Which is the Best Credit Card for the Self-Employed Out There?
As we did not use all these cards, we can’t specifically say which is the best. But we can give you an overview of each card given above. By following this overview, you can decide one more easily. So let’s get started.
If we consider the annual fee,
Capital One Spark Miles for Business, Capital One Spark Cash Plus, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have annual fees.
And Capital One Spark Cash Plus has the highest annual fee, which is $150.
If you want a credit card without an annual fee, you can go for the cards except these four.
If we consider the regular APR,
Capital One Spark Miles for Business requires the highest APR. It also doesn’t provide introductory APR.
On the contrary, the Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express has the lowest regular APR. Moreover, it also has 0% introductory for 12 months. And it also doesn’t require an annual fee. That’s great!
If we consider the welcome bonus,
Capital One Spark Cash Plus has the highest welcome bonus but needs a high annual fee.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited Cash® Credit Card also have a good amount of welcome bonus without the annual fees and with an average regular APR. Cool, right?
This overview will now be helpful for you to pick the best one.
Wrapping Up
Well, there you have it–our pick of the 10 best credit cards for self-employed people.
With all the options, it can be hard to decide which card is the best for you.
But this guide gives you a better idea of what to look for. Consider the annual fee, APR fee, rewards, cashback offer, or a sign-up bonus when making your choice.
With the right card, you can maximize your savings and make the most of your hard-earned money. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I get a credit card as self-employed?
Yeah, definitely. You can apply for and use small business credit cards if you’re self-employed. There are loads of options, like American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, etc. You need to provide your legal info and TAX ID to be able to apply for any of these cards. Easy peasy!
How to get a credit card if you are self-employed?
Getting a credit card as a self-employed person is no big deal. Here is the step-by-step process:
- Choose a perfect credit card. In this case, do not forget to consider the annual fee, regular APR, rewards, and other important issues.
- Visit your preferred card’s brunch or website.
- You will find the “Apply” button on the website, and at brunch, you have to ask to apply for a credit card.
- You will be given an application form. You must carefully fill out the form with all legal information and documents.
- Submit the form along with the necessary documents and photos (if needed).
Is it harder to get a credit card if you are self-employed?
Yes and no. Actually, if you are self-employed, you have to use a small business credit card. The requirements for getting it aren’t too hard to meet – you need to provide information about your income, TAX ID, and a few other details about your business. It’s pretty straightforward.
Can I apply for a credit card without a salary?
Sure, you can apply for a credit card even if you don’t have a salary coming in – but in this case, you’ll need to prove that you have other income sources or a healthy bank balance. Don’t worry, though; there are options, no matter your financial situation.
