Having a business credit card can be a lifeline for small business owners with high monthly expenses. Opening a high-limit business credit card gives you more spending flexibility, whether it’s funding a new marketing campaign, investing in new equipment, or covering other big upcoming purchases.
Along with perks like free employee cards and purchase protection, many business credit cards give you access to business tools to add value.
Here are some of the best high limit business credit card options that also offer cash back, travel rewards, startup perks and more.
Blue Business Plus Credit Card by American Express: Best for Increased Purchasing Power
Why we chose it: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express provides Amex’s “Enhanced Purchasing Power” benefit. This allows you to spend more than your credit limit (approval on a case by case basis). There is no penalty for businesses that make at least the minimum payment each month plus the amount they spend in excess of their credit limit. Blue Business Plus also offers a decent welcome bonus and does not require an annual fee.
pros:
- No annual fee
- Points do not expire
- No blackout dates for travel
- You can exchange points for gift cards, purchases, travel, entertainment, goods, charity.
- Can transfer points to a variety of frequent flyer programs.
Minuses:
- Must go through American Express to book a reward funded trip.
- The 2X points rate drops to 1X after purchases of $50,000 per year.
- Fee for transferring points to frequent flyer programs
- A small commission for booking flights through American Express Travel
Who should apply? Blue Business Plus is ideal for business owners who occasionally need to make large purchases that would otherwise exceed normal credit limits.
Who should miss? Business owners looking for the best remuneration rates are better off looking elsewhere as they offer lower rates than many of the best calling cards. The higher reward tier is capped at $50,000 annual spending and then you only earn 1 point for every dollar spent, so it’s not the best card for large businesses with annual expenses beyond that.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus: The Best Money Back Option
Why we chose it: Not only does Capital One Spark Cash Plus offer a high credit limit, it also gives you an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. You can increase your total rewards by adding employee cards, which are free, so every employee is also rewarded for spending on the cards. Getting a flat cashback rate for everything means you don’t have to track spending in specific categories.
The Spark Cash Plus card also offers a generous welcome bonus offer: you can earn up to $3,000 as a cash bonus – a $500 cash bonus if you spend $5,000 in the first three months after opening an account, and an additional $2,500 cash bonus if you spend $50,000 in the first six months of opening an account. Keep in mind that this is a payment card, so you must pay your balance in full in every billing cycle.
pros:
- Simple flat rate cashback incentive structure
- Valuable welcome bonus
- $200 annual cash bonus for spending over the spending limit
- Rewards never expire on active accounts
- Free employee cards
- No fees for foreign transactions
Minuses:
- $150 per year
- You must pay your balance in full in each billing cycle.
- Lower reward rates than other top cards in popular categories
- High spending requirements for annual cashback bonus
Who should apply? This card is ideal for business owners who want to access higher credit limits and receive cash rewards for all expenses regardless of category.
Who should miss? Small businesses with more modest spending habits may not get enough value from the Spark Cash Plus card to justify its $150 annual fee. As a payment card, it’s not ideal for business owners who need to transfer balances from time to time.
Chase Ink Business Preferred: Best for flexible rewards
Why we chose it: Not only does the Chase Ink Business Preferred® credit card offer one of the highest welcome bonuses of any business card, it also gives you access to one of the most flexible travel rewards programs, Chase Ultimate Rewards. The program allows cardholders to apply rewards to a variety of redemption options, including travel, cash, gift cards, and more. In addition, Chase Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel when booked through the Ultimate Rewards Portal.
This Chase calling card boasts other worthy perks as well, such as free employee cards, no foreign transaction fees, and a detailed travel and shopping protection list. The Ink Business Preferred Card also has a high combined purchase limit in popular business spending categories such as shipping, select promotional purchases, internet, cable and phone service.
pros:
- Significant welcome bonus offer
- Points do not expire
- No blackout dates
- High purchase limit for some bonus categories ($150,000)
- 25% more points when paying for trips booked through the Ultimate Rewards Portal.
- Multiple airlines and transfer partner hotels
Minuses:
- $95 per year
- Points transfers are not all instant
Who should apply? Business owners who spend significant money on the card’s bonus tiers should consider applying for the Chase Ink Business Preferred. It’s also the best choice if you’re looking for flexible rewards that you can use to travel when needed and other options at other times.
Who should miss? This card isn’t ideal if your spending habits don’t match the Ink Business Preferred bonus categories. While its $95 annual fee is lower than many cards, it’s still something to consider, especially if you don’t plan on taking advantage of the card’s many travel benefits.
American Express Business Platinum Card: The Best Choice for Business Travelers
Why we chose it: The American Express Business Platinum Card® is a high limit business credit card with no set spending limit. Unlike conventional credit cards, the Business Platinum card allows you to maintain a balance for selected payments in some cases.
This card is also one of the best options for business travelers. Not only does it earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid flights and hotels purchased through the website, it also gives you access to a host of luxury travel perks, credits and more. Its most prized feature may be airport lounge access, to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including exclusive Centurion lounges.
pros:
- Airport Lounge Access
- $179 net credit
- The Hotel Collection Free Night or Property Credit
- Fine Hotels + Resorts® Free Night or Property Credit
- Multiple credit offers for individual purchases
- Points do not expire
- No blackout dates
Minuses:
- $695 annual fee
- Must be used for travel via American Express Travel
- Fee for transferring points to frequent flyer programs
Who should apply? The American Express Business Platinum Card is designed for business owners who spend heavily on business travel. This is also for businesses that spend enough to meet the card’s higher spending requirements to qualify for the welcome bonus. With many travel perks, it caters to those who prefer to travel in luxury and want access to airport lounges.
Who should miss? With an annual price of $695, this card is not for business owners who rarely travel or don’t enjoy most of the card’s additional benefits. Many other business credit cards are rewarding without a high annual fee.
Comparison of corporate credit cards with high limits
| Credit card | Best for | welcome bonus | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Business® Plus Credit Card by American Express | Expanded purchasing power | 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 on qualifying purchases during the first 3 months of your card membership | $0 |
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Cash back | Cash bonus up to $3000; $500 if you spend $5,000 within the first 3 months and $2,500 if you spend $50,000 within the first 6 months of account opening. | $150 |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Flexible rewards | 100,000 points after you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months | $95 |
| Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Business trip | 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases during the first 3 months of your card membership | $695 |
How to choose a high limit credit card for business
When looking for the right high limit business credit card, consider the following factors before applying for the card.
- Awards: Some cards offer a certain type of reward, such as air miles, hotel bonus points, or cashback. Others offer flexible rewards that can be used in multiple ways. Knowing the type of reward you want to earn will narrow down the field of eligible cards.
- Other cardholder benefits: The benefits of the card are not limited to receiving rewards. Consider other benefits you want to access when choosing a business credit card. Additional benefits may include free employee cards, travel and shopping protection and privileges, compatibility with your accounting software, and more.
- Interest ratesA: Your interest rate is important, especially if you plan to roll over your balance from month to month. If so, you might want to consider a business card that offers 0% APR on purchases over an extended period.
- FeesA: Many business cards that earn rewards have an annual fee. Fees vary considerably from no fee to over $500 per year and up. Other fees may include late fees and foreign transaction fees.
bottom line
The best high limit business credit cards support your business and earn you valuable rewards. Maximize your reward potential by using your card to pay for all business-related expenses. Always remember to pay your balance in full every month to avoid costly interest and get the full value of your earned rewards. Finally, keep in mind that your personal credit score and other factors usually determine business card limits. Individuals with a very good or excellent FICO credit score are more likely to be approved and secure higher card limits.
Editorial disclaimer
The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective judgment of our contributors and is not based on advertising. It was not provided or ordered by credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to our partners’ products.
