Why get a business credit card?
Most businesses spend far more than a household does: stock, software, advertising, travel and suppliers. Put that spending on the right card and it can earn points much faster than your personal spending ever will.
- More points. Business spending is often big and regular, which makes welcome bonuses and spend targets easy to reach.
- A second welcome bonus. Business cards have their own bonuses. Holding a personal Amex doesn't stop you getting a business Amex bonus.
- Cleaner books. Keeping business spending on its own card makes your accounts and expenses simpler.
- Employee cards. Many cards give you free cards for your team, and their spending earns points for you.
Every figure below comes from the issuers' standard offers as of October 2026. Offers change often, so always check the issuer's page before you apply.
Quick picks
Compare the cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Best perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Business Gold | Free year 1, then £195 | 1 point per £1 | Flexible points, free employee cards |
| Amex Business Platinum | £650 | 1 point per £1 | Airport lounges and travel insurance |
| BA Accelerating Business | £250 | 1.25 Avios per £1 | 10,000 bonus Avios per £20,000 |
| Capital on Tap Pro | £299 | 1 Avios per £1 | Lounge access, no fees abroad |
| Capital on Tap | Free | 1% cashback or 0.8 Avios per £1 | No fees abroad |
| Barclaycard Select Cashback | Free | 1% in months you spend £2,000+ | Open to sole traders |
Amex Business Gold and Platinum earn Membership Rewards points, which move to Avios and Virgin Points at 1:1. Eligibility rules differ by card, so check who can apply before you start.
American Express business cards
Amex business cards earn the same Membership Rewards points as the personal Gold and Platinum cards. Both are charge cards, which means you pay the balance in full each month.
American Express Business Gold
- Annual fee
- Free year 1, then £195
- Welcome bonus
- 20,000 points (standard offer)
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1, double on Amex Travel
- Key perk
- Up to 20 free employee cards
The best place for most business owners to start. There's no fee in the first year, and your points stay flexible: move them to Avios or Virgin Points at 1:1, or to hotel programmes, when you know where you want to go.
You can add up to 20 employee cards for free, and everything they spend earns points for you. Spend £40,000 in a year and you get a £100 Amex Travel credit, with another £100 at £80,000. There's also a yearly £100 credit to spend at Dell.
Worth knowing: Amex often runs bigger welcome offers on this card. Earlier in 2026 it was 60,000 points, so it can pay to wait for a boosted offer.
Suits you if you run a limited company and want flexible points without a big fee.
American Express Business Platinum
- Annual fee
- £650
- Welcome bonus
- 50,000 points (standard offer)
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1
- Key perk
- Lounge access and travel insurance
The business version of Amex Platinum. You get access to over 1,550 airport lounges, travel insurance, a yearly £200 Amex Travel credit, and employee cards: one extra Platinum card and up to 19 Gold cards, all included in the fee.
It earns the same points as Business Gold, so you're paying for the perks. If you and your team travel often, the lounges and insurance can cover the fee. If not, Business Gold is the better deal.
Suits you if you travel for work several times a year and will use the lounges and insurance.
Best for earning Avios
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business
- Annual fee
- £250
- Spend bonus
- 10,000 Avios per £20,000, up to 30,000 a year
- Earn rate
- 1.25 Avios per £1
- Key perk
- Up to £200 a year back on Avios Hotels and Car Hire
This card earns Avios directly, and the spend bonuses are where it shines. Every £20,000 you spend in a year earns 10,000 bonus Avios, up to three times. Spend £60,000 and you'd earn 75,000 Avios plus 30,000 in bonuses: 105,000 Avios in total, enough for a long-haul business class flight.
From 7 October 2026 you also get up to £200 a year back when you book Avios Hotels or Avios Car Hire, with no minimum spend.
Worth knowing: from 7 October 2026 the earn rate dropped from 1.5 to 1.25 Avios per £1, and spending with British Airways no longer earns On Business points. Unlike Business Gold, it's a credit card rather than a charge card, and it's open to sole traders.
Suits you if your business spends £20,000 or more a year and you want Avios for British Airways flights.
Visa options
Not every supplier takes Amex. These Capital on Tap cards are Visas, so they work almost everywhere, and neither charges fees on spending abroad.
Capital on Tap Pro
- Annual fee
- £299
- Welcome bonus
- 10,000 Avios after £5,000 in 3 months
- Earn rate
- 1 Avios per £1
- Key perk
- Unlimited airport lounge access
A strong all-round business card. You earn 1 Avios per £1 on a card that's accepted almost everywhere, with unlimited access to over 1,900 airport lounges for the main cardholder and two guest passes a year. There are no fees on spending abroad, and limits go up to £250,000.
Suits you if you run a limited company, travel for work and want a card that's accepted by every supplier.
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
- Annual fee
- Free
- Rewards
- 1% cashback, or 0.8 Avios per £1
- Fees abroad
- None
- Key perk
- Instant virtual card when approved
The best free business card for rewards. Choose 1% cashback on everything you spend, with no cap, or convert your points to Avios or Virgin Points. You get a virtual card as soon as you're approved, so you can start spending straight away.
Suits you if you want rewards on business spending without paying a fee.
Best for sole traders
Amex Business Gold, Amex Business Platinum and both Capital on Tap cards are currently only for limited companies and LLPs. If you're a sole trader, the BA Accelerating Business card is open to you, and so is this free card from Barclaycard.
Barclaycard Select Cashback
- Annual fee
- Free
- Rewards
- 1% cashback in months you spend £2,000+
- Who can apply
- Sole traders, partnerships and limited companies
- Key perk
- No Barclays bank account needed
A simple, free card that pays 1% cashback with no cap. The catch: you only earn cashback in months where you spend at least £2,000, so it works best for steady monthly spending. You don't need to bank with Barclays to apply.
Suits you if you're a sole trader who spends £2,000 or more a month on business costs.
The smart move: personal plus business
Here's why business cards are so valuable for points collectors. American Express treats personal and business cards separately, so having one doesn't stop you getting the welcome bonus on the other.
- Start with a personal card. Open the Amex Gold for your everyday spending. Our Amex Gold review explains why it's the best first card.
- Add a business card. Open Amex Business Gold for your company spending and earn a second welcome bonus.
- Combine your points. Both earn Membership Rewards points, which you can move to the same Avios account when you're ready to book.
Two welcome bonuses plus a year of business spending can be enough for a business class trip much sooner than personal spending alone. New to points? Our Points 101 guide covers the basics, and our guide to the best ways to earn Amex points shows how to build your balance faster.
How to choose the right card
- Check what your business is. Sole trader or limited company? It decides which cards you can apply for.
- Look at how much you spend. Spend bonuses like the BA Accelerating card's only pay off if your business will reach them.
- Think about your suppliers. If many of them don't take Amex, pair an Amex with a Visa like Capital on Tap.
- Decide between points and cashback. Points are worth more when you use them for flights. Cashback is simpler if you won't.
- Check the personal guarantee. Many business cards make you personally responsible for the debt. Read the terms before you apply.
Want our top pick?
Every month we pick one card we'd open first if we were starting from zero.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a business credit card as a sole trader?
Yes, but your choice is smaller. Right now the BA Accelerating Business card and Barclaycard Select Cashback both accept sole traders. Amex Business Gold, Business Platinum and Capital on Tap are for limited companies and LLPs.
Does a business card affect my personal credit score?
Applying usually involves a check on your personal credit file, because you're often personally responsible for the debt. Keep payments on time and balances low, as you would with a personal card.
Can I get a personal and a business Amex welcome bonus?
Yes. Amex treats personal and business cards separately, so holding one doesn't stop you earning the bonus on the other. Each card has its own eligibility rules, so check the terms.
Can I use business points for personal trips?
The points belong to the cardholder, so you can usually use them for any trip. If your company pays the bill, check with your accountant about how to treat rewards.