6 min readBusiness travel can be a significant expense for many companies, whether you're flying across the country for meetings or booking hotels for conferences. Having a dedicated business travel credit card not only helps manage those costs but also rewards you with miles, points, and perks that can make your trips more enjoyable and cost-effective. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best business travel credit cards for 2024, why they’re essential for your business, and how to choose the right one to fit your company’s needs.
Why Your Business Needs a Travel Credit Card
Travel credit cards offer numerous benefits to businesses that frequently travel. Here are a few key reasons why your business should consider getting one:
- Earn Travel Rewards: Every flight, hotel stay, and business lunch can earn you miles or points that can be redeemed for future business trips or even personal vacations.
- Access to Travel Perks: Many business travel credit cards offer perks like free airport lounge access, travel insurance, and priority boarding. These can enhance your travel experience and reduce stress.
- Expense Management: A dedicated business travel card makes it easier to keep track of business-related expenses. Many cards offer detailed expense reports and tools to help with bookkeeping.
- Savings on Foreign Transactions: If your business operates internationally, travel cards often come with no foreign transaction fees, saving you money on purchases made abroad.
Best Business Travel Credit Cards for 2024
Choosing the right business travel card can significantly impact your company’s cash flow and travel experience. Here are the top business travel credit cards for 2024:
1. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best for Simple Rewards on Every Purchase
If your business makes regular purchases, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is an excellent choice. It offers straightforward cash back rewards and valuable perks for both travel and everyday expenses.
Why It’s a Great Pick:
- Unlimited Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, whether you're booking travel or buying office supplies.
- Big Sign-Up Bonus: Get $900 bonus cash after spending $6,000 in the first three months—ideal for offsetting business expenses.
- No Annual Fee: Keep your rewards without paying an annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
- Employee Cards: Issue employee cards at no extra cost and set individual spending limits for better expense management.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- No Travel-Specific Bonus Categories: While the 1.5% cash back is simple, it doesn’t offer higher rewards for travel purchases.
Real-Life Scenario: If your business wants a simple, no-fuss rewards system that applies to all purchases, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a fantastic choice for both travel and non-travel expenses.
Explore the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
2. Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best for Earning Miles on Every Purchase
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business card is designed for companies that want to maximize their travel rewards. With 2X miles on every purchase and 5X miles on bookings through Capital One Travel, this card offers incredible value for frequent travelers.
Why It’s a Great Pick:
- Unlimited Miles: Earn 2X miles per dollar on all purchases, plus 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Generous Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first three months—equivalent to $500 in travel.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit: Get up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to speed up your airport experience.
- Free Employee Cards: Employees can earn miles on their purchases too, helping your business rack up rewards faster.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Annual Fee: There’s a $95 annual fee after the first year (See Rates & Fees).
Real-Life Scenario: If your business frequently books flights, hotels, and rental cars, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business card allows you to earn miles quickly while enjoying travel perks like TSA PreCheck.
Explore the Capital One Spark Miles for Business
3. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best for Maximizing Travel Rewards
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers high rewards for businesses that spend heavily on travel and select business categories, making it a great choice for companies with significant travel expenses.
Why It’s a Great Pick:
- 3X Points: Earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories, including shipping and advertising on social media.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Get 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first three months—worth $1,125 when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel.
- Purchase Protection: Protect your purchases against damage or theft for up to 120 days.
- Points Worth More for Travel: Redeem points for 25% more value when booking travel through Chase Travel (See Rates & Fees).
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Annual Fee: The card comes with a $95 annual fee, which may offset some of your rewards if your business doesn’t travel often.
Real-Life Scenario: For businesses that spend a lot on travel and select categories, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerful tool for maximizing rewards and earning valuable points.
Explore the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
4. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Premium Travel Perks
If luxury and comfort are priorities for your business travel, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers a wealth of travel benefits, including lounge access and significant rewards on flights and hotels.
Why It’s a Great Pick:
- Luxury Travel Perks: Get access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, and enjoy perks like $200 in airline fee credits and $199 in CLEAR® Plus credits annually.
- Massive Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in the first three months—worth substantial travel rewards.
- 5X Points on Travel: Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel (See Rates & Fees).
Things to Keep in Mind:
- High Annual Fee: The $695 annual fee is steep, but if you travel frequently and take advantage of the perks, it can easily be worth the cost.
Real-Life Scenario: If your business prioritizes comfort and perks while traveling, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express provides premium benefits and rewards that make every trip more luxurious.
Explore The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
How to Choose the Right Business Travel Credit Card
Selecting the right travel credit card depends on your business's travel habits. Here’s what to consider:
- Travel Frequency: If your business frequently flies or books hotels, choose a card that rewards travel expenses and offers perks like airport lounge access or TSA PreCheck.
- Preferred Airlines or Hotels: Some cards offer more rewards when used with specific airlines or hotel chains, so if your business prefers a certain travel brand, factor that in.
- Rewards Flexibility: Consider whether you want a card that offers points, miles, or cash back, and how easy it is to redeem those rewards for your business needs.
- Annual Fees: Some travel cards have high annual fees but offer significant benefits that can offset the cost, while others have no fee but fewer perks.
Benefits of Business Travel Credit Cards
Business travel credit cards offer numerous advantages beyond just earning points or miles:
- Fast Rewards Accumulation: By using your card for business travel and everyday expenses, you can accumulate rewards faster, especially with bonus categories like airfare or hotel stays.
- Premium Travel Perks: Many cards offer access to airport lounges, complimentary upgrades, or credits for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.
- Expense Management Tools: Track business travel expenses easily with detailed reports, and integrate these reports into your accounting software for streamlined bookkeeping.
- Building Business Credit: Regular use of a business credit card can help build your company’s credit history, improving your chances of securing future financing.
Tips for Maximizing Travel Rewards and Perks
To get the most out of your business travel credit card:
- Maximize Sign-Up Bonuses: Make sure to meet the spending requirements to unlock generous sign-up bonuses.
- Leverage Bonus Categories: Align your business spending with the card’s bonus categories, such as travel or office supplies, to earn extra rewards.
- Combine with Loyalty Programs: If you already have airline or hotel loyalty memberships, choose a card that allows you to transfer or combine points.
FAQs About Business Travel Credit Cards
Can I use business travel credit card rewards for personal travel?
Yes, many business travel cards allow you to redeem rewards for personal travel, but it’s important to keep business and personal expenses separate for tax purposes.
How do employee cards affect my account?
Employee cards often share the same rewards account, so their purchases help accumulate points or miles for your business. You can set individual spending limits to control expenses.
What credit score is needed to qualify for these cards?
Most business travel credit cards require a good to excellent credit score, typically ranging from 670 to 850.
Are the annual fees tax-deductible as business expenses?
Yes, the annual fees for business credit cards are typically tax-deductible, as long as the card is used for business expenses.
Bottom Line
The best business travel credit cards can offer your company valuable rewards, premium perks, and better control over expenses. Whether you're booking frequent business trips or simply looking to streamline travel spending, these cards can help you earn points, save money, and make business travel more enjoyable.
