Compare The Best Business Credit Cards

Compare the fees, rewards and eligibility requirements of the best business credit cards for UK businesses

Written by

Harry Jones

Edited by

Andrew Parry

Written by
Harry Jones

Edited by
Andrew Parry

Updated: 10th September 2024

Recommended Business Credit Card

A business credit card, which will be in your company’s name rather than your personal name, can be one of the best sources of business financing (if the balance is paid off each month).

They are becoming more popular with SMEs due to the speed of approval, rewards and expense tracking. In Q3 2023, 20% of UK businesses used business credit cards which was up from 12% in Q1 2023.

We regularly check UK business credit providers to find the best deals to suit various business types and requirements such as the highest cashback rates, lowest upfront fees and interest rates or best perks for travellers. You may also be interested in:

Here are our top overall business credit cards for UK SMEs.

Contents (expand)

The best business credit cards for UK businesses

Uncapped 1% cashback

Capital on Tap Free Business Credit Card

The free version of the Capital on Tap business card is a free card with zero FX or ATM fees. The card has uncapped cashback and rates as low as 15.22% APR (variable). No annual fees and 1% cashback on all spending types makes this one the best business credit cards on offer for UK SMEs.

Note that only businesses registered in the UK, or with a UK based director, and an annual turnover of at least £24,000 are eligible for this card and the Capital on Tap Business Rewards card below.

Our view: Ideal for non-travellers looking for straightforward cashback along with simple, free employee cards.

Best for: Best for cashback rewards while remaining free
Intro Offer: None
Rewards:
- Uncapped 1% cashback on all card spending
- Redeem points for cash
- Access savings on popular SaaS, such as Sage and Slack.
Annual Fee: None
Purchase Rate: 36.19%
Representative APR: 36.19%

Features:
- No FX or ATM fees
- Sync seamlessly with popular accounting software
- Get up to £250,000 in credit
- 24/7 support
- Unlimited free company cards with tailored limits & real-time tracking
- Virtual cards
Eligibility:
- Active director or majority shareholder with over 25% ownership
- Have a Ltd or LLP based in the UK
- No CCJs in the past 12 months (you or the business)
- Turnover of over at least £24,000

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

The free version of the Capital on Tap business card is a free card with zero FX or ATM fees. The card has uncapped cashback, but lacks any comprehensive reward system. This makes it a very strong, but quite basic, business credit card.

Our view: The card is suited to non-travellers looking for straightforward cashback along with simple, free employee cards.

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Best for cashback rewards while remaining free
Intro Offer: None
Rewards:
- Uncapped 1% cashback on all card spending
- Redeem points for cash
- Access savings on popular SaaS products such as Dropbox & Slack.
Annual Fee: None
APR: 15.5% APR and above (variable)
Features:
- No FX or ATM fees
- Sync seamlessly with popular accounting software
- Get up to £250,000 in credit
- 24/7 support
- Unlimited free company cards with tailored limits & real-time tracking
- Virtual cards
Eligibility:
- Active director or majority shareholder with over 25% ownership
- Have a Ltd or LLP based in the UK
- No CCJs in the past 12 months (you or the business)
- Turnover of over at least £24,000

Intro Bonus & Avois Points

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Credit Card

The ‘Business Rewards’ version of the Capital on Tap credit card has very similar features to the free version, but introduces Avios points and an introductory bonus for the price of £99 per year. This may not be worthwhile for small spenders, but it does a good job of filling in the shortcomings of the free card.

Our view: Ideal for company directors looking to collect Avios points on business expenses.

Best for: Best all-rounder for higher spenders
Intro Offer: 10,000 bonus points when you spend £5,000 in the first three months
Rewards:
- Uncapped 1% cashback on all card spending
- Redeem points for cash, reduce your balance of convert to Avois points.
- Access savings on popular SaaS products such as Sage & Slack.
Annual Fee: £99
Purchase Rate: 59.15%

Features:
- No FX or ATM fees
- Sync seamlessly with popular accounting software
- Get up to £250,000 in credit
- 24/7 support
- Unlimited free company cards with tailored limits & real-time tracking
- Virtual cards
- Upload transaction receipts
Eligibility:
- Active director or majority shareholder with over 25% ownership
- Have a Ltd or LLP based in the UK
- No CCJs in the past 12 months (you or the business)
- Annual turnover of over £24,000

Pros:

Cons:

The ‘Business Rewards’ version of the Capital on Tap credit card has very similar features to the free version, but introduces Avios points and an introductory bonus for the price of £99 per year. This may not be worthwhile for small spenders, but it does a good job of filling in the shortcomings of the free card.

Our view: Ideal for company directors looking to collect Avios points on business expenses.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Best all-rounder for higher spenders
Intro Offer: 10,000 bonus points when you spend £5,000 in the first three months
Rewards:
- Uncapped 1% cashback on all card spending
- Redeem points for cash
- Access savings on popular SaaS products such as Dropbox & Slack.
Annual Fee: £99
APR: 15.5% APR and above (variable)
Our view: Ideal for non-travellers looking for straightforward cashback along with simple, free employee cards.
Features:
- No FX or ATM fees
- Sync seamlessly with popular accounting software
- Get up to £250,000 in credit
- 24/7 support
- Unlimited free company cards with tailored limits & real-time tracking
- Virtual cards
- Upload transaction receipts
Eligibility:
- Active director or majority shareholder with over 25% ownership
- Have a Ltd or LLP based in the UK
- No CCJs in the past 12 months (you or the business)
- Turnover of over £24,000

30,000 Avios Points Intro Bonus

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card

The British Airways AMEX Accelerating Business card has a huge potential for travel rewards, with four key components, with the potential for: 30,000 Avios points annually, a 30,000 Avios points introductory offer, and both 1.5 Avios points and 2x business points for each pound spent.

This has the largest reward potential of any card, along with good insurance. Low spenders, infrequent flyers, and those going over the 56-day interest-free period will find it very expensive.

Our view: While expensive, this card can quickly become worthwhile for frequent business travellers and big spenders. 1 Avios point is roughly worth 2p for BA business class, meaning that you only need ~15,000 points to cover the annual fee. This should be easily achievable for businesses spending around £10,000 per year.

Best for: High-spending frequent flyers
Intro Offer: 30,000 Avios points when spending £5,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards:
- 1.5x Avios for every £1 spent on purchases
- 2x business points (British Airways) for every eligible £1 spent
- 10,000 Avios points for every £20,000 spent (up to 3 times per year)
- Insurance: Travel, purchase protection, fraud guarantee, refund protection
Annual Fee: £250
APR: Representative example: 108.4% APR (variable), 28.5% p.a. purchase rate (variable)

Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- Complimentary cards for employees
- 24/7 customer service
Eligibility:
- Your business has an existing UK Bank account (or Building Society)
- Permanent UK home address

Pros:

Cons:

This has the largest reward potential of any card, along with good insurance. Low spenders, infrequent flyers, and those going over the 56-day interest-free period will find it very expensive.

Our View: While expensive, this card can quickly become worthwhile for frequent business travellers and big spenders. 1 Avios point is roughly worth 2p for BA business class, meaning that you only need ~15,000 points to cover the annual fee. This should be easily achievable for businesses spending around £10,000 per year.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: High-spending frequent flyers
Intro Offer: 30,000 Avios points when spending £5,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards:
- 1.5x Avios for every £1 spent on purchases
- 2x business points (British Airways) for every eligible £1 spent
- 10,000 Avios points for every £20,000 spent (up to 3 times per year)
- Insurance: Travel, purchase protection, fraud guarantee, refund protection
Annual Fee: £250
APR: Representative example: 108.4% APR (variable), 28.5% p.a. purchase rate (variable).
Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- Complimentary cards for employees
- 24/7 customer service
Eligibility:
- Your business has an existing UK Bank account (or Building Society)
- Permanent UK home address

40,000 Reward Points Intro Bonus

American Express Business Gold Card

The Business Gold Card is one of the cheaper AMEX cards, yet has a comprehensive reward system that isn’t just limited to flying. Global Assistance and free employee cards are stand-out features. For lower spenders, this may be a one-year use card due to its minimum thresholds for some rewards, as well as having limited software integration and no cashback.

Membership points can be used to pay off your balance or exchanged for experiences, shopping, hotels and air miles / points at British Airways or Virgin Atlantic.

Our view: If your business spends enough to access the bonus rewards, the Business Gold Card can be a good option if you are looking to collect Avois points or Virgin Atlantic points.

Best for: Flexible high-spending rewards
Intro Offer:
- £0 annual fee in the first year
- 20,000 Membership Reward points when you spend £3,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards:
- Up to 54 days free of interest on purchase
- Dell Technologies £100 Statement credit
- Earn 10,000 Membership Reward points when spending £20,000 per quarter
- Earn 9,000 Reward points for each business referred (up to 90,000 per year)
- Earn 1 Membership Reward point for almost every £1 spent, and an additional point when purchasing through American Express Travel
- Global travel insurance (travel and accident Inconvenience)
Annual Fee: £195 (first year free)
APR: None as this is a charge card

Features:
- Up to 54 days free of interest on purchases
- Complimentary cards for employees
- Global Assist: 24/7 customer service around the world
- Emergency card replacement
Eligibility:
- Your business has an existing UK Bank or Building Society account
- Permanent UK home address
- No welcome bonus award if you have had any taken part in Membership Rewards on another card in the past 13 months)

Pros:

Cons:

Our view: If your business spends enough to access the bonus rewards, the Business Gold Card can be a lucrative option with flexible rewards at potentially no cost (in the first year).

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Flexible high-spending rewards
Intro Offer:
- £0 annual fee in the first year
- 40,000 Membership Reward points when you spend £6,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn an extra 20,000 Membership Rewards points when making a purchase (any amount) between 14 and 17 months of membership.
Rewards:
- Up to 54 days free of interest on purchase
- Up to 20 complimentary Gold cards for employees
- Dell Technologies £100 Statement credit
- Earn 10,000 Membership Reward points when spending £20,000 per quarter
- Earn 1 Membership Reward point for almost every £1 spent, and an additional point when purchasing through American Express Travel
- Global travel insurance (travel and accident Inconvenience)
Annual Fee: £195 (first year free)
APR: N/A This is a charge card
Features:
- Up to 54 days free of interest on purchases
- Complimentary cards for employees
- Global Assist: 24/7 customer service around the world
- Emergency card replacement
Eligibility:
- Your business has an existing UK Bank or Building Society account
- Permanent UK home address
- No welcome bonus award if you have had any taken part in Membership Rewards on another card in the past 13 months)

1% uncapped cashback

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

The Select Cashback credit card has no annual fees, yet rewards spenders with uncapped cashback, insurance, and FreshBooks integration. The card’s downfall is that it’s costly for purchases and international transactions, and lacks a comprehensive reward system.

Our view: The card’s FreshBooks integration is useful for startups without a system in place, all whilst benefiting from cashback rewards and low turnover eligibility. For international companies, the card is expensive and without sufficient rewards.

Best for: Low turnover, domestic startups
Intro Offer: None
Rewards:
- 1% uncapped cashback
- Free access to FreshBooks (worth £260/year)
- Insurance for cardholder misuse and purchase protection
Annual Fee: None
APR: Representative example: 27.5% APR (variable) and 27.5% p.a. (variable) purchase rate

Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest for business purchases
- Links to FreshBooks
- Connects with Apple Pay
Eligibility:
- Turnover of £10,000 or more
- Existing finances have been well managed over the past year
- You haven’t been rejected for a commercial card at Barclays in the past six months

Pros:

Cons:

Our view: The card’s FreshBooks integration is useful for startups without a system in place, all whilst benefiting from cashback rewards and low turnover eligibility. For international companies, the card is expensive and without sufficient rewards.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Low turnover, domestic startups
Intro Offer: 2% uncapped cashback for three months
Rewards:
- 1% uncapped cashback
- Free access to FreshBooks (worth £260/year)
- Insurance for cardholder misuse and purchase protection
Annual Fee: None
APR: Representative example: 27.5% APR (variable) and 27.5% p.a. (variable) purchase rate
Our view: The card’s FreshBooks integration is useful for startups without a system in place, all whilst benefiting from cashback rewards and low turnover eligibility. For international companies, the card is expensive and without sufficient rewards.
Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest for business purchases
- Links to FreshBooks
- Connects with Apple Pay
Eligibility:
- Turnover of £10,000 or more
- Existing finances have been well managed over the past year
- You haven’t been rejected for a commercial card at Barclays in the past six months

Other credit cards for UK businesses to consider

No Annual Fee In The First Year

RBS Business Credit Card

The RBS Business credit card is a very cheap option for domestic businesses, as many firms will benefit from no annual fee, a relatively low APR, and 56 days interest-free for purchases. This card may then be mostly aimed at small businesses that already use RBS and its free proprietary software, ClearSpend.

Our view: Whilst very limited, this RBS card is one of the cheapest options yet still provides basic software and some rewards. This may be suited to owners who spend a lot of time driving, as £3,000/year in fuel would cover the annual cost. Large logistic firms wouldn’t benefit, as there are no employee cards.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: RBS customers looking to keep costs down
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee in the first year
Rewards:
- 1% cashback at fuel and EV stations
Annual Fee: £30 (£0 if you spend over £6K/year)
APR: Representative example: 24.3% APR (variable) and 16.9% p.a. purchase rate (variable)
Our view: Whilst very limited, this RBS card is one of the cheapest options yet still provides basic software and some rewards. This may be suited to owners who spend a lot of time driving, as £3,000/year in fuel would cover the annual cost. Large logistic firms wouldn’t benefit, as there are no employee cards.
Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- Integrates with ClearSpend mobile app
- Smart Data: Create reports for business spending analysis
Eligibility:
- You must have an RBS business current account and revenue under £2 million

Best for: RBS customers looking to keep costs down
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee in the first year
Rewards:
- 1% cashback at fuel and EV stations and 0.5% cashback on other spending
Annual Fee: £32 (free if you spend over £6K/year)
APR: Representative example: 24.3% APR (variable) and 16.9% p.a. purchase rate (variable)

Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- Borrow up to £25,000
- Integrates with ClearSpend mobile app
- Smart Data: Create reports for business spending analysis
Eligibility:
- You must have an RBS business current account and revenue under £2 million

Pros:

Cons:

1% Cashback

Funding Circle Cashback Card

Funding Circle is a competitive company that is easy to deal with and quick to onboard. No monthly fees and a nice 2% cashback intro bonus are the most compelling features.

However, it has a relatively high APR and the £40,000 minimum annual turnover will mean it will not be suitable for many start-ups. In summary, there are several other cards with 1% uncapped cashback that may be worth considering first.

Features:
- Up to £250,000 credit limit
- 42 days interest-free credit period
Eligibility:
- Be a limited company or LLP
- 2 years of trading history
- £40,000 minimum annual turnover

Pros:

Cons:

Funding Circle is a competitive company that is easy to deal with and quick to onboard. No monthly fees and a nice 2% cashback intro bonus are the most compelling features.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Features:
- Up to £250,000 credit limit
- 42 days interest-free credit period
Eligibility:
- Be a limited company or LLP
- 2 years of trading history
- £40,000 minimum annual turnover

No Annual Fee

Metro Bank Business Credit Card

Metro Bank’s Business credit card is a simple but effective way to access credit. At a low and consistent 18.90% APR and 56 days interest-free, this is ideal for European firms looking for (relatively) cheap credit. However, the cost may be low, but the opportunity cost of having no rewards will be huge for high spenders.

Our view: This card has one of the lowest interest rates on the on the market so it would suit businesses who don’t clear their balance at the end of each month (which we would not recommend as there are cheaper sources of finance).

Best for: Lowest fees and European businesses
Intro Offer: None
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £0
APR: One simple rate of 18.90% APR

Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- No fees in countries using SEPA
Eligibility:
- Business or Commercial Current Account at Metro Bank

Pros:

Cons:

Metro Bank’s Business credit card is a simple but effective way to access credit. At a low and consistent 18.90% APR and 56 days interest-free, this is ideal for European firms looking for (relatively) cheap credit. However, the cost may be low, but the opportunity cost of having no rewards will be huge for high spenders.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Lowest fees and European businesses
Intro Offer: None
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £0
APR: One simple rate of 18.90% APR
Our view: This is potentially the cheapest card on the market, making it perfect for a small business that is looking for credit as opposed to rewards.
Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- No fees in countries using SEPA
Eligibility:
- Business or Commercial Current Account at Metro Bank

Unlimited 1% cashback

Santander Business Cashback Credit Card

This card is competing with the Capital on Tap and Barclaycard cards, which both offer 1% cashback yet are free. While the Santander card has an annual fee, it is low, has a competitive APR, and has the benefit of no FX fees.

Our view: Santander’s business cashback credit card is an all-rounder, with competitive fees, cashback, and additional card features. Its key USP from some of the earlier cards is the zero FX fees, making it suited to small, international companies. Ultimately, it would be worthy of consideration if not for the poor customer service reviews.

Best for: Small international businesses
Intro Offer: None
Interest Free Period: 56 days if the balance is cleared on time each month
Rewards: 1% uncapped cashback
Annual Fee: £30
APR: Representative example: 23.7% APR (variable) and 18.9% p.a. purchase rate (variable)

Features:
- No FX fees when purchasing abroad in the local currency
- Free additional cards with custom limits (max. 4)
Eligibility:
- A business with no more than two partners, directors, or members
- Have an existing business account with Santander
- Use the card for business expenses only
- You don’t have a Business Cashback Credit Card

Pros:

Cons:

Our view: Santander’s business cashback credit card is an all-rounder, with competitive fees, cashback, and additional card features. Its key USP from some of the earlier cards is the zero FX fees, making it suited to small, international companies. Ultimately, it would be worthy of consideration if not for the poor customer service reviews.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Small international businesses
Intro Offer: None
Rewards: 1% uncapped cashback
Annual Fee: £30
APR: Representative example: 23.7% APR (variable) and 18.9% p.a. purchase rate (variable)
Our view: Santander’s business cashback credit card is an all-rounder, with competitive fees, cashback, and additional card features. Its key USP from some of the earlier cards is the zero FX fees, making it suited to small, international companies.
Features:
- No FX fees when purchasing abroad in the local currency
- Free additional cards with custom limits (max. 4)
Eligibility:
- A business with no more than two partners, directors, or members
- Have an existing business account with Santander
- Use the card for business expenses only
- You don’t have a Business Cashback Credit Card

56 Days Interest-Free Credit

HSBC Commercial Card

The HSBC Commercial Card has very few stand-out features, but it could be useful for startups looking to onboard with various services at a discount.

It is a solid option for those looking for a relatively low-cost card with discounts and a competitive interest-free period. However, this card quickly becomes unsuitable for higher spenders and international spending.

Our view: The HSBC Commercial Card has very few stand-out features, but it could be useful for startups looking to onboard with various services at a discount.

Best for: Small UK firms looking for discounts
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee for the first year
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £32 (first year free)
APR: Representative 22% APR (variable) and 15.9% p.a. purchase rate (variable)
Interest Free Period: 56 days’ interest-free credit

Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- Discounts at Dell, Europcar, AA, McAfee, Samsung, and Supportware
- Set custom limits for employee cards
Eligibility:
- Sole traders, partnerships, limited, and unlimited companies with 3 or less directors/partners
- Not in the financial services industry
- HSBC business current account

Pros:

Cons:

The HSBC Commercial Card is a solid option for those looking for a relatively low-cost card with discounts and a competitive interest-free period. However, this card quickly becomes unsuitable for higher spenders and international spending.

Our view: The HSBC Commercial Card has very few stand-out features, but it could be useful for startups looking to onboard with various services at a discount.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Small UK firms looking for discounts
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee for the first year
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £32 (first year free)
APR: Representative 22% APR (variable) and 15.9% p.a. purchase rate (variable)
Our view: The HSBC Commercial Card has very few stand-out features, but it could be useful for startups looking to onboard with various services at a discount.
Features:
- Up to 56 days free of interest on purchases
- Xero (three months free)
- Discounts at Dell, Europcar, AA, McAfee, Samsung, and Supportware
- Set custom limits for employee cards
Eligibility:
- Sole traders, partnerships, limited, and unlimited companies with 3 or less directors/partners
- Not in the financial services industry
- HSBC business current account

45 Days Interest-Free Credit

Lloyds Business Credit Card

Given the relatively low annual fee, the Lloyds Business credit card is competitive when it comes to insurance, protection, and being suitable for new businesses. However, it falls short regarding additional fees and a short interest-free period.

Our view: In return for the £32 annual fee, customers will receive good protection and insurance coverage. There are high additional fees and concerning reviews, however, low-sending new businesses can access up to £5,000.

Best for: New businesses
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee for the first year
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £32 (first year free)
APR: Representative 22.4% APR (variable) and 16.3% p.a. purchase rate (variable)
Interest Free Period: 56 days’ interest-free credi

Features:
- Up to 45 days free of interest on purchases
- 1% cashback on fuel/charging and 0.5% on purchases
- Merchant rebates with Business Savings (Mastercard)
- Buyers protection insurance
- Travel insurance
- Borrow up to £25,000 (£5,000 for new businesses)
Eligibility:
- Already a Business Current Account holder
- Sole trader, partner, or director with authority to borrow
- Potentially a guarantee for Limited Companies

Pros:

Cons:

Our view: In return for the £32 annual fee, customers will receive good protection and insurance coverage. There are high additional fees and concerning reviews, however, low-sending new businesses can access up to £5,000.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: New businesses
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee for the first year
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £32 (first year free)
APR: Representative 22.4% APR (variable) and 16.3% p.a. purchase rate (variable)
Our view: In return for the £32 annual fee, customers will receive good protection and insurance coverage. There are high additional fees and concerning reviews, however, low-sending new businesses can access up to £5,000.
Features:
- Up to 45 days free of interest on purchases
- Issue 20 cards with custom limits
- Merchant rebates with Business Savings (Mastercard)
- Buyers protection insurance
- Travel insurance
- Borrow up to £10,000 (£5,000 for new businesses)
Eligibility:
- Already a Business Current Account holder
- Sole trader, partner, or director with authority to borrow
- Potentially a guarantee for Limited Companies

56 Days Interest-Free Credit

Bank of Scotland Business Credit Card

Being a part of Lloyd’s Group, the BOS card is essentially the same. This means that it’s a competitive option when it comes to insurance, and it’s relatively accessible for new businesses too. However, both cards have a short interest-free period, poor customer reviews, and no spending rewards.

Our view: This card is the same as the Lloyd’s card, meaning it’s suited to either new businesses and/or domestic, low-spending ones.

Best for: New businesses
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee for the first year
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £32 (first year free)
Interest Free Period: 45 days’ interest-free credit
APR: Representative 22.4% APR (variable) and 16.3% p.a. purchase rate (variable)

Features:
- Up to 45 days free of interest on purchases
- Issue up to 20 cards with custom limits
- Merchant rebates with Business Savings (Mastercard)
- Buyer protection insurance
- Travel insurance
- Borrow up to £10,000 (£5,000 for new businesses)
Eligibility:
- Already have a Business Current Account at Bank of Scotland
- Sole trader, partner, or director with authority to borrow
- Potentially a guarantee for Limited Companies

Pros:

Cons:

Our view: This card is the same as the Lloyd’s card, meaning it’s suited to either new businesses and/or domestic, low-spending ones.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: New businesses
Intro Offer: £0 annual fee for the first year
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: £32 (first year free)
APR: Representative 22.4% APR (variable) and 16.3% p.a. purchase rate (variable)
Our view: This card is the same as the Lloyd’s card, meaning it’s suited to either new businesses and/or domestic, low-spending ones.
Features:
- Up to 45 days free of interest on purchases
- Issue up to 20 cards with custom limits
- Merchant rebates with Business Savings (Mastercard)
- Buyer protection insurance
- Travel insurance
- Borrow up to £10,000 (£5,000 for new businesses)
Eligibility:
- Already have a Business Current Account at Bank of Scotland
- Sole trader, partner, or director with authority to borrow
- Potentially a guarantee for Limited Companies

Alternatives To Traditional Business Credit Cards

Large Credit Limit

Moss

Moss is clearly an innovative fintech that is trying to simplify business spending. Its integrations are powerful and can help improve the efficiency of a company. However, with no rewards and unclear credit repayment terms, it’s a service that isn’t directly competing with traditional credit card providers.

Our view: Moss is an interesting but slightly convoluted service. It excels in its modern software, and its large credit limit is suited to larger businesses. However, it’s difficult to compare with the rewards gained with traditional credit card providers.

Best for: Large businesses that can pay back quickly
Intro Offer: None
Rewards: None
Monthly Fee: Custom monthly fee

Features:
- Intelligent automation: Software detects receipts through your integrated software (i.e. email)
- Up to £2.5 million per month in credit (determined by their in-house underwriting team)
- Advanced budget, accounting, approval, and invoice management
- 2% FX fee
Eligibility: Cannot serve a micro-enterprise (revenue under £2m or under 10 employees)

Pros:

Cons:

Our view: Moss is an interesting but slightly convoluted service. It excels in its modern software, and its large credit limit is suited to larger businesses. However, it’s difficult to compare with the rewards gained with traditional credit card providers.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: Large businesses that can pay back quickly
Intro Offer: None
Rewards: None
Monthly Fee: Custom monthly fee
Our view: Moss is an interesting but slightly convoluted service. It excels in its modern software, and its large credit limit is suited to larger businesses. However, it’s difficult to compare with the rewards gained with a traditional credit card provider, meaning it requires careful consideration.
Features:
- Intelligent automation: Software detects receipts through your integrated software (i.e. email)
- Up to £2.5 million per month in credit (determined by their in-house underwriting team)
- Advanced budget, accounting, approval, and invoice management
- 2% FX fee
Eligibility: Cannot serve a micro-enterprise (revenue under £2m or under 10 employees)

0.5% cashback & €79 per month

Juni

Companies need to spend €15,800 (debit) to make back their €79/month fee via cashback, highlighting that you’re paying a premium for a broader solution.

Our view: Juni is a bright, young company with great software and customer reviews. The service is expensive because it’s not just for accessing credit (though limits are high).

Best for: A comprehensive and international payment solution
Intro Offer: None
Rewards:
- 0.5% uncapped cashback on debit spend
- Up to 1% cashback on the bespoke plan
Monthly Fee: Two plans, Scale (€79/month) and Prime (bespoke)

Features:
- Up to 38 days interest-free with €200k credit limit (up to €20m for Prime)
- Integrations with Shopify, Amazon, and 2400+ banking services
- Modern software with streamlined accounting
- Dedicated account manager (Prime)
- 1.5% FX fee for card payments (0.5% for transfers)
- 10 free IBAN accounts and virtual cards in various currencies

Pros:

Cons:

Despite being very new, Juni has quickly built up positive reviews and a promising service. With a large scope for integration and international spending, it also provides high credit limits and a 38-day interest-free period. Companies need to spend €15,800 (debit) to make back their €79/month fee via cashback, highlighting that you’re paying a premium for a broader solution.

Our view: Juni is a bright, young company with great software and customer reviews. The service is expensive because it’s not just for accessing credit (though limits are high).

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: A comprehensive and international payment solution
Intro Offer: None
Rewards:
- 0.5% uncapped cashback on debit spend
- Up to 1% cashback on the bespoke plan
Monthly Fee: Two plans, Scale (€79/month) and Prime (bespoke)
Our view: Juni is a bright, young company with great software and customer reviews. The service is expensive because it’s not just for accessing credit (though limits are high).
Features:
- Up to 38 days interest-free with €200k credit limit (up to €20m for Prime)
- Integrations with Shopify, Amazon, and 2400+ banking services
- Modern software with streamlined accounting
- Dedicated account manager (Prime)
- 1.5% FX fee for card payments (0.5% for transfers)
- 10 free IBAN accounts and virtual cards in various currencies

Potential $1M Credit Limit

Payhawk

Payhawk is so full of features that benefits like custom spending controls on employee cards, LoungeKey membership, and Visa concierge couldn’t fit the “Features” section. The corporate card should be seen as short-term spending with high limits which allows businesses to track mileage, create per diems, and manage out-of-pocket expenses. Payhawk’s rewards are potentially limited and it is predominantly focused on European-centric businesses.

Our view: Payhawk offers a large credit limit with a reasonable interest-free period (38 days), but this is where the credit ends. This makes it useful to tie over cash flow in the very short term, all whilst benefiting from cheap FX and cashback. Its standout features are its ESG compliance automation and expense management for global businesses.

Best for: International, ESG-compliant businesses
Intro Offer: Schedule a demo
Rewards:
- Cashback (variable)
Monthly Fee: Three tiers with bespoke pricing

Features:
- Up to 38 days interest-free with a potential $1m credit limit
- Physical & virtual cards in 32 countries
- Zero FX fees in 7 major currencies (1.99% FX thereafter)
- Track carbon emissions with automated ESG reporting
- Seamless receipts and automated accounting
- Global multi-entity expense management
Eligibility:
- Registered business in the UK or EEA
- Have a minimum of €250,000 in one or more European bank accounts

Pros:

Cons:

Our view: Payhawk offers a large credit limit with a reasonable interest-free period (38 days), but this is where the credit ends. This makes it useful to tie over cash flow in the very short term, all whilst benefiting from cheap FX and cashback. Its standout features are its ESG compliance automation and expense management for global businesses.

Pros:

Cons:

Card Details

Best for: International, ESG-compliant businesses
Intro Offer: Schedule a demo
Rewards:
- Cashback (variable)
Monthly Fee: Three tiers with bespoke pricing
Our view: Payhawk offers a large credit limit with a reasonable interest-free period (38 days), but this is where the credit ends. This makes it useful to tie over cash flow in the very short term, all whilst benefiting from cheap FX and cashback. Its standout features are its ESG compliance automation and expense management for global businesses.
Features:
- Up to 38 days interest-free with a potential £500,000 credit limit
- Physical & virtual cards in 32 countries
- Zero FX fees in 7 major currencies (1.99% FX thereafter)
- Track carbon emissions with automated ESG reporting
- Seamless receipts and automated accounting
- Global multi-entity expense management
Eligibility:
- Registered business in the UK or EEA
- Have a minimum of €250,000 in one or more European bank accounts

Guide to Business Credit Cards

Differences between a business credit card and a personal one

Business credit cards and personal credit cards are for different purposes. Although they are both ways to access credit at a pre-agreed interest rate, personal credit cards are for personal use whilst business credit cards are for business spending only.

It is legal to make business purchases on a personal credit card, but the opposite is not true (it is not legal to make personal purchases on a business credit card). The main benefits of a business credit card compared to a personal one are:

Higher credit limits: Business cards often have higher credit limits.
Tax deductible fees: Business card expenses are tax-deductible but personal card expenses are not.
Employee cards available: Business owners can give additional cards to employees (normally free or £5 each) which can have their own spending limits.
Expense tracking: Business cards make it far easier to categorise business expenses and their reporting and software integrations are normally better than offered with personal cards.

What is a business credit card

A business credit card isn’t all that different from a personal one – credit can be accessed, but business-focused rewards are offered to win your custom.

However, unlike most people, businesses want to track their expenses closely and keep them separate from personal purchases separate. To make matters easier, many providers integrate the credit card with accounting software for easy reconciliation and reporting.

Business credit cards primary purpose is to access credit and spend (or allow an employee to spend) without fear of being overdrawn. This helps ease cash flow and often take advantage of an interest-free period.

While you must be a registered business and your business credit may be assessed, they’re not completely separate from your personal credit score.

Who can get a company credit card?

Whilst all business credit card providers differ slightly in their eligibility and application requirements, there tends to be a few shared eligibility rules:

Be aged 18 or over
Be a UK resident
Have a UK registered company
Have an appropriate credit history

Some providers may also have certain criteria around directors, business structure, bankruptcy and County Court judgements, so make sure you read the small-print. A few providers offer credit cards to start-ups but most require a minimum trading period and minimum monthly turnover.

Different credit lines

Business and personal credit lines are separate, although don’t be surprised if your personal credit history is checked when applying for a business credit card. Additionally, there tends to be a higher agreed credit limit for business credit cards compared to personal ones. If you’re incorporated, then the business credit card activity will typically impact only the business’s credit score.

Features

Business credit card features are geared towards business activity, meaning some providers will issue individual employee cards, accounting integration, travel spending rewards, and discounts with B2B products and services. The biggest overlap between personal and business cards is with travel rewards.

What types of business credit cards are available?

Not all business credit cards have the same value proposition. Some cards are focused on low rates, meaning businesses can access credit at a low APR, or for a long interest-free period (i.e. 56 days).

There are also cards directed towards earning rewards. These usually scale with your spending, because the card issuer earns a percentage of the transactions processed (AMEX is known for charging more than Visa which is a big reason behind their large rewards). These rewards tend to be either points, which can then be spent with partner businesses, or through cashback, which is direct recompensation for a small portion of your eligible transactions (e.g. for every £1 you spend, you get 1p back in cash).

Finally, travel business credit cards partner closely with airlines and travel point companies like Avios. Some of the rewards come from spending, while some are in the form of travel insurance.

How many businesses use credit crads?

Generally, larger businesses are more likely to leverage their company than smaller businesses. This is likely down to having higher confidence in repayment (longer revenue track records), better creditworthiness, and existing relationships with lenders.

For credit card usage specifically, 9% of sole traders in Q4 2022 reported using credit cards, while this tripled to 28% for businesses with 10-49 employees. Surprisingly, however, this isn’t a linear relationship as usage drops back down for businesses with 50-249 employees.

Type of finance used	Total SMEs	Sole-traders	1-9 employees	10-49 employees	50-249 employees
Bank loan	12%	10%	18%	24%	8%
Bank Overdraft	10%	9%	12%	16%	8%
Credit cards	11%	9%	15%	28%	15%

Source: SME Finance Monitor (PDF)

What are the advantages of using business credit cards?

There are several key benefits to using a business credit card.

Access flexible credit

- Low-friction way to spend and use credit
- Typically received 1-2 months interest-free period

Improve expense management and tracking

- Separate business expenses from personal spend to ensure accurate accounting
- Integrate with popular cloud-based accounting software for more seamless reporting

Rewards

- Rewards that scale with spending, like air miles and cashback
- Access to 3rd party services like insurance or SaaS solutions
- Many travel-focused perks like hotel discounts, airport lounges, and strong exchange rates

Business-focused benefits

- Monitor and control employee spending for easy reimbursement
- Fees are tax deductible unlike personal credit cards
- Build up your credit score to receive preferable terms in future

What are the disadvantages?

Business credit cards generally come with higher interest rates than business loans. While they’re more flexible, they can cost more for businesses with longer amortisation periods. There is also the threat that the flexibility itself can lead to accidental high utilisation or late payments, and this can negatively impact your business credit score.

They can often be more expensive than credit lines and have smaller credit limits, despite offering similar repayment flexibility benefits.

When it comes to purchase protection, they are generally worse than personal credit cards. Business credit cards are not covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which protects purchases up to £30,000. Some providers do offer their own guarantees, however.

How do I find the best credit card for my business?

While the best credit card will depend on the business, the process of elimination remains the same. Businesses are looking for value, meaning you need to get a good grasp of the total costs and pit them against the rewards.

APR and annual fee: Focus on the basic costs of a card, such as the interest rate and annual fee. This will help create a rough annualised estimate of the costs.
Hidden fees: Check for how expensive the additional fees are, such as FX and withdrawals, and then assess how frequently these will apply to you.
Interest-free period: Check to see if the card has an interest-free period and if so, for how long? This may make the potentially high APR less relevant for some companies.
Deal-breaker features: Some benefits and features will be non-negotiable for you, such as being able to issue 20 employee cards or integrate the account with Xero. This can narrow down your options to just a few.
Scope and relevancy of rewards: Check whether the cashback is uncapped, or if the rewards scale beyond the introductory offer. However, it’s equally important to choose rewards that are most relevant to your business and activity. Discounts are good, but are they partnered with businesses you’re likely to use?
Attainable rewards: You don’t want to have to try and spend enough to attain rewards, so ask yourself whether they’re likely in your “worst-case” scenario of spending less than usual.
Final judgement: After weighing the estimated costs with the rewards and ruling out non-negotiable features, you may still have several options. Make sure to take customer service, UI, reputation, and online reviews into account.

What are the alternatives to a business credit card?

Business Prepaid cards
Bank Overdraft
Bank Loan (short-term or long-term)
Asset Finance
Invoice Finance
Merchant cash advance

How do I get a business credit card?

Here is a rough step-by-step guide through the process of getting a business credit card.

Check your credit score: Getting rejected for credit cards can often impact your credit score, so make sure to gauge your likelihood of approval.
Choose according to your needs: Instead of choosing the so-called “best” or highest rewards, assess whether you’re going to make use of the purported rewards and features.
Research: Before deciding on a company, check information that goes beyond APR and credit limits. Read the small print to understand hidden fees and agreements.
Gather necessary documents: Prepare your personal identification, proof of business registration, and any other information that will be required.
Apply and wait: Avoid applying for multiple cards simultaneously. Once approved, read through the agreement terms carefully. Approval often takes between one and two weeks.

The chart below also shows how the percentage of small businesses using credit cards has varied over time since Q4 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can freelancers or self-employed individuals get business credit card?

Yes, self-employed individuals can get a business credit card in the UK. However, there are some issuers that tailor cards to limited companies only.

Can a start-up or new business get a business credit card?

Yes, there are credit cards that accept new businesses. However, there are still plenty of issuers that have minimum turnover requirements, so these will likely be an obstacle for start-ups.

Does a business credit card affect your personal credit score?

A business credit card can affect your personal credit score, but mostly for those using one as a freelancer or self-employed person. For limited companies, it’s possible that a poorly managed business credit card could impact personal credit scores, but this will depend on some lesser-common factors.

Can you get 0% interest business credit cards?

Many credit cards have interest-free periods, but these are often shorter than those available for personal credit cards. Juggling 0% balance transfers is a strategy more common with personal credit cards.

Can I get approved for a business credit card with bad credit?

Yes, but it will depend on how bad your or your business’s credit score is, and the eligibility criteria of the issuer. Furthermore, it’s likely to result in higher APR.

What is required to get a company credit card?

This depends on the issuers, but all business credit cards will require you to at least be 18, live and operate in the UK, and use the card for business purposes.

What’s the difference between a corporate and business card?

Corporate credit cards are designed for large companies with significantly higher annual turnover and multiple employees.

What's the difference between business charge cards and business credit cards?

Charge cards typically require the balance to be paid in full by the end of each month, while credit cards often have a minimum payment amount that is a small percentage of the total outstanding.

Can I get more than one business credit card?

Yes, you can get more than one business credit card. This could yield more rewards, but it may negate the benefits of streamlining your company’s cash flow.

Are business credit cards more expensive than personal ones?

Typically, yes. This is due to the perceived risk being higher, as commonly there is no personal liability for the account holder at a limited company.

Do business credit cards offer rewards?

Absolutely yes, this is one of the main advantages. The most common rewards are reward points (gained through spending) and cashback.

Can a business credit card affect my personal credit?

If you’re self-employed then yes, it will directly impact your personal credit, such as your overall utilisation ratio. For an owner of a limited company, the business has its own credit profile.

Can I use a personal credit card for business expenditure?

Yes, this is perfectly fine as long as it is included in your financial reporting. However, it can bring issues, such as separating personal and business spending.

How do I find the best business credit card for my company?

Assess your needs and spending first. Then, assess whether each card’s rewards would not only pay for itself, but leave you with the most benefits after accounting for fees. Finally, take into consideration reviews, customer service, and your experience with the software.

How do I open a business credit card?

Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, gather the necessary documentation, and then apply. Approval typically takes between one and two weeks.

Do I need a business bank account to get a credit card?

In theory, no, but many credit card issuers require you to have an existing business current account at their bank.

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