Guide to business travel credit card rewards
Quick insights
- Business credit cards often allow cardmembers to earn rewards via points, cash back or travel rewards.
- Choosing a business credit card that aligns with your typical business expenses may help you maximize rewards earnings.
- Before applying for a business credit card, you might want to consider factors like rewards programs, annual fees and available travel benefits.
Business credit cards can be effective tools in separating business and personal expenses, accessing a line of credit and improving cash flow. An additional benefit of some business credit cards is the ability to earn rewards for travel.
Many credit cards, business cards included, provide cardmembers with the opportunity to earn points on everyday purchases. If you or your employees travel frequently for business, you might want to select a credit card with travel rewards.
Below, we cover business travel credit card basics, how to earn rewards, factors to consider when applying for a business credit card and more.
What is a business travel credit card?
A business travel credit card is a card specifically designed for business owners and employees who frequently travel for work purposes. This type of credit card may offer rewards like points, airline miles or cash back on travel or business-related expenses. Earning categories vary by credit card.
Some small business credit cards, like the Ink suite of credit cards, also provide travel-related benefits like travel insurance. It can be helpful to review a credit card’s benefits and reward opportunities to see if they align with your business needs and typical expenses.
Another common feature of business travel credit cards is the ability to issue individual employee credit cards. Using employee credit cards may streamline the expense management process. Each employee card is linked to the company’s credit account, meaning employees won’t need to use a personal credit card and request reimbursement.
How to earn business travel credit card rewards
The way you earn rewards may vary between different credit cards. However, there are a few common ways to earn travel credit card rewards that may help cardmembers maximize earning potential:
- Everyday business expenses: If you charge routine business expenses to your travel rewards credit card, you may be able to earn points or miles. Check your individual credit card for eligible earning categories.
- Travel-related expenses: Some travel rewards credit cards allow cardmembers to earn points on travel-related expenses, including airfare, lodging and rental cars.
- Accelerated earning categories: If your credit card offers higher reward rates in specific spending categories (like travel, dining or office supplies), you may be able to maximize potential rewards by using your business credit card to cover those expenses.
- Sign-up bonuses: Many credit cards offer sign-up bonuses. These often require cardmembers to spend a specific amount within a designated time period after opening the card.
- Employee credit cards: If you issue additional cards to employees, they may also be able to accumulate rewards on behalf of the business account.
Factors to consider when choosing a business travel credit card
When applying for a business credit card, it may be beneficial to choose one that complements your company’s typical spending trends. This way, you could earn rewards on the business purchases you make most often.
Here are a few things to consider when shopping around for the right business credit card:
Rewards programs
Review a credit card’s rewards program before applying to ensure that it’s a good match for your business. Different credit cards provide different rates of earning points and ways to redeem them.
Take the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card as an example. While cardmembers may redeem points for cash, gift cards, travel experiences and more, their points are worth more when they redeem them through Chase Travel℠. This may be a good credit card option for business owners who plan to use their credit card rewards for work-related travel. Bear in mind that this card has an annual fee.
Other credit cards, like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, allow cardmembers to earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every eligible business-related purchase. This card may be ideal for those who prefer consistent rewards on all their purchases.
Annual fees
Keep in mind that some travel credit cards may have an annual fee. Cards with higher annual fees may have additional rewards and benefits, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better than another credit card option.
If you think a certain travel credit card’s benefits are worth its potential annual fee, then it may be a good option for your business. However, you can still earn points and rewards on other credit cards with no annual fee.
Travel benefits
Many companies travel for business to some extent. Because of this, some business credit cards provide travel-specific benefits. For instance, Chase Ink small business credit cards provide benefits like Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
Additional benefits
In addition to travel benefits, business credit cards may also offer benefits like:
- Cell phone protection
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Roadside dispatch
Note that specific benefits may vary by card and/or card issuer.
In summary
There are many business credit cards on the market, and the right one for your company may not be ideal for another. You may want to consider factors like rewards structure, point redemption and accelerated earning categories to maximize potential rewards earnings.
Consider exploring our business credit card options today to see if one could be right for your business.
