4 BEST SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS FOR BUYING GAS

1. AMERICAN EXPRESS SIMPLYCASH PLUS

Ideal for: Business owners who don’t travel overseas, but have sizeable fuel, cellular, and office supply expenses, and would appreciate the ability to occasionally spend over their limit.

The American Express SimplyCash Plus card offers a “buy above your credit limit” feature, which is unique among the five cards highlighted here. Although this feature includes some very specific terms and conditions, it definitely allows for greater flexibility with your spending limits. This card also offers 3% cash back on a category of your choice, which includes gas stations, for the first $50,000 per year. After hitting this limit, the cash back falls back down to 1%

However, this card’s 0% intro APR offer only lasts nine months and American Express issues all cash back rewards as a statement credit—two key factors you should consider as you decide which card is best for your business. Finally, this card carries a 2.7% foreign transaction fee, making it a costly choice if you have a lot of international expenses.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS (TERMS APPLY)

• 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 9 months after opening an account.

• 5% cash back at U.S. office supply stores and U.S. wireless telephone services up to $50,000 per year (then 1% afterward).

• 3% cash back on a category of your choice (e.g., U.S. based gas stations, restaurants, shipping services) up to $50,000 per year (then 1% afterwards).

• 1% cash back on other purchases.

• Ability to buy over your credit limit.

FEES

• No annual fee.

• No balance transfer fee.

• No cash advance fee.

• 2.7% foreign transaction fee.

2. US BANK BUSINESS CASH REWARDS WORLD ELITE

Ideal for: Businesses with significant fuel expenses, no overseas travel for employees, and could benefit from 15 months of 0% intro APR.

The US Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite card offers new cardholders 0% intro APR for 15 months and 3% cash back on fuel, cellular, and office supply store purchases. One of this card’s best features is its unlimited 3% cash back reward, making it a great choice for businesses with sizeable annual fuel expenses. If you need to make any large business purchases, you may also appreciate the lengthy introductory APR offer.

This card is not a great option for businesses with overseas expenses, however, as the foreign transaction fee is 2%.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS (TERMS APPLY)

• 0% intro APR for the first 15 monthly billing cycles.

• 3% cash back on eligible gas, cellular, and office supply purchases.

• 1% cash back on other eligible purchases.

• 25% annual bonus based off the previous year’s cash rewards (up to $250).

• $200 cash back after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of opening an account.

• Free employee cards.

• No limit on total rewards earned.

FEES

• No annual fee.

• 2% foreign transaction fee.

• 3% or $5 balance transfer fee (whichever is greater per transaction).

• 5% or $10 cash advance fee (whichever is greater per transaction).

3. CITI COSTCO ANYWHERE VISA BUSINESS

Ideal for: Business owners who purchase in bulk at Costco, travel internationally, and have moderate annual fuel expenses.

If you already shop at Costco for your business, consider a Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Business credit card. Cardholders earn 4% cash back on fuel purchases up to $7,000 per year and this card also offers good cash-back incentives on other purchases. There’s no annual fee because that’s covered by your annual Costco membership. In addition, this card also carries no foreign transaction fees—a unique feature among the five cards listed here.

Although the 4% cash back rate on fuel purchases is great, a $7,000 yearly cap is certainly nothing to brag about. This card is ideal for businesses with low to moderate yearly fuel expenses.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS (TERMS APPLY)

• 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases worldwide up to the first $7,000 per year, then 1% afterward.

• 3% cash back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide.

• 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco.

• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

FEES

• No annual fee (with a Costco membership).

• No foreign transaction fee.

• No balance transfer fee.

• $10 or 5% cash advance fee (whichever is greater per transaction).

4. CHASE INK BUSINESS CASH

Ideal for: Business owners who don’t travel internationally, would appreciate a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, and have moderate annual fuel expenses.

The Chase Ink Business Cash card made our top five list because of its great sign-up bonus, its lengthy 0% intro APR offer, and its 2% cash back on purchases at gas stations and restaurants up to $25,000 per year. This card also offers 5% cash back on wireless provider and office supply purchases, giving it a well-rounded rewards package.

Tied with two other cards on this list for the highest foreign transaction fee (3%), this card isn’t for businesses that incur sizeable expenses overseas.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS (TERMS APPLY)

• $750 bonus cash back after spending $7,500 on eligible purchases in the first three months after opening an account.

• 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months after opening an account.

• 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services up to $25,000 each account anniversary year, then 1% afterward.

• 2% cash back on purchases at gas stations and restaurants up to $25,000 per year, then 1% afterward.

• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

FEES

• No annual fee.

• 3% foreign transaction fee.

• 5% or $5 balance transfer fee (whichever is greater per transaction).

• 5% or $15 cash advance fee (whichever is greater per transaction).

BOTTOM LINE

If you’re in the market for a great business credit card and have moderate to high annual fuel expenses, consider a non-branded business gas card. All four cards on our list offer distinct benefits beyond just great cash-back options for purchasing fuel. Any of these cards will help put money back in your pocket so you to reallocate those funds to building your business.

 

Editorial disclaimer: The content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. All opinions expressed here are the author's alone.