Do you have small business income or work as an independent contractor? Uber/Lyft, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Airbnb? You are eligible to open a small business credit card, which keeps your personal and business expenses separate. If you are not a corporation or LLC, you can apply as a sole proprietorship, with your name as the business name and your Social Security number as the Tax ID number. I did this for years successfully before incorporating my business.
Small business credit cards are offering strong perks and $500+ value for a single card during the first year to try out a new card. Below are the top 10 credit card offers that I would apply for (or have applied for already) as of February 2019. Recent changes:
- New 100k Marriott Bonvoy Business limited-time offer.
- New 75k United Explorer Business limited-time offer.
- Updated Capital One Spark for Business offer (no more 2k).
- Updated Alaska Air card offer.
This is a companion post to my . Notice that small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.
Note: Certain Chase cards have a “5/24 rule” which is an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards on your credit report within the past 2 years. This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.
- 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $1,000 towards travel!) after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
- 3X points on the first $150,000 spent on travel, shipping purchases, internet/cable/phone services, and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines.
- Primary rental car coverage when renting for business purposes.
- $95 annual fee.
- Subject to 5/24 rule.
- 75,000 United miles after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
- Free first checked bag for both you and a companion (a savings of up to $120 per roundtrip).
- Expanded award availability. Having this card makes it easier to redeem for that saver award economy ticket.
- Primary rental car coverage when renting for business purposes.
- $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Subject to 5/24 rule.
- $500 bonus cash back after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
- Flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no limit.
- No annual fee.
- Subject to 5/24 rule.
- $500 bonus cash back after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services each account anniversary year.
- No annual fee.
- Subject to 5/24 rule.
- 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
- Points can be used towards Marriott (and former Starwood) hotel stays, or converted to select airlines miles.
- Annual fee is $125 (if applied for the card before 3/27/2019, the annual fee for the first year is waived, then $95). Free night award upon card anniversary (worth up to 35,000 Bonvoy points).
- $500 cash bonus after $4,500 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
- Flat 2% cash back on all purchases with no limit.
- $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- 50,000 bonus miles after $4,500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 50,000 miles is redeemable for $500 towards travel. See link for details.
- Flat 2X miles per dollar on all purchases with no limit.
- $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- 60,000 Rapid Rewards points (redeemable for $900+ in Wanna Getaway airfare) after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
- $99 annual fee.
- Combine with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Consumer Card to earn the .
- Subject to 5/24 rule.
- $600 cash back. Earn a $200 statement credit after each $10,000 you spend in purchases, up to $30,000, within the first 3 months. See link for details.
- 1.5% early pay discount on all purchases which stacks on top of the bonus above.
- $0 annual fee for the first year, then $250.
- 70,000 American Airlines miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 4 months. See link for details.
- First checked bag free on domestic flights perk ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
- $0 annual fee for the first year, then $99.
(Barclaycard)
- 60,000 Hawaiian miles after $1,000 in purchases with the first 90 days. See link for details.
- One-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and the Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
- $99 annual fee.
(Bank of America)
- 30,000 Alaska miles + BOGO Companion Fare Voucher after $1,000 in purchase within 90 days. See link for details.
- Companion fare voucher is “Buy one ticket, get one for just taxes and fees” ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from just $22).
- Free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation.
- $50 annual fee for company, plus $25 per card.
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