Working as a driver for a ridesharing or food delivery service, such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or Instacart. I’m freelancing as a writer and/or a graphic designer. Gain experience in the field by teaching English online in your leisure time. These are some of the most common freelancing jobs and other forms of supplementary money.
These individuals qualify as self-employed (technically, small-business proprietors) and may apply for several different types of small-business credit cards. Even if you have no intention of turning your hobby into a full-time business, this is still the case.
Here is a rundown of the top credit cards for freelancers and side hustlers looking to build business credit through points earned on company spending.
Best Business Credit Cards for Side Hustles and Freelancers
Freelancers, sole proprietors, and side hustlers can benefit from small business credit cards by selecting one with a low annual fee and a rewards program with bonus categories that favor general spending or a wide variety of regular company costs.
Attractive sign-up incentives are available for many of them. These bonuses may be referred to as welcome offers, welcome bonuses, or early spend bonuses, depending on the issuing bank.
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Gain Unlimited Potential Earnings After Signing Up All Eligible Purchases Earn 1.5% Cash Back
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card that is especially well-liked by small businesses.
It’s approximately equal to the Chase Freedom Limitless® Credit Card, a personal credit card that offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on qualified transactions. For Ink Business Unlimited, there are no expenditure categories like there are in Freedom Unlimited, making ROI calculations straightforward.
If you can spend $7,500 on your new Ink Business Unlimited card within the first three months, you’ll be rewarded handsomely with a sign-up bonus. Since this card is so unusual, we felt it was important to include it on our list of the best business credit cards because of the introductory 0% APR deal on purchases.
- Earn $750 in extra cash (bonus points) when you spend $7,500 on qualifying items during the first three months of account opening.
- Key Fees: The price for overseas transactions is 3%, however there are no yearly or approved user fees (employee cards).
- Introductory APR: Enjoy 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months after account opening, after which the variable regular APR (15.49% to 21.49% variable) applies.
- Other Benefits: This card provides extra perks, such as purchase protection on covered products (for 120 days after purchase, up to $10,000 per claim) and gratis auto rental insurance when you pay in full for your rental with the card.
- Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Benefits include a $750 sign-up bonus, 5% cash back on telecommunications and office supply purchases, and 2% cash back on gas and dining purchases.
Another business credit card given by Chase that doesn’t cost anything per year is the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.
It has the same signup incentive as Ink Business Unlimited, but a more lucrative rewards program for independent contractors and small business owners who shop at office supply businesses, petrol stations, and restaurants. The breakdown of its extra sections is as follows:
- Get 5% back in cash on your first $25,000 spent annually on office supply retailers and on Internet, cable, and phone services combined.
- Get 2% back on your first $25,000 spent at supermarkets and restaurants each year.
- All other purchases are also eligible for 1% cash back, and there are no limits on how much you may spend.
- American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
To the first $50k spent, you’ll get 2% cash back.
There is no annual fee and a 0% APR incentive on purchases for 12 months with the American Express Blue Business CashTM Card. It’s subject to the terms and conditions.
Blue Business Cash’s rewards program is the card’s selling point, offering its cardholders 2% cash back on the first $50,000 spent annually in qualified transactions. When you spend more than this per year, you’ll get 1% cash back. See the rates and fees for details on the applicable terms.
- Spend $3,000 on your new card during the first three months, and you’ll get a $250 statement credit.
- Major Costs: For this card, there is no yearly cost. The 2.7% fee for international transactions and the up to $39 price for late or rejected payments.
- The Basics of APR: Get an introductory 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months after account creation. Please see this rates and fees page for information on the American Express Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express. Once the promotional period ends, the standard APR might go anywhere from 16.24% to 24.24% variable, based on your credit history and the market rate at that time. More information, including prices and fees, may be found here.
- Conditions & Terms To submit an application, please review our rates and costs.
- American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card
Take advantage of double Membership Rewards® points on annual purchases up to $50,000.
American Express also offers a company credit card that doesn’t cost anything every year and is perfect for independent contractors: the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card.
In the same vein as Blue Company Cash, this program encourages routine business expenditures by doubling the rewards on the first $50,000 in yearly spending (2 Membership Rewards® points every $1 spent), and then returning to the standard rate of 1 point per dollar spent thereafter. It’s subject to the terms and conditions.
It provides a similar introductory 0% APR deal to Blue Business Cash. Please review our whole schedule of prices and fees, since they are subject to change at any time.
- After making $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first three months of membership, you’ll receive 15,000 extra points (Membership Rewards points) as a welcome offer.
- Most Notable Fees: There is no yearly charge with this card. There is a 2.7% fee for all international transactions, a $39.50 fee for payments that are returned, and a $5 minimum or 3% fee for balance transfers.
- Enjoy a 0% introductory APR on any purchases made during the first 12 months after opening your account. After that, your creditworthiness and other criteria will determine the variable regular APR (now 16.24% to 24.24% APR). Please see this rates and fees page for information about the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card’s applicable interest and other charges.
- Conditions & Terms To submit an application, please review our rates and costs.
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Benefit from a flat 2% cash back on all purchases, with an early spending bonus of up to $1,000.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a premium business cash-back card that offers a robust rewards program that provides a flat, unlimited 2% back on most qualifying purchases, in addition to a category-leading early spend bonus (worth up to $1,000 extra cash).
When you book your hotel and vehicle rental via Capital One Travel, you’ll get 5% cash back on eligible purchases. Small businesses and independent contractors generally won’t spend enough to qualify for the bonus cash offer of $200 after spending $200,000 in a year.
- This credit card offers a two-tiered early spending incentive of up to $1,000 in cash. Spend at least $5,000 in the first three months and get a $500 bonus. Then, if you spend at least $50,000 in the first six months, you’ll get $500 extra.
- Major Costs: An yearly fee of $150 is charged. There will be no additional charges when making a foreign exchange.
- Advantages Beyond That Advantage from a wide variety of free business services. Employee cards are free and may earn limitless 2% cash back.
- Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Huge Mileage Bonus for Buying Early; 2 Miles for Every Dollar Spent
One alternative to Spark Cash for Business is the Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business credit card.
The primary distinction is that its rewards can only be applied to future travel expenditures rather than to the cardholder’s account in general. In other words, it’s a credit card that offers travel perks.
There are no limits or classifications on the amount of miles you may earn from qualified purchases, so you can earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend. You may cash them in for a variety of travel rewards.
- Spend at least $4,500 on eligible purchases during the first three months of account opening and receive 50,000 bonus miles, redeemable for $500 in travel credits.
- Significant Costs: After the first year is free, annual renewal is $95. You won’t be hit with any hidden fees when making a balance transfer or making an international purchase.
- First Annual Percentage Rate: There is no introductory APR.
- Advantages Apart from That: You may easily redeem your points in over 15 different travel reward schemes. As an added bonus, you may rest easy knowing that you will be compensated (within certain limitations) for any prepaid expenses you incur that must be canceled due to an insured event, such as a sickness or an accident.
- Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business – $500 Bonus
Invest Initial $500, Get 1.5% Cash Back on All Buys, Plus a Bonus of $500
Financial Giant Capital One Comparable to Capital One’s Spark Miles Select, the Spark Cash Select for Business comes with a $500 bonus. The costs and interest rates are comparable. The primary distinction is the rewards program, which allows for the exchange of cash rather than miles.
As its name implies, the $500 bonus available when you make your first purchase with Spark Cash Select for Business is a tempting incentive to make a purchase right now. You may get a $500 bonus if you use your new card to make at least $4,500 in purchases during the first three months.
There is also an ongoing rewards program that offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, no matter how much you spend. When you book your hotel and vehicle rental via Capital One Travel, you’ll get 5% cash back on eligible purchases. Use it to pay anything you choose.
- Early Spend Incentive: Receive a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 on qualifying purchases during the first three months of account creation.
- No yearly fee, balance transfer fee, or foreign transaction fee is charged.
- Zero introductory APR.
- Other Benefits: Receive free, fully itemized, personalized quarterly spending reports.
- Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business – 0% APR for 12 Months
Get 1.5% cash back on all purchases and pay no interest for the first 12 months from account opening.
In contrast to the “other” Spark Cash Select card, the Spark Cash Select – 0% APR for 12 Months offers the same excellent continuous rewards program. However, the outstanding introductory APR deal makes up for the lack of an early spend incentive by offering 0% APR on purchases for a full 12 months from the date of account activation.
- No more bonus funds are available for prepayment.
- The yearly charge, balance transfer fee, and all other potential fees associated with making international or domestic purchases are all waived.
- Enjoy an introductory APR of 0% on all purchases for the first 12 months after account creation. Afterwards, the standard, variable APR will kick in.
- Obtain Capital One’s quarterly expenditure reports and other business-friendly features.
Bottom Line
This list has a great deal in common with our general list of the best credit cards for small company owners, since many of these cards are also open to freelancers and side hustlers who do not have workers or contractors on the payroll.
Yet, the two lists aren’t similar.
Due to factors such as high annual fees, stringent credit underwriting requirements, and welcome offers that require heavier spending than most side hustlers can manage, some of the best cards for small businesses, such as the Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card and the Amex Business Platinum Card, aren’t ideal for part-time entrepreneurship or freelance work.
Not that extremely productive hustlers wouldn’t enjoy using those cards. If you’ve been successful enough to turn your side hustle into a legitimate company, you may need a credit card with a higher credit limit to cover your expenses. And when that time comes, you’ll be more than delighted to make the switch.
