What credit card reward programs are available to startups?
Choosing the right credit card can provide significant benefits to your startup.
Credit cards offer businesses a variety of card reward programs, including things like sign-up bonuses; bonus rewards for common startup expenses like office supplies, internet, phone, and cloud storage. These “everyday” expenses can add up fast, so getting discounts on them by using your business card can be a valuable benefit for startups.
Choose the right business credit card
Credit card rewards programs, when chosen wisely, can provide tangible financial benefits to startups, improve cash flow, reduce operating costs, and provide perks that support growth and scaling. By making sure their small business credit cards meet their needs, startups can make every expense go further.
However, startups are different from traditional small businesses in a few key ways – and startup founders should make sure to choose a card that makes sense for a startup, not a typical small business. One of the most important things to get that isn’t related to points or rewards is choosing a card that doesn’t require a personal guarantee. Startup founders who choose a more traditional small business card like Bank of America’s Business Advantage card are likely to be stuck being responsible for the company’s credit card debt if the startup fails. That’s right – the founder, you, may end up being liable for tens of thousands of dollars if you don’t pick the right card!
Here’s a comparison of the best business credit card rewards from Brex, Ramp, Mercury, and American Express, specifically for startups and small businesses (note that Kruze has relationships with many of these providers, so if you sign up using one of our links you will get a higher signup bonus and we’ll receive a small referral fee):
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Business Platinum (American Express offers several business cards with different reward options. Examples here are from the Business Platinum card.) |
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Summary
- Brex: Best for startups that want industry-tailored rewards.
- Ramp: Simplified, with unlimited 1.5% cash back and focus on spend control.
- Mercury: Simplified 1.5% cash back and excels in banking and expense management.
- American Express: Offers a wide range of cards with versatile rewards, including points, cash back, and travel perks tailored for businesses.
Each provider offers unique benefits depending on whether your startup prioritizes cash flow management, rewards, or business expense automation.
How can your startup’s credit card help your bottom line?
Some of the reasons you should pay close attention to your credit card rewards include:
- Maximizing cash flow. Cashback and reward points can help startups save money on eligible purchases that are essential expenses, such as travel, office supplies, software subscriptions, or even payroll services. In addition to saving on everyday business expenses, a sign-up bonus can cover the cost of a card’s annual fee. These customized cash rewards can improve cash flow, which is critical for early-stage businesses that need to stretch every dollar.
- Expense optimization. By using a rewards card strategically, startups can reduce operating costs. For example, a card that offers high rewards for software subscriptions, cloud services, or office supply stores can help offset the costs of necessary tools. This can free up funds for other essential investments.
- Tailored startup benefits. Companies like Brex and Ramp offer exclusive perks for startups, such as discounts on legal services, marketing tools, foreign transaction fees, and business consulting services. Rewards or discounts for business services like AWS, Google Ads, and Salesforce, which are tools that startups often use, can help businesses scale.These small business credit card benefits can be invaluable for startups that need access to resources that accelerate growth.
- Cash back vs. travel perks. Startups need to decide whether they need cash back, which provides immediate savings, or whether they benefit more from travel rewards when using their corporate credit cards. For businesses with team members traveling for meetings, networking, or fundraising, the ability to accumulate and use travel rewards can lead to significant savings on airfare, hotels, and car rentals.
- No personal credit guarantees. Some cards, like Brex and Ramp, do not require personal guarantees from founders, which reduces personal risk while still offering rewards. This is important for business owners who want to separate their personal liability from business expenses, and their personal credit history from the business.
- Fraud reduction. Every year or two, we encounter a startup where an employee tries to use the corporate card for something other than a legitimate business expense. Brex and Ramp offer expense management tools that make this less likely, and include options like multi-levels of review, employee and department limits, and other features that make it harder for employees to steal the company’s money. Additionally, pretty much all of these vendors have automated monitoring that tries to detect unusual credit card purchases.
- Efficiency and automation. Many business credit cards integrate with accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero) as well as business checking accounts. This integration not only tracks expenses and streamlines payments, but also automates rewards accumulation, making it easier for startups to stay organized without additional administrative burden. In our list, Brex, Ramp and Mercury have solid accounting software integrations, but Amex does not.
- Capital access. Certain programs may offer additional access to higher credit limits, business credit lines, or venture debt options, which can be critical for startups looking to finance growth without diluting equity.
Your startup can get significant benefits from the right business credit card reward program. By strategically choosing a card that aligns with the startup’s spending patterns, your company can earn valuable cash back, points, or miles on everyday business expenses. Additionally, many business credit cards offer perks like travel insurance, purchase protection, and expense management tools that can help a startup streamline operations and reduce overhead. That means you can reinvest these rewards into your business, helping to offset costs and improve cash flow during your startup’s critical early stages.
