Best Business Credit Cards UK: Expert Review

Whether you're a sole trader, a freelancer, or running a multinational conglomerate, the best business credit cards can offer valuable benefits to support your day-to-day operations.

From improving cash flow and earning cashback and rewards to easing the strains of travel and managing employee spending, the best business credit card can be a powerful financial tool at your disposal.

In this guide, we’ve reviewed and selected the 5 best business credit cards in the UK for 2025. We've honed in on those with competitive rates, top perks, generous rewards, and business-friendly benefits tailored to companies of all sizes.

Read on for our best business credit card top picks in the UK, allowing you to make an informed choice on which card will best suit your business.

Our expert score: 4.8

Pros

Cons

Capital on Tap describes itself as a credit card built for small businesses, and its features are well-suited for startups. Businesses can enjoy credit limits of up to £250,000, plus 4% AER (variable) instant savings. It promises no annual fee nor any foreign exchange or ATM charges.

A neat touch includes the auto-sync to business accounting software, which is compatible with Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and other leading accounting platforms. Employees can be issued with cards free of charge, for which you can set customisable spending limits. New customers will earn 1 reward point for every £1 spent, which can be converted to Avios points. You’ll also enjoy uncapped 1% cashback on all spending.

Why buy? Expert verdict

It may not be the most recognisable name on this list, but with over 200,000 businesses signed up, generous fee-free rewards, and one of the lowest APRs on the market, Capital on Tap is a serious contender in the start-up sphere.

Our expert score: 4.7

Pros

Cons

American Express enjoys a trusted global reputation, and for businesses with high monthly outlays, there are plenty of rewards to be claimed with this Gold Card. As well as earning 1 membership reward point for every £1 spent, you'll claim an extra 10,000 points if you spend £20,000 in a 3-month period. That's a potential 40,000 extra points over a year, making it the best business credit card for rewards.

Amex also offers exclusive dining, film, music, and theatre experiences, along with perks tailored to travel. For example, book a 2-night stay through American Express Travel, and you'll be offered credit (sometimes up to $100) to use at the hotel.

Thanks to a partnership with Dell Technologies, you can also get money back in credit when purchasing Dell products. Plus, adding employee cards is complimentary and, at the time of writing, qualifies for 6,000 bonus points for your first employee card added and a further 3,000 for every additional employee. The card is free for the first year but will cost £195 per year thereafter. Note that this is a charge card that requires full monthly payment.

Why buy? Expert verdict

The Amex Business Gold Card is not only among the most generous for rewards, but it’s also useful for businesses juggling cash flow. There's no preset spending limit, and if making a purchase at the start of a billing cycle, you can get up to 54 days interest-free.

Our expert score: 4.6

Pros

Cons

Spend £5,000 in your first 3 months of membership, and you'll be awarded a bonus of 30,000 Avios points. You'll also get 10,000 points for every £20,000 spent, up to 3 times a year. The 1.5 points per £1 is also higher than most other rates offered by equivalent business credit cards.

Regular travellers can take advantage of the 100% bonus On Business points for every pound spent with British Airways. On Business points are part of British Airways’ loyalty programme for small- and medium-sized businesses and work like frequent flyer schemes. They can be redeemed for the cost of flights, upgrades, and discounts on bookings.

Why buy? Expert verdict

The British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card is the best credit card for business travel, especially for frequent flyers with British Airways or associated airlines, such as Iberia and American Airlines. Because the card awards both personal Avios points and On Business points for businesses, the benefits on offer are effectively doubled.

Our expert score: 4.5

Pros

Cons

With this Santander business credit card, you'll enjoy up to 56 days of interest-free credit on purchases, assuming you pay your balance in full and on time each month. After that, you'll pay 18.9% per annum on purchases. You'll also get 1% cashback on all business spending.

Up to 3 additional cardholders can be added at no cost, and the account holder can control the amount each cardholder can spend. There are no foreign transaction fees, provided you're paying in the local currency, and the annual fee is £30. Note that this credit card is only available to existing Santander business current account holders.

Why buy? Expert verdict

If your business makes a lot of regular purchases, then not only will Santander's 1% cashback see a reasonable return on spending, but the lack of an upper cap on cashback means you can enjoy consistent returns no matter your output.

Our expert score: 4.4

Pros

Cons

There's no annual cost to this Barclaycard Select business credit card, which offers 1% cashback on all purchases when spending over £2,000 per month. Like the Santander card above, the cashback is uncapped, meaning the more your business grows, the more you claw back from spending.

The 56 days of interest-free spending on purchases helps manage cash flow or bridge short gaps in revenue. Custom spending limits can be applied to employee cards (which are free).

Small businesses will also appreciate the built-in protections, including purchase protection and employee misuse insurance. What's more, access to Barclaycard Business Rewards offers discounts and perks with the likes of AXA Health, the AA, and accounting firm FreshBooks.

Why buy? Expert verdict

While its lack of travel perks makes it less attractive to jet-setting businesses, the interest-free payment windows, no annual fee, and 1% cashback make this Barclaycard the best small business credit card for UK-based companies looking for simplicity and low fees.

Business credit cards may be uniform in shape and size, but that's where the similarities end. In the UK, business credit cards cover a range of options, and knowing how they differ can help you pick the one that best matches your company’s needs.

Standard business credit cards work like personal credit cards. You'll be charged an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for any spending that falls outside of interest-free periods. You'll also be expected to pay the minimum amount each month to avoid late charges or penalties.

This contrasts with business charge cards, which require the balance to be paid off in full each month. Because of this, they typically offer higher spending limits and premium benefits.

Rewards business cards are designed to incentivise spending, allowing businesses to amass perks such as cashback, travel, or rewards points.

Lastly, low-interest or 0% business credit cards offer low or introductory interest rates for a set period of time.

Choosing the right business credit card will depend on your business's size, spending habits, financial goals, and regions of activity.

If you're a small business owner with limited expenses or a startup keeping a close eye on the purse strings, a standard business credit card should offer flexibility while helping to build credit.

For frequent spenders, a rewards credit card can provide added value, and for businesses involved in regular international travel, business credit cards that offer frequent flyer points and travel perks are a good fit.

If you can consistently pay off your balance monthly, a charge card could be worth it for the extra perks and premium benefits.

For businesses that might appreciate short-term cover for gaps between income and expenses, business credit cards with low-interest introductory offers can also help smooth out cash flow.

Let’s look at the ins and outs of how business credit cards work.

It's a common misconception that you need to run a large business with a high turnover to qualify for a business credit card. In fact, even the best credit card deals are available to a wide range of business types in the UK, from partnerships and limited companies to sole traders and even freelancers.

Many credit card providers accept applications from startups or businesses with a low turnover, provided you meet basic eligibility criteria.

Typically, you'll need to present the following during the application process:

In certain circumstances, you may be asked to provide your personal credit history, particularly if it's a new business without an established credit profile. Providers will, therefore, use your personal history to help assess risk and determine your credit limit.

While sensible use is always advised and paying off your balance in full is recommended, business credit cards can offer many advantages when used smartly. For accounting purposes, using a business credit card keeps your company expenses separate from your personal spending, making accounting and tax filing much easier and more accurate.

Regular use will also allow your company to build business credit, which is required for securing financial loans for future growth or expansion. Employee cards allow your workers an element of freedom, while restrictions on spending limits ensure that those freedoms aren't abused.

Credit cards that provide rewards and perks also offer businesses something back in return for their outlays. For example, the best travel credit cards allow enterprises with regular international commitments to amass frequent flyer points for travel discounts.

There are a number of well-established and trusted financial institutions in the UK that provide business credit cards. American Express, often shortened to Amex, is known for its premium rewards and travel perks in return for significant annual fees.

Barclaycard is another of the UK's largest credit card providers, offering a selection of business credit cards. These include options with cashback, low interest rates, and no annual fees. HSBC, Halifax, Santander, and Lloyds Bank are also popular and well-respected business credit card providers. However, some products are restricted to existing customers, such as those holding business savings accounts.

Capital on Tap is a relative newcomer to the scene, having been established in London in 2012. Offering business credit cards tailored to the needs of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it hasn't taken long to make a name for itself, providing over £4 billion in funding to more than 200,000 customers.

When it comes to choosing the best business credit cards, there are a number of factors you should take into consideration.

Annual fees

Some business credit cards, particularly those with the most generous rewards and perks, demand an annual fee. You'll need to determine whether the benefits to your company outweigh the annual cost, especially if your company is small and has low outgoings.

Rewards

If your business is likely to spend regularly on a credit card, for example, on travel expenses, office supplies, or fuel, using a card that offers some return on this spending might be worthwhile. That could be through cashback, travel discounts, or redeemable reward points.

Foreign transaction fees

If your business requires regular travel from you or your employees, look into foreign transaction fees when abroad. Some cards are specifically tailored for travel and offer both low fees abroad and additional benefits such as travel accident insurance.

Interest rates

If you plan on carrying a balance from a previous card, look for business credit cards that offer low introductory APRs. And if you suspect there may be some months when you're not planning on paying off the full balance, opt for a card with low ongoing rates.

Credit limits

Maxing out can impact your credit score, so ensure your chosen card offers a credit limit that will support your monthly expenses.

Additional cardholders

Depending on the size of your business, you may wish to provide cards for employees who will need to make purchases on behalf of the company. Look into whether providers charge fees for additional cardholders and whether they offer customisable spending limits.

In selecting our top 5 picks of the best business credit cards in the UK, we analysed over a dozen market-leading providers. We took into account a number of contributing factors. These included:

Rewards rate: Where business credit cards offered rewards for spending, we noted the most generous reward rates on the market.

Additional benefits: Some credit cards offer benefits or perks as an alternative (or in addition to) a rewards points system. These can include cashback on spending, airport lounge access, or travel insurance. Our selection includes providers offering the best offers at the time of writing.

Interest rate: We noted the APR of each credit card on our list (except where we've included a charge card). We’ve ensured that those with a high APR have benefits that outweigh the higher rate.

Fees: We highlighted cards with an annual fee and those with introductory offers. We also took note of foreign transaction fees for employees making regular trips abroad.

Reputation and customer reviews: Our research also considered reviews from business users, along with the provider's reputation and trustworthiness.

It's not a good idea. First, most business credit card agreements prohibit using business credit cards for personal spending. Breaking that agreement could result in your account being closed. Your accountant will also not thank you, as mixing personal and business expenses can result in a sticky tax situation or legal liability issues.

If the card is solely for business use, then business-related purchases, interest charges on these purchases, and annual card fees can be claimed as a business expense. What is not deductible are any purchases unrelated to the business (another reason, as above, not to make personal purchases on your business credit card) or any fines or penalties incurred. Just remember: Always keep your receipts!

You can get a business credit card with bad credit, but you'll likely find that your options are limited and the terms won't be as favourable. However, some providers specialise in credit cards for those with poor credit scores, with the intention of gradually building them up.

Our review of the best business credit cards should give you the insights and information to pick the right card for your company’s needs. Whether you're looking to manage cash flow, earn rewards on everyday spending, enjoy travel perks, or access neat touches like integrated accounting and spending limits on employee cards, the top picks above have you covered.

As long as you stay on top of repayments and use the card strategically, your business spending can work harder for you. Here's to managing and growing your business with confidence!