Best Business Credit Cards in Canada | July 2026

Q: What is the best business credit card?

The best choice depends on usage. The American Expressᴹᴰ Business Platinum Card is our recommendation for business travelers thanks to its lounge access and Membership Rewards points. The American Expressᴹᴰ Business Gold Rewards Card offers excellent overall value (up to 70,000 welcome points). For businesses with expenses concentrated on gas/dining/office supplies, the Scotia Momentum Visa Business Card offers 3% cash back in these categories.

Q: What are the criteria for obtaining a business credit card?

Criteria vary by institution but generally include:- Business registration number (NEQ in Quebec, federal BN).; - Personal credit score of the owner (generally 700+).; - Financial statements or tax returns (T2125 or T2, depending on the structure).; - Personal guarantee from the owner or principal shareholder (almost always required for SMBs).; For American Express Business cards, no minimum business income is generally required for small structures.

Q: Personal card or business card for professional expenses?

A business card is highly recommended for:- Clearly separate personal and business expenses (essential for bookkeeping and taxes).; - Manage several additional employee cards with spending controls.; - Get detailed expense reports and a longer grace period (up to 55 days with American Express).; - Build your business credit file separately from your personal one.;

Q: How does liability work on a business card?

Two models exist:- Corporate liability: the debt is carried by the business. This is the model American Express uses for large companies.; - Joint or personal liability: the owner or signer stays personally liable. This is the most common model for SMBs in Canada.; In all cases, a personal guarantee is generally required for businesses less than 5 years old or with low turnover.

Q: Are points accumulated on a business card personal or for the business?

This depends on the account structure. For American Express Business cards where the primary cardholder is the owner, points generally belong to the individual and can be used for personal purposes. For corporate liability cards (large businesses), points revert to the company, and their use is regulated. Check the terms and conditions: this detail varies from bank to bank and has potential tax implications.

Q: Which business cards have no annual fees?

Several options exist. The Scotia Visa Business Card and the National Bank Business Mastercard offer no-annual-fee versions for small businesses. American Express also offers the American Expressᴹᴰ Business Card with no annual fee. For additional cards, the Scotia Momentum Visa Business Card charges $29 per additional card, while American Express Business Cards generally include several free employee cards.

Q: How to optimize cash flow with a business card?

Several levers can improve cash flow:- Use the maximum grace period (up to 55 days with Amex Business) to stretch out your supplier payment cycle.; - Pay suppliers by card rather than by cheque or transfer (about 30 extra days of float on average).; - Use the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Business Card for foreign-currency purchases (no conversion fees).; - Take advantage of 0% balance-transfer offers on business cards to manage a large one-time expense.;

The Best Business Credit Cards - July 2026

Here’s a table summarizing the different SMB credit card offers. For more details, read on or click on the small business credit card you are interested in.

Travel rewards

Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

Earn up to 120,000 points with this welcome offer for the American Express Business Platinum Card:

80,000 Membership Rewards points for $15,000 net purchases within the first 3 months of membership
40,000 additional points if you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after enrollment

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

Transfer your points to airline partners: Aeroplan Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
Transfer your points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
Redeem your points for statement credits to offset any eligible purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
And more!

120,000 points have a minimum value of $1,200 for a Statement credit, and much more if you transfer your points to a partner.

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

120,000 Aeroplan points
120,000 Avios
120,000 Flying Blue Miles
144,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar on all purchases. What’s more, you’ll enjoy a host of travel and business benefits:

Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 airport lounges in over 130 countries
$200 Annual travel credit
$100 Card Statement Credit for Nexus
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Hilton Honors Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program
Up to $120 in eligible Wireless Credits each year

With this Card you can maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest free days. It is a card that is particularly appreciated by contractors when making large purchases in home improvement stores, for example.

Last but not least, Business Platinum Card^® from American Express offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express^® Business Gold Rewards Card^®

Earn a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Membership Rewards^® points with the American Express^® Business Gold Rewards Card^®

50,000 Membership Rewards^® points after spending $7,500 in purchases within the first three months of Cardmembership.
20,000 additional points after spending $30,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Cardmembership.

Plus, earn 10,000 bonus points in each calendar quarter when you spend $20,000 or more.

With this Card, you earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on your purchases.

You can then use your points in many ways:

Statement credit for travel purchases
Statement credit for all purchases
Transfer to partner programs (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, etc.).
Book your flight with American Express Travel at a special rate

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

70,000 points Aeroplan
70,000 Avios
70,000 Flying Blue Miles
84,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Alternatively, 70,000 Membership Rewards points can also represent a value of $700 for travel or for any purchase charged to the Card.

Also, as a cardmember, you get many advantages such as up to 55 interest-free days to maximize your cash flow.

Finally, you are covered with reliable insurance for your travels and purchases.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Hotel points

Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card

The Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card is the best credit card for the self-employed, professionals and small business owners who travel.

With this welcome offer, you can get up to 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:

Get 70,000 points after charging a total of $5,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 10,000 points when you spend $1,000 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership

It’s a card we recommend you keep, because each year at renewal, you’ll get an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points, plus 15 Elite nights per year, counting towards your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

With this Card, you earn 5 points per dollar for all your spending at Marriott Bonvoy establishments, and you can earn 3 points per dollar for :

Gas
Dining
Travel

And 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Airlines

American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Business Reserve Card

With this welcome offer for the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card, you can earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan points:

Earn 65,000 Aeroplan points after making $10,500 in purchases in the first three months.
Earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,500 in the 13th month.

With this Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2X the points on hotels and car rentals. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Card, you benefit from many Air Canada travel benefits such as access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling.

Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada^®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

WestJet RBC<sup>^®</sup> World Elite Mastercard for Business<sup>‡</sup>

The WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard for Business^‡ is an excellent card for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to earn WestJet points on their business spending and reduce the cost of their travel.

With a welcome bonus of up to 45,000 WestJet points, this card offers strong value from the first year. WestJet points can be used to reduce the cost of WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages, which can represent several hundred dollars in savings.

The card also offers a favourable earn rate in certain business spending categories, including 3 WestJet points per dollar on telecommunications services, electronic devices, and shipping services, as well as 1.5 WestJet points per dollar on all other purchases.

Cardholders also enjoy several benefits when travelling with WestJet, including WestJet Silver status in the first year, priority boarding, and the first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to eight people travelling on the same reservation.

With its high welcome bonus and travel benefits, the RBC WestJet World Elite Business Mastercard is an attractive option for entrepreneurs who want to earn WestJet points and reduce their travel expenses.

Cash Back

Scotia Momentum^® for business Visa* Card

The Scotia Momentum for business Visa Card is one of the best cash back options for business owners in Canada.

Welcome offer: earn 5% cash back on your first $6,500 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months.

You can earn up to 3% cash back on your business expenses:

3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores, and electric vehicle charging stations
2% cash back on eligible shipping services and accounting or bookkeeping services, as well as on eligible recurring bill payments
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Also note that you can use your cash back at any time (the cash back balance must be at least $25).

What’s more, you currently benefit from an introductory rate of 2.99% on balance transfers for the first six months.

With the Scotia Momentum for business Visa Card, you also benefit from protections for your purchases:

Purchase Protection
Extended warranty

The card also offers practical financial management tools for your business:

Detailed expense reports
Flexible payment options
Interest-free grace period of up to 25 days
Access to online statements
Possibility of adding additional cards for your employees ($29 per card)

Frequently Asked Questions on Business Credit Cards

Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about business credit cards in Canada.

What is the best business credit card?

The best choice depends on usage. The American Express^MD Business Platinum Card is our recommendation for business travelers thanks to its lounge access and Membership Rewards points. The American Express^MD Business Gold Rewards Card offers excellent overall value (up to 70,000 welcome points).

For businesses with expenses concentrated on gas/dining/office supplies, the Scotia Momentum Visa Business Card offers 3% cash back in these categories.

What are the criteria for obtaining a business credit card?

Criteria vary by institution but generally include:

Business registration number (NEQ in Quebec, federal BN).
Personal credit score of the owner (generally 700+).
Financial statements or tax returns (T2125 or T2, depending on the structure).
Personal guarantee from the owner or principal shareholder (almost always required for SMBs).

For American Express Business cards, no minimum business income is generally required for small structures.

Personal card or business card for professional expenses?

A business card is highly recommended for:

Clearly separate personal and business expenses (essential for bookkeeping and taxes).
Manage several additional employee cards with spending controls.
Get detailed expense reports and a longer grace period (up to 55 days with American Express).
Build your business credit file separately from your personal one.

How does liability work on a business card?

Two models exist:

Corporate liability: the debt is carried by the business. This is the model American Express uses for large companies.
Joint or personal liability: the owner or signer stays personally liable. This is the most common model for SMBs in Canada.

In all cases, a personal guarantee is generally required for businesses less than 5 years old or with low turnover.

Are points accumulated on a business card personal or for the business?

This depends on the account structure. For American Express Business cards where the primary cardholder is the owner, points generally belong to the individual and can be used for personal purposes.

For corporate liability cards (large businesses), points revert to the company, and their use is regulated. Check the terms and conditions: this detail varies from bank to bank and has potential tax implications.

Which business cards have no annual fees?

Several options exist. The Scotia Visa Business Card and the National Bank Business Mastercard offer no-annual-fee versions for small businesses. American Express also offers the American Express^MD Business Card with no annual fee.

For additional cards, the Scotia Momentum Visa Business Card charges $29 per additional card, while American Express Business Cards generally include several free employee cards.

How to optimize cash flow with a business card?

Several levers can improve cash flow:

Use the maximum grace period (up to 55 days with Amex Business) to stretch out your supplier payment cycle.
Pay suppliers by card rather than by cheque or transfer (about 30 extra days of float on average).
Use the Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite Business Card for foreign-currency purchases (no conversion fees).
Take advantage of 0% balance-transfer offers on business cards to manage a large one-time expense.