BMO Business Credit Cards: Which One to Choose?
- Business Credit Cards

BMO issues four business credit cards in Canada: three that earn points and one that pays cash back. Two of them carry no annual fee, the other two cost $149 and $175 a year. Your choice comes down to two questions: do you want points or cash, and does your spending justify an annual fee?
- BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard
- BMO CashBack Business Mastercard
- BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Business Mastercard
- BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard for Business
- A tutorial to apply for a BMO small business credit card
| Card | Annual fee | Personal income required | Rewards | Headline earn rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard | $149, waived the first year | None | BMO Rewards points | 4 points per dollar on gas, office supplies and cellphone and internet bills |
| BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Business Mastercard | $175, waived the first year | $80,000 | Blue Rewards points | 2.5 points per dollar on gas and EV charging, 12.5 points per dollar with Blue Rewards partners |
| BMO CashBack Business Mastercard | $0 | None | Cash back | 1.5% on gas, office supplies and telecom, 1.75% at Shell |
| BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard for Business | $0 | Not stated by BMO | Blue Rewards points | 2 points per dollar on gas and EV charging, 10 points per dollar with Blue Rewards partners |
Travel Rewards
BMO Ascend World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*
The BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard is one of the best business Mastercard travel rewards credit cards in Canada. You can earn up to 100,000 points as a welcome bonus:
- 20,000 points with your first purchase within 75 days of account opening;
- 8,000 points per month when you spend at least $3,000 per monthly statement period, from month 3 to month 12 after account opening (for a total of 80,000 points).
Plus, there is no annual fee in the first year! You also get 2 free visits per year to DragonPass airport lounges.
You can also take advantage of a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for nine months (a 3% transfer fee applies).
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard, you earn 4 points per dollar spent on:
- gas
- office supplies
- cellphone and internet bill payments
And 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases, including at Costco or for major purchases at home renovation stores.
You can use BMO Rewards points for any travel booked through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusives, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.
You can also combine the points you earn with the two other BMO Rewards cards to save even more on your travels.
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard, you get a range of protections for your travels:
- Collision damage waiver insurance
- Personal and business effects in a rental vehicle
- Accidental death or dismemberment in a rental vehicle
- Baggage and personal effects
- Baggage delay
- Trip cancellation
- Trip interruption or delay
- Flight delay
- Common carrier travel accident
And for your purchases:
- Extended warranty
- Purchase protection
Cash Back
BMO® CashBack® Business Mastercard®*
The BMO CashBack Business Mastercard is one of the best business cash back Mastercard credit cards in Canada.
You can get a cash back rate of 10% for three months on purchases of:
- gas
- office supplies
- cellphone and internet bill payments
After that, you get 1.5% on these purchases and 1.75% at Shell.
You can also take advantage of a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for nine months (a 3% transfer fee applies).
Blue Rewards
In 2026, BMO replaced its AIR MILES business cards with the Blue Rewards program. Two cards took their place: a World Elite version with an annual fee, and a no-fee version.
BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Business Mastercard
The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Business Mastercard earns a base rate of 1.25 Blue points per dollar on every purchase. You earn 2.5 points per dollar on gas and electric vehicle charging, up to $1,000 in net purchases per statement cycle, and 10 times the points with Blue Rewards partners such as Pharmasave and Global Pet Foods, up to $25,000 in net purchases a year.
Its benefits include a Mastercard Travel Pass membership through DragonPass with four lounge passes a year, five Maple consultations, travel insurance, purchase protection and an extended warranty. The annual fee is $175, waived the first year, and BMO asks for $80,000 in personal income.
BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard for Business
The BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard for Business carries no annual fee and earns a base rate of 1 Blue point per dollar. You earn 2 points per dollar on gas and electric vehicle charging, up to $1,000 in net purchases per statement cycle, and 10 times the points with Blue Rewards partners, up to $15,000 in net purchases a year. It includes Zero Liability protection, 90-day purchase protection and an extended warranty of up to one year.
On-demand Health Care with Maple
With the two new BMO World Elite Business Mastercards, you can access on-demand health care:
- Get five free virtual care visits on Maple shared by you and your family members
- 24/7 access to virtual care
- Get support from Canadian-licensed general practitioners and mental health counsellors
- Connect with a mental health counsellor on-demand within 12 hours or through a bookable visit, at your convenience
To register for Maple, you will need to complete the registration email that you will receive within two weeks of receiving your credit card.
Small Business Credit Cards accepted at Costco
If you are a Costco customer, some good news: these Mastercard credit cards are accepted at Costco.
So you can earn at Costco:
- 1.5 points per dollar with the BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard
- 1.25 Blue points per dollar with the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Business Mastercard
- 1 Blue point per dollar with the BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard for Business
- 0.75% with the BMO CashBack Business Mastercard

How to apply for a BMO Business Credit Card?
In the facebook group of milesopedia,many testimonials from members who get this card by declaring themselves as sole proprietor/self-employed.
You can report having a business activity that does not exceed $30,000 per year: buy/sell things on eBay – Kijiji, Home repair, housekeeping, consulting, etc. Or even buy at Costco for business. There is no lack of choice!
When you apply for a BMO business credit card, here are some of the questions you will be asked, with suggested answers:

Then you will have to give information about the type of business (here, Sole Proprietor):

And about your industry (here: Personal and Household Service Industries / Other Services).

Then you have to answer No to the other 3 questions and then agree on the nature of the activities.

Then it will be your personal information, as with any credit card application. You will then be able to submit your application.
Bottom Line
Small Business credit cards are perfect for those who want to earn more points from their business expenses.
Check out our various rankings that you might be interested in:
- The Best Business Credit Cards
- Best AIR MILES Credit Cards
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards
BMO business credit cards: frequently asked questions
Which BMO business credit card should you choose?
Is a minimum income required for a BMO business card?
Can you get a BMO business card as a self-employed worker?
What are the bonus categories on the BMO Ascend business card?
Is the 0% balance transfer promotion still available?
Are BMO business cards accepted at Costco?
What happened to the BMO AIR MILES business cards?
Is the annual fee on a business card tax deductible?
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