Best Credit Cards For Restaurant Owners in 2024

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Reviewed by Jazmin Castello - MBA
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Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Best Overall

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The Plum card-American Express.

Best for flexible financing

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Amercian Express Gold Business card

Best for daily business purchases

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Best Credit Cards For Restaurant Owners

If you’re a restaurant owner, there are chances your business is not fully benefitting from the advantages of card payments. While it may be true that many of the best business credit cards tend to cater more to big companies, you can still find excellent card options for your restaurant. This could be for all eligible purchases, including take-outs or delivery. No matter the restaurant’s establishment, having a dedicated business credit card will help you keep business and personal finances separate.

There are multiple other reasons why restaurant owners and small business owners at large would want to have a business credit card. First, small business credit cards are designed for professional use and allow your business to make eligible purchases with much ease. However, the greatest benefit lies in how small business credit cards provide a line of credit to your business while helping maintain personal asset protection.

Most of the best business credit cards available in the market today will help take your business to another level by increasing operations efficiency. Many of the cards provide expanded buying power and purchase protection—two critical aspects vital to your business operations. However, applying for traditional business credit cards doesn’t come easy.

For instance, your restaurant has to have a positive credit history of its own to qualify for a small business credit card. If not, your eligibility to apply for the card will be based on your credit score. This is due to the personal guarantee agreed upon. Your small business credit scoring is also crucial when applying for credit cards.

Since statement credit is a key factor when applying for a business credit card, it’s wise to have evaluated your credit score before making any further steps. The credit score evaluation will also help you understand which business credit cards are good for your business. This article takes you through the best credit cards for your restaurant business eligible in other key business categories.

Top 6 Best Credit Cards For Restaurant Owners

Features Of The Best Credit Card from American Express

Depending on your cash flows and other business expenses, your restaurant needs a card that guarantees smooth shopping for sustainable business. A good credit card is vital to your daily business operations and allows you an easy time making other eligible purchases. Here are some of the key features you need to look out for before signing up for any card.

  • Cash back rewards
  • Zero annual fees
  • 0% Introductory rates
  • Allow for everyday purchases

It is only natural for restaurant owners to go for a card that fits all their business’s largest needs. These cards cater to purchases eligible for daily operations and can also serve other business functions. But as your business grows, there’s a need for different cards that cater to the different types of expenses you have.

Besides, having cards for multiple uses allows you to optimize the rewards programs. Keep in mind that your business growth will always attract variations in expenditures and other key operations. As such, you shouldn’t just limit your business to a card that serves limited functions.

Our Recommended Top 6 Best Credit Card For Restaurant Owners 2024

Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Ink Business card is famous for its 5% cash back on combined purchases of internet, cable, and phone services at office supply stores. The card also provides you with $1 cash back on all other purchases.

  • Outstanding sign-up bonus
  • Free employee cards
  • Fraud protection
  • Sometimes offer suggestions that may interrupt the flow of the content
  • Doesn’t have a translation feature

The Ink Business Card is ideal if your restaurant’s purchases mostly revolve around office supplies, and cable and wireless telephone purchases. However, the zero annual fee means it’s also ideal for any new business owner seeking a reliable business cash card with great transactional benefits.

For example, you’re eligible for cashback rewards initially and then transfer the rewards to Chase Ultimate Rewards points. However, this only works if you also have a personal or business card like the Ink business unlimited credit card. The Ink Business Unlimited is a perfect no-annual-fee card with an easy rewards structure compared to the Ink business cash card. Just as the name suggests, the card is a great option if you want a standalone card that offers category bonuses.

Ink Business card provides a 0% Intro APR on eligible purchases for one year. Afterward, you’ll pay the regular APR 13.24%, 19.24%, depending on your credit worthiness. The card also provides a promotional APR that allows you to make purchases when starting and then pay off within one-year interest-free.

The Plum Card® American Express

The Plum Card® is ideal for Business owners who need more time to pay their expenses. This card also allows you to delay payment for up to 60 days with no interest charges. If you pay your bills early, the card will offer you 1.5% cash back statement credits.

  • Purchase protection
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • 1.5% early pay discounts
  • High annual fee

The Plum Card® from American Express is perfect if you value flexibility in your business payments. Your business should also have the flexibility to change the payment time within the card’s payment cycle.

One key benefit of using this card is the automatic 1.5% credit on the next month’s bill for all payments made in the middle of the billing cycle. Other benefits include purchase and car rental protections.

Similarly, the card doesn’t earn Membership Rewards, airline fees, or a technology statement credit. This is key, especially if you have a regular travel schedule. Like other American express business cards, the card offers you expense management tools to help track and organize your restaurant expenses

The Blue American Business Plus Credit Cards

This American express business card is one of the best small-business cards offering high flat-rate rewards, introductory 0% APR and zero annual fee. The card also comes with caps on bonus rewards, making it a lot less unsuitable for businesses that enjoy expanded spending power.

  • No credit limits on spending
  • No annual fees
  • High rewards
  • High foreign transaction fee

The card is best suited if your restaurant spends on purchases in a broad range of categories. With this card, you’ll earn 2 points after you spend a dollar on all eligible business purchases of up to $50,000 each calendar year. You’ll later earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases after meeting the $50,000 spending cap.

The card appeals to business and restaurant owners alike, who plan on spending a lot on their eligible purchases, for which they’ll need a break on paying. Other key benefits of this card include a 12-month 0% APR introductory period. The card also has a comparatively low ongoing APR once the offer expires.

You’ll also enjoy the 15,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $3,000 within the first three months of card activation.

SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card American Express

SimplyCash is one of the best cards for businesses that are only starting. With its 0% annual fee, the card ensures you don’t incur any other charges that may inflate the cost of running your business. You also enjoy a 0% intro APR for nine months and a generous over-limit spending option.

  • Zero introductory APR for nine months
  • 2% cash back
  • No annual fees
  • High credit score required

Simply cash is an inexpensive business American express card that lets you make large purchases with little penalty. The card has various extra features, all suited to make your business operations easy and quite manageable. You can customize the card’s bonus rewards and earn extra cashback in the categories where you pay eligible purchases.

While not the best option for business owners with a low credit score, the SimplyCash Plus card ensures you enjoy incomparable rewards. These include transportation perks, cashback on everyday purchases, and budget management services. You can also extend your credit limit spending and earn cashback on each extra purchase as long as the amount over the credit limit is paid in full each month.

Currently, SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit card  is no longer accepting applications. Instead, American Express now allows you to use the American Express Blue Business Cash card.

American Express® Business Gold Card

This card is ideal for restaurant owners who enjoy the high American Express Membership Rewards. The card’s versatility lets you earn a lucrative amount of points on eligible purchases in select categories.

  • Great welcome offers
  • Flexible limits
  • Excellent rewards category
  • High annual fees

Business owners who incur high spending will find this card suitable for their operations. The card also allows you to earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after every $10,000 spent in combined purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

You can earn employee cards for no additional cost, and there’s no foreign transaction fee if you use the card for foreign purchases. Other key benefits include car rental loss and damage insurance, a baggage insurance plan, and the Global Assist Hotline access.

Ink Business Preferred® Business Credit Cards

This all-around business card provides an excellent sign-up bonus and Ultimate Rewards points on a variety of business expenses. You get to enjoy 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.

  • Excellent bonus offers
  • Purchase protection
  • Free cards for employees
  • No intro APR

The Ink Business Preferred card is among the few payment options that provide you with a 0% introductory APR. The card comes with an introductory 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months. This is followed by an ongoing APR of 13.24%-21.24% Variable APR.

While its bonus categories might not reflect your restaurant spending, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card will earn you a 5% cash back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases. This involves all purchases for office equipment, internet, cable, and phone service. You also get 2% cash back on up to $25,000 a year in combined spending at gas stations and restaurants and 1% cashback on everything else.

How To Choose Your Restaurant Cards for Everyday Business Purchases

Best Credit Cards For Restaurant Owners

Introductory APR

An introductory APR refers to a low promotional interest rate that card companies offer new customers for a set number of months upon account opening. Most cards provide introductory APRs on purchases or balance transfers.

Credit cards that provide an annual fee 0 intro percentage rate (APR) for purchases in the first period are always the best. These cards allow you to make combined purchases such as cable and phone now and then pay later once the business starts generating revenue. This service comes with no interest rates as long as you pay the owed balance before the end of the 0% introductory APR period

Ongoing APR

An ongoing APR is calculated on the remaining balance if you end your introductory period with a debt. Usually, cards with lower or variable aprs are the best because they attract lower debts

Annual fee

The annual fee feature is a crucial aspect to look at, especially if it’s your first business bank account opening. Credit cards that require no annual fee allow you to save on the recurring amount of money you’d have rather invested into other operations. They also provide an additional line of credit for emergency purchases.

Though the provision means fewer annual fee redemption rewards and sign up bonus, the feature helps when you want to achieve effective cost management for your restaurant. After all, some rewards and bonuses are only accessible after months of card membership. So, there’s no sense in paying an annual fee for rewards you may not earn.

Introductory rewards

Introductory rewards come in many forms ranging from sign up bonuses, welcome bonuses, and cash back offers. Most of these rewards come in the form of points after you spend a certain amount of money on purchases. Cards that don’t check your payment history before offering rewards are always the best for all types of businesses. 

Ongoing rewards

There’s a huge chance your restaurant makes purchases for office supply stores monthly, or at most bi-annually. Besides the office supplies, you need ingredients and kitchen equipment vital to your daily restaurant operations. If you use business credit cards to pay for these expenses, it’ll be better to consider cards with ongoing cashback rewards.

These cards allow you a flat cashback rate for all purchases made. Most of them provide not less than 2% cashback on all eligible purchases made. For example, if you pay $10,000 for your office supplies, you’ll earn a $2000 cashback reward. The cashback rewards may also vary depending on the purchases.

Getting the most out of your small-business cards

With the economic recession largely affecting the US restaurant industry, you can save on some costs by using credit cards. These cards can act as a tool to help you achieve your short-term business goals. However, this only applies if you use them wisely and exploit all the rewards and bonus offers. For example, if you use cards such as the Hilton Honors American express business card, be keen to exploit the varying upgrade status of silver and gold by spending the required amount. This will spark miles for business and put you in a better position to manage your financial operations. Other ways to get the most out of your credit cards include;

  • Use the cards to build your business credit.
  • Use the card statements as a reference for business deductions for expenses.
  • Use the cards to keep your cash flow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Do You Redeem Credit Card Points?

The points are redeemable online. You can choose to enjoy free deliveries from banks against all accumulated points or use them to buy air tickets. Remember the steps; check account information, redeem points, and convert them into your ideal reward.

Is Capital One Spark Cash A Good Card

The Capital One Spark Cash card is perfect for all types of business. It’s the only small-business card that offers an unlimited 2% cashback on all purchases,

How Do I Apply For A Card For My Business?

You must first have a business checking account and ensure your credit record is above the recommended scale. This may vary depending on card providers.

What Is A Business Platinum Card?

Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a top travel card with high rewards and luxury offers. This credit card from American express is ideal if your business incurs high expenses.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Jazmin Castello holds a Master's degree in Business Management, owns two companies, and has also published a self-help book. When she is not working or writing, she likes to spend time with her family and to travel.

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Bizreport Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Bizreport, you can read more about the editorial process here.

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