The Best Business Credit Cards – May 2026

Q: What is the best business credit card in Canada?

The Business Platinum Card from American Express tops most rankings for established Canadian businesses, with a welcome bonus of up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points, unlimited Priority Pass lounge access at 1,400+ airports, a $200 annual travel credit and a $100 NEXUS credit.Smaller and growing businesses often prefer:- The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card, with up to 70,000 Membership Rewards points and 55 interest-free days for cash-flow management; - The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card, with no foreign transaction fees and up to 40,000 Scene+ points (first year free);

Q: Can I earn Aeroplan points with a Canadian business credit card?

Yes. The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card is the strongest Aeroplan business card on the market, with a welcome bonus of up to 90,000 Aeroplan points, 3X points on Air Canada purchases, 2X points on hotels and car rentals booked directly, and access to the Maple Leaf Lounge for the cardholder plus a guest.It also includes a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 travel companions on the same Air Canada reservation, easily worth $300+ on a single business trip with checked baggage.

Q: Is there a business credit card with cash back instead of points?

Yes. The Scotia Momentum for Business Visa Card is the best cash-back option for Canadian businesses, earning:- 3% cash back on gas, restaurants, office supplies and EV charging; - 2% cash back on shipping, accounting and bookkeeping services; - 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases; The card also includes a 2.99% balance transfer rate for the first six months, up to 25 interest-free days, plus purchase protection and extended warranty on equipment purchases. Cash-back cards work especially well for owner-operators who prefer simple, statement-credit rewards over loyalty points.

Q: What is the minimum income required for a business credit card?

Most American Express business cards have no minimum personal income requirement, which makes them attractive for early-stage entrepreneurs and incorporated freelancers.Visa Infinite Business and World Elite Mastercard for Business products typically require either:- $60,000 personal income or $100,000 household income, or; - A registered business with two years of operating history and demonstrable revenue; The application is generally tied to your personal credit score, since most issuers ask for a personal guarantee on the account, even when the card is issued in the company's name.

The Best Business Credit Cards – May 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.

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 about 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 in Canada?

The Business Platinum Card from American Express tops most rankings for established Canadian businesses, with a welcome bonus of up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points, unlimited Priority Pass lounge access at 1,400+ airports, a $200 annual travel credit and a $100 NEXUS credit.

Smaller and growing businesses often prefer:

The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card, with up to 70,000 Membership Rewards points and 55 interest-free days for cash-flow management
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card, with no foreign transaction fees and up to 40,000 Scene+ points (first year free)

Should I get a business credit card or use my personal one?

Using a dedicated business credit card delivers four key advantages:

Cleaner bookkeeping, with personal and business expenses cleanly separated for accountants and the CRA
Higher credit limits, often 2x to 5x a personal card, allowing larger inventory or ad-spend purchases
Expense reporting tools, including downloadable QuickBooks/Xero exports and individual employee cards
Up to 55 interest-free days on cards like the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card, smoothing seasonal cash flow

Business card interest and annual fees are also generally tax-deductible when the card is used exclusively for business purposes.

Can I earn Aeroplan points with a Canadian business credit card?

Yes. The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card is the strongest Aeroplan business card on the market, with a welcome bonus of up to 90,000 Aeroplan points, 3X points on Air Canada purchases, 2X points on hotels and car rentals booked directly, and access to the Maple Leaf Lounge for the cardholder plus a guest.

It also includes a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 travel companions on the same Air Canada reservation, easily worth $300+ on a single business trip with checked baggage.

Is there a business credit card with cash back instead of points?

Yes. The Scotia Momentum for Business Visa Card is the best cash-back option for Canadian businesses, earning:

3% cash back on gas, restaurants, office supplies and EV charging
2% cash back on shipping, accounting and bookkeeping services
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

The card also includes a 2.99% balance transfer rate for the first six months, up to 25 interest-free days, plus purchase protection and extended warranty on equipment purchases. Cash-back cards work especially well for owner-operators who prefer simple, statement-credit rewards over loyalty points.

What is the minimum income required for a business credit card?

Most American Express business cards have no minimum personal income requirement, which makes them attractive for early-stage entrepreneurs and incorporated freelancers.

Visa Infinite Business and World Elite Mastercard for Business products typically require either:

$60,000 personal income or $100,000 household income, or
A registered business with two years of operating history and demonstrable revenue

The application is generally tied to your personal credit score, since most issuers ask for a personal guarantee on the account, even when the card is issued in the company’s name.

Are business credit card rewards taxable in Canada?

The Canada Revenue Agency generally treats credit card rewards earned on business spending as a reduction of the expense, not as taxable income, as long as the rewards are redeemed for business-related travel or supplies.

However, the picture changes when:

Rewards earned on business expenses are redeemed for personal benefit: those redemptions may be considered a taxable benefit to the owner-employee
The card is used for a mix of personal and business spending: only the business portion of any redemption is treated as a deduction

Talk to your accountant before claiming larger redemptions, especially flights and hotel stays, to make sure you stay onside.

Which business credit card is best for international travel?

For Canadian businesses with international suppliers or frequent overseas travel, the strongest cards are:

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card, with no foreign transaction fees on every purchase and 6 complimentary annual lounge visits
The Business Platinum Card from American Express, with unlimited Priority Pass access at 1,400+ lounges and a $500,000 travel accident policy
The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card, with Star Alliance access through Air Canada and free checked baggage worldwide

On a $50,000 USD annual purchasing budget, switching to a no-FX card alone saves your business roughly $1,250 in foreign transaction fees every year.