Paying for business expenses and managing your cash flow can be difficult and using a business credit card be a good solution. Business credit cards allow you to manage your cash flow by providing you with a credit facility that you can use when needed or pay off regularly to reduce any interest incurred by making use of the interest-free credit periods.
Business credit cards can also be used to streamline expenses and make them more visible rather than using petty cash or staff claiming back expenses. These are some of the leading business credit card providers that are available.
Featured: Capital on Tap*
- Earn 1% cashback on purchases that can be used against balance or paid into your business account
- Credit up to £250,000
- Up to 42 days interest-free on purchases
- Offers 2 business credit cards
- No FX or ATM charges in the UK
- Unlimited company cards for employees and partners
- Offers a credit card with no annual fee and no sign-up fees
- Choice of cashback or Avios (British Airways Executive Club) on the Business Rewards Credit Card
- No ATM charges worldwide
- Manage your cards using their app
Website Capital on Tap Business Credit Cards
Read the full Capital on Tap review.
Note Companies are ranked in no particular order.
| Company name | Min APR | Annual fee | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital on Tap | 15.22% APR | From £0 | £250,000 |
| Payhawk | Varies | From £2,388 | Up to £250K |
| American Express | 32.60% | £175 | Not stated |
| Juni | Varies | £0 | £2 million |
| Allied Irish Bank | 4% | £15 | Not stated |
| Bank of Scotland | 22.40% | £32 | £10,000 |
| Barclays/Barclaycard | 21.90% | From £0 | Not stated |
| Zempler Bank (formerly Cashplus) | 29.90% | £0 | £3,000 |
| Cooperative Bank | 21.80% | £24 | £25,000 |
| Danske Bank | Not stated | £20 | Not stated |
| HSBC | 22% | £32 | Not stated |
| Lloyds Bank | 22.40% | £32 | £10,000 |
| Metro Bank | 14.90% | £0 | Not stated |
| Natwest | 24.30% | From £0 | Not stated |
| RBS | 24.30% | From £0 | Not stated |
| Santander | 23.70% | £30 | Not stated |
| Ulster Bank | Not stated | £32 | Not stated |
1. Payhawk*
While Payhawk is primarily an expense management platform they have started to offer corporate visa credit cards. However, they are only designed for businesses with turnover of £250,000 per year or greater.
- Visa Credit & Debit cards backed by powerful software to control your company’s spending
- Credit limits of up to £250K based on assessment
- Access multi-currency credit lines in GBP and EUR
- Use with Apple and Google Pay
- Save on FX compared to traditional banks (1.99%)
- No personal credit checks
- No personal guarantees required
- Track your company spend
- Never miss regular payments or subscriptions
- Define spend policies and approval flows
Website: Click to visit the Payhawk website
2. American Express*
- Offers a choice of 6 business cards
- Earn rewards on your spending
- Up to 54 calendar days interest-free payment period
- Up to 99 complimentary employee cards
- Amazon and Amazon Prime reward cards
- British Airways card available
- Online account management
- Premium Business travel experience with access to 1,200 airport lounges globally
- Complimentary annual digital subscriptions to The Times and The Sunday Times
- Receive an Amazon gift card upon approval
Website American Express Business Credit Cards
Read the full American Express review.
3. Juni*
- 2% cashback for the first 30 days and 1% thereafter offered on eligible spend
- Credit limit of £10,000 to £2 million
- 37 to 60 days payment terms
- Offers a Visa credit cards
- Designed to help ecommerce and media buying
- 0% Interest-free cards
- Choice of physical and virtual cards
- You can track real-time spend
- Available to UK registered companies
- You can apply online
Website Juni Business Credit Cards
4. Allied Irish Bank
- Offers 2 business credit cards
- Contactless cards
- A fee per card applies
- Joining fee applies
- An individual credit limit for each cardholder can be set
- Separate monthly itemised statements can be set up
- Minimum limit of £500 or £5,000 on the Gold Card
- Gold Card offers benefits including AA membership and hotel benefits
- Can be used abroad
- Includes Card Liability Waiver Insurance
Website Allied Irish Bank Business Credit Cards
Read the full Allied Irish Bank review.
5. Bank of Scotland
- Offers a choice of business credit or charge cards
- Flexible repayment options are available
- Spending limit of £10,000
- Allows up to 20 cardholders with individual spending limits
- Up to 45 days interest-free credit
- Track and manage your expenses online
- £500 cash withdrawal allowance per day
- Contactless payments up to £100.
- Merchant rebates with Business Savings by Mastercard
- Includes Buyers Protection Insurance
Website Bank of Scotland Business Credit Cards
Read the full Bank of Scotland review.
6. Barclaycard
- Offers 2 business credit cards
- 1% cashback on eligible business spend
- 56 days interest-free on purchases
- No annual fee on the Select Cashback credit card
- Premium card is suitable for those making frequent trips overseas
- Includes travel insurance
- Priority pass to airport lounges
- Discounted rate on foreign exchange fees
- Initial 6 months interest-free on purchase period
- Online account management
Website Barclaycard Business Credit Card
Review: Barclaycard Business Credit Card
7. Zempler Bank (formerly Cashplus)
- Offers a business Mastercard
- No annual fee
- Up to 56 days of interest-free credit
- Flexible repayment options
- Contactless credit card
- Itemised billing to help track expenditure
- Manage through mobile and online banking
- Maximum credit limit of £3,000
- ATM charges apply
- Transparent charges
Website Zempler Bank Business Credit Card
Read the full Zempler Bank review.
8. Cooperative Bank
- Offers a Visa business credit card
- Up to 56 days of interest-free credit
- Maximum credit limit of up to £25,000
- Flexible monthly repayments
- Cash withdrawals are allowed subject to a 3% charge with a minimum £3 charge
- Can be used abroad
- Multiple cardholders allowed
- Use Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay for purchases
- Contributes £1 for every month you have a credit card to their Customer Donation Fund
- Must have a business current account
Website Cooperative Bank Business Credit Card
Read the full Cooperative Bank review.
9. Danske Bank
- Offers 2 corporate Mastercard
- Combines charge card and cash card in one
- Can withdraw cash and make purchases in over 24 million worldwide locations
- Contactless enabled
- Set individual spending limits
- Itemised monthly statements
- Monitor real-time spend
- Platinum card offers enhanced benefits including airport lounge access and concierge service
- Annual card fee of £20 or £70
- Credit limit and APR details are available
Website Danske Bank Business Credit Card
Read the full Danske Bank credit card review.
10. HSBC
- Offers a commercial card
- Up to 56 days of interest-free credit
- Accepted at 40 million locations around the world
- Contactless credit card
- Manage your card through the app and online
- Need to have a business current account with them
- Itemised billing to help track expenditure
- Protected with PrivacyGuard
- No fee for the 1st year
- Withdraw up to £500 cash per day (subject to handling fee)
Website HSBC Business Credit Card
Read the full HSBC review.
11. Lloyds Bank
- Offers business credit and charge cards
- Credit up to £10,000
- Up to 45 days of interest-free credit
- Flexible repayment options
- Offers up to 20 cardholders with individual spending limits
- Can withdraw up to £500 per day
- Contactless payments up to £100
- Track and manage expenses online
- Offers merchant rebates with Business Savings by Mastercard
- Benefit from Buyers Protection Insurance
Website Lloyds Bank Business Credit Cards
Read the full Lloyds Bank review.
12. Metro Bank
- Offers contactless credit card
- Up to 56 days interest-free on purchases
- A low variable interest rate of 14.9%
- No card fee
- No charges for card purchases and withdrawals in Europe
- Open up a credit card account and walk away with a card the same day
- Replacement cards issued in-store the same day
- Manage your card online, in-store, over the phone or on the app
- Make payments to your credit card through the app or online banking
- Need to have a business or commercial current account
Website Metro Bank Business Credit Card
Read the full Metro Bank review.
13. NatWest
- Offers 2 business credit cards
- No card fee for the 1st year on the Business credit card
- No subsequent card fee if spend is over £6,000 per year on the Business credit card
- Up to 56 days of interest-free credit
- Manage through their mobile app
- Includes merchant discount programme
- No charges for purchases abroad on Business Plus credit card
- Cash advance charge applies at 3%
- Cashback available on Business Plus credit card up to 2%
- Also offers a charge card solution
Website NatWest Business Credit Card
Read the full NatWest review.
14. Royal Bank of Scotland
- Offers 2 business credit cards
- Up to 56 days interest-free on purchases
- Business credit card offers 1st year free
- Business credit card is free 2nd year onward if purchases are over £6,000
- Business Plus credit card has no charges abroad
- Business Plus credit card offers cashback up to 2%
- Minimum credit limit of £500 and maximum limit subject to status
- Flexible monthly payments
- Manage your credit card on their app
- Provides business charge cards as well
Website Royal Bank of Scotland Business Credit Cards
Read the full Royal Bank of Scotland review.
15. Santander
- Provides a flexible credit card
- Offers 1% cashback on purchases
- Up to 56 days interest-free on purchases
- No foreign transaction fees when using local currency
- Can order additional cards at no cost
- Up to 3 additional cardholders
- Single annual account fee
- Set individual controls for each cardholder
- Manage your credit card online and through mobile banking
- Must have a business current account
Website Santander Business Credit Card
Read the full Santander review.
16. Ulster Bank
- Offers One Card credit card
- Up to 37 days of interest-free credit on purchases
- Can set up spending limits and restrictions
- Allows controls for each cardholder
- Manage your cards online
- Export data for analysis or integrate with an accounting system
- ClearSpend app for employers and employees to monitor spending through the app in real-time
- Integrates with Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Includes Corporate Liability Waiver Insurance
- Also incorporates Travel Accident Insurance and Assistance
Website Ulster Bank Business Credit Card
Read the full Ulster Bank credit card reviews.
How do business credit cards work?
A credit card provides businesses with a short-term credit facility that can be used as and when needed to make purchases or to track their expenses. When you take out a credit card you will be assessed and given a credit limit which you can spend up to.
When you pay off your credit card balance in part or full the remaining credit limit is available to spend. It is in effect a revolving credit facility that allows you to reuse the credit. Each month you will be required to pay off a minimum amount as per your agreement or you can pay off the full amount to avoid interest charges.
Credit cards have an interest rate that is typically quoted as the APR which is the annual percentage rate. This interest rate is charged after the interest-free period which can be the first month or longer depending on your provider. If you pay off your balance before the end of the interest-free period you will not pay any interest.
Credit cards are ideally suited for short-term borrowing that will be paid off regularly as interest rates can be higher than other financial products.
* Please note we have an affiliate relationship with Capital On Tap, Payhawk, Soldo, Juni and American Express who pay us a commission if you sign-up for a card via our link.
UK Business Credit Cards FAQs
How much can I borrow?
The amount of money that you can borrow will vary depending on the provider of the credit card and their assessment of your business’ financial status.
Many business credit card providers do not state their maximum credit limit but state it is subject to status, however, some credit card companies such as Capital on Tap have a limit up to £250,000.
How Much Will A Business Credit Card Cost?
Business credit card costs vary depending on the provider. Some providers may offer the first year for free and there are a few that offer a zero fee if your spend is above a set level over the year.
Rewards cards can cost more with Capital on Tap charging £99 per year for theirs and Amex charging £175 per year for their Gold Card and £650 per year for their Platinum card.
How Long Can I Borrow Money For?
Most credit cards require you to pay a minimum amount of the money owed each month and the remainder of the balance can be left to pay at a later date.
Interest will be applied whilst the balance remains, and this will be charged at a higher rate than some other finance options.
You also need to be aware that unpaid debt on credit cards can have a negative impact on your credit score, and they are really only designed to be a short-term credit facility.
It is also worth noting that some credit card providers offer better interest-free credit periods to those that pay off their credit card in full each month by direct debit and the interest-free period may be much lower if you don’t pay off the full amount.
For example, Amex offers up to 54 days before a payment needs to be made.
How to Apply For A Business Credit Card?
Some credit card providers may require you to have a business current account with them before you can have a credit card with them.
Many credit card providers will allow you to apply online for a credit card especially where they don’t have a branch network. Some traditional banks may require you to visit a branch to set up your business credit card.
In any case you can click through to the company’s websites above and see their individual requirements.
Also see: 11 Best UK Business Reward Credit Cards and How To Get A Business Credit Card With Bad Credit In The UK