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The best credit cards for freelancers and independent contractors

The best credit cards for freelancers and contractors deliver easy-to-understand rewards and have no annual fee. They also offer features that can help with your business cash flow, such as a 0% intro APR or a cash welcome bonus. This combination can be especially useful if you’re starting up your business and need to purchase computers or other equipment.

If you’re a freelancer or gig worker, you can get approved for a business credit card just like a larger company. (Your self-employment doesn’t need to be full-time).

Overview: Best credit cards for freelancers and contractors

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is our recommended credit card for freelancers and contractors. It pays 1.5% cashback with no limits. There’s also an intro APR period, so you can make purchases to qualify for the cash welcome bonus and then pay them off over time, interest-free, if needed.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Welcome Offer

Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business

Intro APR

0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases

Annual Fee

$0 annual fee

If you earn money as a freelancer or gig worker — even on the side — it’s a good habit to use a separate business credit card for work-related expenses. And unless you have a specific need for a certain type of reward or another specific feature, the Ink Business Unlimited Card is a great, well-rounded credit card that will suit most contractors well.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

If you’re a freelancer or contractor who travels a lot, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is worth a careful look.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

Rewards

Earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points per $1 spent on the first $150,000 spent on qualifying travel and business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Intro APR

None.

Annual Fee

$95 annual fee

New cardholders can earn a substantial welcome bonus after meeting the minimum spending requirement within the first few months. Like Chase consumer cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, points earned with the Preferred card are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel. That said, you can still redeem points for cash back or gift cards, and points never expire as long as your account is open.

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has one of the best intro APR offers among business credit cards and has no annual fee. It has a great 2% cash back rate on spending up to $50,000 per calendar year, after which the rewards rate drops to 1%.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn $250 cash back after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.

Intro APR

0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate.

Annual Fee

$0 annual fee

Learn more about the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card at AmericanExpress.com.

TD Business Solutions Credit Card

The TD Business Solutions Credit Card is the best cash back credit card for freelancers and contractors, offering unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. There is no intro APR period with this card.

TD Business Solutions Credit Card

TD Business Solutions Credit Card

Welcome Offer

Earn $250 cash back in the form of a statement credit after you make $1,500 in purchases on your Card in your first 90 days.

Rewards

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases.

Intro APR

None.

Annual Fee

$0 annual fee

The TD Business Solutions Credit Card has a welcome bonus of $250 when you make $1,500 of eligible purchases within your first 90 days of account opening. That bonus is substantially less lucrative than the Ink cards’ welcome bonuses, but the good news is that you don’t have to spend nearly as much to earn it.

TD Bank is the 10th largest bank in the United States. Although their retail footprint is limited to the East Coast, anyone can apply for this card.

Learn more about the TD Business Solutions Credit Card at TD.com.

How we picked the best credit cards for freelancers and self-employed contractors

When selecting the best credit cards for freelancers and contractors, we looked at business credit cards that did not charge annual fees and that paid straightforward rewards across a variety of common categories.

We intentionally did not include credit cards that carry an annual fee or earn rewards only in specific categories. (For example, an airline-branded card that offers perks specific to frequent fliers on that airline.)

We decided to focus on business credit cards because all freelancers and self-employed contractors are, essentially, running their own businesses.

FAQs

As a sole proprietor, I don’t have an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Can I still apply for a business credit card?

Yes, you can apply for a business credit card with any tax ID — an EIN or your Social Security Number. You don’t need to have a store or office, employees, or an LLC.

That said, you will still need to have good credit to get approved. A credit score of 700 or above should qualify you, although keep in mind each bank has specific credit requirements.

Why should I get a business credit card if I don’t have employees?

A common benefit to business credit cards is the ability to issue cards to employees. But there are other benefits to a business credit card that even solopreneurs will enjoy. These include larger cash welcome bonuses than on consumer cards, higher credit limits, the ability to put a business name on your card (for marketing or legitimacy), and more.

» MORE: The best free checking accounts for small businesses and freelancers

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