As a small business owner, you may need to take on debt to manage your operating expenses and expand your enterprise. But you could save hundreds of dollars by moving the principal to a business balance transfer credit card.
These cards offer introductory APR promotions, allowing you to pay down debt interest-free for well over a year. We analyzed all the available credit cards in this category, from a variety of issuers, to curate a list of the very best. Here are our selections.
Best business balance transfer credit cards
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 50+ cards analyzed.
- 5+ data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best business balance transfer card
U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card
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The U.S. Bank Business Platinum does not offer rewards on purchases.
Best business balance transfer card for great rewards
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
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Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center; Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants; Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Best for insurance premiums
State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
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Earn 3% cash back on insurance premium payments (up to $4,000 spent annually), 3% cash back at gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, cell phone service providers, office supply stores and on dining and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Best business balance transfer credit cards of January 2024
Best business balance transfer credit cards of January 2024
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Why this card made the list
The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card
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The information for the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
offers the longest business balance transfer promotion currently available from a major card issuer. If you have a sizable amount of high-interest credit card debt and want as much time as possible to get the balance down before interest starts accruing, this card should be at the top of your list.
- Annual fee: $0
- Rewards: None.
- Welcome bonus: None
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each foreign transaction.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 17.24% to 26.24%. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
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Why this card made the list
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
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The information for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
offers a slightly shorter intro APR promotion compared to the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card. But if you’re willing to sacrifice a few months, you’ll get a lot of value in the form of an impressive welcome bonus, cash-back rewards on a handful of common business expenses and a $100 annual credit toward recurring software subscription expenses.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers and restaurants and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $500 in cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 150 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each foreign transaction.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, followed by a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% (balance transfers must be completed within 30 days to qualify for the intro rate). A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
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Why this card made the list
If your business spends a lot on insurance premiums, the State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
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The information for the State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
could be a worthwhile choice. In addition to a balance transfer offer, the card earns cash-back rewards on eligible insurance premium payments, as well as on other everyday business expenses, giving it staying power past the intro offer. You can also qualify for a reimbursement on your auto policy deductible if you file a claim and make a minimum of 8 net purchases in the prior month, as well as a $100 annual credit toward recurring software subscription expenses.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 3% cash back on insurance premium payments (up to $4,000 spent annually), 3% cash back at gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, cell phone service providers, office supply stores and on dining and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
- APR: 0% intro APR for the first 12 billing cycles on purchases and on balance transfers made within 60 days from account opening. After that, a 19.24% to 28.24% variable APR applies. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings.
Factors we considered include:
- Annual fees.
- Balance transfer offer availability.
- Amount of any balance transfer fees.
- Any rewards earned on the card.
- Card benefits that might be valuable for businesses.
Choosing the best business credit card for balance transfers
Unlike consumer credit cards, there aren’t many business credit cards that offer 0% intro APR promotions on balance transfers. As a result, the options are relatively limited.
However, there are a handful of business balance transfer credit cards that offer great value in the form of long 0% intro APR promotions, welcome bonuses, bonus rewards on everyday spending and more.
As you consider your options, here are some of the factors to consider:
- Length of 0% APR promotion: Depending on how much debt you want to pay down, you may need a longer 0% into APR promotion. Review your current balances and your budget to get an idea of how long it’ll take you to pay off the debt during an interest-free period.
- Rewards: Unless your top priority is to get the longest 0% intro APR promotion available, most business balance transfer credit cards offer rewards. Compare the rewards rates for each card and determine which one aligns best with your company’s spending profile.
- Other introductory incentives: Some business balance transfer credit cards may also offer a 0% introductory APR on new purchases, giving you more flexibility with your spending — just make sure you avoid racking up too much debt, which could defeat the purpose of the balance transfer promotion. Some cards even offer welcome bonuses, which can add to your interest savings.
- Credit score: Business balance transfer credit cards typically require good or excellent personal credit to get approved. This typically means having a FICO credit score in the upper 600s or higher. Check your credit score to get an idea of your overall credit health. If it needs some work, consider taking steps to improve your personal credit before you apply.
How business balance transfers work
Business balance transfers work similarly to a balance transfer on a personal credit card. During the application process, the card issuer may ask you to estimate how much you want to transfer, though you may end up filling in the rest of the details later.
Once you’re approved, you may have the option to request the transfer through your online account or by calling the number on the back of your card. You may be able to opt for a direct payoff or to receive balance transfer checks linked to your account.
If you want the card issuer to directly pay off your other balances, you’ll typically need to provide the credit card company, account number and the amount you want to pay. If you opt to receive checks, you can write a check to your creditors for the amount you owe.
A few things to keep in mind with business balance transfers:
- You can only transfer up to the account’s credit limit. If your debt exceeds the new card’s credit limit, you won’t be able to cover the full amount.
- You typically can’t transfer a balance from one card to another with the same bank.
- If you’re not disciplined with your payments, you could still have a large balance at the end of the promotional period.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes, it’s possible to do a balance transfer with most business credit cards. That said, very few business cards offer a 0% introductory APR promotion on balances transferred from another credit card.
It can make sense to use a business balance transfer credit card if your company has racked up some high-interest credit card debt on previous spending.
There are more personal credit cards that offer balance transfer promotions — some of which are longer than what business cards offer. However, it’s generally a good practice to keep your business and personal expenses separate so you don’t risk a headache during tax season.
Your credit utilization — the percentage of your credit limit you’re using at a given time — isn’t as important for your business credit score as it is for your personal credit score.
That’s because most business credit-scoring models prioritize on-time payments instead of debt levels. Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax and Experian all follow this approach. That said, other creditors may be able to see your utilization rate when you apply for credit, so maxing out a credit card could still impact your ability to get approved for affordable financing options.
*The information for the State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card and U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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