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Small business owners need to use every tool available to maximize their success — and a great business rewards card is one of those tools.
If you’re focused on travel, the Capital One Venture X Business offers a ton of benefits.
While this card has a steep annual fee, its robust travel perks and earning potential can easily outweigh that expense each year.
Quick Facts: Capital One Venture X Business
- Rewards rate: 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; Earn 5X on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases
- Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 bonus miles after you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Annual fee: $395
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Overview of the Capital One Venture X Business
The Capital One Venture X Business is a solid rewards card for small business owners who have fairly high expenses and want to enjoy luxury travel benefits.
One key fact to understand is that it's a pay-in-full card. There’s no APR, so rather than carrying a balance, you need to pay off purchases each month.
Pros
- Unlimited double miles on all purchases
- Premium lounge access and other travel perks
Cons
- High annual fee
- Less beneficial if you’re not a traveler
LEARN MORE: Capital One Venture X Business
Capital One Venture X Business Benefits
If you’re looking for a small business spending card that caters to high spending on travel, the Capital One Venture X Business Card has plenty of benefits.
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry: Up to $120 as a statement credit for your application fee
- Flexible miles transfer: Transfer miles at a 1:1 ratio with any of Capital One’s 15+ travel loyalty program partners
- Priority Pass™: Complimentary access to over 1,300 VIP airport lounges for you and two guests (enrollment required)
- Capital One Lounge: Unlimited complimentary visits, plus two complimentary guests per visit ($45 per additional guest)
- Premier Collection: $100 credit along with other benefits for stays at luxury resorts and hotels
- Employee cards: Free cards for employees and the ability to easily track their expenses
- Fraud protection: $0 fraud liability, plus free card replacements and a cash advance
The card also comes with extended warranty and purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.
Who Should Get the Capital One Venture X Business?
You’re an ideal cardholder for the Capital One Venture X Business if you’re a business owner with high annual spending, especially on travel. If you spend primarily on hotels, flights, and rental cars, this card may be perfect for you since those earn the highest rewards rate.
If you can take advantage of the card’s other benefits, like lounge access and luxury hotel perks, this card could be a great addition to your company wallet.
Who Shouldn’t Get the Capital One Venture X Business?
If you don’t spend much on travel, you might want to look for a different rewards card. Lounge access and other travel perks may not be enough to justify the annual fee. Plus, unless your business can meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome bonus, your benefits from the card are limited.
Also, don't get this card if you regularly carry a balance month-to-month. The Capital One Venture X Business works differently since it’s a charge card. While the no-APR factor may be appealing, you'll owe late charges if you don’t pay in full each month.
Alternatives to the Capital One Venture X Business
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Rewards rate: 5x points on prepaid flights and hotels with amextravel.com; 1.5x points on eligible purchases of over $5,000; 1.5x points on certain business expenses including electronic goods retailers; 1x points on all other purchases
- Welcome offer: 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in the first 3 months
- Annual fee: $695 (rates and fees)
. . .
If you’re looking for excellent rewards on business spending and don’t mind a higher annual fee, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a solid option. However, you’ll need to be sure you’ll use the benefits.
For the cost, you get similar perks like lounge access and credits for TSA PreCheck®.* But The Business Platinum provides better travel protections like baggage insurance and car rental loss and theft coverage.**
Another benefit is the option to pay off some purchases over time without penalty. Plus, you’ll receive credits for things like airline fees, Dell purchases, Indeed membership, wireless telephone service, and Adobe.
LEARN MORE: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
- Rewards rate: 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 2% on all other purchases
- Welcome offer: Earn a $2,000 cash bonus when you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Annual fee: $150 (waived if you spend $150,000 that year)
. . .
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus will appeal to you if you prefer straightforward cashback instead of miles.
It’s a charge card, meaning you must pay the balance in full. But the annual fee is much lower, plus you can get that fee refunded if your annual spending is $150,000 or more.
Keep in mind, however, that your travel perks aren’t nearly as robust. There are no added rewards for booking flights with your card, and you’ll miss out on the complimentary lounge access and cardmember anniversary bonus miles.
Overall, both pay good rewards for your business spending — it just depends on whether you prefer greater travel benefits (and what fee you want to pay).
LEARN MORE: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Rewards rate: 5% cashback at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services; 2% on gas and restaurants; 1% on everything else
- Welcome offer: Earn up to $750 bonus cashback: $350 when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months after account opening
- Annual fee: $0
. . .
For a solid cashback business credit card with no annual fee, consider the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. It’s a great card for small businesses with lower annual spending thresholds.
While it doesn’t offer the same luxury travel perks, it does provide certain travel-related benefits. Get roadside assistance and car rental collision coverage if you waive the auto rental company’s insurance coverage.
Earning rewards is different as well, so if your primary business expenses aren’t in travel categories, this one might be a good option.
Lastly, unlike the Venture X, the Ink Business Cash is a credit card, so you aren’t required to pay off the balance each month (though you can — and should).
LEARN MORE: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
FAQs
Can you have two Capital One Venture cards?
You’ll want to wait about six months after completing a Capital One Venture X Business application before applying for a different Capital One Venture card, but it’s possible to hold more than one of these cards.
For example, you might want a Capital One Venture X Business for your business, plus the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for personal expenses.
Does the Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
You’ll get complimentary access to a network of over 1,300 airport lounges for yourself and up to two guests on each visit.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a business owner with high travel expenses, the Capital One Venture X Business is an excellent option.
Flights, hotels, and rental cars will yield the best rewards, and if you’re traveling quite a bit, you can enjoy perks such as expedited security screening and VIP lounge access.
But before signing up, be sure that you’ll use the card for all its perks and that you’re comfortable paying off your balance in full each month.
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. . .
* Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
** Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
