Key takeaways
- The Capital One Spark Cash Plus and American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card are among the top choices for business credit cards.
- The Spark Cash Plus is a charge card with a $250 annual fee, but the extra costs could pay off given the card’s high earning potential.
- The Amex Blue Business Cash doesn’t have an annual fee, but offers an introductory APR and the opportunity to earn an equally high rate of 2 percent cash back on eligible purchases of up to $50,000 per year.
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus and American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card are among the top choices when it comes to business credit cards. The Spark Cash Plus is a charge card, meaning you pay the balance off in full each month, while the Blue Business Cash is a traditional business credit card.
Both offer a neat slate of perks that can be helpful for business owners. However, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus comes with some attractive features that give it a slight edge in this particular match-up.
Take a deep dive into the features of each card and how they stack up against each other.
Main details
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | One-time cash bonus of $2,000 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months Additional $2,000 for every $500,000 spent after during the first year |
$250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months |
| Annual bonus | Annual fee refund every year you spend at least $150,000 | None |
| Rewards rate |
|
|
| Intro APR offer | N/A | 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening |
| Variable APR | N/A (it’s a charge card) | 17.99% – 25.99% Variable |
| Annual fee | $150 | No annual fee |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs. American Express Blue Business Cash highlights
Here’s a head-to-head breakdown of which card offers the best value across important credit card categories.
Welcome bonus winner
Annual fee winner
Rewards rate winner
Foreign transaction fee winner
Intro APR offer winner
Which card earns the most?
Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs. American Express Blue Business Cash spending example
If you don’t expect to spend more than $50,000 per year, both cards offer the same amount of cash back assuming identical spending. But the Spark Cash Plus has the potential to offer more value thanks to the elevated welcome bonus and annual bonus.
If you check out the different spending levels in the first year of owning the card, you’ll find that even at $50,000 in annual spending, the Spark Cash Plus wins out. Although you’ll need to factor in the annual fee, the card still has the potential to earn $600 more in rewards compared to the Amex Business Blue Cash.
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Amex Blue Business Cash | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual spending | $50,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 |
| Rewards amount | $1,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Welcome bonus | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Annual bonus | – | Annual fee reimbursement | Annual fee reimbursement | – | – | – |
| Annual fee | -$150 | -$0 | -$0 | – | – | – |
| Total | $2,850 | $5,150 | $6,150 | $1,250 | $2,250 | $2,750 |
The difference in rewards becomes more obvious as your spending increases, with the Capital One Spark earning a whopping $2,300 more than the Blue Business Cash once you get to $200,000 in annual spending. That $50,000 cap on 2 percent cash back with the Blue Business Cash really limits how much business owners can earn in comparison to the Spark Cash Plus.
But what happens after the first year, when there are no welcome bonuses? At the $50,000 level, the annual fee puts the Capital One Spark Plus Cash just a tad behind the Blue Business Cash in net rewards. But as the spending increases, the Spark Cash Plus wins out again.
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Amex Blue Business Cash | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual spending | $50,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 |
| Rewards amount | $1,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Welcome bonus | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Annual bonus | – | Annual fee reimbursement | Annual fee reimbursement | – | – | – |
| Annual fee | -$150 | -$0 | -$0 | – | – | – |
| Total | $850 | $3,150 | $4,150 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
Why should you get the Capital One Spark Cash Plus?
In addition to its generous welcome bonus, potential annual bonus, unlimited cash back and lack of foreign transaction fees, there are more features and benefits that make this card popular with business owners.
Why should you get the American Express Blue Business Cash?
Whether this card is right for your business depends on whether you’re likely to spend less than $50,000 per year and your redemption option preferences. But for a no-annual-fee card, there’s still enough here for business owners who want a lower-risk entry into an Amex business credit card account.
The bottom line
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus and American Express Blue Business Cash are formidable contenders in the business credit card space, both offering rewards and flexible credit limits. But the similarities stop there: If you plan to spend more than $50,000 each year, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus could give you the chance to earn even more rewards. Even with the $150 annual fee, the bells and whistles offered with the Spark Cash Plus can make it well worth it.
Still, if you’re just starting out and plan to spend under $50,000 annually, the no-annual-fee Amex Blue Business Cash is a respectable option. Just don’t be surprised if you end up outgrowing this card.
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