Compare Business Credit Cards for Contractors and Construction Businesses - Nav
Compare business credit cards for contractors and construction businesses in 2026
Written by Anna Baluch
Reviewed by Robin Saks Frankel
May 7, 2026 | 11 min read
Summary
- As a contractor, you juggle a variety of large expenses, such as fuel, materials, and equipment.
- The right business credit card can help you manage cash flow, earn rewards on everyday spending, and separate your business and personal finances.
- In this guide, we’ll compare credit cards for contractors, what to look for in a card, how to qualify, and alternative financing options.
Editorial disclosure: Our priority is to provide accurate, unbiased financial information for your business. Our partners cannot pay for favorable reviews. All content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can review more details here.
Compare business credit cards for contractors
Some of the most popular business credit cards for contractors include:
- Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card
- Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- BILL Divvy Corporate Card
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured
Here’s a quick breakdown of how they compare.
| Card name | Intro APR | Rewards rate | Welcome offer | Annual fee | Best for | |
| Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card | 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases | Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases for your business – without caps or spending categories. | Earn a $500 cash rewards bonus when you spend $5,000 in purchases for your business in the first 3 months. | $0 | Contractors | |
| Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi (personal card) |
N/A | 5% cash back on gas at Costco, 4% cash back on all other eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year in combined purchases, and then 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% cash back on purchase from Costco and Costco.com, 1% cash back on all other purchases | N/A | $0 with your Costco membership | Gas and fuel rewards | |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | N/A | 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. 1X points on other eligible purchases. | You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. | $895 | Hardware and supply store purchases | |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months | Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $0 | Cash back | |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months | Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. | Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. | $0 | 0% intro APR | |
| BILL Divvy Corporate Card | N/A | Up to 7x points, based on payment settings. | N/A | $0 | Expense management and employee cards | |
| Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured | N/A | 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual caps | N/A | $0 | Building business credit |
A strong overall option: Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card offers all the benefits your contracting business needs: $0 annual fee, a generous welcome offer, 0% intro APR for 12 months, and straightforward cash-back rewards.
You’ll earn
Earn a $500 cash rewards bonus when you spend $5,000 in purchases for your business in the first 3 months.
For gas and fuel rewards: Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi
Whether you manage multiple job sites at once, serve clients in different geographic areas, or constantly pick up supplies and materials, the
You’ll earn 5% cash back on gas at Costco and 4% cash back on all other eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year in combined purchases and then 1% thereafter. Other rewards include 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% cash back on purchases from Costco.
For hardware and supply store purchases: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
If you tend to spend a lot at hardware and supply stores, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express should be on your radar.
You’ll earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and more.
For cash back: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a generous cash-back card you can use for general contractor spending.
You'll also get 5% cash back on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027.
For 0% intro APR: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
If you need to finance large purchases, such as equipment or machinery, the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express might hold some appeal. It comes with a 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. Once the intro offer expires, you can enjoy other perks like 2x points on the first $50,000 of eligible purchases per calendar year.
For expense management and employee cards: BILL Divvy Corporate Card
Expense reports and expense management can be a huge pain point for contractors. With the BILL Divvy Corporate Card you can help reduce or streamline expense reporting and provide more control over budgets.
For business credit-building potential: Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured
The card earns rewards for your startup or newer contracting business. Once you make a security deposit of at least $1,000 and start spending, you’ll get 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no annual caps or expiration dates. The card also offers free business score monitoring.
What to look for in a contractor business credit card
As you shop around for the best business cards for construction companies, be sure to prioritize the following:
Rewards on your biggest spending categories
Consider where you spend the most as a contractor. If most of your expenses are related to fuel or hardware, for example, find a card that offers generous rewards for those categories.
0% intro APR for large purchases
Some business credit cards offer 0% intro APR financing for several months. This can be very valuable for financing a larger purchase or preserving cash flow during a seasonal slowdown.
Employee card controls
If you need to issue employee cards, look for features like spending controls and expense tracking.
Business credit reporting
Some credit card issuers report payment activity to the business credit bureaus, allowing you to build a strong business credit score.
Annual fee vs. rewards value
In some cases, you’ll have to pay an annual fee to use a business credit card. Estimate your monthly spending and then apply the card’s rewards rates to calculate your potential cash back or points value.
How to qualify for a business credit card as a contractor
Most small business credit cards require you to qualify based primarily on your personal credit score. However, those cards usually come with stipulations.
What you’ll need to apply
To apply for a business credit card, make sure you have the following on hand:
- Legal business name
- Business address
- EIN or SSN
- Estimated annual revenue
- Years in business
- Number of employees
Contractor business credit card checklist
These questions can help you narrow down your options and hone in on the ideal contractor business credit card.
| Questions to ask | Why this matters | Your notes |
| How much do you spend annually? | Compare spending to cost of the annual fee to determine whether rewards outweigh the fee. | |
| How much will you spend in the next 3-4 months? | Consider a card with a healthy welcome bonus for spending in the first 3 to 6 months after account opening. | |
| Do you need to finance purchases over time? | Look for a card with a 0% intro APR. | |
| What are your main spending categories? | Reward cards may offer higher rewards in certain spending categories. | |
| Do you prefer cash-back rewards or travel points? | If you prefer cash back, you’ll get more value from a cash-back card. | |
| Do you have good personal credit? | If not, consider a card that doesn’t require a personal credit check. | |
| Do you want to build business credit? | Check which cards help build business credit here. | |
| Do you make purchases outside the US? | Choose a card with no foreign transaction fee. | |
| Do you need employee cards? | Choose a card that offers free physical or virtual cards for employees. | |
| Do you shop at specific stores? | Choose a card with store-specific rewards. |
Benefits of using a credit card as a contractor
Improve cash flow
One of the most important benefits of business credit cards for contractors is the way they improve cash flow. The best business credit cards offer a line of credit that gives you extra time to pay for materials and other expenses while you wait for client payments.
Earn rewards on materials and fuel
In addition, rewards programs can be very lucrative. Put the materials and fuel you purchase on a rewards credit card and you can often reap a significant sum in cash back or reward points.
Simplify expense tracking
Having a business credit card means you can keep your business charges separate from your personal accounts. This makes it easier to track your expenses and control job costs throughout the year.
Interest-free financing
If you pay your credit card off in full each month, you’ll avoid interest charges and can enjoy the benefits of these cards at no extra cost. Some cards offer introductory APRs of 0% for anywhere from six months to a year or more.
Alternative financing options for contractors
Construction business loans
If you need financing for a specific project that doesn’t require short-term financing, a term loan may be a good choice.
Equipment financing
If you need heavy equipment, equipment financing may be an excellent option.
Vendor and supplier financing
If you regularly purchase supplies from specific suppliers, you may be able to secure those supplies with no money upfront.