8 best credit cards for contractors and construction business owners
If you own a construction company, finding the best credit cards for contractors can help you save money or stretch your budget a little further.
The right construction credit card can keep your business afloat during periods of irregular cash flow—without dipping you into the red.
Here are our picks for best contractor credit cards for business owners. These cards focus on maximizing rewards on everyday business costs like safety and building supplies, office necessities, food, and wireless services.
Ink Business Cash
The Ink Business Cash Card by Chase is one of the most versatile business cards available.
It offers a competitive 5% back on the first $25,000 spent per year on eligible office supplies, internet, phone, and cable services, then 2% back per year on up to $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants.
If your construction company is always on the go, the 2% back on gas and food will come in handy, while 5% back on common services and necessities can help keep your company fully stocked.
This card offers 1% back on everything else, which isn’t particularly impressive, but without an annual fee to worry about, it’s a versatile card that rewards for a good portion of business expenses.
- Intro offer: $900 cash back after spending $6,000 in the first three months of card ownership
- Rewards: 1% - 5%
- Annual fee: $0
- Our verdict: Best overall construction credit card
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Forget the hassle of planning out purchases to maximize your rewards and instead consider the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, which offers 2% on everything—no strings attached.
It has a small annual fee of $150, which you can offset by spending $7,500 per year or by earning its welcome bonus. It’s one of the best construction credit cards because you don’t have to plot out category spending or worry about rewards limits.
- Intro offer: Earn $1,200 when you spend $30,000 in the first three months of account ownership
- Rewards: 2% on all purchases
- Annual fee: $150
- Our verdict: Best flat-rate rewards card for small construction companies
American Express Blue Business Cash
If you don’t want to strategize to maximize rewards, the Amex Blue Business Cash card offers an impressive 2% back on the first $50,000 spent each year, then 1% after.
This card doesn’t have an intro bonus like the Spark Cash Plus, but it also doesn’t have an annual fee. If you don’t expect to charge more than $50,000 on your construction, this budget-friendly card is an excellent pick.
- Intro offer: N/A
- Rewards: 2% on first $50,000; 1% after
- Annual fee: $0
- Our verdict: Best flat-rate rewards card for small construction companies
Lowe’s Business Rewards Card (from American Express)
This no annual fee construction business card option pairs well with some of the other cards on this best list.
You won’t earn an elevated rate on office supplies, travel, gas stations, or food, but you will earn 5% on all Lowes purchases made within the first six months.
After that, you’ll earn a steady 2% cash back at Lowes, 2% at U.S. restaurants, U.S. office supply stores, wireless phone services, and 1% on everything else.
It's a good option if you can plan out your building material purchases within the first six months of opening your account to earn the elevated Lowe’s rewards rate.
This construction credit card also works well on its own if you can maximize its 2% categories.
- Intro offer: $100 upon approval
- Rewards: 1% - 5%
- Annual fee: $0
- Our verdict: Best for construction materials
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards
The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Card is a lucrative business card that may benefit your business depending on your spending habits.
It offers 3% cash back on one of the following categories: gas stations and EV charging, office supply stores, computer services, business consulting services, travel, or TV, phone and wireless services.
It then earns 2% on dining, and 1% on everything else.
There is a catch though: You’ll only earn 3% on your choice category and 2% on the first $50,000 you spend each year—then your rewards rate drops down to 1%.
If you can’t maximize the 3% spending category, a flat rate business card might serve you better. But if you can, it can be more rewarding than other cards on this list.
And, it offers 0% financing on purchases for the first nine business cycles, which can help you finance a large purchase and repay it over time.
- Intro offer: $300 when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening
- Rewards: 1% - 3%
- Annual fee: $0
- Our verdict: Best for flexible high-rate rewards card
American Express Blue Business Plus
If you need a few months to a year to pay off a large purchase, the Amex Blue Business Plus Card could help. It features a 0% introductory APR for 12 months, allowing you to sidestep interest while you wait for client payments.
This card also earns 2x rewards on the first $50,000 spent each year, and 1x after.
- Intro offer: N/A
- Rewards: 1x - 2x
- Annual fee: $0
- Our verdict: Best for longer financing projects
Ink Business Unlimited
While 2% cash back is typically the most competitive flat-rate you can earn on rewards, the Ink Business Unlimited’s 1.5% cash back rate is solid.
It also has no annual fee and comes with a $900 welcome bonus when you spend $6,000 in the first three months of opening an account.
This card would pair nicely with the Ink Business Cash or Lowe’s Business Rewards Card for categories those cards only earn 1% back on.
- Intro offer: $900 when you spend $6,000 in the first three months of account opening
- Rewards: 1.5%
- Annual fee: $0
- Our verdict: A good flat-rate card with no annual fee
The Plum Card from American Express
As a construction business owner, you know that payments can be unpredictable. And sometimes unexpected expenses arise that require money in advance of your next paycheck.
The Plum Card from Amex is a great option to have in your wallet when surprise payments pop up.
It gives you 60 days to pay off your balance before interest begins accruing, providing twice the breathing room of regular construction business credit cards.
You’ll also earn 1.5% back when you pay early (within 10 days of your statement closing date), a good rate that can add up to a surprising amount in rewards.
Its steep annual fee might give you pause, but it can be worthwhile if you often find yourself needing to stretch money for an extra month or two.
- Intro offer: N/A
- Rewards: 1.5% when you pay early
- Annual fee: $250
- Our verdict: Good for financing projects
What is a business construction credit card?
A construction business card is a credit card that offers rewards and benefits to construction company owners.
Some cards focus on rewards for common purchases, while other credit cards for contractors might instead prioritize financing or other card perks.
Having access to capital in a pinch can be helpful if your business experiences unpredictable payments.
How do I pick the best construction credit cards for my company?
There’s no one-size-fits-all credit card. The right credit card for your construction company will help you earn rewards on your regular spending.
If construction supplies are your main expense, a card like the Lowe’s Business Rewards might help you save the most.
But if you don’t want to think about maximizing rewards, a flat-rate rewards card like the Capital One Spark Cash or Ink Business Unlimited might be a better fit.
A welcome bonus can be an enticing reason to sign up for a business credit card—but make sure you can also benefit from the card in the long run.
And watch out for annual fees to ensure you can offset them with rewards or other credit card perks.
How to apply for contractor credit cards
Most credit cards for contractors have online applications that require a few minutes to fill out.
You’ll need to submit your personal information (your legal name, Social Security number, and address), and may need to provide business data, such as your registered business name, annual profit or loss statements, and tax identification number.
You’ll usually receive an application decision within minutes. But if the credit card company needs more time to review your information, it could take a few weeks.
If you’re worried you might be denied, consider getting preapproved for a card first: most issuers offer this option without requiring a hard credit pull.