Best business credit cards for home health businesses - Nav

Best business credit cards for home health care businesses of 2023

Gerri Detweiler's profile

Gerri Detweiler

Education Consultant, Nav

February 7, 2023|7 min read
Home health care agency using accounting software

Editorial note: Our top priority is to give you the best financial information for your business. Nav may receive compensation from our partners, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions or recommendations. Our partners cannot pay for favorable reviews. All content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

People grow older, and when they do, they often have significant medical care needs.  In the US, the population is aging and many people want to stay in their homes but need help to do that. That’s why the outlook for home health care businesses is strong, with the market predicted to grow from $94.17 billion in 2022 to $153.19 billion by 2029, according to Fortune Business Insights

Home healthcare services provide a range of medical services in the patient’s home, instead of a facility. That may include nursing care, physical and occupational therapy or even medical social work. Some agencies may also offer varying levels of caregiving services as well. 

These businesses play a vital role in caring for vulnerable people, but the work— and financial pressures—present challenges. Credit cards can help a home health business pay for purchases safely, manage cash flow, and even earn some well-deserved rewards. 

Here are some of the best business credit cards for home health care agencies. 

Financial challenges of home health care businesses today

Starting a new business in the home health industry has somewhat low barriers to entry. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are significant financial challenges. Among them:

  • Navigating insurance claims and collecting payment from insurers can be time-consuming. Even private pay clients may pay slowly at times. 
  • Staffing is a common challenge and turnover is often high. 
  • Regulations and licensing requirements are additional expenses that must be budgeted for. 
  • An efficient home health care business requires an investment in technology that will have ongoing costs and will need upgrades from time to time. 
  • The cost of insurance for the agency itself has been rising.
  • Decreasing reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid have put significant financial pressure on many agencies.

With all these myriad financial challenges, these businesses may find cash flow a constant struggle. Money in and money out doesn’t always match. 

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How home health business care owners could consider using business credit

Business credit cards can be helpful to home health care businesses in several ways:

They are a safe and secure way to pay, as cardholders generally aren’t responsible for most fraudulent charges. Most integrate with accounting software like Quickbooks, making it easier to track and manage business expenses. And most business credit cards offer free employee cards as well as spend management tools. 

Rewards are another perk. Credit card issuers target small businesses for rewards credit cards because they know they are likely to spend a lot. They’ll offer cash back rewards, travel rewards, low intro APR financing, and/or sign-up bonuses. For businesses with significant business spending, rewards can really add up. 

With the exception of charge cards, most business credit cards allow the business to finance purchases over time. This makes them a complement to, or substitute for, a business line of credit. Just make sure you understand you pay close attention to your credit limit so you don’t run into a situation where essential large purchases get declined. 

Most small business credit cards also report payment history to at least one of the major business credit bureaus. Paying on time helps the business establish business credit. Good business credit scores, in turn, can help the business qualify for other types of small business loans and business lines of credit. 

Like personal credit cards, most of these cards will check the small business owner’s personal credit history. You’ll need to provide a Social Security Number when you apply, and a personal guarantee is often required. 

Best business credit cards for travel perks

If your goal is to earn travel rewards—perhaps for a much-needed vacation—business credit cards can make that very easy. Here are two excellent choices: 

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express 

Although it carries an annual fee of $695, the travel perks for this premium business credit card can make it well worth it for higher spenders. Amex business credit cards also feature flexible spending limits. 

Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25. 

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. 

The list of travel perks for this card is long, and includes benefits like gold status with top hotel chains, room upgrades with certain hotel bookings, airport lounge access and more. This makes this card very popular with business travelers, or anyone who wants to travel more comfortably. 

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

American Express is a Nav Partner | Terms, Rates & Fees | Terms apply

Earn elite status membership and premium perks for business travel.

Pros

  • Access to multiple airport business lounges, $200 annual airline fee credits, elite status with hotel and rental car programs, and strong purchase protection policies
  • This card also earns points in Amex’s excellent Membership Rewards program.

Cons

  • This card has a steep annual fee.

Intro APR

N/A

Purchase APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$695

Welcome Offer

Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.

Best business credit cards with a 0% introductory rate

When cash flow is tight, having access to funds at 0% can be extraordinarily helpful. These cards offer 0% intro APRs on purchases. Keep in mind the clock on that rate usually starts clicking when you are approved, not when you make your first purchase. Once the intro rate expires, the go to interest rate will usually be a variable APR that’s much higher. 

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card 

If you want a solid cash back reward card without caps, this Chase Ink card can be a good choice. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business. And if you need short-term financing, you can also get a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months.  

The annual fee is $0  However there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Terms, Rates & Fees

All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.

Pros

  • All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
  • This card is not currently available through Nav
  • To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.

Cons

  • All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
  • This card is not currently available through Nav
  • To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.

Intro APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months

Purchase APR

18.49% - 24.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card 

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card The gives you the best of all worlds: an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, and an appealing cash back bonus offer. Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

Your purchases will earn rewards at a solid rate. Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. 

The annual fee is $0 making this American Express card a good all around choice. However, it’s worth noting that Amex cards typically require excellent credit. 

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

American Express is a Nav Partner | Terms, Rates & Fees | Terms apply

One of the highest cash back rates available for small business cards.

Pros

  • Attractive intro financing offer
  • High rates of cash back for business spending
  • No annual fee.

Cons

  • No rewards bonus for initial spending
  • Foreign transaction fees.

Intro APR

0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Purchase APR

17.49% - 27.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

Best business credit cards with no annual fee

For most businesses, the annual fee is less of a consideration than other costs and features, simply because the amount of business purchases charged on the card can earn enough cash back or rewards to outweigh the cost of the fee.

If you want to avoid an annual fee, though, there are some good cards to consider in addition to the other ones featured here:

Amazon Business Prime American Express Card 

A good choice for businesses that do a lot of shopping on Amazon and are already Amazon Prime members, this card features a welcome offer you’ll likely put to good use. Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. 

The rewards on this card offer a unique benefit to business owners, as you can either choose cash back or longer payment terms. Take advantage of 5% Back or 90-Day Terms on U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership. You can earn 5% Back on the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year, 1% Back thereafter. 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers. 1% Back on other purchases. 

The annual fee is $0.

Amazon Business Prime American Express Card

American Express is a Nav Partner | Terms, Rates & Fees | Terms apply

Small business owners can use this card to earn high rates of cash back on Amazon purchases, or receive valuable financing to help with cash flow.

Pros

  • Really competitive rewards, a true signup bonus, and no annual fee
  • Ability to choose net terms on Amazon.com and Amazon Business.

Cons

  • No intro financing offer.

Intro APR

N/A

Purchase APR

18.49% - 26.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card.

 

Best business credit cards with gas rewards

If fuel is a major expense for your business, you’ll want to save as much as you can. These fuel rewards offers can help you do that. 

Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi 

Costco business members already know Costco offers great prices on fuel. With this card, you can: Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter. 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel. 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. 1% cash back on all other purchases. 

The annual fee is $0, but you’ll need to pay for a Costco membership.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi

Citi is a Nav Partner | Terms, Rates & Fees

The highest bonus cash back for gas, plus business travel rewards.

Pros

  • Generous rewards and no annual fee.

Cons

  • No intro APR period or rewards bonus for initial spending.

Intro APR

N/A

Purchase APR

19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

N/A

American Express® Business Gold Card 

With this Amex card, if fuel is one of your top two spending categories on the card, you’ll earn higher-than-average rewards in that category. 

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. 

Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*

The annual fee is $375 so make sure you spend enough to make it worth it. 

American Express® Business Gold Card

American Express is a Nav Partner | Terms, Rates & Fees | Terms apply

High annual fee, best for large purchases in consistent categories.

Pros

  • This card has a great rewards program and offers flexibility compared to true charge cards.

Cons

  • High annual fee
  • Only 1x rewards outside of your top categories.

Intro APR

0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening

Purchase APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$375

Welcome Offer

Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*

Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card 

This card also lets you customize your rewards, and if fuel is your category of choice, you’ll get an excellent level of cash back. 

3% cash back in the category of your choice (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter), 2% cash back on dining purchases (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter), and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

To top it off, you can also qualify for a welcome bonus and a 0% intro APR. Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. 

And get 0% for 9 billing cycles on purchases 

The annual fee is $0.00. There is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.  

Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Terms, Rates & Fees

No annual fee and 3% cash back in your category of choice.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Generous rewards structure.

Cons

  • Rewards cap on dining

Intro APR

0% for 9 billing cycles on purchases

Purchase APR

17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases

Annual Fee

$0.00

Welcome Offer

$300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.

Best overall business credit cards for home health businesses

You’ll want to choose the card that’s right for your business needs, and as you can see from our picks there, there are plenty to choose from. Here are three overall top choices that will work for many businesses: 

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Terms, Rates & Fees

All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.

Pros

  • All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
  • This card is not currently available through Nav
  • To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.

Cons

  • All information about the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav
  • This card is not currently available through Nav
  • To see what business credit cards are available, please visit the Nav Credit Card Marketplace.

Intro APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months

Purchase APR

18.49% - 24.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Terms, Rates & Fees

No annual fee and 3% cash back in your category of choice.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Generous rewards structure.

Cons

  • Rewards cap on dining

Intro APR

0% for 9 billing cycles on purchases

Purchase APR

17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases

Annual Fee

$0.00

Welcome Offer

$300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

American Express is a Nav Partner | Terms, Rates & Fees | Terms apply

One of the highest cash back rates available for small business cards.

Pros

  • Attractive intro financing offer
  • High rates of cash back for business spending
  • No annual fee.

Cons

  • No rewards bonus for initial spending
  • Foreign transaction fees.

Intro APR

0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Purchase APR

17.49% - 27.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

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  • Photo of Gerri Detweiler, blond woman in dark jacket smiling at camera

    Gerri Detweiler

    Education Consultant, Nav

    Gerri Detweiler, a financing and credit expert, has been featured in 4,500+ news stories and answered 10,000+ credit and lending questions online. In addition to Nav, her articles have appeared on Forbes, MarketWatch, and Startup Nation. She is the author or co-author of six books, including Finance Your Own Business, and she has also testified before Congress on consumer credit legislation.