Best Business Credit Cards With No Annual Fee In Canada For May 2024

Editor

Updated: May 1, 2024, 10:31am

Aaron Broverman
editor

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If you’re a small business owner, you likely need a credit card to keep expenses separate—and maybe even earn some business-centric rewards. But if you’re not willing to invest in the high annual fee that comes with most business credit cards, the options can be limited. However, there are some business cards on the market that have no annual fee and a few of them even earn cash back and other rewards. Forbes Advisor Canada has rounded up what’s out there and ranked the best of them.

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Best Business Credit Cards With No Annual Fee in Canada for May 2024


BMO CashBack Business Mastercard

BMO CashBack Business Mastercard
3.2
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Welcome Bonus

10% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99%

BMO CashBack Business Mastercard

Welcome Bonus

10% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99%

Why We Picked It

This  no-annual-fee  card earns cash back on some common business expenses, including gas, office supplies and some bills. It also has an accelerated earn rate at Shell gas stations and savings of up to 25% at partner merchants.

Pros & Cons
  • No annual fee
  • Welcome offer of 10% cash back on gas, office supplies, internet and cell phone bills for the first three months
  • Balance transfer offer of 0% for nine months
  • Earns 1.5% cash back on gas, office supplies, cell phone and internet bills
  • Automatic savings of up to 25% when you shop at partner merchants, including hotels, restaurants, fuel and business services and digital tools
  • Includes 90-day purchase protection and extended warranty protection up to one additional year
  • No travel insurance or airport perks
  • Lack of expenses-tracking features for businesses
Card Details
  • No annual fee
  • Welcome offer of 10% cash back on gas, office supplies, internet and cell phone bills for the first three months
  • Introductory interest rate of 0% on balance transfers for nine months (with a 3% transfer fee)
  • Earns 1.75% cash back at Shell gas stations
  • Earns 1.5% cash back on gas, office supplies, cell phone and internet bills
  • Earns 0.75% cash back on all other purchases
  • Can add up to 22 extra cards for employees ($50 annual fee per card)
  • Automatic savings of up to 25% when you shop at partner merchants, including hotels, restaurants, for fuel and business services and for digital tools
  • Includes 90-day purchase protection
  • Includes extended warranty protection up to one additional year
  • Protection from employee card misuse is available

TD Business Cash Back Visa* Card

TD Business Cash Back Visa* Card
2.7
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Welcome Bonus

None

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

19.99% / 22.99%

TD Business Cash Back Visa* Card

Welcome Bonus

None

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

19.99% / 22.99%

Why We Picked It

This card has no annual fee, but it still includes enough perks to make it worthwhile. You’ll earn 2% cash back on office supplies, gas and recurring bills. It also includes features like more Star Rewards at Starbucks and a management tool that can help track expenses.

Pros & Cons
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 2% cash back on office supplies, gas and recurring bill payments
  • Earn 50% more Stars at Starbucks
  • Includes a tool to manage business expenses and spending
  • $15,000 annual cap on the 2% cash back on office supples, gas and recurring bills
  • No travel insurance or airport lounge access
Card Details
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 2% cash back on office supplies, gas and recurring bill payments (up to $15,000 annually)
  • Earn 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
  • Cash back is applied to your account statement annually
  • Earn 50% more Star Rewards at Starbucks
  • Includes purchase security and extended warranty protection
  • Includes access to the TD Card Management Tool, which can manage online reporting, review business expenses, manage credit limits and apply spend controls
  • Discounts of up to 25% off when you make business purchases under the Visa SavingsEdge program

RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard

RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard
2.7
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Welcome Bonus

2% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99%

RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard

Welcome Bonus

2% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99%

Why We Picked It

This no-annual-fee card offers 2% cash back on purchases, but only for the first three months. After that, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all purchases across the board.

Pros & Cons
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 2% cash back for the first three months
  • Earn 1% cash back on all purchases thereafter
  • Save 3 cents per litre on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada locations when you link your card
  • Welcome offer is lackluster
  • Annual cash back is capped at $650
  • Doesn’t include travel insurance
  • Low earn rate on all purchases
Card Details
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 2% cash back for the first 3 months
  • Earn 1% cash back on all purchases thereafter
  • Annual cash back is capped at $650
  • No fee for additional card (limit of one)
  • Once your cash back has reached $25, you can redeem anytime
  • Get automatic enrollment in The Easy Savings Program, which provides automatic rebates to businesses at participating merchants
  • Save 3 cents per litre on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada locations when you link your card
  • Get a complimentary 3 month subscription to DoorDash DashPass (worth $30)
  • Get unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on DoorDash orders of $15 or more when you pay with your card
  • Get purchase security for up to 90 days
  • Get an extended warranty that doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty up to one additional year.

BMO AIR MILES No-Fee Business Mastercard

BMO AIR MILES No-Fee Business Mastercard
2.4
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Welcome Bonus

1,000 Bonus Miles

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99%

BMO AIR MILES No-Fee Business Mastercard

Welcome Bonus

1,000 Bonus Miles

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99%

Why We Picked It

This no-annual-fee card allows you to earn one Air Mileon every $20 of spending, and then ramps it up to 1.25 Air Miles per $20 spent when you gas up at Shell stations. You can also get up to 22 extra cards for employees, and the card comes with protections against employee misuse.

Pros & Cons
  • No annual fee
  • Earns Air Miles
  • Up to 22 extra cards
  • Employee misuse protection available
  • Not a relatively high earn rate
  • No travel insurance coverage
Card Details
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 1 Air Mile for every $20 spent
  • Earn 1.25 Air Miles for every $20 spent at Shell stations
  • Up to 22 extra cards can be added to your account
  • Employee card abuse protection available through the Liability Waiver Program
  • Includes purchase protection for 90 days
  • Includes extended warranty protection of up to one additional year
  • Automatic rebates from 1% to 25% when you shop at qualifying merchants with Mastercard Easy Savings

RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business

RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business
2.2
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Welcome Bonus

None

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

Variable (From Prime + 2.9% to 11.9%)

RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business

Welcome Bonus

None

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

Variable (From Prime + 2.9% to 11.9%)

Why We Picked It

This card combines the features of a line of credit with the convenience and earning potential of a credit card. It has no annual fee and allows you to earn Avion Rewards on all your spending, and also has a much lower interest rate compared to its competitors.

Pros & Cons
  • No annual fee
  • Lower interest rate compared to the competition
  • Earns Avion Rewards points
  • Not a relatively high earn rate
  • Only one additional card included
  • No travel insurance coverage or other perks
Card Details
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 1 Avion Reward point for every $2 spent
  • Only 1 additional card available at no charge
  • Save 3 cents per litre on gas and earn 20% more Petro-Points and Avion Points when you link your card
  • Get $0 deliveries from DoorDash for three months
  • Includes purchase protection for 90 days
  • Includes extended warranty protection of up to one additional year (up to a maximum of five years)

Here’s a Summary of Best Business Credit Cards With No Annual Fee in Canada


Credit Card Best for Credit Score Annual Fee Welcome Bonus
BMO CashBack Business Mastercard Balance transfers Fair/Good $0 10% cash back for 3 months and 0% interest on balance transfer for 9 months
TD Business Cash Back Visa Card Cash back Poor/Fair $0 None
RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard Flat rate cash back Poor/Fair $0 2% cash back for the first 3 months
BMO AIR MILES No-Fee Business Mastercard Air miles Fair/Good $0 1,000 Bonus Miles
RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business Avion Points Very Good/Exceptional $0 None

Methodology

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With business credit cards, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, cash back rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses, and other rewards and features. Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.


Best Business Credit Cards With No Annual Fee in Canada

BMO CashBack Business Mastercard

A card with no annual fee that earns cash back on common business expenses, including gas, office supplies, as well as cell phone and internet bills.

Rewards: Earns 1.75% cash back at Shell gas stations, 1.5% cash back on gas, office supplies, as well as cell phone and internet bills and 0.75% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earns 10% cash back on gas, office supplies, internet and cell phone bills for the first three months. Plus, get an introductory interest rate of 0% on balance transfers for nine months with a 3% transfer fee.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card can be a boon to any business owner who spends money on gas, particularly at Shell gas stations, and on office supplies as well as cell phone and internet bills. It has some other good benefits, like discounts at partner merchants, but it’s lacking in terms of perks like airport lounge access and travel insurance that business owners who frequently travel may find necessary.

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TD Business Cash Back Visa Card

This is another card without an annual fee that offers cash back on office supplies and a few other useful perks, including at Starbucks.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on office supplies, gas and recurring bill payments and 0.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: None

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card earns cash back (and more Star Rewards at Starbucks) with no annual fee. That said, it falls short in terms of perks like travel insurance and airport lounge access.

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RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard

Earn a flat rate of cash back on all expenses with this no fee card.

Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on all purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases for the first three months.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card earns cash back at a flat 1% rate across all purchases and offers some perks like gas discounts and purchase protections. That said, it fails to have a great cash-back rate and doesn’t offer travel insurance.

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BMO AIR MILES No-Fee Business Mastercard

This no-annual-fee business credit card earns Air Miles on all your spending, but has few other perks.

Rewards: Earn 1 Air Mile per $20 spent, earn 1.25 Air Miles for $20 spent at Shell stations.

Welcome Offer: 1,000 Bonus Miles

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card earns Air Miles on all your spending and includes extra cards, plus the option for employee misuse protection. However, it has a mediocre earn rate and, aside from extended warranty and purchase protection, it offers few other perks for businesses.

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RBC Visa CreditLine for Small Business

This card combines the features of a line of credit with the earning potential of a credit card.

Rewards: Earn 1 Avion Reward point per $2 spent.

Welcome Offer: None

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card has a variable interest rate, which can be quite low and functions like a line of credit. It also offers a few perks, like earning Avion Rewards points on purchases, an extended warranty, purchase protection and discounts on gas. That said, it’s lacking in terms of insurance coverage and other useful features for small businesses.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best credit card for business expenses?

The best credit card for business expenses in Canada is the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Plus Card. That said, this card carries a $120 annual fee.

What is the easiest business credit card to get?

Both the TD Business Cash Back Visa Card and the RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard are relatively attainable business credit cards, as they both require only a Poor/Fair credit score.

Do all business credit cards have annual fees?

Not all business credit cards have an annual fee, as evidenced by this list. However, some of the business credit cards that do have an annual fee surpass that yearly cost with rewards earnings and useful features. For instance, our pick for the best business credit card was the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Plus Card, which comes with a $120 annual fee. However, that fee is waived the first year and the card is further made worth it by high rewards, good Aeroplan points earn rates and other perks like free first checked bags on Air Canada flights, airport lounge access and travel insurance.


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