Canstar reveals 2019's 5-Star business credit cards

A credit card can be an invaluable tool for managing cash flow and expenses, but it’s important to choose a product that offers your business bang for its buck.

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Canstar Research analysed 37 business credit cards from 13 providers across three card types/profiles: Low Rate, Rewards, and Frequent Flyer. The cards that received a 5-Star Rating were:

• American Express – Business Explorer Card (Rewards $120k annual spend, Frequent Flyer $60k and $120k annual spend)
• ANZ – Business Black (Rewards $120k annual spend)
• Bank of Melbourne – BusinessVantage Visa (Low Rate)
• BankSA – Visa Business (Low Rate)
• Diners Club Australia – Business Card (Frequent Flyer $36k, $60k and $120k annual spend)
• Newcastle Permanent – Business+ Credit Card (Low Rate)
• St.George Bank – Amplify Business – Rewards Option (Rewards $36k and $60k annual spend, Frequent Flyer $36k and $60k annual spend)
• St.George Bank – BusinessVantage Visa (Low Rate)
• Suncorp Bank – Business Credit Card – Premium Option (Rewards $60k annual spend)
• Suncorp Bank – Business Credit Card – Standard Option (Rewards $36k and $60k annual spend)

What makes for a 5-Star business credit card?

Canstar’s ratings methodology for business credit cards takes a number of product aspects into account, including:

• Fees
• Interest rates
• Number of interest-free days
• Standard features – card terms, ease of access, application process etc.
• Reward features – range of redemption options, points caps, earn rates etc.
• Additional perks – such as complimentary insurance and airline lounge access.

According to Canstar’s methodology, an Outstanding Value low rate business credit card should offer a “low interest rate and flexible repayment conditions”; a rewards business credit card should give a business “the optimal return on their spending” in the form of cash-back or gift card rewards; and a frequent flyer business credit card should offer businesses the ability to transfer rewards points to one or more eligible frequent flyer schemes. For more information on the eligibility requirements for each card type, read our business credit card Star Ratings methodology.

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More info about the winning cards

American Express – Business Explorer Card (Rewards, $120k annual spend and Frequent Flyer, $60k annual spend, $120k annual spend)

• Card type: Rewards/Frequent Flyer
• Annual fee: $395
• Additional card fee: $0
• Purchase rate: 16.99% p.a.
• Rewards: 2 Amex points per $1 spent excluding government spend, which earns 1 point per $1 spent
• Other Features: Up to 99 additional cards, option to use reward points to pay your card balance, and a 50,000 rewards point bonus for businesses that spend at least $100,000 every 12 months

ANZ – Business Black (Rewards, $120k annual spend)

• Card type: Rewards/Frequent Flyer
• Annual fee: $375 ($300 card fee + $75 Rewards fee)
• Additional card fee: $0 ($75 fee applies per card for Rewards)
• Purchase rate: 20.24% p.a.
• Rewards: 1.5 Reward Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases, up to $10,000 per statement period, 1 Reward Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases above $10,000 per statement period, 0.5 Reward Points per $1 spent on taxation payments (uncapped)
• Other features: Complimentary overseas travel insurance and access to the ANZ Global Business Concierge service

Bank of Melbourne – BusinessVantage Visa (Low Rate)

• Card type: Low Rate
• Annual fee: $55
• Additional card fee: $55 per card
• Purchase rate: 9.99% p.a.
• Rewards: N/A
• Other features: Simplified expense reporting and up to nine additional cardholders

BankSA – Visa Business Card (Low Rate)

• Card type: Low Rate
• Annual fee: $55
• Additional card fee: $55 per card
• Purchase rate: 9.99% p.a.
• Rewards: N/A
• Other features: 55 days interest-free and complimentary insurance against unauthorised transactions

Diners Club Australia – Business Card (Frequent Flyer, $36k annual spend, $60k annual spend, $120k annual spend)

• Card type: Rewards/Frequent Flyer
• Annual fee: $95 + $77 annual Rewards Fee
• Additional card fee: $80 per card + $77 annual Rewards Fee
• Purchase rate: N/A
• Rewards: 1 Reward Point per $1 spent
• Other features: Complimentary travel insurance, no pre-set spending limit, and access to the Diners Club Rewards Program

Newcastle Permanent – Business+ Credit Card (Low Rate)

• Card type: Low Rate
• Annual fee: $55
• Additional card fee: $0
• Purchase rate: 11.99% p.a.
• Rewards: N/A
• Other features: Unlimited individual cardholders

St.George Bank – Amplify Business – Rewards Option (Rewards – $36k annual spend, $60k annual spend and Frequent Flyer, $36k annual spend, $60k annual spend)

• Card type: Rewards/Frequent Flyer
• Annual fee: $89 ($0 for the first year at the time of writing)
• Additional card fee: $0 per card
• Purchase rate: 19.49% p.a.
• Rewards: 2 Amplify Points per $1 spent on overseas purchases, 1 Amplify Point per $1 spent on Australian purchases, 0.5 Amplify Point per $1 spent on Government payments
• Other features: No cap on points, up to four cardholders, and the option to accumulate either Amplify or Qantas Points

St.George Bank – BusinessVantage Visa (Low Rate)

• Card type: Low Rate
• Annual fee: $55
• Additional card fee: $55
• Purchase rate: 9.99% p.a.
• Rewards: N/A
• Other features: Insurance against fraudulent purchases and up to 10 cardholders allowed

Suncorp Bank – Business Credit Card – Premium Option (Rewards – $60k annual spend)

• Card type: Rewards/Frequent Flyer
• Annual fee: $45 + $69 annual Rewards fee
• Additional card fee: $45 per card
• Purchase rate: 18.45% p.a.
• Rewards: 1 Reward point per $1 (up to 80,000 points per card per year)
• Other features: Exchange Suncorp Points for Qantas Points, and access to a Personal Business Assistant, the Suncorp Travel Centre, and Visa Entertainment

Suncorp Bank – Business Credit Card – Standard Option (Rewards – $36k annual spend, $60k annual spend)

• Card type: Rewards
• Annual fee: $45 + $20 annual Rewards fee
• Additional card fee: $45 per card
• Purchase rate: 18.45% p.a.
• Rewards: 1 Reward point per $1 (up to $80,000 points per card per year)
• Other features: Up to 99 additional cardholders, Verified by Visa protection for online purchases, and 24/7 customer service

To compare more business credit cards, visit our business credit card comparison tables.

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