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Best Credit Card For Restaurant Owners in 2026
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
Best Credit Card for Restaurant Owners
Our top pick is The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, especially for restaurant owners who travel often for business. The card provides exceptional value through premium travel benefits like comprehensive airport lounge access and automatic hotel elite status, alongside other business-focused credits and perks. Terms apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Top Cards
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
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Why we picked it it
- This card is built for business owners who travel frequently and value premium perks. It provides access to the extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection, which is more comprehensive than any other card's offering. Cardholders also receive automatic elite status with major hotel partners like Hilton and Marriott, enhancing every trip.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates & Fees) delivers significant value through a wide array of statement credits that cover common business expenses. These credits apply to services ranging from airline fees and technology purchases to wireless services. The card's flexible Membership Rewards program also allows points to be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners, offering exceptional versatility for booking travel.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Capital One Venture X Business
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Why we picked it it
- The Capital One Venture X Business Card (See Rates & Fees) excels at balancing premium travel benefits with practical, business-grade tools. It's an ideal choice for business owners who want luxury perks like airport lounge access alongside robust features for managing company spending. This unique combination makes it a compelling option for companies with regular travel needs.
- Beyond travel, the card offers significant flexibility and control over business finances. You can issue free employee cards with customizable spending limits, simplifying expense tracking across your team. It also provides flexible payment options to help manage cash flow and tools that automate transaction data for easier accounting.
American Express® Business Gold Card
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Why we picked it it
- The American Express® Business Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) is a top choice for its adaptability to the needs of a growing business. It automatically optimizes your rewards based on where you spend the most each cycle, removing the need for manual category selection. This makes it an excellent tool for companies with variable monthly expenses who want to consistently earn on their most frequent purchases.
- This card provides significant spending flexibility, which is crucial for businesses managing fluctuating cash flow or large purchases. It also includes a suite of valuable travel and purchase protections, offering a layer of security for business-related expenses. This combination of flexible purchasing power and built-in protections makes it a strong contender for business owners who value both convenience and security.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Other Options to Consider
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
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Capital One Spark Miles for Business
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How to Choose a Credit Card for Restaurant Owners
For a restaurant owner, the right credit card is more than just a way to pay for expenses—it’s a strategic tool that can improve cash flow, unlock valuable rewards, and simplify bookkeeping.
However, navigating the options comes with its own set of traps. A common pitfall is chasing a large welcome bonus while ignoring a card's long-term value, such as reward categories that don't align with a restaurant's primary expenses. Similarly, overlooking an annual fee that isn't justified by the card's benefits can quickly erode any rewards earned.
Key Factors
- Reward Rates: Your card should align with your business's spending habits, offering high returns on categories like wholesale food purchases, advertising, and shipping.
- Annual Fee: Consider whether the card's annual fee is justified by the value you get from rewards, statement credits, and other perks.
- Welcome Offer: A generous introductory bonus can provide a quick cash flow boost, but don't let it distract from the card's long-term value proposition.
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR): If you plan to carry a balance from month to month, a low introductory or ongoing APR is critical to minimize interest costs.
- Expense Management Tools: Look for cards that offer features like detailed spending reports, employee card management, and integration with accounting software to simplify your financial tracking.
- Business-Friendly Perks: Benefits like travel insurance, cell phone protection, or extended warranties on purchases can provide valuable protection and savings for your restaurant.
What to Watch Out For
One of the most frequent missteps is choosing a card for its flashy travel perks instead of one that maximizes rewards on core restaurant expenses like inventory and supplies. Another critical error is mixing personal and business spending on a single card, which complicates bookkeeping and can create tax-time nightmares. Ultimately, overlooking practical features like detailed spending reports in favor of a tempting welcome offer can undermine the card's long-term utility for your business.
Decision Flow
Choosing the right card is a process of matching its features to your restaurant's unique spending patterns and financial goals. Use this decision flow to identify which type of card best aligns with your priorities.
If your primary goal is to maximize rewards on food and supply costs... you should seek out a business card that offers high reward rates on wholesale purchases or at restaurant suppliers. Since inventory is often the largest expense category, even a small percentage back can add up to significant savings. Alternatively, a card with a high flat-rate on all purchases can be just as valuable if your spending is spread across many different suppliers.
If you need to finance a major purchase or manage uneven cash flow... prioritize a card with a 0% introductory APR on purchases. This can give you an interest-free loan to cover the cost of new kitchen equipment, a dining room refresh, or a seasonal inventory build-up. Just be sure to check the regular APR that applies after the promotional period ends, especially if you might carry a balance long-term.
If a large portion of your budget goes toward online advertising and shipping... look for a card that specifically rewards these categories. Many modern restaurants rely on social media and search engine ads for marketing, and a card that offers bonus points or cash back on this spending can provide a substantial return. The same applies to shipping costs, a growing expense for restaurants with a delivery or catering focus.
If streamlined bookkeeping is your main concern... choose a card with robust expense management tools. Features like free employee cards with individual spending limits, automatic categorization of expenses, and seamless integration with accounting software can drastically reduce administrative headaches and make tax season much smoother.
If you travel often for industry events or personal getaways... a premium travel rewards card could be worthwhile, but only if its benefits outweigh the potential loss of rewards on core restaurant spending. Weigh the value of perks like airport lounge access and annual travel credits against the card's annual fee and its earning rates on your biggest expense categories. Sometimes, the best strategy is to have one card for business operations and a separate one for travel.
Maximize Your Return with Restaurant Owners
To get the most value from every meal out, it pays to be strategic. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your credit card rewards on dining:
- Pick the right plastic: Your wallet's MVP should be a card that offers a high rewards rate specifically for dining, as this forms the foundation of your earnings strategy.
- Stack your rewards: Don't just rely on your card; link it to an airline or hotel dining program to "double-dip" and earn rewards from both on the same restaurant bill.
- Master the art of redemption: While redeeming for cash back is simple, you can often get far more value by transferring your points to travel partners for flights or hotel stays.
- Hunt for special offers: Card issuers frequently roll out limited-time promotions, such as bonus points or extra cash back at restaurants, so keep an eye on your account for these lucrative opportunities.
Supercharge your Rewards with Kudos
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Other Things to Consider
Beyond general business cards, it's worth considering a store-specific card if you source a significant portion of your supplies from a single vendor, as the targeted rewards might offer superior value. Regardless of the card you choose, disciplined debt management is paramount for the notoriously tight margins of the restaurant industry. Carrying a balance can quickly erode profits through high interest, so aim to pay your statement in full each month. This discipline should extend to your overall financial strategy, carefully balancing credit card usage with cash flow and the growing availability of "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) plans. Properly managing these different financial tools is key to maintaining a healthy cash flow and avoiding unnecessary debt.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a business credit card or a personal credit card for my restaurant?
It's highly recommended to use a dedicated business credit card to keep your restaurant's finances separate from your personal expenses. This simplifies bookkeeping, makes tax time easier, and helps build your business's credit history.
What kind of rewards are most beneficial for a restaurant owner?
Look for cards that offer high reward rates on categories where you spend the most, such as dining, groceries, or wholesale food supplies. Cash back can provide flexible funds for your business, while travel points can be valuable for personal or business trips.
Can my restaurant employees get their own cards on my account?
Yes, many business credit cards offer employee cards, often for free. This allows you to set individual spending limits and track expenses while earning rewards on all employee purchases.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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