Many businesses, even those that are profitable and well-run, might occasionally need to carry debt. Balance transfer credit cards can help you consolidate high-interest debt and work on paying it off over time at a lower or 0 percent APR, but balance transfer offers on business credit cards are rare.
A balance transfer card works like a regular credit card, with the main feature being an interest-free term for paying off transferred balances. After opening an account, you’ll have a window of time to transfer any balances, and you’ll almost always pay a balance transfer fee. Even if the card does offer rewards, balance transfers don’t typically count towards earnings. Your incentive is the interest you’ll save over the intro offer period. These cards can also help build business credit and provide perks like business tools and consumer protections.
If you’re looking for a business credit card that makes it easier to consolidate and pay off credit card debt, here are some of the best business balance transfer cards.
Top business balance transfer credit cards
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If you already have an account with Edward Jones, then this card offers not only a solid intro APR on balance transfers but it also features a rewards program. For 12 billing cycles, you can take advantage of its zero APR offer on balance transfers (then 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)). But this card holds value long after the intro period ends. You can earn 1.5X loyalty points on purchases up to $40,000, 2X points on purchases over $40,000 and 4X points on on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Edward Jones Rewards Travel Center. As long as you don’t overspend, you can chip away at card debt while not losing out on earnings with business-related purchases.
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Pros
- This card also offers an intro balance transfer fee (then 3 percent of each transferred amount or $5 minimum will apply), so you don’t have to worry about additional costs when transferring your card debt within the first 60 days of account opening.
- You can earn top rewards if you travel a lot for business and redeem for travel as well.
Cons
- This card has limited accessibility as it’s only available if you have an account with Edward Jones.
- You only earn travel rewards for hotels and car rentals booked through Edward Jones Rewards Travel Center, limiting your travel choices.
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This card gives you quite a bit of time to make balance transfers and take advantage of the lengthy offer. You’ll have 90 days to transfer your balances (3 percent fee, minimum $5) to get the zero percent APR offer (then 16.24% – 26.24% (Variable)). The intro APR also applies to purchases, so you can use it to save interest on new spending too. Unfortunately, the card also has no rewards or welcome offers to incentivize using this card for large expenses.
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Pros
- With the intro APR on purchases, you can budget for a large business expense.
- The variable APR after the introductory period is lower than other cards, which can help pay down debt in the long term.
Cons
- No rewards are offered, so additional spending isn’t the best use of the card.
- Because this card features little to no perks and no rewards, its value is mainly short-term.
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While this isn’t a business card, it’s well-suited for sole proprietors with smaller business expenses. An intro APR of 15 months on purchases and balance transfers is a great way to consolidate your debt while earning rewards and a welcome offer on your necessary expenses (18.99% – 28.49% Variable). The bonus categories may not be business-related, but it’s one of the best all-around cards available for any situation, including travel. Utilizing the intro APR features is no exception.
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Pros
- With a decent base rewards rate and elevated rates for dining and drugstores, this is a great card for earning rewards from everyday use.
- The intro APR for purchases and balance transfers is highly competitive and great for consolidating debt.
Cons
- Other cards may have better rewards rates, more versatile bonus categories or more flexible introductory terms.
- You could get a penalty APR for a late payment, which could last indefinitely.
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This card might not be a business card, but its customizable bonus categories means some of your business expenses can still earn rewards while you work on consolidating debt. This card features an intro APR offer on balance transfers that lasts for 15 months (then 18.24% – 28.24% (Variable)). On top of that, you can earn 5 percent cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle up to $500 spent, then 1 percent. Eligible categories include business-friendly purchases, such as travel, at gas stations and restaurants and on transit. With its lengthy APR offer coupled with its rewards, this card might be a great asset to your business.
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Pros
- This card gives the longest time frame to transfer balances, which can help consolidate debt.
- For a limited time, you can earn an additional 4 percent cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2026.
Cons
- While this card offers travel rewards, it does not offer any travel protections.
- The 5 percent bonus category has a spending cap that might be too low for some businesses.
Comparing the best business balance transfer credit cards
| Card | Best for | Balance transfer intro APR | Time to transfer | Annual fee | Recommended credit score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard® | Rewards |
0% for the first 12 billing cycles Regular APR: 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable) |
60 days | No annual fee with at least one annual card purchase; otherwise $25. | 750 and above |
| PNC Visa® Business Credit Card | Low interest |
0% for first 13 billing cycles Regular APR: 16.24% – 26.24% (Variable) |
90 days | None | 750 and above |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Sole proprietors |
0% for 15 months Regular APR: 18.99% – 28.49% Variable |
60 days | $0 | 670 and above |
| Citi Custom Cash® Card | Flexibility |
0% for 15 months Regular APR: 18.24% – 28.24% (Variable) |
Four months | $0 | 670 and above |
Balance transfer cards typically require a good-to-excellent credit score. If you have bad or fair credit, consider our top picks for fair/average credit.
How to choose a business balance transfer credit card
Assess your business needs when considering business balance transfer cards. You’ll want to find the right tools to consolidate your debt with the most favorable terms based on your creditworthiness.
Prioritize consolidating high-interest debt
Examine how much high-interest debt you want to consolidate. You’ll want to make credit card debt payoff your top priority, so look for the longest 0 percent APR period available for a balance transfer, and try to pay your balance by the end of your intro APR term. You may not receive ongoing rewards or a welcome bonus, but the ability to knock out debt without additional interest should outweigh that. Also, consider the variable APR after your introductory term expires if you won’t be able to pay the entire balance fully.
Find terms that work for you
No matter how much debt you have to pay down, pay attention to the balance transfer terms, including balance transfer fees, the window to transfer balances and the term of repayment.
If the balance transfer fee is too high, it might not justify the savings on interest. For help in crunching the numbers, use Bankrate’s credit card balance transfer calculator when comparing options.
Once you know how much debt you want to transfer, consider the length of the introductory offer to determine how much you’ll need to pay monthly to pay it off without additional interest. For example, if you transfer $10,000 of debt for a 15-month intro period and a 3 percent balance transfer fee, you’ll need to pay $687 a month to pay the balance in full before interest charges apply.
Check your eligibility
Find the minimum credit score needed to qualify for a card, and check your credit score to see where you stand. While a business credit card may not impact your personal credit, issuers may consider your personal credit score when you apply.
Maximizing business balance transfer credit cards
Find the ideal terms for transferring balances that work for your business and utilize what they offer to the fullest extent. Only a few cards offer intro APR rates that include balance transfers, so consider the following as you decide.
Consider an intro purchase APR instead
If you have large upcoming purchases for your business in addition to your existing debt, you might look for a credit card offering an intro APR on purchases instead of a balance transfer offer. Intro purchase APR offers are more widely available, giving you more business cards to choose from while earning rewards or a sign-up bonus to assist with paying down debt.
You may choose to pay down your debt by making all your upcoming purchases on your intro purchase APR while paying down more of your existing debt. You won’t accrue interest charges on your purchases and can make smaller payments during the intro purchase term while paying off more of your high-interest debt.
However, be careful not to overspend. If you don’t pay the balance by the end of the intro offer term, you’ll be on the hook for interest charges. If done wisely, you can pay less overall interest if you strike the right balance of payments and purchases.
Pay your balance in full
Make sure you pay your balance in full by the end of the balance transfer term to avoid expensive penalty fees or interest charges. If your card has a high APR, then you might be adding to your debt significantly.
Build your credit
If your credit is less-than-ideal or if you are just starting out, consider how these cards could help you build your credit and improve your credit score. With responsible card use, you can gain access to better card opportunities.
What’s next?
The bottom line
A business balance transfer credit card offer is worth considering for consolidating debt. The best balance transfer options offer lengthy introductory 0 percent APR rates, although you’ll usually pay a balance transfer fee.
As you consider your options, remember that even the best small business credit cards won’t help unless you pay off as much as possible during your card’s introductory period. Evaluate your budget and have a plan to pay down debt before you transfer balances to a new card.
Frequently asked questions about business balance transfer cards
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Any type of business structure is eligible to open a business credit card. This includes corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and sole proprietorships.
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Business credit card activity isn’t typically reported on your personal credit report, but exceptions exist. Issuers might report your credit card to consumer credit bureaus if your account becomes delinquent.
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Yes, you can typically transfer a balance from your personal credit to a business card. If you have been using your personal card for business purchases, you might consider applying for a business card with an intro APR offer to help consolidate any growing debt on your personal card. It’s also a good idea to keep personal expenses and credit separate from your business accounts.
The information about the Edward Jones Business Plus Mastercard, PNC Visa® Business Credit Card and Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
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