Discover it Business Credit Card review: Unlimited 1.5% cash back and get all your rewards matched after the first year

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This page includes information about the Discover it® Business Credit Card product, which is currently not available on Insider and may be out of date.

Discover it® Business CardTable of Contents: Masthead Sticky

Review: Is the Discover it Business card the best credit card for your small business?

The Discover it® Business Card is a smart choice for small-business owners who want to earn predictable rewards on every business purchase, and who value this Discover card's benefits and features.

Discover is known for excellent 100% US-based customer service, as well as flexible perks like late payment protection and overnight shipping for replacement cards. Discover also leads the way with a well-designed mobile app and easy-to-use website.

With the Discover it® Business Card, you'll earn a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with no cap and no bonus categories to remember. Plus, you'll get a match of 100% of the cash back you've earned at the end of your first cardmember year. For example, if you earn $300 in cash back, you'll get another $300 added to your account after the twelfth billing cycle. And if you earn $1,000 in rewards, you'll get another $1,000 – there's no limit to how much you can earn.

That's a big motivator to use your card for every business purchase, especially the first year when it's effectively a 3% cash-back card thanks to the bonus match.

Read more: The best small-business credit cards in 2021

The rewards you earn never expire and the card has no annual fee, so there's a lot to like about the Discover it® Business Card – particularly in the first year. The ongoing benefits make it worthwhile to keep the card long-term, as is true with many of the best Discover credit cards.

Who should consider the Discover It Business Credit Card?

The Discover it® Business Card is a solid choice for small-business owners looking for a cash-back credit card.

Many business owners want a credit card to use for purchases related to their business, and having a credit card is an easy way to keep business purchases separate from personal accounts. Business credit cards also provide cash flow assistance with a built-in grace period each month. That's helpful if your business has recurring expenses throughout the month, or receives payouts on a set schedule.

Read more: The 4 best business credit cards for earning cash back, no matter what you buy

If you have employees, a business credit card provides a way for them to make business purchases, and the Discover it® Business Card allows you to add custom spending limits on up to 50 employee cards.

Alternatives to the Discover it Business Credit Card

The card that's closest to the Discover it® Business Card is the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, which also earns a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase. That card comes with a hefty welcome bonus of Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and has a Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card annual fee. However, if you've opened five or more new credit cards in the previous 24 months, you may not be eligible to apply because of Chase's 5/24 rule.

Read more: Any good business credit card will have these 5 benefits – from a high sign-up bonus to purchase protection

Another Chase card to consider is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, which has strong 5x and 2x bonus categories including office supplies, internet, gas, and dining and offers a welcome bonus of Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and a Ink Business Cash® Credit Card annual fee. This card is also subject to the 5/24 rule. Here's our comparison of the Chase Ink Business Unlimited and Chase Ink Business Cash card for more information.

Finally, there's American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, which earns 2% cash back on the first $50,000 you spend each calendar year (then 1%) with no bonus categories to remember and no annual fee American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card – Rates & Fees. This card has access to valuable Amex Offers, but comes with foreign transaction fees for spending abroad American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card – Rates & Fees. This would be an excellent alternative to the Discover it® Business Card if you're eligible to apply, but keep in mind there's usually no welcome offer on this card.

How to apply for the Discover it Business Credit Card

If you're the 100% owner of a small business that's been open for at least a year, you may be eligible to qualify for the Discover it® Business Card.

To apply for the Discover it® Business Card, you'll need a business that aims to make a profit. That can mean anything from a side hustle to gig work to freelance projects. You don't need a special business registration number to apply. If you work for yourself, you can apply with your Social Security Number as a sole proprietor.

Read more: You don't need a company with several employees to qualify for a business credit card – even side gigs like driving for Uber can count

Be ready to provide your business name (or use your name if it's a sole proprietorship), your company structure if you have one, the industry you operate in, your annual revenue, and your personal total annual income on your application. You'll usually get a decision as soon as you apply.

Comparison: Discover it Business vs other Discover cards

	Discover it® Business Card	Discover it® Cash Back	Discover it® Miles
Annual fee	Discover it® Business Card	Discover it® Cash Back	Discover it® Miles
Rewards rate	1.5% cash back on all purchases	5% cash back in categories that rotate each quarter on up to $1,500 in combined spending when you activate (then 1%) Discover It Cashback rotation 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases	1.5x miles on all purchases
Welcome bonus	None, but Discover will dollar for dollar match all the cash back you earned after the first 12 months	None, but Discover will dollar for dollar match all the cash back you earned after the first 12 months	None, but Discover will match all the Miles you earned after the first 12 months
Card benefits	Free FICO score No late payment fee on your first late payment (then up to $40)	Free FICO score No late payment fee on your first late payment (then up to $40)	Free FICO score No late payment fee on your first late payment (then up to $40)
Introductory 0% APR offer	0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a Discover it® Business Card APR	0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 14 months, then a Discover it® Cash Back APR	0% APR on purchases for the first 14 months, then a Discover it® Miles APR
Foreign transaction fee	No	No	No
Review		Discover it Cash Back card review	Discover it chrome card review

Comparison: Discover it Business vs other small-business credit cards

	Discover it® Business Card	Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card	American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Annual fee	Discover it® Business Card	Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card	American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Rewards rate	1.5% cash back on all purchases	1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on all purchases	2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1%
Welcome bonus	None, but Discover will match all the cash back you earned after the first 12 months	Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card	N/A
Card benefits	Free FICO score No late payment fee on your first late payment (then up to $40)	Primary car rental insurance (when renting for business purposes) Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services	Extended warranty Purchase protection Secondary car rental insurance Global Assist Hotline Discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers**
Introductory 0% APR of	0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a Discover it® Business Card APR	0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card	0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card – Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee	No	Yes	Yes
Review		Ink Business Unlimited card review	Amex Blue Business Cash card review

How to use rewards from the Discover it Business card

You can redeem your rewards at any time, in any amount – even 1 cent – toward an electronic cash deposit in your bank account, a statement credit, or eligible donations to select charities. You can also redeem your cash back for gift cards or eCertificates from Discover's partners, starting at $20.

Discover makes it quick and easy to redeem your rewards whenever you're ready. Your rewards never expire, and if you close your account or don't use your card for 18 months, Discover will automatically redeem your rewards as a statement credit for you.

Discover it Business card benefits and features

The Discover it® Business Card comes with the ability to download your transactions directly into business software like Excel, QuickBooks, or Quicken so you can file and categorize them later. You can also access your card and view transactions through Discover's mobile app, which is thoughtfully designed and easy to use.

In addition, you can get up to 50 employee cards for free so others can make purchases for your business. You can add custom spending limits to each card, and every employee card is eligible to earn cash-back rewards. Here's what else you'll get.

Complimentary credit score and security monitoring

Your card comes with access to your FICO credit score, which is based on data from TransUnion and only available for the primary cardholder. You can see up to a year of scores on your dashboard, which can help you track your score over time.

Read more: Someone charged hundreds of dollars to my wife's credit card, but we weren't on the hook because we didn't pay with debit

Additionally, primary cardholders can opt-in to Social Security Number alerts, which monitor your Experian credit report daily. If your information is found on the "Dark Web" as part of fraud or hacking, you'll receive an alert. This tool protects you against identity theft.

Freeze your card instantly

If you temporarily misplace your card, you can use the Freeze It feature to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers on your account. That's a helpful feature in case you accidentally lose track of your card.

Zero fraud liability

If you find unauthorized purchases made to your card, you can rest assured knowing you won't be responsible. Be sure to immediately contact Discover if your card is lost or stolen, or if your account is compromised or has been accessed without your permission.

No foreign transaction fees

There are no extra fees when you make purchases with your card outside the US, so the Discover it® Business Card is a great one to take on international business trips.

Read more: The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Late payment protection

There's no late fee on your first late payment (after that, up to $40), and there won't be an APR increase for paying late. There's also no fee for going over your limit. This is a useful feature to have in case you get into a tight spot and need extra time making a payment.

Complimentary overnight shipping for card replacements in the US

If you ever need to replace your card, you'll receive a replacement via overnight shipping for free.

Discover it® Business Card

Discover it Business card fees and costs

The Discover it® Business Card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. There is no fee for your first late payment, but then is up to $40 per occurrence thereafter.

Like most other cards, there are also fees for returned payments, balance transfers (5% of the amount of each transfer), and cash advances.

Harlan Vaughn is a freelance writer who has written about credit card rewards, personal finance, points and miles, and travel loyalty programs for nearly a decade.

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