If you run a business or work as a sole trader, you can choose from a range of credit cards that offer both frequent flyer rewards and money-management features. This includes Qantas business credit card options, which are linked to your personal frequent flyer account or a Qantas Business Rewards account.
There are also Velocity Frequent Flyer business credit cards and cards with rewards you can transfer to partnered frequent flyer programs. Interested? Let's take a look at the key details and how to choose a card that works for you.
How do business frequent flyer credit cards work?
Just like other frequent flyer cards, these cards earn points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases. They may also come with introductory bonus point offers and perks such as lounge passes.
The difference is that many personal frequent flyer cards don’t consider business spending as part of the eligible purchases that earn points, while business credit cards do – including some that earn points for ATO payments.
Who can get a business credit card?
Business credit cards are usually designed for small to medium sized businesses, but there are also some corporate cards for larger organisations.
To apply for one of these cards, you usually need to have an Australian Business Number (ABN), meet a minimum annual turnover and provide details about your business. You also usually need to be the business owner or someone authorised to apply on behalf of the business.
How to compare frequent flyer credit cards for your business
If you’re deciding which frequent flyer credit card will boost your business rewards, these are some of the questions to ask yourself before you apply:
Which frequent flyer program is the card connected to?
Depending on the card, you could earn Qantas Points, Velocity Points or get a card that's linked to a flexible rewards program such as American Express Membership Rewards or CommBank Awards. These reward programs usually let you transfer your points to frequent flyer program partners, such as Velocity, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Emirates Skywards (although it does vary between reward programs).
Qantas business credit card options
If you want a business credit card that earns Qantas Points, there are two main options:
Cards linked to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. These cards are linked to your individual Qantas Frequent Flyer account, similar to most personal frequent flyer credit cards.
Cards linked to Qantas Business Rewards. These cards earn Qantas Points through the Qantas Business Rewards program, which you can redeem for flights or transfer to any personal Qantas Frequent Flyer account. This gives you the flexibility to use Qantas Points for your business, yourself or someone else (like an employee).
How many points can I earn?
When you're comparing cards, keep in mind that an earn rate of at least 1 point per $1 is competitive. The number of points you’ll earn per $1 may also vary based on the transaction. For example, you might be able to earn 1.25 points on everyday eligible purchases and only 0.5 points per $1 spent on your ATO bill or other government transactions.
Take it further: Some business frequent flyer credit cards also offer thousands of introductory bonus points when you meet a spend requirement. You can compare cards by the bonus point offers and the spend requirements you need to meet to score these points, as they’re an easy way to boost your business rewards balance.
How many additional cards does the account offer?
If several of your employees require a credit card for work spending, you can request additional credit cards that are linked to the one account. This can help keep track of business spending and save time on expense-reporting. It also gives you a way to earn more points – or offer points as a perk to your employees.
While some cards offer an unlimited number of cardholders, others have a limit of how many cards you can get for employees. Some also charge annual fees for additional cards. So check these details before you apply to make sure you get a card that suits your business.
What is the annual fee?
Business credit cards that offer Qantas Points or other frequent flyer rewards usually have an annual fee. This can vary from $150 to $450 (or more) depending on the card.
You should make sure that your business can afford the annual fee and that the monetary value of the points and the extra perks can justify this cost.
What is the credit limit?
As well as earning points on business spend, a higher credit limit is another perk of choosing a business credit card with frequent flyer points.
Your approved credit limit will depend on a number of factors including your annual turnover and credit history, but you can compare cards by the minimum and maximum credit limits to get an idea of whether they will be a good fit for your business.
Is it a credit card or a charge card?
When you're comparing business cards that earn frequent flyer points, you'll see a mix of credit cards and charge cards. If you get a credit card, you'll be able to carry a balance from month to month (with interest charges) as long as you meet the minimum repayment requirements.
If you get a charge card, you have to pay it off in full each month. But you do get a set number of "cash flow days" in each statement period and won't have to pay interest on the account. So when you're looking at different business cards, think about which type of card will fit with how you manage work expenses.
What are the extra perks?
Frequent flyer business credit cards often include other benefits, such as complimentary lounge passes or complimentary international travel insurance. You might also be able to use a complimentary concierge service for everything from booking a restaurant for a business meeting to organising a corporate trip.
Some business cards also come linked with reporting software (such as MYOB, QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel), which you can use to monitor and download your balance sheets and transaction details.
Pros and cons of a business credit card with frequent flyer points
Pros
Rewards for business spending. Unlike other business credit cards, these cards reward you for every $1 you spend on eligible purchases. You can use these rewards to cut costs on regular business expenses (such as business travel) or to reward yourself and your employees.
Extra perks. These cards also come with extra features like lounge invitations, complimentary travel insurance and concierge services which could help justify the cost of the card.
Access credit. These cards usually offer higher credit limits than personal cards and can help your business manage its expenses with a line of credit.
Business reporting. You can monitor your business spending under one account and link it with business reporting systems to help simplify the way you manage your finances.
Cons
Higher annual fees. While some business cards come with low or $0 annual fees, these cards usually come with higher annual fees.
Liability. If you link additional cards to the account, the primary cardholder or the business will be liable for any expenses made on the supplementary cards.
Interest charges. If you opt for a business credit card and carry a balance from month to month, you’ll likely collect high interest rates on your purchases.
How to apply for a business frequent flyer credit card
Once you’ve compared your options and decided on a card, you can apply for a frequent flyer credit card for your business online, over the phone or in a branch.
Before you begin the application, make sure that your business meets the eligibility requirements and has the necessary information:
Eligibility criteria
Business requirements. You'll usually need to have an ABN (Australian Business Number) for your business and may need to be registered for GST. You may also need to meet an annual revenue requirement (such as $75,000 per year).
Australian residency status. Depending on the card, you may need to be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident to apply.
Credit history. You’ll usually need to have a good credit history with no evidence of bad debts or payment defaults.
Personal details. You’ll need to provide personal information including your full name, contact number and email address. You must also provide the details of your personal pre-tax income.
Business details. This will include your business name, contact details, ABN and other business financial information.
Frequent flyer account. This could be your personal frequent flyer account, or details of a business account if you're a member of Qantas Business Rewards.
Once you have completed the application, the bank or card provider will be in touch with details about the assessment process and outcome. If you're approved, you should get your card within 5-10 business days.
Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio
Amy's expertise
Amy has written 564 Finder guides across topics including:
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With a business credit card are flyer points capped?
Finder
MarcMarch 26, 2013Finder
Hello Rebecca,
thanks for the question.
This depends on the card itself. While many business credit cards don’t cap the number of points which can be earned, you should always check with the provider before applying for any card.
Cheers,
Marc.
LindsayNovember 5, 2012
Hi,
1.) What is the best Qantas F/Flier credit card for a small business
2.) Is there a card available where say i have 4 reps, that i can direct the points gained to another Qantas card rather that to their own?
Cheers,
LIndsay
Finder
JacobNovember 6, 2012Finder
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks for your question. Finding the ‘best’ card is a subjective matter and depends on your circumstances. Please refer to our frequent flyer comparison page to view and compare the offers on the market.
With part two of your question, what you’ll want to do is get a card with additional or supplementary cardholders. This means that any spending on the additional cards will earn points for the primary account. For example, some American Express cards will allow up to 99 additional cards linked to one account. It’s worth noting that some cards charge an additional fee for supplementary cards while others do not. You can find information about additional cardholders in the product review and application pages.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jacob
AileenMarch 9, 2012
Is there a personal liability for charges on business credit cards accumulating frequent flyer points
Finder
JeremyMarch 19, 2012Finder
Hi,
The main account holder is personally liable for all charges on a business credit card. Thanks.
Cheers,
Jeremy
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With a business credit card are flyer points capped?
Hello Rebecca,
thanks for the question.
This depends on the card itself. While many business credit cards don’t cap the number of points which can be earned, you should always check with the provider before applying for any card.
Cheers,
Marc.
Hi,
1.) What is the best Qantas F/Flier credit card for a small business
2.) Is there a card available where say i have 4 reps, that i can direct the points gained to another Qantas card rather that to their own?
Cheers,
LIndsay
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks for your question. Finding the ‘best’ card is a subjective matter and depends on your circumstances. Please refer to our frequent flyer comparison page to view and compare the offers on the market.
With part two of your question, what you’ll want to do is get a card with additional or supplementary cardholders. This means that any spending on the additional cards will earn points for the primary account. For example, some American Express cards will allow up to 99 additional cards linked to one account. It’s worth noting that some cards charge an additional fee for supplementary cards while others do not. You can find information about additional cardholders in the product review and application pages.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jacob
Is there a personal liability for charges on business credit cards accumulating frequent flyer points
Hi,
The main account holder is personally liable for all charges on a business credit card. Thanks.
Cheers,
Jeremy