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Companies in the construction industry have a very different spending profile than companies in a typical office setting. As a result, small business credit cards that offer bonus rewards on office supplies, internet, and phone services, and similar categories aren’t very helpful.

Depending on your expenses, though, there are some business credit cards out there that can help you save on materials, get cash back on gas, and even finance large purchases at no interest. Here are our top picks and why you should consider them.

1. Lowe’s Business Rewards Card from American Express

The Lowe’s Business Rewards Card from American Express is one of the best credit cards to help you save on the cost of materials. That’s because you’ll receive 5% off of eligible purchases at Lowe’s stores, as well as on Lowes.com and LowesForPros.com.

You can get that same benefit with the Lowe’s Advantage Card, but the difference is that the Lowe’s Business Rewards Card from American Express also allows you to make purchases with other merchants.

You’ll even be rewarded for those purchases:

• Earn 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants and office supply stores in the U.S., and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers.
• Earn 2 points per dollar spent at Lowe’s.
• Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

You can redeem your hard-earned points for Lowe’s, Outdoor Rewards, and American Express gift cards. You also get 5,000 points after you spend $100 in the first 30 days, as well as Lowe’s ProServices, which offers discounted delivery, bulk rate pricing, and more.

2. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

If you have a large expense coming up, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express can make it more affordable.

The card offers an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, giving you plenty of time to pay off a big equipment or materials purchase interest-free.

You’ll also have the option to spend beyond your credit limit if you need to without any penalties or fees. Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.

If you spend a lot more than that, another rewards business credit card may be better for ongoing expenses. But this card’s 0% APR promotion can save you hundreds if not thousands in interest charges.

3. The Plum Card® from American Express

If you need flexibility with your accounts payable, The Plum Card® from American Express is worth considering. The card is unique in its approach, offering cardholders up to 60 days to pay their bill with no interest, more than twice as long as the typical business credit card.

If, however, you pay your bill within 10 days of the statement closing date, you’ll get an early-pay discount of 1.5%.

The card is a charge card, which means there’s no credit limit. While that doesn’t mean unlimited spending, it does mean that you’ll get more flexibility as you use the card regularly.

The main drawback of the card is that it charges a $250 annual fee, but it’s waived the first year. And if you need the extra time to pay off your credit card bill, the steep fee could still save you money in interest.

4. American Express® Business Gold Card

If you spend a lot of time driving to construction sites or taking your crew out to lunch, the American Express® Business Gold Card belongs in your wallet.

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. Your possible rewards categories are:

• Airfare purchased directly from airlines
• U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
• U.S. purchases made directly from select technology providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions
• U.S. purchases at gas stations
• U.S. purchases at restaurants
• U.S. purchases for shipping.

The card also offers other perks you can use for your business, including up to one free year of G Suite Basic email service for three users and one free year of Zip Recruiter Standard. American Express pegs the value of these benefits at $3,188.

5.

If you don’t need an introductory 0% APR promotion and you’re not interested in keeping track of bonus rewards categories, the Capital One Spark Cash Select may be your solution.

Earn $500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening and 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase and 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The card has a $95 annual fee, but it’s waived the first year.

Capital One Spark Cash Select

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Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening. Earn unlimited 1.5% Learn More

How to pick the right credit card for your construction business

There’s no single best credit card out there for every business owner, so it’s important to know what you need before you start shopping around for a card. For starters, determine your top priority when it comes to credit card features.

For example, do you want to earn as much as possible in rewards? Or would you prefer a 0% APR promotion or flexibility with your payments? It’s important to note that your priorities can change over time, but focus on what you need right now.

Also, keep in mind, that most business credit cards typically require good or excellent personal credit to get approved. There are some business credit cards for bad credit, but they’re less common and don’t provide as many benefits. As you compare these and other top business credit cards with an idea of what your business needs, you’ll have a much easier time picking the right one.