Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Review: A world of travel opportunities with no annual fee

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Highlights

Card type: Business

• Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within three months of account opening.
• Annual Fee: $0.
• Rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5X rewards on all business spending, plus 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Overview

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is a credit card tailored for business owners seeking travel rewards without an annual fee. One of its primary features is the unlimited 1.5 miles earned for every dollar spent on all purchases, allowing businesses to accumulate miles rapidly. The card earns an elevated 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. These miles can be redeemed for travel expenses like flights, hotels, car rentals, and more, offering flexibility in how businesses utilize their rewards. Moreover, these rewards can be transferred to 18 airline and hotel loyalty programs for even greater value.

The Capital One Spark Miles Select also provides an excellent incentive for new cardholders, with 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within three months of account opening. Additionally, the Spark Miles Select for Business doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, making it convenient for businesses making international purchases or traveling abroad. 

The card provides benefits like rental collision coverage and complimentary roadside assistance, offering a layer of security. With the ability to add employee cards for free, this card is a solid choice for those seeking travel rewards without the burden of an annual fee. Applicants can apply for this card with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).

Who is the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card good for? 

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card is good for small business owners seeking elevated travel rewards without an annual fee. The card’s unlimited 1.5X-mile earn rate on every purchase makes it ideal for businesses with varied spending, allowing them to earn elevated rewards on all purchases. If you prefer a card that earns consistent rewards on every purchase rather than tracking category bonuses across numerous cards, then the Spark Miles Select might be a good choice for you. 

Moreover, it provides flexibility in redeeming miles since you can transfer them to 18 airline and hotel partners, providing versatility. Pros of the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card include its lack of an annual fee, unlimited 1.5X miles on all purchases and the flexibility to redeem rewards across multiple travel partners.

Who shouldn’t get the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card? 

The Capital One Spark Miles Select card might not be the best fit for businesses seeking premium travel perks or higher rewards in common business categories. If your business incurs substantial expenses in areas like travel, dining or advertising, other cards offer greater bonuses in these categories. Additionally, this card might not be a good fit if you want luxury travel benefits such as airport lounge access or comprehensive travel insurance.

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card: How to earn rewards

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card has a straightforward rewards structure. Cardholders earn unlimited 1.5X miles per dollar spent and unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Additionally, the card provides a lucrative welcome bonus to give your Capital One balance a boost: 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within three months of account opening.

How to redeem Capital One miles

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business cardholders earn valuable Capital One miles, which can be redeemed in numerous ways. Options include cash back, gift cards, merchandise and travel bookings. The best use of Capital One miles is through transfers to one of their 18 airline and hotel partners. Here’s a look at all the ways you can put your Capital One miles to use:

Transfer to airlines and hotels

Transferring Capital One miles to airline and hotel partners is the best way to get maximum value for them. Capital One miles transfer to 15 airlines and three hotel loyalty programs. You can use these miles to book business and first-class tickets or even all-inclusive hotel stays. Some of the best transfer partners include Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Wyndham Rewards and Virgin Red. 

Travel bookings

If you don’t want to deal with researching different loyalty programs for the best redemptions, you can use miles towards travel bookings at one cent each. You can book through the Capital One Travel portal and redeem miles at checkout or you can book elsewhere and then redeem miles as a statement credit afterwards. While you won’t get as much value by using miles for travel bookings, it’s a viable option if you can’t find award space or prefer a more straightforward option.

Cash

If you don’t have upcoming travel plans but want to use Capital One miles to offset expenses, you can redeem them for cash at a half a cent each. Options include statement credits or a check in the mail.

Redeem for merchandise, gift cards, event tickets, Amazon and PayPal checkout

The least valuable way to redeem Capital One miles is for merchandise, gift cards, event tickets, Amazon and PayPal checkout. These options will get you anywhere between  0.8 and 1 cents per mile. 

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business rates and fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Purchase APR: 18.49% – 24.49% variable

Additional benefits

• Free employee cards: You can issue extra cards to employees so they can earn rewards on business spending without paying an extra fee.
• No foreign transaction fees: Some credit cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made or originating abroad. The Spark Miles Select card waives this fee.
• Rental collision coverage: Receive primary coverage towards damage and theft of rental vehicles.

Credit cards similar to the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business

The Capital One Miles Select for Business is a great option for a no-annual-fee card with solid rewards. However, it’s not the only card that checks those boxes. Moreover, if the Spark Miles Select isn’t quite as rewarding on the travel front, there might be a better alternative. Here’s a look at credit cards similar to the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business:

Capital One Spark Miles for Business vs. Capital One Spark Miles Select Business Card

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business and the Capital One Spark Miles Select both earn flat rewards on all business spending, though they differ in their rates. The Capital One Spark Miles Card earns 2X on all spending, while the Spark Miles Select earns 1.5X. The Spark Miles card has a $0 intro for the first year, $95 after, while the Spark Miles Select has none.

Spark Miles cardholders also receive up to a $100 fee credit every four years towards TSA Precheck or Global Entry applications. Both cards offer 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in first 3 months of account opening. Plus, the miles are transferable to the same airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Choosing between these cards largely depends on the business’s spending habits, as those with substantial expenses might benefit from the higher rewards rate of the Spark Miles for Business card despite its annual fee, whereas businesses seeking a no-annual-fee option might find the Spark Miles Select more suitable.

Capital One Venture X Business Card vs. Capital One Spark Miles Select Business Card 

Both the Capital One Venture X Business Card and the Spark Miles Select cater to business owners looking for travel rewards, yet they differ in terms of their rewards and benefits. The Venture X Business is better suited to businesses seeking premium travel perks like airport lounge access, annual bonus points, travel credits and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit. On the other hand, the Spark Miles Select caters to businesses seeking simplicity without an annual fee and flat-rate rewards.

The Venture X Business earns more points than the Spark Miles Select: 2X miles on every purchase, 5X miles on Capital One Travel flight bookings and 10X on Capital One hotels and rental cars. The card’s $395 annual fee is steep but largely offset by the annual $300 travel credit and 10,000-mile bonus (worth $100). Both cards accrue miles that can be used for travel-related expenses or transferred to 18 airline and hotel partners. 

If you can make use of the Venture X Business Card’s benefits, it can be a better option than the  Spark Miles Select. Especially since the Venture X Business offers triple the welcome bonus of the Spark Miles Select: 150,000 bonus miles after you spend $30,000 in the first three months, which is equal to $1,500 in travel.

Is the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card right for you?

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card could be right for you if you’re a small business owner seeking simplicity and flexibility in earning travel rewards without the burden of an annual fee. This card offers a straightforward rewards structure with unlimited 1.5X miles on all purchases, making it ideal for businesses whose expenses span across multiple categories. This card provides excellent value if you prioritize a hassle-free approach to earning miles and prefer the freedom to transfer them to different airline and hotel programs.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Capital One Spark Miles Select hard to get?

The Capital One Spark Miles Select Card is hard to get since it requires an excellent credit score.

What is the credit limit for the Capital One Spark Miles Select Card?

The credit limit for the Capital One Spark Miles Select Card varies by cardholder and depends on factors such as creditworthiness, income and prior existing banking relationships.

Does the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card report to your personal credit?

Capital One allows you to apply for the Capital One Spark Miles Select Card with either an ITIN or Social Security Number (SSN). If you use an ITIN, Capital One will report to your business credit. If you use your SSN, it reports to your personal credit.