Amex Business Gold vs Capital One Spark Cash: Which Is Better In 2026?

Capital One Spark Cash Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Capital One Spark Cash (See Rates & Fees).

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• Its simple, flat-rate rewards program applies to all business purchases, making it easy to earn cash back without tracking categories.
• The card is a great option for businesses that travel or make purchases internationally.
• It comes with valuable business-centric features, such as the ability to add employee cards and integrate with accounting software.

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Pros

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• Offers straightforward, flat-rate cash back rewards on every purchase, eliminating the need to track complicated spending categories.
• Includes business-friendly features such as employee cards at no extra cost and integration with popular accounting software to streamline expense management.
• A solid option for business travel, offering no foreign transaction fees and travel assistance services.

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Cons

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• An annual fee is charged after the first year of card membership.
• Rewards are not transferable to airline or hotel partners.
• It lacks the high-end travel benefits that come with some premium business cards.

Capital One Spark Cash vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better Amex Business Gold or Capital One Spark Cash depends entirely on your business's spending habits and reward preferences. Both are excellent options for business owners, but they cater to different needs.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card is a premium card best suited for business owners of growing companies. It's designed for those who need flexibility in their spending categories and value premium travel and purchase benefits.
• Capital One Spark Cash is also ideal for business owners, but it specifically targets those who prefer straightforward cash rewards over complex reward structures. This card is a great fit for businesses with varied spending that doesn't always align with specific bonus categories.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: The rewards you earn are flexible points that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, used for travel bookings, or redeemed for gift cards and statement credits. This system is designed for businesses that want to maximize the value of their rewards through various travel and shopping options (Terms apply).

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Capital One Spark Cash: This card offers a straightforward cash-back system, where the rewards you earn can be redeemed at any time and for any amount. You can receive your cash back as either a statement credit to your account or a check mailed to you.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, a data-driven card explorer tool like Kudos can help you compare personalized recommendations from nearly 3,000 credit cards.

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• Test drive any credit card using your real spending data to see a personalized projection of your annual rewards.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Unlock a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Automatically fill in the best card at checkout to maximize rewards on every purchase.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is ideally suited for growing companies with variable expenses and at least $50,000 in annual business spending. It’s designed for entrepreneurs who can maximize rewards by concentrating their purchases in the card's bonus categories, which helps to offset the $375 annual fee. The card's primary appeal is its flexibility, automatically earning 4X points on the top two spending categories each billing cycle, making it a powerful tool for businesses with fluctuating monthly costs. Terms Apply.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Spark Cash?

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The Capital One Spark Cash is built for entrepreneurs and business owners who prefer straightforward, unlimited 2% cash back over complex travel rewards. It’s best suited for established small to medium-sized businesses with varied spending patterns that don’t fit neatly into specific bonus categories. The card is particularly beneficial for companies that need to issue free employee cards to consolidate expenses and those that spend enough to easily offset the annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Amex Business Gold vs Capital One Spark Cash comparison has you convinced that neither card is the right fit for your business, don't worry. There are several other excellent business credit cards that might better suit your spending habits and reward preferences.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most business credit cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Align rewards with your spending - Choose a card whose reward structure matches your business's primary expense categories.
• Gather your business information - Have your business's legal name, tax ID number, and annual revenue ready for the application.

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Application Strategy

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• Time it right - Apply just before a major planned business expense to help you naturally meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Know your endgame - Have a plan for how you’ll redeem your rewards, whether it’s for travel or cash back, to maximize their value.
• Don't force a fit - If a card's spending categories or benefits don't match your business, look for one that does.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is the American Express® Business Gold Card a credit card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is a charge card, which means you are typically expected to pay your balance in full each month. However, it does offer a Pay Over Time feature that allows you to carry a balance on eligible purchases, with interest. Terms apply.

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Do the Amex Business Gold and Capital One Spark Cash offer employee cards?

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Yes, both cards allow you to add employee cards to your account, which helps you track business spending and earn rewards on their purchases. Employee cards for both are typically available for no additional annual fee.

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What credit score is needed for the Amex Business Gold or Capital One Spark Cash?

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While issuers don't publish exact credit score requirements, both of these business cards generally require good to excellent credit. A personal credit score in the high 600s or above is typically recommended to have a strong chance of approval.

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