How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
4.7
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Rewards Rate
Earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Sign-Up Bonus
$2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year
APR
See Terms
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It was not reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Key takeaway

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a great small business credit card with a solid earning rate and an excellent welcome offer.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • High flat-rate cash back
  • Excellent welcome offer
  • $200 cash back bonus each year you spend $200,000
  • No preset spending limit
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Travel benefits

Cons

  • Can’t carry a balance
  • $150 annual fee
  • Balance due in full monthly
  • High spending requirement for bonuses

Who is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus best for?

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a great choice for business owners with a high amount of spending — especially those who spend more than $200,000 each year — that have the ability to pay off the bill in full, each and every month. It comes with an excellent welcome offer and a high cash back rewards program.

And because it’s a charge card, there is no preset spending limit — instead, you’re required to pay the bill in full each month or face a 2.99% of the unpaid portion monthly late fee. You should also be aware that it comes with a $150 annual fee, and that’s relatively high compared to other business cash back cards.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus overview

    • Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
    • Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
    • Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
    • Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
    • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
    • $150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
    • Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
    • For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply
    • For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back

  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • 720 850
    Excellent
  • Free employee cards
  • Set customized spending limits on employee cards
  • Year-end summaries and downloadable purchase records
  • Roadside assistance
  • Extended warranty on eligible purchases

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

N/A

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

N/A

Annual Fee

$150

Cash Advance Fee

5% of the amount of the cash advance, but not less than $5

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer Fee

Balance transfers are not available on Spark Cash Plus

Benefits of the Capital One Spark Cash Plus

  • Flat-rate cash back rewards

    The Capital One Spark Cash Plus lets you earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This makes it a great option if your spending is spread across many different categories, or if your business spends enough to hit the spending limits on similar cash back cards.

  • Excellent welcome offer

    The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is currently offering one of the largest sign-up bonuses you can find. You’ll earn $2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. If your business has the spending required to meet both spending targets, you’ll be well on your way to meeting the requirements for the card’s annual spending bonus as well.

  • Annual spending bonus for high spenders

    The card also offers an annual bonus that makes it an especially great deal for businesses with large budgets. You’ll earn a $200 cash bonus every year you spend $200,000 or more on the card. While this is a relatively high spending threshold, if you do meet it, the annual spending bonus more than offsets the $150 annual fee.

  • Travel benefits

    Although the Capital One Spark Cash Plus isn’t billed as a travel card, it does offer several travel-related perks. It doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees, and includes roadside assistance and the ability to use your rewards through the Capital One Travel portal. You also have the ability to earn 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Drawbacks of the Capital One Spark Cash Plus

  • Charge card means carrying a balance can be expensive

    The Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card is a charge card rather than a credit card. This means that there is not a preset spending limit — which can be an advantage if you need to make a large purchase — but it also means you’re required to pay the balance in full each month. If you don’t, you’ll have to pay a 2.99% of the unpaid portion monthly late fee. This makes the Capital One Spark Cash Plus a poor option if your business’s cash flow requires you to carry a balance into the next month.

  • Annual fee

    The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card does come with a $150 annual fee (see rates & fees). If your business hits the $200,000 threshold each year, the $200 cash back bonus will easily make up the fee. However, if you’re on a more modest budget, you may want to consider a cash back card without an annual fee, like The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (see rates & fees).

  • High spending requirements for bonuses

    The card’s sign-up bonus and annual bonus both have large spending requirements. You’ll need to spend nearly $17,000 a month to earn the $200 annual bonus. If your business spending falls far below this threshold, you may want to consider a business cash back card with a lower price tag.

Capital One Spark Plus vs. Capital One Spark Select

The Capital One Spark Cash Select (see rates & fees) is another Capital One business cash back card, which comes with no annual fee in exchange for a lower cash back rate than the Capital One Spark Cash Plus. However, it may be a better deal than the Capital One Spark Cash Plus for businesses on a smaller budget. Compare the benefits below:

Capital One Spark Cash PlusCapital One Spark Cash Select
Cash back rewardsEarn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Annual fee$150 (see rates & fees)$0 (see rates & fees)
Sign up bonus$2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year$500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual cash bonus$200 if you spend $200,000 or more in one year.None

Alternatives to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

| Disclosures
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
17.99% - 23.99% Variable
$0
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a good alternative if you want a simple cash back card without an annual fee — it lets you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.

You can even transfer rewards that you earn with this card to premium chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if you prefer to use your rewards for travel. This will give you the option to redeem your points through Chase’s travel portal for a 25% to 50% bonus (depending on the card), or to transfer to one of Chase’s 10-plus hotel and airline loyalty program partners.

Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

| Disclosures
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
N/A
20.74% - 26.74% Variable
$95
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined
  • Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
  • Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
  • Member FDIC
720 850
Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a better option for business owners who need travel rewards and perks. It has a $95 annual fee and offers a fantastic bonus on many common business purchases, including travel. You’ll earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.

You can redeem these points for a 25% bonus through the Chase Travel℠ portal or transfer them to more than 10 airline and hotel loyalty programs. The card also offers excellent protections on your travel purchases, including primary car rental insurance (when used for business purposes) and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

| Disclosures
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
| Terms Apply
0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
17.74% - 25.74% Variable
No annual fee
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000
  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
  • 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% - 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
  • Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
  • From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
  • Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card card offers similar rewards to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, with one advantage: no annual fee (see rates & fees). You’ll earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back is redeemable for statement credits. If your business doesn’t spend significantly beyond the $50,000 cap on this card, it may be the better way to go than the Capital One Spark Cash Plus.

Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus right for you?

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is an excellent choice if you’re a business owner with a large budget and you have the ability to pay off your card balance in full every month. Because it’s a charge card, it doesn’t have a hard credit limit like a traditional credit card — so if you need flexibility to make a big purchase, it could be the perfect financial tool.

However, it comes with a $150 annual fee (see rates & fees), so you’ll need to make sure the cost is worth it for you. If you spend at least $200,000 each year, you’ll get a $200 cash back bonus each year to make up the fee. Otherwise, compared to a 1.5% cash back card with no annual fee, you’ll want to spend $30,000 or more per year in order for the cash back rate to outweigh the annual fee.

If you don’t meet either of these spending thresholds, you should consider a no-annual-fee business cash back card, like the Capital One Spark Cash Select (see rates & fees) or The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.

apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Rates & Fees

To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.