The best cash-back business credit cards to save your company money

Business credit cards are a great way to separate personal and work-related expenses, while also earning valuable rewards in the process.

The best part is that you don't need to own a multi-million dollar business with multiple employees to qualify for a business card — a side hustle can also be considered a business in the eyes of credit card issuers. So whether you're a rideshare driver, mow lawns on the weekend or are a freelancer, you may be eligible to apply.

While there are many different types of rewards credit cards on the market, for some companies, the best option might be one that offers cold hard cash back. So for this round-up, CNBC Select analyzed the top cash-back business credit cards, digging into each card's perks and drawbacks to find the best one to suit your needs. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cards.)

Here are CNBC Select's picks for the top cash-back business credit cards that can help you save on your monthly business expenses.

Who's this for? The Ink Business Unlimited tops this list because of its welcome bonus, unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, favorable financing options and no annual fee. The card is ideal for business owners who don't want the hassle of tracking spending categories but want to continue saving on their ongoing business expenses.

When you're approved for this card, you can earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. And as you spend on the card, you'll earn a respectable 1.5% cashback.

The card has no annual fee and it offers a 0% intro APR for the first 12 months on new purchases (after, 18.49% - 24.49% variable APR). There's also no fee for adding employee cards.

Who's this for? The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is perfect for business owners who want solid rewards without tracking spending categories. It has a simple earning structure and offers some useful features.

There is currently no welcome bonus but, you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back after that. Terms Apply.

There's a $0 annual fee and there are several perks that can assist small business owners. (See rates and fees.) For instance, your business may be able to spend above its credit limit through Expanded Buying Power. Additionally, cardholders get *extended warranty coverage and purchase protection and you can add up to 99 employees free of charge.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Credit Card

Who's this for? The *Capital One Spark Cash Plus Credit Card is best for business owners who have significant monthly expenses as the card has a high spending requirement for its welcome offer. But if you can meet the requirements, it can certainly be worth it.

When you're approved for the card, you can earn up to a $3,000 cash bonus. The bonus is broken up into two tiers:

• Earn $1,500 once you spend $20,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn an additional $1,500 once you spend $100,000 in the first 6 months

And as you spend on the card, you'll earn 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The card has a modest $150 annual fee, but keep in mind that credit card annual fees are tax-deductible for your business. It's also important to note that this card doesn't charge interest — you'll simply owe a 2.99% late fee for the unpaid portion of your statement balance. However, your account will be considered past due until you make your payment in full.

Who's this for? The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is an excellent card for businesses whose primary expenses fall under popular spending categories like office supplies and phone services.

As you spend on the card, you'll earn:

• 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%)
• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

In addition to these valuable cash-back categories, you can also earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

The card has no annual fee and comes with purchase protection, extended warranty protection and various travel protections. You can also request cards for employees at no additional cost.

Who's this for? The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card is best for those who already have, or want to build, a bank relationship with Bank of America.

When you're approved for the card, you can earn a $300 statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. And as you spend on the card, you'll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

The card also has no annual fee and comes with a 0% intro APR for the first nine months (after, 16.74% to 26.74% variable APR)

However, the magic of this business credit card is the Preferred Rewards loyalty program, where you can earn up to 1.5% cash back on all purchases with the card. This is based on your three-month combined average business balances. To hit the Platinum Honors level to earn the 1.5% cash back, you must have a three-month average of $100,000 across your business accounts.

Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card is a great option for businesses whose employees are frequently on the road.

The card earns 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center and 3% cash back at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone providers and restaurants. All other purchases earn a standard 1% cash back. In addition, you can also earn a solid $500 in cash back when you spend $4,500 in the first 150 days of the account being open.

There's no annual fee and businesses can benefit from a lengthy 0% intro APR offer for the first 15 billing cycles of the card (variable APR ranging from 19.24% - 28.24% afterward). Cardholders can also enjoy up to a $100 annual statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.

Capital One Spark 1% Classic

Who's this for? The *Capital One Spark 1% Classic is a solid choice for business owners looking to build their credit scores up.

Unlike most other credit cards on this list, you can get approved for the *Capital One Spark Classic with just fair or average credit. According to Capital One, this can include those who have defaulted on a loan in the past 5 years or simply those with limited credit history.

While there's no welcome bonus, users can earn an unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase for their business. Plus, the card offers 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The benefits are fairly limited, but the card has no annual fee, and once you build your business credit, you'll be able to apply for more valuable cards in the future.

Business credit cards can be solid financial tools for growing your business, and also saving on expenses at the same time. For companies that are cash-strapped or prefer simplicity in their credit card rewards, the best option might be a card that offers cash-back rewards.

But just like personal credit cards, be sure to spend wisely and within an established budget for your business.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best small business credit cards.

To determine which business cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed 21 of the most popular cash-back credit cards available to U.S. business owners. We compared each card on a range of features, including annual fee, employee card fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem rewards.

The main criteria in our ranking were the rewards rates and added benefits, such as insurance coverage and expense management features. The more perks a card had, the higher it ranked on our list.

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For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.

*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.

*Information about the Capital One Spark 1% Classic Credit Card, Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.