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Capital One has a reputation for taking a straightforward approach to its business credit cards—probably why it’s a favorite amongst entrepreneurs who love simplicity.
However, the card issuer surprisingly complicates things a bit with the Spark Cash Select Card. Here’s the deal: there are two options under the same name, each offering unique sign-up benefits.
First up, we have the card_name, with a $750 welcome bonus. And then there’s the card_name, which comes with a 12-month 0% intro APR period.
The welcome bonus offer you get with the excellent credit variant is the better choice overall, so that’s what I’ll be reviewing today.
Nevertheless, the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit may be the right call if your credit isn’t excellent (typically a FICO score of at least 720).
This article will include:
- What the Capital One Spark Cash Select Card for Excellent Credit is all about.
- All the Spark Business Card benefits you can access.
- The pros and cons you should note.
Read more:
Our Verdict
4.2
Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select Card: On FIRE Score
| Annual Fee | annual_fees | 5/5 |
| APR | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | 5/5 |
| Intro Offer | bonus_miles_full | 5/5 |
| Maximum Rewards | None (Only offers 1.5% flat rate everyday rewards). | 2/5 |
| Everyday Rewards | Unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere. | 4/5 |
| On FIRE Score | 4.2/5 |
What is the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business Card?
The Spark Cash Select Card is a streamlined version of the original Spark Cash Select for Business, now split into two options. It’s perfect for busy business owners who want a hassle-free cash-back experience—no category tracking or complicated redemption programs here.
Sure, it may not be a top rewards earner, but simplicity is its superpower. You get a solid 1.5% cash back on everything you buy, whether it’s craft supplies, client dinners with sparkling water, or new gear for the company car. And if you book hotels or rental cars through Capital One Travel, enjoy a boosted 5% cash back.
Unlike other top business cards, you won’t pay an annual fee. Plus, if you spend at least $6,000 on this card in the first three months, you can bag the generous $750 welcome bonus.
Cashing in is simple too—you can redeem earnings at any time as a statement credit or a paper check.
Capital One Spark Cash Select Credit Card Fees
| Details | Metric |
| Annual fee | annual_fees |
| Intro APR | intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration |
| Purchase APR | reg_apr,reg_apr_type |
| Cash advance APR | cash_advance_apr |
| Cash advance fee | cash_advance_fee |
| Balance transfer fee | balance_transfer_fees |
| Foreign transaction fee | foreign_transaction_fee |
| Late fee | late_payment_fee |
Spark Cash Select Card: Pros and Cons
Here’s a glance at all the pros and cons of getting this Capital One business credit card:
Pros
- Generous welcome offer of $750.
- Simple 1.5% flat-rate rewards on all spending categories.
- One of four Spark cards with no annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Added perks like free employee cards and purchase assurance.
Cons
- No high-earning spending categories.
- Lack of an intro APR period.
- Limited rewards redemption flexibility.
- Excellent credit required for approval.
Why I like It
Generous welcome offer of $750
New cardholders benefit from a generous $750 bonus after spending $6,000 in the initial three months. This is a significant upgrade from the original Spark Cash Select bonus, which offered $200 after a $3,000 spend in the same time frame.
Securing a $750 bonus is a sweet deal, especially considering that, with the card’s 1.5% cash back rate, you’d need to spend over $33,000 to reach the same earnings.
Simple 1.5% flat-rate rewards
The Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit keeps it simple with a flat 1.5% rate on all purchases. This flat rate is an obvious perk for businesses with diverse spending as you’re not confined to typical bonus categories (like office supplies or travel).
Does your business involve inventory spending? You might be aware that most bonus credit card categories overlook inventory.
This is where the Spark Cash Select Card stands out—its 1.5% rewards rate covers inventory orders. So, if you’re putting $10,000 a month towards inventory, you’ll make about $1,800 in rewards in a year.
Check out our list of the best cash back credit cards for more options.
One of four Spark cards with no annual fee
If you’re not a fan of paying extra yearly just to use a credit card, you’ll appreciate the lack of an annual fee on the Spark 1.5% Cash Select Card.
Note that both versions of the card (for good and excellent credit) come with no annual fee.
No foreign transaction fees
Traditional credit card foreign transaction fees hover around 3%, potentially erasing the value of your hard-earned rewards. With this card, that’s not a worry you’ll deal with.
This $0 fee is especially beneficial if you’re a frequent business traveler or if you’re sourcing inventory from overseas.
Added business perks
The Spark card does fairly well in terms of business and security perks. Here’s a list of everything you get:
- Purchase records: Quickly and securely download your purchase records into multiple formats including Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®.
- Virtual card numbers: Make safer payments online without exposing your card number to merchants.
- Account managers: Assign an account manager to make purchases and payments, review transactions, and resolve any problems.
- Year-end summaries: Get an itemized report of your spending to simplify budgeting and tax time.
- Free employee cards: Track employee spending while earning all the rewards from their purchases.
- Payment flexibility: Pick your own monthly due date. Your business has the control to pay when you want.
- Recurring transactions: View a list of merchants that charge your business card monthly, like subscriptions and bills.
- $0 fraud liability: If your card is lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement and a cash advance.
- Roadside assistance: Get help during auto-related emergencies, such as jump-starting, tire changing, and towing.
- Extended warranty: Get free additional warranty and protection on eligible items purchased with your card.
Learn more about common credit card perks.
Why you may want a different card
No spending categories
Sure, the 1.5% flat rewards rate is refreshingly simple, and the bonus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel is nice too.
But when stacked against other cards, the Capital One Spark Cash Select takes a bit of a backseat. There are plenty of cards out there, even flat-rate ones, that outshine the cash back rate here.
For instance, the card_name gives you 2.5% cash back on every purchase of $5,000 or more and 2% cash back on all other business purchases.
card_name lets you earn 2x Membership Rewards points—up to $50,000 in business purchases each year.
So, you might find yourself questioning if the Spark card is worth it. Choices, choices!
No intro APR period
This is a peculiar drawback, especially considering that the card_name has an intro APR period of 12 months.
Given that this card is an upgrade offered only to folks with an excellent credit score, you’d expect to see the same (if not better) deal here.
Limited redemption flexibility
Given that this card requires excellent credit, the redemption choices are somewhat limited. Nevertheless, Capital One gives you a few cash back options. You can cash in your rewards through:
- A statement credit
- A check
- A gift card
For added convenience, you can set up automatic redemptions based on the time of year or when you hit specific thresholds ($25, $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,500).
On the other hand, if you opt for the card_name, your rewards come in the form of miles. This card offers way more flexibility since you can transfer your earned miles to any of Capital One’s 18 airline and hotel partners.
Check out more top travel credit cards if you’re interested in earning miles.
Excellent credit required
Our Verdict
4.2
As the name of this Spark Credit Card variant suggests, you’ll need excellent credit for approval (i.e., a FICO score of above 720), but simply having such a credit score doesn’t guarantee approval.
To top things off, there’s another set of Capital One business credit card requirements you’ll need to meet to qualify.
These include:
- You haven’t declared bankruptcy.
- You don’t have defaulted loans.
- You haven’t been more than 60 days late on any credit card, medical bill, or loan in the last year.
- You’ve had a loan or credit card for three years or more with a credit limit above $5,000.
How to Maximize Capital One Spark Business Card Rewards
There are plenty of ways to earn and redeem cash back from this Spark business card. Here’s a detailed breakdown—
Recap on earning and redeeming rewards
Swipe your card, and you’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars when booked through Capital One Travel.
Cash in your earnings for a statement credit on your card, or opt for a good old-fashioned check in the mail. The flexibility is yours, with the ability to redeem rewards in any amount, at any time. Remember that you can also redeem your rewards for travel through CapitalOneTravel.com.
Rewards potential
The only limit to your earnings is how much you use your card (something that’s in your control) and your card’s credit limit (definitely not in your control).
So, if you spend $10,000, you’ll pocket $150 back. Dish out $100,000, and you’re looking at a generous $1,500 in your pocket.
Convert Cash Cack Into Capital One Miles
Here’s a crucial note for those eyeing travel rewards instead of cash back: You can convert the cash you make from the Spark Cash Select Card into miles.
All you have to do is pair this card with credit cards like card_name, card_name, card_name, or card_name
Your Capital One Miles can convert into points for a variety of airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In fact, the right transfer partner can fetch a value as high as 1.7 cents per mile.
Air transfer partners include Air Canada Aeroplan (a United partner), Air France/KLM Flying Blue (a Delta partner), and British Airways Avios (an American Airlines partner). And hotel partners include Wyndham, which lets you redeem vacation rentals for 15,000 points per room.
Note: If you follow this transfer route, you’ll end up with a no-annual-fee card with 1.5x transferable points with no foreign transaction fees. Add that up with the $750 welcome bonus, and that’s a whopping 75,000 Capital One miles.
Check out more top travel credit cards.
Best Credit Cards to Pair With the Spark Cash Select Card
Here are two cards I think would pair perfectly with this Capital One credit card:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Spark Cash Select has no special reward categories. So, if you travel for work or meet tons of clients over dinner, this card can disappoint you with its straightforward rewards rate.
But pairing it with the card_name can be fruitful—you get 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
Leverage Spark Cash Select’s 1.5% rewards rate for every other business purchase. You can then convert this cash back to miles through Capital One’s website and maximize travel rewards.
But remember, to benefit from the welcome bonus on both these cards, you’ll need to spend over $10,000. Also, keep in mind that you can only get approved for a single Capital One card every six months.
Amex Gold Card
Don’t want to deal with Capital One’s six-month rule? Step out of the zone and walk over to the Amex camp.
The card_name can give you 4x Membership Reward Points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 in spending each year. Plus, you earn 3x points on flights booked directly through airlines or Amex Travel.
So, you can use the Gold card for dining and grocery spending, and the Spark Cash Select for all other purchases to earn 1.5% cash back.
Of course, taking this route means you can’t transfer points onto another Capital One card and maximize potential miles.
Here’s how Spark Cash Select compares with other Spark cards
Among Capital One’s array of business credit cards, the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit stands out as the top choice for those seeking high rewards without the burden of an annual fee.
Two additional Spark cards cater to cash back enthusiasts:
- The card_name takes the lead with a 2% cash back offer on all purchases. However, it comes with a twist—it’s a charge card, meaning you can’t carry a balance. The trade-off is an annual fee of $150, but the perks include a generous 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- On the flip side, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is a solid choice for small-business owners with fair credit. With a $0 annual fee, this card earns a steady 1% cash back on all purchases.
If you’re more into accumulating miles for your business ventures, the Spark Miles cards are your go-to. These cards reward you with miles instead of cash back, with each mile valued at 1 cent when redeemed for various travel purchases. The bonus? None of these cards will hit you with foreign transaction fees.
Check out our list of the best business credit cards for more options.
Spark Cash Select Card: Useful Links
- Contact the Capital One support team for more information about this Business Card.
- Access the Spark Business login page.
- Check out other Capital One Spark Business Cards.
- Learn more about owning a credit card, your rights, and more at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website.
Capital One Spark Cash Select Reviews
Check out these Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business reviews for better insights into the card:
“This Capital One card is a good fit for our company because it’s used by several employees and the tracking is very simple to manage. We really enjoyed the cash back rewards feature.”
“This card is good for me as I enjoy the top-notch customer service, experience great communication about my balance, as well as the Eno tool that allows me to purchase online safely.”
“Note that this card company reports to my personal credit, which impacts my credit score. I paid off the balance and plan on putting this card up and using other business cards so my personal credit doesn’t fluctuate.”
“I’ve had my Capital One Spark card for my business for seven years, and they don’t increase my credit limit. When I inquired about it they said they won’t ever give increases.”
Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select Card Good for Me?
If you’re a small business owner looking for a rewards card with no fancy frills, the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit has your back. You get a decent flat rewards rate on every purchase, with no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.
But fair warning: If you’re jet-setting around or dropping big money on specific categories like online ads or office supplies, there might be other cards worthy of your attention.
Apply for the Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit Card here.
Or check out other business cards we recommend.
FAQ
What credit score do you need for Capital One Spark Cash Select?
Having an excellent credit score (specifically a FICO score surpassing 720) is crucial to qualify for this card. However, merely having such a credit score doesn’t automatically guarantee approval.
Adding to the complexity, Capital One has its own set of criteria for what qualifies as an “excellent credit score”—no bankruptcies, no defaulted loans, stay under 60 days late on any credit card, medical bill, or loan in the past year, and flaunt a credit card or loan with a limit north of $5,000 for three years or more.
What is the Capital One Spark Business max credit limit?
According to Capital One, the minimum credit limit you’ll bag with the Spark Cash Select Card is $2,000. But cardholders have self-reported credit limits as high as $12,000.
Is Capital One Spark Cash Select a Visa or Mastercard?
The Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit card is a Mastercard credit card—so it’s accepted at over 11 million merchants across the country where Mastercards are welcomed and in over 200 countries internationally.
Our Methodology
Our credit card reviews aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of both quantitative and qualitative factors. The quantitative analysis focuses on the financial costs and benefits associated with each card, including interest rates, fees, rewards programs, cash-back offers, and other monetary perks. However, we also consider qualitative aspects that impact the everyday use and value of the card. These include the simplicity of the application process, the structure of the rewards program, the likelihood of utilizing certain card features, and the suitability of the card for frequent or infrequent use. Our On FIRE rating system allows for quick comparisons between cards within a particular category. When choosing a new credit card, consumers should weigh the quantitative dollar amounts along with qualitative ease-of-use factors to select the best overall option for their needs.
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