Overall rating
First year value
$0
Get this card if you:
- Want a no-frills business credit card
- Don't want to pay an annual fee
- Looking to earn cash back on everyday business transactions
At a glance
The RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard is a basic business credit card for sole proprietors or single-owner corporations with low monthly business expenses. This no-annual-fee card offers modest cash-back rewards but has limited additional benefits.
Highlights
Interest Rates
19.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Cash advance APR
Eligibility
Good
Recommended credit score
Quick overview of the RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard
The RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard is a basic business credit card for sole proprietors or single-owner corporations with low monthly business expenses. This no-annual-fee card offers modest cash-back rewards but has limited additional benefits.
Who’s the RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard for?
The RBC Business Cash Back is well-suited for business owners who want to separate their business expenses from their personal account and earn modest rewards along the way. You can also use this card to establish a credit history for your business.
A more lucrative business rewards credit card is likely a better option if you incur thousands of dollars of monthly business expenses. Just remember that those cards often come with a substantial annual fee, so make sure the rewards outweigh the cost.
RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard welcome offer
Earn 2% cash back on purchases made on your card in the first three months†.
This card has a straightforward rewards program. Earn 2% cash back on purchases† made on your card in the first three months. Afterward, the earn rate falls to 1% cash back on purchases†.
Note that there is an annual cash-back cap of $$650.
You can redeem rewards as a credit to your account anytime, as long as you’ve accumulated $25 in cash back. RBC will automatically credit your account every January if you don't redeem.
Here is a complete list of card benefits beyond the cash-back rewards:
- No annual fee
- Free supplementary card
- Enrolment in Mastercard Easy Savings Program
- Fuel savings and bonus Petro points at Petro-Canada locations when you link your card
- A three-month complimentary DashPass subscription with DoorDash
- Enrollment in the RBC Offers Program for bonus points and offers from top brands
- Fraud protection and enhanced security
As expected from a no-annual-fee credit card, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard offers little insurance coverage, but you do get purchase security and an extended warranty:
- Purchase security: Eligible business purchases are protected against theft, loss or damage for up to 90 days from the date of purchase.
- Extended warranty: For all eligible business items purchased with the card, it doubles the manufacturer’s original Canadian warranty by up to one additional year. The maximum total coverage is 5 years, so there would be no extra coverage if the original warranty was already five years.
👀 What people have to say about this card
Bare-bones credit cards like the RBC Business Cash Back don’t exactly light up online forums, so I wasn’t surprised that people don’t have much to say about it on platforms like Reddit or RedFlagDeals.
How the RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard compares
The RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard is one of many credit cards available to Canadian entrepreneurs and business owners. Here’s a closer look at how it compares to other top cards:
RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard vs. American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card
American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card
3.9
40,000 points*
Welcome Bonus
$417
First Year Value
$17
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points*.
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$199
Annual Fee
21.99%
Purchase
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
-
Earn Membership Rewards points on business spending
-
Flexible redemption options
-
Travel benefits including insurance
-
Welcome bonus
-
Earn reward points on all purchases
Cons
-
High annual fee
-
Requires good credit
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
30.00%
Penalty
Fees
$199
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
$3
Cash Advance
$45
Return Penalty
Rewards Membership Rewards
10,000
bonus points in each calendar quarter when you spend $20,000 or more. That could add up to $400 in value every year.
1x
on every $1 spent on everything else
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$100,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn a welcome bonus of 40,000 Membership Rewards® points* after you charge $7,500 to your Card within your first 3 months of Cardmembership.*
That’s $400 in statement credits that can be reinvested in your business.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible. Other terms apply.
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
-
Earn Membership Rewards points on business spending
-
Flexible redemption options
-
Travel benefits including insurance
-
Welcome bonus
-
Earn reward points on all purchases
Cons
-
High annual fee
-
Requires good credit
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
30.00%
Penalty
Fees
$199
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
$3
Cash Advance
$45
Return Penalty
Rewards Membership Rewards
10,000
bonus points in each calendar quarter when you spend $20,000 or more. That could add up to $400 in value every year.
1x
on every $1 spent on everything else
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$100,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn a welcome bonus of 40,000 Membership Rewards® points* after you charge $7,500 to your Card within your first 3 months of Cardmembership.*
That’s $400 in statement credits that can be reinvested in your business.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible. Other terms apply.
The American Express®️ Business Gold Rewards Card is a premium business rewards card. There is a annual fee. Earn 1 Membership Rewards point on all purchases. Earn an additional 10,000 bonus points in each calendar quarter when you spend $20,000 or more.
It’s a charge card, so payments work differently than a standard credit card. Full balances must be paid monthly, or the interest rate applies. The card does have a separate, flexible payment option balance, with a preferred rate. In addition to rewards, the Amex Business Gold comes with comprehensive travel insurance coverage and other benefits. If you make enough business purchases to justify paying the annual fee, travel extensively for work and use the insurance coverage, you’ll get a lot of value from this card. If you’re just looking for a basic business credit card, stick with the RBC Business Cash Back.
Disclosures:
Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard vs. BMO CashBack® Business Mastercard®*
BMO CashBack® Business Mastercard®*
10% cash back
Welcome Bonus
$369
First Year Value
$219
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Get 10% cash back on gas, office supplies and cellphone and internet bill payments for 3 months.† Plus, get a 0.00% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months with a 3% transfer fee.† Expires Dec 13, 2025
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$0
Annual Fee
19.99%
Purchase
22.99%
Cash Advance
Eligibility
Very Good (671 - 739)
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
-
Earn cash back on business purchases
-
No annual fee
-
Easy expense tracking with Mastercard Easy Savings
-
Fraud protection
Cons
-
Limited business-specific perks
-
Cash back rates lower than some competitors
Annual Interest Rates
19.99%
Purchase
22.99%
Cash Advance
0.00%
Balance Transfer (Introductory)
Fees
$0
Annual Fee
Rewards cash back
1.75%
Earn 1.75% cash back when you pay at the pump or shop in-store at Shell®††
1.5%
Earn 1.5% cash back on gas, office supplies and cellphone and internet bill payments†
0.75%
Earn 0.75% cash back on all other purchases
Get 10% cash back on gas, office supplies and cellphone and internet bill payments for 3 months! Plus, get a 0.00% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months with a 3% transfer fee.†
Eligibility
Very Good (671 - 739)
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
-
Earn cash back on business purchases
-
No annual fee
-
Easy expense tracking with Mastercard Easy Savings
-
Fraud protection
Cons
-
Limited business-specific perks
-
Cash back rates lower than some competitors
Annual Interest Rates
19.99%
Purchase
22.99%
Cash Advance
0.00%
Balance Transfer (Introductory)
Fees
$0
Annual Fee
Rewards cash back
1.75%
Earn 1.75% cash back when you pay at the pump or shop in-store at Shell®††
1.5%
Earn 1.5% cash back on gas, office supplies and cellphone and internet bill payments†
0.75%
Earn 0.75% cash back on all other purchases
Get 10% cash back on gas, office supplies and cellphone and internet bill payments for 3 months! Plus, get a 0.00% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months with a 3% transfer fee.†
The BMO CashBack®️Business Mastercard is similar to the RBC Business Cash Back in that it’s a basic business credit card with no annual fee and modest rewards. It offers elevated cash back on Shell purchases and on eligible gas and office supply purchases, as well as cell phone and internet bill payments. Its earn rate for all other purchases is lower than the RBC card.
Both cards offer fuel discounts, extended warranty and purchase protection coverage.
Which card is better for you? It depends on your business expenses. If you have a high monthly spend on gasoline, office supplies, cell phone and internet bills, then the BMO CashBack Business may be the better option. If you want higher cash back on all other spending, go with the RBC card.
Disclosures:
Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Interested in applying for this card? RBC lists the following eligibility criteria on its website:
- Must be a Canadian resident
- Age of majority in your province of residence
- You are applying for yourself (not for a third party)
- You own a sole proprietorship or single owner private corporation
- Business is registered in Canada
- Business resides in Canada for tax purposes
Is the RBC Business Cash Back Mastercard worth it?
If you hold a business banking account with RBC or own a small business and need a basic credit card to make company purchases, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard is a solid choice. You won’t pay an annual fee, and you’ll earn some cash back on your spending.
If, on the other hand, you travel a lot for business, need access to multiple employee cards or have high monthly business expenses, you’ll be better off with a premium rewards business credit card, like the aforementioned American Express Business Gold®️Rewards card. For more options, check out our list of Canada's best business credit cards.
Disclosures:
Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.
Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.
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Colin Graves is a Winnipeg-based financial writer and editor whose work has been featured in publications such as Time, MoneySense, MapleMoney, Retire Happy, The College Investor, and more. Before becoming a full-time writer, Colin was a bank manager for over 15 years.
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