Making a large purchase usually involves some level of research to find the best deal and to ensure the item or service adequately meets your business needs. Although possibly just an afterthought, earning rewards on that purchase could also make any deal that much sweeter.
But finding the right business card to facilitate a large purchase, and in the process earn as many rewards as possible, can also involve some research.
Today we’re setting out to help you with that. We’re here to assist you in finding the best business credit cards for a specific type of purchase critical to any business — computer equipment and software.
We’ll talk about utilizing bonus earning purchase categories, seeking out specific retailers that offer elevated earnings, product protection considerations, and other card attributes that present additional reward-earning opportunities.
Let’s cut quickly to the chase and explore some of the best cards for purchasing computer hardware and software.
The Best Business Credit Cards for Computer Purchases [Hardware & Software] — Overview
Before we review the best cards for purchasing computer hardware and software in detail, here’s an overview of how the cards stack up.
Note that not all benefits and card features are listed in the above summary. Terms and conditions also apply. Be sure to review current benefit offerings and fee schedules prior to applying for any card.
Best Business Cards for Computer Bonus-Earning Categories
Whether you’re looking for cash-back or redeemable points, finding a card that will earn rewards on your computer purchases takes some forethought.
Here are some business cards you might consider that offer bonus earnings on computer hardware and/or software purchases.
American Express® Business Gold Card
Why We Like the Card for Computer Purchases
This card earns 4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories in which your business spends the most every month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year):
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
The card also earns 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels through AmexTravel.com and 1x on all other purchases.
Huntington Voice Business Credit Card℠
While not a popular mainstream business credit card, the Huntington Voice Business card is worth checking out as it charges no annual fee and comes with quarterly cash-back bonus earnings.
Why We Like the Card for Computer Purchases
Earn 4% cash-back on up to $7,000 each calendar quarter in 1 of 10 bonus categories. These categories include retailers where you could purchase computer hardware or software, including office supply stores and electronic, computer, and camera stores.
Additional 4% cash-back earning categories include gas stations, travel/entertainment, restaurants, discount warehouse stores, grocery stores, department stores, home improvement, and auto parts/service stores.
Bottom Line: Very few credit cards have computer hardware or software as a bonus earning category, but the Amex Business Gold card is one of the best business cards for purchases in this category.
Best Business Cards for Purchasing From Select Retailers
While it may be difficult to find a business credit card that has computer hardware/software as a specific bonus category, there are plenty of additional ways to earn rewards on your computer purchases.
One way is to purchase your computer hardware/software at a bonus-category retailer. Let’s look at a few cards that offer bonus earnings or statement credits for purchases at specific retailers.
Best for Office Supply Stores
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
We’ll talk more about the Ink Business Cash card shortly, but know for now that it offers 5% cash-back earnings at office supply stores, up to $25,000 each card anniversary year.
U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®
With unlimited 3% cash-back earnings at office supply stores, you’ll earn big if you’re purchasing your computer hardware/software from one of these stores. The card also earns 3% cash-back on cellular services and at gas stations.
Amex Business Gold Card
The Amex Business Gold card comes with up to $240 in annual statement credits ($20 monthly) for eligible purchases at office supply stores, FedEx, and Grubhub (enrollment required).
Best for Dell Technologies and Large Purchases
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Why We Like the Card for Computer Purchases
Receive up to $400 in statement credits each year ($200 semi-annually) for Dell purchases.
In addition to the card’s Dell Technologies statement credits, the Amex Business Platinum card earns 1.5x earnings on eligible purchases in key business categories and on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year). There is no action required on your part — the elevated earnings are automatic.
Check out the best cards we recommend for large purchases for several more appropriate card recommendations.
Bottom Line: Consider bonus-category retailers and/or using a business card that offers unlimited earnings to maximize earning rewards on your computer hardware or software purchase.
Best Business Cards for Product Protection
Several business cards come with product protection in the form of purchase protection and/or extended warranty coverage. However, the best business credit cards have product protection limits of up to $10,000 per eligible item. Here are some of the best business cards to consider that offer these coverages with higher limits.
Purchase Protection
Purchase protection provides coverage for an eligible item for theft, damage, or accidental loss, for a specified period after the purchase date. While most computers are eligible for coverage, computer software is normally excluded.
For more information on the best cards that carry purchase protection coverage and how it works, check out our overview on the subject.
Extended Warranty
Eligible items that come with a manufacturer’s warranty may qualify for the extended warranty coverage that comes on several business cards. Here are some examples of cards that offer the benefit.
Any of these cards allow you to pay for the item in full, partially, or with rewards points earned on the card, to receive coverage.
Be sure to review the terms and conditions of these coverages in the specific card’s guide to benefits as computer software may be excluded and computer hardware coverage could be limited.
Bottom Line: Several business cards come with ancillary coverage for your computers such as purchase protection and extended warranty coverage. To find out if your card has these protections, you can access the Guide to Benefits that came with your card, find the guide digitally via your online card account, or call the number on the back of your card.
Best Business Cards for Introductory 0% APR on Purchases
Charging a large computer purchase and not being able to pay off the amount in full when your card statement closes will cause you to incur high-interest charges and negate any rewards you may have earned.
Using a 0 interest business credit card will allow you to pay back that purchase over time without being charged interest — a feature that could potentially save you hundreds of dollars.
Here are some examples of business cards that offer this money-saving feature.
Ink Business Cash Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Why We Like the Cards for Computer Purchases
With either of these Chase business credit cards, you can take your time paying off the purchase as the cards offer an introductory 0% APR period on purchases for 12 months after card approval.
Both cards earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase that can be redeemed for 1 cent each as a statement credit.
Points can also be transferred to premium Chase cards such as the Ink Business Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Chase Sapphire Reserve® where you can receive up to 50% more in value when redeemed for travel. Points can also then be transferred to Chase travel partners for even greater potential value.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Why We Like the Card for Computer Purchases
The card comes with an introductory 0% APR period for 12 months after card approval, with regular APR (as shown in the table above) applied after the introductory period. Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash-back on your computer purchase (and every other purchase) up to a maximum of $50,000 in purchases each year. After that, you earn a straightforward 1% cash-back.
Bottom Line: Utilizing a business card with an introductory 0% APR period for your computer hardware/software purchase can allow you more time to pay back the purchase without incurring interest charges. You’ll also be earning rewards on that purchase.
Additional Bonus Earning Opportunities
Take advantage of additional opportunities to earn rewards on your computer purchase by timing your purchase to take advantage of business card welcome bonuses or by utilizing special shopping offers.
Welcome Bonus Minimum Spending Requirements
While welcome bonuses fluctuate, there may be no better time to earn top rewards on your purchases than during the first 3 months after card approval. There are rarely times when you’ll earn such a large number of points, cash-back, or miles than when you first apply for a card and meet the initial minimum spending requirements.
Planning your large computer hardware/software purchase during this welcome bonus period could prove rewarding.
Shopping Offers
It’s worthwhile to take a quick glance at these shopping offers, for potential additional savings or earnings, prior to making a computer purchase.
- Amex Offers — Found on your online card account home page, Amex Offers can save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars each year, or present opportunities to multiply your reward earnings
- Chase Offers — While not normally as lucrative as Amex Offers, Chase Offers are worth reviewing prior to your purchase
- Shopping Portals — Start with Cashback Monitor to find which shopping portals (like Rakuten) are offering the best reward-earning potential for your specific purchase
Bottom Line: Timing your large computer purchase to coincide with spending requirements for a new card welcome bonus or utilizing shopping offers can maximize earning rewards on your purchase.
Final Thoughts
Ensuring that every purchase your business makes earns rewards can be challenging.
The best strategy involves determining your greatest business expenses and selecting a card that aligns its rewards earnings with that category or categories. The mix of expenses can even change over time, which can necessitate revisiting your card selection and making adjustments. You may also need more than 1 business card to accomplish this objective.
Whether earning rewards, utilizing a 0% APR period or securing product protection is a primary consideration when deciding which card to use for your computer purchase, you’ll also want to consider the overall card package for receiving ongoing value. Redemption options, travel and shopping benefits/protections, statement credits, and even the annual fee, can also play a major role in card selection.
If you’re simply making a large computer purchase, however, you should now have a better idea of which cards might work best for facilitating that purchase.