Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review

Choose It If:

You spend heavily on your business, want unlimited 2% cash back and can pay your balance in full each month.

Skip It If:

You need to carry a balance or your business doesn’t spend enough to qualify for the annual fee refund.

Issuer Overview

Detailed Review

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is built for businesses that put a lot of spending on their cards. You’ll earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, and there’s no preset spending limit, so your purchasing power can adjust as your business spending changes.

The trade-off is that this is a charge card designed to be paid in full each month. That makes it less flexible than a traditional credit card if you need to carry a balance, but businesses that can pay in full get a straightforward way to earn rewards on large amounts of spending.

The Hook

The current welcome offer is a big one — 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.

How It Works

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers 2% cash back on every purchase, with no spending caps or category restrictions. You’ll also earn 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.

That said, there are differences in how the card handles spending. Instead of giving you a traditional preset credit limit, Capital One adjusts your purchasing power based on factors such as your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile. It can give high-spending businesses more flexibility, but your purchasing power isn't unlimited.

Fees + APRs + Rewards

The Spark Cash Plus charges a $150 annual fee, but Capital One refunds the fee each year if you spend at least $150,000. That makes the card particularly appealing for businesses that can consistently hit that threshold.

There’s no traditional purchase APR because the card is designed to be paid in full. Capital One does allow you to carry over part of your balance with interest through its Pay Over Time feature, though doing so defeats some of the appeal of a card built around high spending and full monthly payments.

How You Redeem/Get Value

You can redeem your cash back for any amount at any time, and your rewards don't expire while your account remains open. Redemption options include statement credits, a check in the mail and gift cards, to name a few.

At 2% cash back, $50,000 in spending earns $1,000 in rewards while $150,000 earns $3,000. If you spend at least $150,000, the annual fee is refunded, so you can effectively earn 2% back without an ongoing annual fee.

Conclusion: Is This Card Right for You?

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is best suited to businesses that spend heavily and can comfortably pay their balance in full each month. The unlimited 2% cash back is easy to understand, while the $150 annual fee refund makes the card especially attractive once your annual spending reaches $150,000.

If your business spends less than that, the regular Capital One Spark Cash may be the better choice. It also earns 2% cash back but has a $150 annual fee after the first year and gives you a traditional revolving credit line. For businesses with very high spending, however, the Spark Cash Plus can deliver significantly more value.

Compare, Pair & Alternatives

Compare: Similar Business Credit Cards

Best Cards to Pair With

What Users & Experts Say

What Users Have to Say

Reddit users like the Spark Cash Plus for its unlimited 2% cash back, large welcome bonus and flexible spending power. It's particularly appealing to business owners with significant expenses who can pay their balances in full each month.

The biggest complaint is that spending power can be unpredictable. Some users report having large purchases declined, which can be frustrating for businesses that need to make sizable payments.

Other Reddit users say the business card is difficult to get approved for, even with an excellent credit score and several years of business history.

Expert Takeaways

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is best suited to businesses with substantial spending that want simple, flat-rate rewards. Credit card expert Ryan Smith of Upgraded Points notes that the card earns 2% cash back on everything with no spending cap or bonus categories to track. It also has no preset spending limit, although the balance must be paid in full each month. That said, exceptions can apply for purchases that qualify for the Pay Over Time feature.

Businesses that spend at least $150,000 on the card in a calendar year also get the $150 annual fee waived, which is a unique feature most cards do not have. Jimmy Yoon, Head of Points Intelligence at point.me, says that makes the card best suited to businesses with "heavy business spend (six figures and higher)."

Yoon also points out that the Spark Cash Plus has a significantly larger welcome bonus than the regular Spark Cash, though you'll need to meet a much higher spending requirement to earn it. Ultimately, he says the biggest advantages of this card over the regular Spark Cash are the larger bonus and the ability to have the annual fee waived with high spending.

Issuer Overview

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus worth it?

The Spark Cash Plus can be worth it for businesses with significant spending that can pay their balance in full each month. You’ll earn unlimited 2% cash back, and the $150 annual fee is refunded if you spend at least $150,000 in a calendar year.

What is the spending limit on the Capital One Spark Cash Plus?

The Spark Cash Plus has no preset spending limit, but that doesn't mean you can spend without limits. Capital One determines your purchasing power based on factors such as your spending habits, payment history and credit profile.

Does the Capital One Spark Cash Plus charge interest?

The Spark Cash Plus doesn't have a traditional purchase APR because it's designed to be paid in full each month. Capital One may allow you to carry a balance on certain purchases, but interest can apply if you do.

How much cash back does the Capital One Spark Cash Plus earn?

The Spark Cash Plus earns unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase with no spending caps or category restrictions. You can also earn 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.

Methodology

We reviewed the Capital One Spark Cash Plus with high-spending businesses in mind, focusing on the features that can have the biggest impact on overall value. Our analysis considered the card's 2% cash-back rate, welcome bonus, annual fee and spending requirement for getting the fee refunded, along with its flexible spending power, travel rewards and redemption options.

We also compared the Spark Cash Plus with other flat-rate business cards and Capital One's Spark Cash to see where it stands out. Finally, we considered how the card's charge card structure and high spending thresholds affect its value for businesses of different sizes.

Disclosures

Editorial disclosure: The credit card offers and information presented on this page are current as of the published date. However, credit card terms, including APRs, fees, and promotional offers, are subject to change without notice. Some offers listed may no longer be available or may have expired. Please refer to the issuer's website for the most up-to-date terms and conditions.

Issuer-independence disclosure: This content is based on the independent analysis of the publisher and/or its authors and has not been provided by or endorsed by any card issuer.