When cash back beats points
If you don't travel for business or personally, cash back is almost always the right choice. You skip the complexity of points programs and the rewards land directly on your statement. (If you do travel, compare with booking business class with points before deciding.)
Cash back is also easier to forecast — every dollar spent maps to a predictable return that you can plan against. For the bigger picture, see our rewards strategy framework and the annual fee break-even math.
The two-card cash back setup
Use one card that earns an elevated rate in your largest category — often office supplies, advertising, internet, or fuel for service businesses.
Pair it with a flat-rate card that earns two percent on everything else. That covers the long tail of expenses that don't fall into any neat category.
Set it and forget it
Label each card with a sticker that says what it's for. Tell anyone else who uses a card which one to grab for which expense.
Review the setup once a year. If your business spending has shifted meaningfully, the category card might need to change. Otherwise leave it alone.