Wedding and event vendors face unique expenses—advertising, travel, shipping, equipment. We compared five business cards across rewards rates, fees, and credit-building features to find the best fit for photographers, caterers, planners, florists, and DJs.
Wedding and event vendors—photographers, caterers, planners, florists, DJs—deal with expense patterns most businesses don't. You're running heavy ad spend on Meta and Google to book clients, traveling for destination weddings, shipping supplies and equipment, and buying gear that costs thousands. On top of that, your revenue is seasonal: busy in spring and fall, quieter in winter. The right business credit card turns those costs into rewards, builds your business credit profile, and smooths the cash-flow gaps between events.
This guide picks five cards, each matched to a different vendor profile. We looked at rewards rates, annual fees, bonus categories that align with vendor spending, credit-check requirements, and business-credit-building features. All product data comes from official card pages and an internal finance product database1.
Before the picks, here's why this niche deserves its own guide. Event vendors hit specific spending categories harder than most small businesses:
The Ink Business Preferred earns 3X points on the first $150,000 spent annually on travel, shipping, advertising, and internet/cable/phone services1. Those four categories cover the bulk of what most event vendors spend on. Points transfer to Chase's airline and hotel partners at 1:1, so you can redeem for personal or business travel flexibly. There's a $95 annual fee1.
Who it's for: Vendors who spend meaningfully on ads, shipping, and travel and want transferable rewards. If you're a photographer running $2,000/month in Meta ads plus frequent travel, the 3X multiplier pays for the annual fee quickly.
Watch out for: The 3X cap at $150K per year in combined categories. After that, you earn 1X. Also, Chase does a personal credit check and requires good credit.
Ramp is a corporate charge card—not a traditional credit card—that gives 1.5% flat cash back on every purchase with no annual fee2. It requires no personal credit check, which matters if you're rebuilding credit or want to keep business and personal profiles separate. Ramp also includes built-in spend controls, receipt matching, and expense categorization, which is useful if you have employees or subcontractors.
Who it's for: Growing vendors with a business bank balance of $25,000 or more2 who want simple, unlimited cash back and spend management tools. If you run a catering company with a team, Ramp's controls and automation save real time.
Watch out for: It's a charge card, so balances must be paid in full each billing cycle—no carrying a balance. The $25K bank-balance requirement excludes newer or smaller operations.
This is a secured business card: you put down a refundable deposit (minimum $1,000) that sets your credit limit3. You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee3. Crucially, BofA reports to business credit bureaus, and the card can graduate to an unsecured card after a period of responsible use3.
Who it's for: Vendors who are just starting out, have thin credit, or are rebuilding. If you launched your event planning business last year and don't yet have established business credit, this card gets you in the door and builds a track record.
Watch out for: You're tying up $1,000+ as a deposit. The rewards rate is solid but not category-bonused, so high-spend vendors leaving money on the table compared to Ink Business Preferred.
The Amex Business Platinum earns 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com4. It includes Global Lounge Collection access (over 1,400 lounges worldwide) and up to $600 in annual hotel credits4. The annual fee is $8954.
Who it's for: Vendors who fly frequently for destination weddings and events. If you're a photographer booking 10+ destination weddings a year, the 5X on flights plus lounge access and hotel credits can justify the fee. This is a premium card for premium spenders.
Watch out for: $895/year is a serious commitment. If you're not traveling for events regularly, the fee will eat your rewards. The 5X rate only applies to flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex's portal—other travel bookings earn less.
Lili combines business banking with a credit-building secured card designed for freelancers and sole proprietors5. The card reports to Dun & Bradstreet, helping establish a business credit file that matters when you later apply for equipment financing or a business loan5. There's a monthly subscription fee5.
Who it's for: Solo vendors—one-person photography businesses, freelance DJs, independent planners—who want an all-in-one banking and credit-building solution. If you don't have a separate business bank account yet, Lili bundles that with the card.
Watch out for: The monthly subscription fee adds up over time, and the rewards structure is less competitive than dedicated cash-back cards. Best viewed as a credit-building stepping stone, not a long-term rewards maximizer.
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Rewards Rate | Key Bonus Categories | Credit Check | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | $95 | 3X points | Travel, shipping, advertising, telecom | Yes | Most vendors |
| Ramp Corporate Card | $0 | 1.5% cash back | All purchases (flat rate) | No | Growing teams |
| BofA Secured | $0 | 1.5% cash back | All purchases (flat rate) | Yes (secured) | New/credit-building |
| Amex Business Platinum | $895 | 5X points | Flights, prepaid hotels | Yes | Frequent travelers |
| Lili BusinessBuild | Monthly fee | Credit-building | Reports to D&B | Yes (secured) | Sole proprietors |
If you spend heavily on ads, shipping, and travel: Chase Ink Business Preferred is the clear value play. The 3X on those categories1 is unmatched for the $95 fee.
If you have a team and want spend controls: Ramp's 1.5% flat rate plus expense management2 is hard to beat—especially with no annual fee and no credit check.
If you're new or rebuilding credit: Bank of America's secured card3 builds a credit profile while earning 1.5% back. Graduate to an unsecured card when you're ready.
If you fly constantly for destination events: Amex Business Platinum4 pays for itself in lounge access and hotel credits if you travel enough. Do the math on your annual travel spend first.
If you're a solo vendor who needs banking + credit building: Lili5 wraps both into one platform and reports to D&B5, making it a practical first step for freelancers.
A note on how we make money: AskBuy earns affiliate commissions when you apply for some of the cards listed above. That doesn't change our recommendations—we pick based on what fits each vendor profile, not payout. Product details and terms change frequently; always verify current terms on the issuer's site before applying.
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