Pros and cons
- Pros:
- No annual fee
- Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards at no extra cost
- Built-in expense management software with real-time spend controls
- No personal guarantee required, keeping personal assets protected
- Cons:
- Typically no welcome offer or sign-up bonus
- 1.5% cash back rate is solid but not the highest available
- Only available to incorporated businesses, LLCs, and LPs, not sole proprietors
Overview
The Ramp Corporate Card is a charge card for businesses that want to simplify their finances. It's not a credit card, so you have to pay your balance in full every month. The card is for incorporated businesses, LLCs, and LPs in the US. It has no annual fee. That makes it a good choice for companies that want to cut costs but still have a good financial tool.
The best part about the Ramp card is its software. It's more than just a card. It's a whole system for managing expenses. The system lets you track spending as it happens, give out as many employee cards as you want with spending rules, and automate a lot of the boring work of managing money. If your business cares more about controlling spending and making things simple than getting fancy travel rewards, The Ramp card is a great option.
But you need to know who this card is for. It's not for people who work for themselves. You need a registered business and a good amount of money in the bank to get it. The rewards are simple: 1.5% cash back on everything. That's a good rate. But it might not be the best for businesses that spend a lot in certain areas where other cards give you more back. So, you have to decide what's more important for your business: saving time or getting the most rewards.
Welcome offer
The welcome offer for the Ramp card is a bit of a moving target. There have been reports of a $1,000 bonus for new customers, which is great. Bankrate mentioned this. But then There have also been reviews, like the one from The Points Guy, that say there is no welcome offer at all. So, it seems like the bonus can change. The best approach is to check Ramp's website right before you apply to see what they are offering. A bonus is nice to have, for sure. But It is best not to make it the only reason you get this card.
Key benefits and perks
The Ramp card really shines when you look at its benefits. They are all about making your business finances easier. The best feature is the expense management software. It lets you see all company spending as it happens. You can also set spending limits on each card. This is a huge help for staying on budget. You can give out as many virtual and physical cards to your team as you want. That is great for any size of business.
Another great thing is the automatic expense reports. Your employees can just text or email their receipts. Ramp's software then matches them to the right purchase. This saves so much time and trouble for everyone. The system also works with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. That makes bookkeeping much easier.
And one last thing. The Ramp card does not need a personal guarantee. This is a big deal for business owners. It means your personal money is not at risk if your company cannot pay its bills. This feature, along with the great expense tools, makes the Ramp card a very strong choice for businesses that care about financial control.
Earning rewards
Ramp makes earning rewards very simple. You get 1.5% cash back on every purchase. No bonus categories to worry about. No limits on how much you can earn. This is great for businesses that don't want to waste time trying to spend in the right places. You know you are getting a good return on every dollar.
But 1.5% is not the best rate out there. Some business cards give you 2% back on everything. Others give you even more in certain categories like travel or office supplies. So if your business spends a lot in one of those areas, you might do better with another card. But for businesses with all kinds of spending, or for those who just want to keep things simple, The Ramp card's rewards are a good deal.
Redeeming rewards
Getting your cash back from Ramp is just as easy as earning it. You have a few choices. The easiest way is to get a statement credit. This lowers your card balance. It is a good way to cut your business expenses and have more cash on hand. If you pay for Ramp Plus, the company's premium service, you can also use your cash back to cover that cost.
If you like to travel, you will be happy to know you can also move your cash back to different airline and hotel programs. This can be a great way to get more value from your rewards. Especially if you know how to find good deals. The transfer ratio is 1.5 to 1 for all partners. You can also get gift cards with your cash back. This can be a good choice if you want to use your rewards for something specific. But the value you get from gift cards can change.
Transfer partners
Ramp lets you transfer your cash back to many different airline and hotel programs. This is a great feature for businesses that want to use their rewards for travel. The partners include big airline groups like Star Alliance, OneWorld, and SkyTeam. That gives you a lot of airlines to choose from. For hotels, you can transfer your points to Marriott Bonvoy and Wyndham Rewards.
You should know that the transfer ratio is 1.5 to 1 for all partners. This means that for every 1.5 cents of cash back you move, you get 1 point or mile. This is not the best transfer ratio you can find. But it is still a good option to have. Especially for a card with no annual fee.
Competing cards
Even if you like the Ramp card, it is smart to look at other options. Here are a few other cards to think about:
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: This is a high-end travel card. It has a big annual fee, but it also has a lot of travel perks. You get into airport lounges and get special treatment at hotels. It also earns Membership Rewards points. You can transfer these points to many different airlines and hotels. This card is a good pick for businesses that spend a lot on travel.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: This Chase card gives you a nice bonus when you sign up. It earns 3 points for every dollar you spend on things like travel, shipping, and ads. The annual fee is not too high. And you can transfer the points to different airlines and hotels. This is a great business card all around.
- Capital One Spark Cash Select: This card is simple. It gives you 1.5% cash back on everything, just like Ramp. It has no annual fee. It is a good choice for businesses that just want a simple cash back card.
- Brex Card: The Brex card is another one that is popular with new businesses. It has a different kind of rewards program that is made for modern companies. You get more back for things like software and transportation. It also has no annual fee and you do not have to personally guarantee it.
- BILL Divvy Corporate Card: This card is all about managing expenses. It has a great system that lets you make budgets, track spending, and automate expense reports. It also has a cool rewards program that gives you more cash back if you pay your bill more often.
Who should get this card?
So, who should get this card? The Ramp card is a great fit for a certain kind of business. If you have a corporation, LLC, or LP in the U.S. And you really want to get your company's spending under control, this card is for you. The expense software is excellent. The ability to give out unlimited employee cards with specific rules is a huge plus for growing businesses. The fact that it has no annual fee and no personal guarantee makes it even better.
But if you work for yourself or your business is all about getting the most travel rewards, you should probably look elsewhere. The 1.5% cash back is good. But you can find better rates on other cards, especially if you have high spending in certain areas. Also, the welcome offer is not always there, which might be a problem for some. This card is more about the software than the rewards. So if you do not need the fancy expense tools, you might be better off with a simple cash back card.
Bottom line
The Ramp Corporate Card is a great tool for businesses that want to get a grip on their spending. The software is the real star of the show. It makes managing expenses easy and efficient. If you want to save time and money by automating your finances, This card is a smart choice.
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Lovie combines company formation, banking, and virtual cards in one platform. No personal guarantee, 1.5% cashback on everything.
