Barclaycard: Business Credit Card Review

Barclaycard Business Cards at a Glance

Select Cashback representative example: based on a £1,200 credit limit, a purchase rate of 26.8% a year (variable) gives a representative rate of 26.8% APR (variable). Premium Plus representative rate: 56.0% APR (variable).

What Is Barclaycard?

Barclaycard is the credit card brand of Barclays Bank PLC, one of the UK's largest high street banks. It launched in 1966 as the UK's first credit card and now issues personal cards, business cards and card payment services for merchants.

That matters for how you compare it. Barclaycard isn't a fintech lender or an e-money institution. It's part of a fully licensed UK bank, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA. Barclaycard says it was named Best Business Card Provider at the 2024 Business Moneyfacts Awards for the 11th year in a row.

You don't need a Barclays business current account to apply. You'll repay the card from whichever business bank account you already use.

Barclays' business credit card range lets you:

• Spend on a Mastercard business credit card, with a limit set according to your circumstances

• Earn cashback on business spending (1% on Select Cashback, 0.5% on Premium Plus)

• Get up to 56 days' interest-free credit on purchases if you clear the balance in full

• Add employee cardholders at no extra cost and set individual limits

• Control what each card can be used for through MyControls

• Pay with Apple Pay and manage the account online or through the Barclaycard for Business app

Barclaycard also sells a Select charge card, which must be paid in full each month. Our guide to business vs corporate vs charge cards explains how charge cards differ from credit cards.

How Do Barclaycard Business Credit Cards Work?

Select Cashback vs Premium Plus: Which Card Is Which?

Both cards share the same account tools, interest-free period and eligibility basics. The differences sit in the fee, the cashback rules and what you pay to spend abroad.

Checked against Barclaycard product pages in October 2026.

The result is a clear split. Select Cashback rewards steady UK spending. Premium Plus is a travel and foreign currency card that happens to pay a little cashback.

How Does the £2,000 Cashback Threshold Work?

Select Cashback pays 1% on all eligible spending in a statement month, but only if that month's eligible spend reaches £2,000. Below that, you earn nothing for the month. Cashback is paid as a credit to your card statement each month.

In our experience, this is the rule that catches owners out. A business that spends £24,000 a year on the card can earn the full £240, or a fraction of it, depending on how evenly that spend falls.

Our calculations are based on Barclaycard's published 1% rate and £2,000 monthly threshold, October 2026.

Barclaycard's cashback terms also say you won't earn cashback in a statement period where you breach your account conditions, such as missing a payment. Breach them in two consecutive periods and you lose the cashback for both.

Who Can Apply?

Barclaycard's eligibility criteria are broader than many fintech cards. To apply for either card, you must:

• Be a business owner or director

• Run a UK-based business, with directors and employees aged over 18

• Have business turnover (or a new business plan) of at least £10,000 a year. Select Cashback has an upper limit of £6.5 million a year

• Not be bankrupt or in bankruptcy proceedings, personally or as a business

• Have managed your existing financial commitments well over the last 12 months, with nothing overdue

• Not have been declined for a Barclaycard commercial card in the last six months

When you apply, you'll need your business details, bank details, turnover and net profit before tax, and the date of birth and three years' address history of any business partners or other owners.

Sole traders are eligible. Capital on Tap, iwoca and American Express's Business Gold and Platinum cards all limit applications to incorporated businesses, so Barclaycard is one of the more accessible options if you're self-employed. A start-up can also apply on the strength of a business plan showing expected turnover of £10,000 or more.

Do You Need a Personal Guarantee?

Barclaycard doesn't list a personal guarantee among its application requirements. Check your own agreement before you sign, as terms can change.

A personal guarantee is a legal promise that you'll repay the business's debt yourself if the business can't. Whether one applies depends on how your business is set up:

How Long Does It Take to Get a Card?

Longer than a fintech card. Barclaycard says approval depends on your financial circumstances and borrowing history, and the application is a traditional credit check rather than an instant decision. You'll receive your card and PIN by post before you can spend.

If you need to spend on the card this week, a fintech provider that issues a virtual card on approval will usually be faster.

Why Is Barclaycard Select Cashback Popular?

Uncapped 1% Cashback With No Annual Fee

Most no-fee business credit cards either pay no rewards or cap them. Select Cashback pays 1% with no ceiling, as long as each month clears £2,000. For a business that runs supplier, fuel, software and subscription costs through one card, that adds up.

Calculated at Barclaycard's published 1% rate, October 2026.

Sole Traders Can Apply

For self-employed owners, this is often the deciding factor. Select Cashback gives a sole trader a no-fee card with uncapped cashback, which is hard to find from providers that only lend to limited companies.

The Backing of a High Street Bank

Barclaycard is part of Barclays Bank PLC, a fully licensed UK bank. If you're weighing a fintech card against one from an established lender, that's a meaningful point in Barclaycard's favour, particularly around purchase protection (see below).

Up to 56 Days Interest-Free

Both cards give you up to 56 days' interest-free credit on purchases when you clear the balance in full and on time. That's longer than some competitors: Capital on Tap offers up to 42 days, for example.

Features of Barclaycard Business Credit Cards

Cashback on business spend Select Cashback pays 1% uncapped in months with £2,000+ eligible spend. Premium Plus pays 0.5% on all spend, up to £400 a year.

Up to 56 days interest-free Purchases are interest-free if you pay your full balance by the due date each month.

0% introductory rate (Premium Plus only) Premium Plus charges 0% on purchases for the first six months from account opening.

Free employee cards Account administrators can add cardholders at no cost and set individual limits.

MyControls spending controls Set spending profiles for each cardholder and control which categories each card can be used for.

Purchase protection and cardholder misuse insurance Both cards include these insurance benefits as standard. You're opted in automatically and can opt out by phone before applying.

Enhanced travel insurance (Premium Plus only) Covers you overseas when you pay for the trip in full on your Premium Plus card. Terms apply.

Airport lounge access (Premium Plus only) Priority Pass membership with two free visits a year. Additional visits cost £20 each.

Free FreshBooks accounting plan Both cards include a free FreshBooks plan for invoicing and expenses.

Business Rewards Discounts and offers from Barclaycard's selected partners and suppliers.

Apple Pay and online servicing Add your card to Apple Pay, check balances, make payments and set up Direct Debits online or in the Barclaycard for Business app.

Fraud monitoring Barclaycard monitors accounts for unusual activity and alerts you straight away.

How Much Do Barclaycard Business Credit Cards Cost?

Barclaycard's pricing splits into three areas: the annual fee, interest, and a short list of other charges.

Annual Fees

Interest Rates and the Interest-Free Period

The two cards carry different rates, and the representative APRs make Premium Plus look far more expensive to borrow on than it is.

Checked against Barclaycard product pages in October 2026.

Premium Plus's representative APR is high because it includes the £150 annual fee, calculated on a £1,200 credit limit. The purchase rate itself is lower than Select Cashback's. In practice, if your business carries a balance, Premium Plus charges less interest on it. Whether that outweighs the fee depends on how much you borrow and for how long.

Both cards' standard and cash rates move in line with the Bank of England Base Rate. The rate you're offered depends on your financial circumstances and borrowing history.

The interest-free period only covers purchases, and only when you pay the full balance by the due date. Cash withdrawals and cash-like transactions (such as buying currency or sending money orders) are charged interest from the day they're made.

The result is that both cards work well as payment tools and less well as borrowing tools. The table below shows what carrying a £10,000 balance for one month would cost.

Our calculations use Barclaycard's published rates, October 2026.

One month of carried balance on Select Cashback costs about twice the cashback earned on the same spend.

Other Fees

Checked against Barclaycard product pages in October 2026.

What Do You Actually Pay Each Year?

We worked through four common patterns using Barclaycard's published terms. Each assumes the balance is paid in full every month and that all spending counts as eligible for cashback.

BusinessComparison calculations from Barclaycard's published fees, cashback rates and caps, October 2026.

What the model tells us is that foreign spending has to make up a large share of your card spend before Premium Plus pays off. In our agency example, a quarter of spending in foreign currencies still wasn't enough.

Is Barclaycard Premium Plus Worth £150 a Year?

For most businesses, no. Premium Plus pays half the cashback rate of Select Cashback and caps it at £400 a year, so cashback alone takes £30,000 of annual spend just to cover the fee.

The case for Premium Plus rests on three things:

• Foreign currency spending. You save 2% on every non-sterling purchase compared with Select Cashback. As a rule of thumb from our calculations, Premium Plus starts to win once your annual foreign spend exceeds £7,500 plus a quarter of your total card spend (below the cashback cap).

• Travel benefits. Enhanced travel insurance and two free lounge visits a year have value if you'd otherwise pay for them.

• A lower purchase rate. If you expect to carry a balance from time to time, Premium Plus charges 19.6% against Select Cashback's 26.8%, plus 0% for the first six months.

Premium Plus makes sense if:

• Your business pays overseas suppliers, software or travel costs in foreign currencies regularly

• The main cardholder travels abroad often and will use the travel insurance and lounge visits

• Your monthly spend is uneven, so Select Cashback's £2,000 threshold would cost you cashback, and you also spend abroad

If you spend a lot abroad and don't need a bank-issued card, it's worth comparing a card with no foreign exchange fee at all, such as Capital on Tap, before paying £150 a year.

How Do Other Business Credit Cards Compare?

Barclaycard Select Cashback's strengths are the uncapped cashback with no fee, the long interest-free period, sole trader eligibility and the backing of a UK bank. Its weaknesses are the £2,000 monthly threshold and the 2.99% foreign exchange fee.

Capital on Tap pays cashback from the first pound with no foreign exchange fee, but only accepts limited companies, requires a personal guarantee, and its representative rate is higher.

Our guide to the best business credit cards compares a wider range of options, and our iwoca review covers another no-fee cashback card.

Is Barclaycard Safe to Use?

Regulation

Barclaycard is a trading name of Barclays Bank PLC:

• Company number: 1026167, registered in England

• Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and PRA

• Financial Services Register number: 122702

• A fully licensed UK bank

You can check the registration on the FCA Financial Services Register.

With a credit card, you're borrowing Barclaycard's money rather than depositing your own, so deposit protection rarely comes into play. If you also want to know how your business current account is protected, our guide to which business accounts are FSCS-protected covers every major provider.

Purchase Protection: Does Section 75 Apply?

It depends on your business structure, and this is the point most reviews get wrong. Barclaycard's business credit card agreements are regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Section 75 of that Act makes the card provider jointly liable with a supplier if goods or services costing between £100 and £30,000 aren't delivered or are misrepresented.

Section 75 was designed for individuals, sole traders and partnerships, not companies. In a Financial Ombudsman Service decision, the Ombudsman agreed with Barclaycard that a limited company couldn't make a Section 75 claim on its business card.

Limited companies can still ask Barclaycard to raise a Mastercard chargeback, though success isn't guaranteed. Both cards also include purchase protection insurance, which Barclaycard's Select Cashback guide says covers up to £6,000 per claim (£2,500 for any one item), subject to the insurance terms.

For a sole trader, this is a meaningful advantage over fintech cards. Capital on Tap's cards, for example, aren't regulated under the Consumer Credit Act at all, so no customer can make a Section 75 claim.

Fraud Protection

Barclaycard monitors accounts for unusual activity and alerts you to suspicious transactions. Both cards include cardholder misuse insurance, which covers losses if an employee misuses a company card, subject to the insurance terms.

Terms and Conditions to Check

Several parts of Barclaycard's terms are worth reading before you commit.

Select Cashback pays nothing below £2,000 a month Spend £1,999 in a statement month and you earn no cashback for that month.

Premium Plus cashback stops at £400 a year Once you've spent £80,000 in a year, Premium Plus earns no further cashback.

The representative rate isn't guaranteed Your rate depends on your circumstances and borrowing history. Check the rate in your credit agreement before you sign.

Rates track the Bank of England Base Rate Standard and cash rates move up and down with Base Rate. Promotional rates don't.

Cash withdrawals are charged interest straight away The 56-day interest-free period applies to purchases only. Cash withdrawals also carry a 3% fee (minimum £3).

Missed payments cost you cashback as well as fees A late payment costs £12 and means you earn no cashback for that statement period. Two consecutive breaches cancel the cashback for both months.

Insurance benefits are opt-out You're automatically opted in to the free insurance benefits and paperless statements. To opt out, you need to call Barclaycard before applying.

Turnover limits apply Select Cashback is for businesses turning over £10,000 to £6.5 million a year. Larger businesses need Premium Plus or a corporate card.

You can't reapply straight away If Barclaycard declines your application, you'll need to wait six months before applying for another Barclaycard commercial card.

What Is Barclaycard Good At?

Rewards on steady UK spending without a fee Uncapped 1% cashback on Select Cashback with no annual fee, once you clear £2,000 a month.

Accepting sole traders Both cards are open to self-employed owners as well as limited companies and partnerships.

Long interest-free periods Up to 56 days on purchases, longer than several fintech competitors.

Statutory protection for sole traders Consumer Credit Act regulation means sole traders and smaller partnerships can make Section 75 claims.

Reducing foreign exchange costs (Premium Plus) A 0.99% non-sterling fee, against the 2.99% many business cards charge.

Team spending controls Free employee cards, individual limits and spending profiles through MyControls.

Who Is Barclaycard Best Suited To?

Select Cashback Is Best For

Sole traders and partnerships who want cashback You can earn uncapped 1% back, with Section 75 protection on qualifying purchases, without paying an annual fee.

Businesses that spend £2,000 or more on the card every month Steady spending earns cashback in every month. A business that consistently clears the threshold gets full value from the card.

Businesses that spend mainly in sterling With a 2.99% foreign exchange fee, Select Cashback works best for UK suppliers and UK costs.

Owners who want a card from a high street bank Barclaycard's regulation and long track record suit owners who would rather not rely on a fintech lender.

Premium Plus Is Best For

Businesses with large foreign currency spending Paying overseas suppliers, software or travel in foreign currencies is where the 0.99% fee earns back the £150.

Directors who travel abroad often Enhanced travel insurance and lounge visits add value if you'd otherwise pay for them.

Businesses planning a large purchase The six-month 0% introductory rate on purchases can spread the cost of a one-off purchase, if you clear it before the offer ends.

Who Would Be Better Served by Alternatives?

Barclaycard isn't the right fit for every business. Several situations call for something else.

Your monthly card spend is often below £2,000 Select Cashback will pay little or nothing. A card that pays cashback from the first pound, such as Capital on Tap (limited companies only), will earn more.

You spend abroad but don't want an annual fee Some fintech cards charge no foreign exchange fee at all. Compare options in our business credit cards guide.

You need to borrow over several months A credit card is a costly way to fund a longer gap. An unsecured business loan or short-term business loan usually costs less for planned borrowing.

Your cash flow depends on unpaid invoices Invoice finance unlocks money you're already owed rather than adding new debt.

You want staff cards without taking on credit A prepaid business expense card gives you spend controls with no credit check or borrowing.

You've been turned down for credit Our guide to alternative lenders for SMEs when banks say no explains your options.

Common Misconceptions About Barclaycard

"Premium Plus is the better card because it costs more." Not for most businesses. Premium Plus pays half the cashback rate of Select Cashback and caps it at £400 a year. It's better only if you spend heavily in foreign currencies or travel abroad often.

"Select Cashback pays 1% on everything." Only in months when you spend £2,000 or more. Below that threshold, you earn nothing for the month.

"Premium Plus has a 56% interest rate." That's the representative APR, which includes the £150 annual fee. The standard purchase rate is 19.6% (variable), lower than Select Cashback's 26.8%.

"Sole traders can't get a business credit card." They can with Barclaycard. Both cards accept sole traders, unlike Capital on Tap and iwoca, which only lend to limited companies and LLPs.

"Every business credit card has Section 75 protection." Not quite. Barclaycard's business cards are regulated by the Consumer Credit Act, so sole traders and smaller partnerships can claim. Limited companies can't, though chargebacks and Barclaycard's purchase protection insurance still apply.

"You need to bank with Barclays to get a Barclaycard." You don't. You can repay the card from any business bank account. Our business bank accounts guide compares the options.

What Real Customers Say About Barclaycard

Barclaycard has a Trustpilot TrustScore of 3.6 out of 5 from more than 6,000 reviews, as of October 2026. Around 23% of reviews are five stars and around 67% are one star, and Barclaycard had replied to 74% of negative reviews when we looked in October 2026.

This rating covers Barclaycard as a whole. Most reviews come from personal cardholders, so it isn't a direct measure of the business card experience.

Positive reviews tend to praise a straightforward application, helpful phone staff and the reliability of a long-established card. Negative reviews tend to focus on three things:

1. Long phone waiting times and difficulty reaching a person

2. Frustration with the move from online servicing to the app

3. Payments blocked by fraud checks, sometimes delaying large purchases

When we speak to business owners, the cards themselves rarely draw complaints. The friction tends to come from service and access, which is worth weighing if you expect to need regular phone support.

FAQs About Barclaycard Business Credit Cards

Is the Barclaycard Select Cashback card free?

Yes. There's no annual fee for the card or the account, and additional cardholders are free. You'll pay interest only if you don't clear the balance in full, plus fees for cash withdrawals, foreign currency spending and late payments.

How much cashback does Barclaycard Select Cashback pay?

1%, uncapped, on all eligible business spending in any statement month where you spend £2,000 or more. You earn nothing in months below £2,000. Cashback is credited to your statement each month.

Can sole traders get a Barclaycard business credit card?

Yes. Both Select Cashback and Premium Plus accept sole traders, partnerships and limited companies, as long as your business turns over at least £10,000 a year.

What is the annual fee for Barclaycard Premium Plus?

£150 per account, as of October 2026. Additional cardholders are free.

Is Barclaycard Premium Plus worth it?

Only if you spend heavily in foreign currencies or travel abroad often. Premium Plus cuts the foreign exchange fee to 0.99%, but pays 0.5% cashback capped at £400 a year. For mostly sterling spending, Select Cashback usually works out cheaper.

What interest rate do Barclaycard business credit cards charge?

Select Cashback's representative rate is 26.8% APR (variable). Premium Plus's representative rate is 56.0% APR (variable), which includes the £150 fee; its standard purchase rate is 19.6% (variable). Your rate depends on your circumstances.

How long is the interest-free period on a Barclaycard business card?

Up to 56 days on purchases, if you pay the full balance on time each month. Cash withdrawals are charged interest from the day they're made. Premium Plus also offers 0% on purchases for six months from account opening.

Does Barclaycard charge foreign transaction fees on business cards?

Yes. Select Cashback charges 2.99% on non-sterling purchases. Premium Plus charges 0.99%. Cash withdrawals in a foreign currency carry a further 3% fee (minimum £3).

Do Barclaycard business credit cards have Section 75 protection?

For sole traders and smaller partnerships, yes. Barclaycard's business card agreements are regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Limited companies can't make Section 75 claims, but can request a chargeback.

Does Barclaycard require a personal guarantee?

Barclaycard doesn't list one in its application requirements, and it has told Finder it doesn't require one. Sole traders and partners are personally liable for the debt regardless, because their business isn't a separate legal entity.

What turnover do I need for a Barclaycard business card?

At least £10,000 a year, or a business plan showing that. Select Cashback also has an upper limit of £6.5 million a year.

Do I need a Barclays bank account to get a Barclaycard business credit card?

No. You can repay the card from any UK business bank account.

Alternatives to Barclaycard Business Credit Cards

• If you're a limited company that wants cashback from the first pound with no foreign exchange fees, read our Capital on Tap review.

• If you want another no-fee cashback card for a limited company, our iwoca review covers the iwoca Credit Card.

• If you want points rather than cashback, see our Amex Business Gold review.

• If you need staff cards without taking on credit, our business expense cards guide covers prepaid options.

• If your team spends mainly on fuel, business fuel cards offer better controls for vehicle costs.

• If you need to borrow for longer than a month or two, compare business loans.

Verdict: Is a Barclaycard Business Card a Good Choice?

Barclaycard Select Cashback is one of the strongest no-fee business credit cards for UK businesses that spend steadily in sterling. It pays uncapped 1% cashback, gives you up to 56 days interest-free, includes free employee cards and accepts sole traders, who are shut out of many fintech cards. Sole traders also get Section 75 protection on qualifying purchases.

The limits are just as clear. Months below £2,000 earn no cashback at all. The 2.99% foreign exchange fee wipes out the cashback on overseas spending. And as a traditional bank card, it's slower to get than a fintech card.

Premium Plus is a narrower product. It only pays off for businesses where foreign currency spending makes up a large share of card spend, or for directors who'll use the travel benefits.

In our experience, the businesses that get the most from Barclaycard spend at least £2,000 a month on the card, mostly in the UK, and clear the balance in full. If that's your business, Select Cashback is a strong choice, and you probably don't need to pay for Premium Plus.