Best Credit Cards for Back to School Purchases

Summer is almost over. And that means that it is time for many Americans to purchase school supplies for themselves and/or their children. August is the biggest month of the year for office supply sales because there is so much demand for them. And there are a plethora of credit cards that you can use to purchase them. This post highlights the best credit cards for back to school purchases.

Furthermore, office and school supplies are a niche category. The biggest consumers of office supplies are businesses, despite the annual back to school rush among consumers. This is why most of the best credit cards for back to school purchases are for small business. Nonetheless, there are some personal credit cards that are great for these purchases as well.

Chase Ink Business Cash

Sign-Up Bonus: 50,000 Ultimate Rewards (UR) points for $3,000 spend in the first three months

Earning: 5x UR points at Office Supply Stores; 5x UR points for cable, TV, internet, and phone bills; 2x UR points at Gas Stations and Restaurants

Perks: None

Annual Fee: $0

The Chase Ink Business Cash is my first choice for office supply and back to school purchases. It’s earning structure is one of the best in the industry for businesses and consumers who purchase office supplies. You will earn 5x UR points at office supply stores like Staples and Office Depot.

Citi Double Cash

Sign-Up Bonus: None

Earning: A total of 2% cash back on all purchases (1% earned upon purchase and 1% earned upon paying your bill)

Perks: None

Annual Fee: $0

The Citi Double Cash is one of the best all-around credit cards because of its high and flat earning rate. Using at office supply stores is a wise decision because you will earn 2% cash back. Plus, the Double Cash is a personal credit card. You do not need a small business or sole-proprietorship to be approved for it.

American Express Blue Business Plus

Sign-Up Bonus: None

Earning: 2x Membership Rewards (MR) points on the first $50,000 in purchases per year; one point thereafter

Perks: None

Annual Fee: $0

The American Express Blue Business Plus earns 2x MR points on the first $50,000 in annual expenses. This $50,000 is not limited to any bonus categories, unlike most other Amex credit cards. This earning structure makes the Blue Business Plus one of Amex’s most popular credit cards. Despite its lack of annual fee, the Blue Business Plus earns more points at office supply stores than any other MR-earning card.

Moreover, this card is eligible for Amex Offers. Many Amex Offers are for online purchases and many of the biggest office supply stores have offers. You can use this card alongside an Amex Offer and save even more that way.

Barclays Jet Blue Business Card

Sign-Up Bonus: 60,000 True Blue points for $1,000 spend in the first three months

Earning: 6x points for Jet Blue flights; 2x points at Office Supply Stores and Restaurants; one point for non-bonus category spend

Perks: Mosaic Elite Status, $100 Annual Statement Credit, 50% Discount for In-Flight Purchases, Free Checked Bags

Annual Fee: $99 (NOT waived the first year)

Jet Blue loyalists will love this credit card for traveling and back to school purchases. This underrated business card earns 2x points at office supply stores (and restaurants). It also earns 6x points on Jet Blue flights for when you take your next vacation or business trip.

The Barclays Jet Blue Business Card also offers a plethora of perks that make it a long-term keeper. In fact, the statement credit by itself is enough to justify the card’s annual fee. Plus, Mosaic Elite Status, the free checked bags, and the in-flight purchase discount contribute to this card’s immense value.

Target Red Card

Sign-Up Bonus: Varies

Earning: 5% off all purchases at Target and Target.com

Perks: Free shipping for Target.com purchases, “stackable” savings with the Target app, two card formats (credit or debit)

Annual Fee: $0

The Target Red Card is a fantastic card for school and office supplies! It is a great way to save 5% automatically on all purchases from the store, especially on top of Target’s annual back to school sales. These savings will not help you with traveling for less. But saving money any way you can is beneficial.

Moreover, the Target Red Card also comes in a Debit format for those who do not want their credit pulled or an additional account. The debit version does not build credit. Instead, it is connected to a bank account of your choice and simply takes out the money upon making a purchase.

Final Draw

The five credit cards featured in this post are some of the best for back to school and office supply purchases. Business owners, entrepreneurs, parents, and students would love these cards because of the huge rewards. Such rewards could be the first steps to a Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring Break trip with your family. Furthermore, the rewards could also help pay for an upcoming business trip.

Apply Today:

• Chase Ink Business Cash
• Citi Double Cash
• American Express Blue Business Plus
• Barclays Jet Blue Business Card
• Target Red Card