

Annual Fee: $299
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
If you run a business and love some Southwest, the Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is worth your attention. It’s packed with perks that can make frequent travel a lot more enjoyable, like preferred seats, early boarding, a free checked bag, and a big offer to get you started. You’ll also earn points on common business expenses and pick up extras like inflight Wi-Fi credits and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. Whether you're chasing the Companion Pass or just want to earn more on your purchases, this card has plenty to offer.
[.redeem] 4x [.redeem] per $1 on Southwest Airlines® purchases (including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards)
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 at gas stations, restaurants, hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel, and local transit and commuting, including rideshare
[.redeem] 1x [.redeem] per $1 on all other purchases
🏆 Best Southwest Business Card
🏆 Best Southwest Business Card
Annual Fee: $149
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
At Daily Drop, our mission is simple: to help you explore the world affordably and experience life-changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Here at Daily Drop, we score credit cards using a proprietary formula based on dozens of metrics across six key categories: annual fee, welcome offer, rewards rates, redemption value, benefits & perks, and travel protections. Higher scores indicate better overall value.
We net the annual fee against statement credits you'll likely use and focus on a welcome offer’s true return on spending (ROI) rather than just the headline number. We value rewards by their actual worth in cents per point, which is why flexible, transferable points typically score highest. APR is not a standalone scoring category because we recommend paying in full to maximize points and miles, but an intro 0% APR counts as a perk.
Our reviews are editorial and experience-driven. Our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and tested these cards around the world. After all, we would not be Daily Drop if we were not practicing what we preach.
Read our full methodology for more information.
If you run a business and love Southwest, the Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is worth your attention. It’s packed with perks that can make frequent travel a lot more enjoyable, like preferred seats, early boarding, a free checked bag, and a big offer to get you started. You’ll also earn points on common business expenses and pick up extras like inflight Wi-Fi credits and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. Whether you're chasing the Companion Pass or just want to earn more on your purchases, this card has plenty to offer.
[.pro] Opportunities to earn Rapid Rewards points for both business expenses and personal travel [.pro]
[.pro] Valuable inflight Wi-Fi credits [.pro]
[.pro] Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS fee credit [.pro]
[.con] Semi-steep annual fee [.con]
[.con] The premium benefits are tailored to Southwest Airlines only[.con]
[.redeem] 4x [.redeem] per $1 on Southwest Airlines® purchases (including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards)
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 at gas stations, restaurants, hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel, and local transit and commuting, including rideshare
[.redeem] 1x [.redeem] per $1 on all other purchases
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Redeeming points for non-flight rewards [.dontreco]
While you can use your Rapid Rewards points for things like gift cards, the value per point is significantly lower compared to booking flights. Save your points for flights to get the best value and enjoy those free trips.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Booking directly through Southwest’s website [.alwaysreco]
Booking directly on the Southwest's website often unlocks promotional offers and ensures you earn points on your fare. Just keep an eye on blackout dates and availability, as value can fluctuate depending on travel dates.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Earning the Companion Pass [.alwaysreco]
While you have to earn it, the Companion Pass is a game changer, as it lets a friend or family member fly with you for just the cost of taxes for the lifespan of your pass. Earning this benefit is especially valuable for frequent travelers.
The pairing of the Performance Card and the Ink Business Preferred is an excellent pairing for business travelers. With the Ink Business Preferred, you earn Ultimate Rewards points in key business categories, which can be converted to Southwest points for future flights (UR points transfer to Southwest). Plus, the Ink Business Preferred offers business perks such as purchase protection and extended warranty coverage, for a low annual fee.
If you already fly Southwest frequently, pairing the Performance card with the Sapphire Reserve gives you premium benefits the Southwest card doesn’t provide, like airport lounge access, travel protections, and a flexible travel credit. You’ll still use the Performance card for Southwest purchases, but the Reserve helps you cover the rest of your travel.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card is built for business owners who fly Southwest regularly and want the most out of that loyalty. It’s an airline loyalty card first rather than a general business spender, so again, it works best for people who already travel Southwest regularly.
This isn't the right card for a casual Southwest flyer, as the high annual fee won't be worth it if you're only hopping on one of their planes once or twice per year. It's also not the best for travelers who want flexibility with their points. With this card, you're only earning Southwest points. If you want to be able to transfer to many different airlines or hotels, look towards a card that earns transferable points.
You also probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards. And be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
The recommended credit for this card is good to excellent.



