LAST CALL FOR 2%: the Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card for SMEs and sole traders
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This is a reminder that the generous 2% cashback promotion on the FREE Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card for businesses is ending on 2nd April.
The card CAN by obtained by sole traders, who are blocked from the Capital On Tap Avios-earning SME card.
You will receive 2% cashback, instead of the usual 1%, on all of your qualifying spending in your first three months.

Let me answer the obvious question first. Why are we covering it, given that it doesn’t earn you any points or miles?
(The cynical answer, of course, is that Barclays will pay us if you apply, which is true. We now have access to all Barclaycard products. As you should know, however, we only promote products which genuinely offer value. You won’t see any other non-Avios Barclaycard products on HfP.)
Why would you get a cashback small business Mastercard?
There is, at the moment, a gap in the market for small business miles and points cards.
You can apply for American Express Business Platinum, American Express Business Gold or British Airways Accelerating Business but Amex acceptance is lower in the B2B market than in the consumer market. You will need a Visa or Mastercard as well.
Our recommended alternative is the Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa card. This earns points worth an impressive 1 Avios per £1 spent. Our full review of the Capital On Tap card is here.
Capital On Tap is only accepting Limited Companies and LLPs. You cannot get the 10,500 Avios sign-up bonus on this card if you are a sole trader or in a partnership.
This leads to the question ‘What is the best business Visa or Mastercard for a sole trader to use alongside a Business Amex?’.
The answer is probably a card which is:
- free, and
- offers 1% cashback on virtually all of your spending, and currently offers 2% cashback for the first three months
…. which is what you get with the Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card.

Key link: Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card application form
The representative APR is 26.8% variable but may vary based on your financial circumstances and borrowing history.
What are the conditions of applying?
As well as the standard age and residency restrictions, your business turnover must be over £10,000 per year.
If you are a start-up, you are welcome to apply if your business plan shows expected turnover of £10,000+ per year.
Sole traders are welcome to apply.
What is the Barclaycard Select Cashback annual fee?
There is no annual fee.
What do I earn per £1 spent on the card?
You earn 1% cashback on virtually all spending charged to the card.
If you apply by 2nd April, you will receive 2% cashback – instead of the usual 1% – on qualifying purchases in your first three months.
You are paid your cashback each month, via a credit to your card statement. There is no cap to the cashback you can earn.

Any other benefits?
Barclaycard runs a special programme for its Business credit and charge card holders called Business Rewards.
You can find full details on this page of the Barclays website.
It offers a variety of discounts and cashback deals for customers. These currently include one year of free Zipcar membership (usually £60).
Specifically for holders of the Select Cashback card, you can get free access to FreshBooks Plus accounting software – saving up to £264 per year.
Is this a good card to use when travelling?
It’s not ideal, as Barclaycard Select Cashback charges a 2.99% foreign exchange fee on non-Sterling transactions.
However, you will receive your standard 1% cashback which takes the net cost down to 1.99%. In the first three months you’ll receive 2% cashback, taking your net cost down to 0.99%.
You will pay the same 2.99% fee if you use any of the American Express Business cards that we cover.
If you have a Limited Company, it’s worth knowing that the Avios-earning Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa card has NO FX fees. Capital On Tap is the only Avios-earning credit card, personal or business, with no foreign exchange surcharges.
Conclusion
The Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card is an aggressively good product from Barclays.
With no annual fee and 1% cashback (currently 2% for your first three months if you apply by 2nd April) on virtually all your spending, paid monthly, there is nothing to dislike.
Let’s imagine that your company would spend £10,000 on the card over the next three months. You’d earn £200 cashback and, with no annual fee, that’s all money in the bank.
Even if you are considering getting American Express Business Platinum, Business Gold or British Airways Accelerating Business due to their generous rewards, this card is useful for places which do not accept American Express.
It is especially interesting for sole traders who are excluded from the Capital On Tap alternative.
Full details, and the application form, for the Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card can be found here.
Remember that the application deadline to receive the additional 1% cashback for your first three months is approaching quickly – you must apply by 2nd April 2024.
Disclaimer: Head for Points is a journalistic website. Nothing here should be construed as financial advice, and it is your own responsibility to ensure that any product is right for your circumstances. Recommendations are based primarily on the ability to earn miles and points. The site discusses products offered by lenders but is not a lender itself. Robert Burgess, trading as Head for Points, is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as an independent credit broker.
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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – February 2025 update
If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.
In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.
You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review
You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus
30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express
50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review
Earning miles and points from small business cards
If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold
20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa
NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback when you spend at least £2,000 per month.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card
Get 1% cashback when you spend at least £2,000 per month* Read our full review