RBC Avion Visa Business review

How the Avion Business earns points

The Avion Visa Business earns 1 Avion point per dollar on all purchases. There are no bonus categories, so office supplies, fuel, software subscriptions and client lunches all earn the same rate.

That makes the points total easy to predict. A business that puts $8,000 a month on the card earns 8,000 points a month, or 96,000 points a year. Double the spending and you double the points, with no thresholds to watch. The same rate applies whether a purchase is $15 or $15,000, which suits businesses with a few large invoices as well as many small ones.

The welcome offer

A welcome offer may be available on this card, but the number of points, any spending requirement and the deadline aren’t confirmed here. Read the current offer terms on RBC’s website before you apply, since business card offers can change during the year.

If the offer includes a spending target, plan which regular business expenses you’ll move to the card in the first few months, so you reach it without changing how you run the business.

Using a flat-rate card for business spending

A flat-rate card works well when a business has a wide spread of expenses that wouldn’t fit neatly into bonus categories. It also keeps bookkeeping simple: every dollar earns the same, so there’s no reason to split purchases across several cards to chase a higher rate.

Before you rely on the card, ask RBC about employee cards, spending controls and any insurance coverage. For a business, those details can matter as much as the earn rate, especially if staff will be making purchases.

Fees, interest and the fine print

The annual fee is $120, or $10 a month. At 1 point per dollar, the card needs steady spending to earn its keep, so estimate your yearly card spending before you apply.

Foreign currency purchases carry a 2.5% fee, adding about $25 to every $1,000 spent with suppliers or services billed in US dollars. Purchases are charged 20.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%. Carrying $10,000 of business expenses for a month at 20.99% would cost about $175 in interest, so pay the statement in full whenever cash flow allows.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The card suits small businesses with mixed spending that prefer one predictable rate on everything and want to collect Avion points on company purchases. It can also suit a sole proprietor who wants to keep business spending separate from personal cards while still collecting Avion points.

Businesses with large spending in particular areas, such as fuel or travel, may do better with a card that pays category bonuses. Companies that pay many suppliers in US dollars should also look for a lower foreign transaction fee.

How it compares

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business costs $175 a year, $55 more, and earns 1.25 points per dollar on all purchases. At $96,000 a year in spending, that extra 0.25 points per dollar adds up to 24,000 more points a year.

If you’d rather pay no fee, the BMO CashBack Business Mastercard has no annual fee, a top rate of 1.5% cash back at gas stations and a welcome offer of up to $150 cash back. It pays cash instead of points, which some businesses find easier to account for.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 720 or higher, and RBC makes the final decision based on your full credit profile and business details. Confirm the welcome offer, fees and any business features on RBC’s website before you apply.