Is Capital On Tap or Amex Business Gold better for consulting?

If your annual business spend is under £25,000, Capital On Tap wins (no annual fee). If you spend £40,000+ per year and travel often, Amex Business Gold's bonus categories and travel perks may justify the £195 fee.

Can I claim Avios for personal use?

Avios are credited to a personal British Airways account, so technically yes — but HMRC may treat them as taxable benefit if redeemed personally. Speak to your accountant; many consultants pool Avios for legitimate business travel only.

Will it work with Pleo or Spendesk if I use those?

Capital On Tap is a standalone card and isn't issued via Pleo/Spendesk. Many consultants use both: Capital On Tap as primary, Pleo/Spendesk for receipt automation when team scales.

Industry guide · May 2026

Best Business Credit Card for UK Consultants 2026

Independent UK management, strategy and tech consultants typically run a Limited Company with significant client travel, hotel and SaaS expenses. A no-fee 1% cashback card with 0% FX recoups several hundred pounds per year for very modest spend.

Why Capital On Tap fits consultants

1% cashback on all travel, hotels, lounges and client entertainment
0% FX fees on overseas client trips
Clean separation for accountant and HMRC submissions
Avios redemption pathway useful for frequent UK-EU travel

Top spend categories for consultants

› Trains & flights to client sites
› Hotels & co-working
› SaaS (Notion, ChatGPT, Pitch, Zoom)
› Books & professional development
› Accountancy fees

Example spend & cashback

Spend category	Monthly spend	Monthly cashback
Travel & accommodation	£1,200	£12/mo
SaaS & tools	£250	£2.50/mo
Client entertainment	£300	£3/mo
Professional dev & books	£100	£1/mo
Total	£1,850/mo	~£222/year

Indicative figures based on typical consultants spend patterns. Plus a £75 welcome bonus on first transaction with code 2REFY893A52.

FAQs for consultants

Is Capital On Tap or Amex Business Gold better for consulting?: If your annual business spend is under £25,000, Capital On Tap wins (no annual fee). If you spend £40,000+ per year and travel often, Amex Business Gold's bonus categories and travel perks may justify the £195 fee.
Can I claim Avios for personal use?: Avios are credited to a personal British Airways account, so technically yes — but HMRC may treat them as taxable benefit if redeemed personally. Speak to your accountant; many consultants pool Avios for legitimate business travel only.
Will it work with Pleo or Spendesk if I use those?: Capital On Tap is a standalone card and isn't issued via Pleo/Spendesk. Many consultants use both: Capital On Tap as primary, Pleo/Spendesk for receipt automation when team scales.