After a frustratingly opaque, months-long roll out (that included a rebranding from the orignal name of Spark Travel Elite), Capital One has “officially” launched their not-really-new business credit card: the Venture X Business. While the benefits and spending perks of this new card are almost identical to the Venture X, the starting welcome offer is crazy, both in terms of total points AND total required spend. Capital One is offering new cardholders 300,000 Capital One Miles after spending $500,000 in the first 12 months.
Even now, months after applications were first being accepted and following a long period where they weren’t, there’s still no public link for this card. The only way to apply for it is through a Capital One Relationship Manager (which sounds like couples therapy but isn’t). Now that the launch has happened, it looks like many folks have been able to get an application link directly from a business banker as well.
The Deal
- New cardholders can earn up to 300,000 miles after being approved for the Venture X Business Card. The bonus has a tiered structure:
- Earn 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 within the first 3 months of card membership.
- Earn an additional 150,000 miles after spending $500,000 within the first six months of card membership.
- Spark Cash Plus cardholders are not eligible for the Venture X Business.
- You must apply via a Capital One Relationship Manager (see comments for tips)
Key Card Details
Card Offer and Details |
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150K Miles ⓘ Affiliate Earn a one-time bonus of 150K miles after $30K spend in the first 3 months$395 Annual Fee Recent better offer: Expired 3/31/23: 250K Miles after $50K in spend. FM Mini Review: Similar to the Venture X consumer card, the business version offers annual rebates that easily mitigate the fee for those who travel often and could be worth it for the lounge access and travel protections given the cost/benefit ratio. Unlike the Venture X, free authorized users do not get Priority Pass access. The card earns 2 "miles" per dollar on most purchases just like the Capital One Venture X Rewards card, which are worth exactly 1 cent each toward travel. This makes the return on most spend similar to a 2% cash back card (though in this case you must redeem your miles to offset travel in order to get 1 cent per mile). One big advantage over cash back: Capital One allows transfering their "miles" to airline miles & hotel points. Click here for our complete card review Earning rate: 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel ✦ 5x on flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One travel. ✦ 2X everywhere else. Card Info: Visa issued by CapOne. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: $300 annual credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel ✦ 10,000 bonus miles starting at first anniversary ✦ Up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® ✦ Capital One Lounge Access ✦ Priority Pass w/ unlimited guests ✦ Plaza Premium lounge access ✦ Cell phone insurance ✦ Trip insurance ✦ Primary CDW coverage ✦ Redeem miles for travel at 1 cent per mile ✦ Convert "miles" to airline miles & hotel points |
Quick Thoughts
The Venture X Business is effectively the small business version of the Venture X card and is almost identical in terms of benefits and earnings, making it a compelling keeper card. While you have to pay a $395 annual fee, in my opinion the anniversary bonus and $300 travel credit more than offset it, and you also get access to the excellent lounge benefits and 2x everywhere earning. In fact, although Capital One took away restaurants for the Priority Pass membership that comes with the consumer Venture X, business cardholders are still able to access them.
As far as the new welcome offer goes, even the first-tier spend will be a non-starter for many…$30K is a big number. Our Reasonable Redemption Values list Capital One miles at 1.45 cents per point, so that 150,000 points is worth ~$2,175. With the Amex Business Platinum still hanging out at 150K Membership Rewards points for half of the minimum spend, it’s certainly worth comparison shopping to make sure that the C1 card card is the best fit for your situation. It’s also worth noting that, since the Venture X Business does earn 2x on all spend, you’ll actually end up with a minimum of 210,000 C1 Miles after completing the $30K spend.
I don’t recall ever seeing a minimum spend requirement even closely approaching $500,000. That second tier will be out reach for most, even those that have large amounts of business spend. That said, I know some folks who have businesses with many authorized users and can’t change cards frequently based on bonused spend opportunities. For them, hitting the full spend on this offer could be appealing. By the end of the year, they’d have 1.3 million C1 Miles, with a conservative value of around ~$19K. That works out to ~3.8% back on that $500,000 in spending, which is quite competitive. For almost all others, there’s little reason to commit to that kind of spending for only 150K bonus miles.
What about the application via Capital One Relationship Manager? The comments thread has DP’s from multiple folks who were able to successfully apply for the card via Relationship Managers. It seems like the best way to get a hold of one is to message one via LinkedIn, although now that the card is sort-of officially public, I’ve heard of many folks being able to get application links from a Capital One business banker as well. Hopefully, we’ll soon have a public link so those that want to can apply like normal people.
View from the Wing reports that the card will not appear on your personal credit report, so this won’t affect your 5/24 status and the spend won’t be reported on your credit utilization. .
I have a relationship with one and have the link.
Would you mind sending me the link?
Anyone have contact info for a Capital One Relationship Manager ? Interested in applying for the card.
Capital One on Twitter said:
> Hey, thanks for reaching out to us. We are excited that you are interested in having a credit card with us. At this time, the new Venture X Business card is an exclusive product that is currently being offered through invitation only.
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> Relationship Managers are assigned to existing Small Business customers based on a predetermined set of criteria. There is no current process available to qualify for or apply to be assigned a Relationship Manager.
Could someone send me the link to apply?
Does anyone have the link to apply? Thanks in advance.
Is there anyway someone can send me the link? Or, send me the ways they were able to obtain one from Capital One?
Will the lack of priority pass for auth users point to a loss of that in the future for the consumer card?
Tim, I have yet to see ANYTHING from Capital One itself actually stating the $500k spending requirement. Can you provide any substantiation from Capital One itself about that requirement?
Yep, confirmed via Capital One bankers and relationship managers. You haven’t seen anything because they still haven’t provided a public link.
Anyone else first think $500,000 was a typo?
Fatfinger
It’s an obvious and reasonable question. And, when no substantiation is offered by any of several blogs who republish the claim, it’s not unreasonable for a reader to ask for substantiation of such an extraordinary claim. Yet, not a single blog has responded. Not even “standby, we’re double-checking.” Quite a disappointment.
Overall 2.6x on that $500k, LoL
@Tim – I just got off the phone with my business card relationship manger. She said the planned launch was by the end of March, but obviously that didn’t happen. She said the new plan is by the end of April. I know this doesn’t help a ton, but fingers crossed the launch will be soon. I need to get my wife a card as well, so she’s trying to keep us updated. If/when she provides more info, I’ll let you know.
My relationship manager just told me that this card is officially launched as of today May 1. I don’t see it available yet, but I’m meeting with her tomorrow to help get my wife applied for it. I can update after that meeting.
We just got off the phone with my relationship manager from Capital One. She was able to provide a direct link to apply. Even though it’s “public” it seems you still need to get a link from a relationship manager.
The “early spend bonus” (aka sign-up bonus) is a quite a bit different than it was previously. An extra 50k points, BUT you have to spend $500k on the card. On the opposite side, you can get 150k miles with “only” $30k spend now.
Earn up to 300,000 bonus miles: 150,000 miles when you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional 150,000 miles when you spend $500,000 in the first year. 2
This card has worked really well for our business and it continues to be my go-to card for inventory purchases because of the uncapped 2x spend and very generous limits. It doesn’t have a traditional fixed limit. It works like an Amex charge card where you limit is variable. They let me go as high as 300k charged on the card after only 4-5 months of using the card. For my situation this card has worked great. Based on our specific situation, we are basically “buying” Capital One points at .315 cents/point.
My BofA card gets 2.625c x 500k spend = 13125 cash back
Cap 1 Business Venture X will give me 1.3 M miles for same 500k spend
= 1.01c cost
For first 30k spend my BofA card gets $787.50
Cap One gets 210000 miles = 0.375c cost
For next 470k spend BofA cash back = $12337.50
Cap One gets 940k+150k = 1,090,000 miles @ 1.132c cost
biz version has no hertz. not sure what else. its not the same. not sure why they call it X.
Hi Mike,
Do you still have the link for the Spark Elite Travel card? If so I’d love it please.
how does cap 1 look at simon mall gc spend? figured it’s the easiest way to quickly spend $50k if they’re ok with it.
Got a call from a rm few days ago received a email with application was approved have a link for anyone who needs it
Can you e-mail the link? I’d like to take a look at it.
Sure where do you want me to send it?
Any chance you still have the link? Thanks
Hi Mike – can you also send me the link?
Does anyone have the link? I would really like to get this card. I appreciate it
I’d like to try the link if you will share it please.
Same where would you like link sent?
Hey are you able to share the link with me as well?
Thanks for the help with the link! Received the link and auto approved.
Real business with about $1.8M annual revenue and $1.2M+ in real business spend.
Nice , congrats and should be a breeze for you got card about a month ago, already more then half way through spend bonus
Hi Mike can I get some help with the link as well please?
Mike, appreciate if you can share the link with me as well, thanks
Would really appreciate the link as well. Thank you all
Hey Mike, this is old but could you possibly share the link? Thanks.
***EDIT THE LINK I HAVE IS SAYING OFFER NO LONGER AVAILABLE, the link i had was for spark travel elite seems they’ve re branded it sorry everyone
Does anyone have a relationship manager that they could share?