RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business review

How the Avion Business earns points

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business earns 1.25 Avion points per dollar on all purchases. There are no categories, so a fuel bill, a software subscription and a supplier payment all earn the same rate.

That makes the math simple. A business putting $8,000 a month on the card earns 10,000 points a month, or 120,000 points a year. On a card that earns 1 point per dollar, the same spending would earn 96,000 points, so the extra 0.25 points per dollar adds 24,000 points a year.

Why a flat rate can make sense

Category cards reward you for spending in specific places, which works well when your costs line up with those categories. Many businesses don’t fit that pattern: their biggest costs are inventory, contractors, advertising or professional services, which rarely qualify for bonus rates.

For those businesses, a flat 1.25x rate earns on everything without any planning. It also keeps things simple for whoever manages the books, because you don’t need to route certain expenses to certain cards to get the best return.

A flat rate also makes forecasting easy. Multiply your expected yearly card spending by 1.25 and you have a close estimate of the points you’ll earn, with no category mix to model.

Fees, interest and the fine print

The annual fee is $175, or about $14.58 a month. Purchases in a foreign currency carry a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, so $1,000 paid to a US supplier adds about $25. If your business pays foreign suppliers regularly, that fee adds up quickly. For example, $10,000 of payments to US suppliers in a year would cost about $250 in foreign transaction fees.

Purchases are charged 20.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%. Paying the full balance each month avoids purchase interest, which is especially important on a business card that may carry large monthly totals.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The Avion Business suits businesses with high, varied spending that want to collect Avion points without thinking about categories, and that mostly pay in Canadian dollars.

It’s a weaker fit if a large share of your spending falls in one area, such as fuel or telecom, where a card with a higher category rate would earn more. Businesses with small monthly totals may also struggle to justify a $175 fee.

It can also work alongside a category card. Put fuel or telecom on a card that rewards those costs, and use the Avion Business for everything that wouldn’t earn a bonus anywhere else.

How it compares

The RBC Avion Visa Business costs $120 a year and earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases. At $8,000 a month, it would earn 96,000 points a year against 120,000 on the Avion Business, so you’d pay $55 more a year for 24,000 more points. Lower-spending businesses may prefer the cheaper card.

The BMO Ascend World Elite Business Mastercard costs $149, waived in the first year, and earns 4 points per dollar on gas, office supplies, and phone and internet bills, plus 1.5 points on everything else. A business spending $1,000 a month in those categories and $3,000 elsewhere would earn 102,000 points a year with BMO, compared with 60,000 on the Avion Business, though BMO and RBC points belong to different programs and aren’t directly comparable.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 720 or higher, and RBC makes the final decision based on your full credit and business profile.

A welcome offer may be available, but its size and spending requirement aren’t confirmed here. Check the RBC website for current terms, rates and fees before you apply.