RBy Rez · 2 min read
Overview
The RBC Avion Visa Business is RBC Royal Bank's entry-level business Visa, designed for sole proprietors and small business owners who want a non-Infinite-tier business travel rewards card. Issued by RBC at $120 CAD annually, it earns 1 Avion point per $1 on all eligible business purchases — a flat rate without category multipliers — plus a 20% bonus at Petro-Canada (effectively 1.2x there) and 3x Avion on Hertz car rentals. Avion points transfer to British Airways Avios, American Airlines AAdvantage, WestJet Rewards, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, providing access to airline programs across multiple alliances from a single business card.
Who this card is for
This card fits Canadian sole proprietors, contractors, and small business owners who don't meet the income or business-credit thresholds of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business — or who simply prefer a lower-fee business card. The flat 1 Avion per $1 earn rate is straightforward; there are no spending caps and no category tracking. The fee structure is particularly favourable for cardholders who also hold a personal RBC Avion card: the business card's annual fee drops to $50 in that case. If you're a Petro-Canada regular for fuel or use Hertz for business rentals, the bonus categories add measurable value.
Key benefits
The 1 Avion per $1 base earn rate applies to every business purchase. On $5,000 CAD per month in business spend, that's 60,000 Avion points per year — enough for a return short-haul economy redemption or to combine with a welcome bonus toward a long-haul redemption.
The Petro-Canada link gives a 20% Avion bonus (effectively 1.2x) on fuel purchases, plus 3 cents/L cash savings at the pump when you link your card. The 3x Avion on Hertz car rentals is one of the strongest single-merchant earn rates among Canadian business cards.
Avion points pool across employee cards on the same account and can be combined with personal RBC Avion balances. Transfer flexibility — to British Airways Avios for short-haul redemptions, AAdvantage for Oneworld, WestJet for Canadian flights, and Cathay Asia Miles — is the core of the card's appeal.
Business travel insurance is included: trip cancellation, trip interruption, extended warranty (up to five years), and 90-day purchase security on eligible items.
Potential drawbacks
The 1x flat earn rate is conservative compared to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business at 1.25x, or to American Express business cards that earn higher-tier transferable points. The card lacks lounge access — that's reserved for Visa Infinite tier business cards. The $120 annual fee feels high relative to the earn rate unless you'll qualify for the $50 reduction by holding a personal Avion card. Without the Petro-Canada or Hertz link, the bonus categories don't apply.
How it compares
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business at $175 CAD annually earns 1.25 Avion per $1 on the first $75,000 of annual purchases (1x after) and includes Visa Infinite Concierge plus richer travel insurance — worth the extra $55 if you can clear the income requirement and want the elevated earn. Outside RBC's lineup, the TD Business Cash Back Visa is a no-fee business cashback card — suitable if cashback simplicity beats Avion transfer flexibility for your business.
Bottom line
A reasonable middle-ground choice for Canadian small businesses that want Avion's transfer flexibility without committing to the Infinite tier. The fee reduction for dual personal+business Avion cardholders is the strongest reason to pick this over standalone competitors.
