8 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups in 2025
Best overall business credit card
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The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is the best credit card for startup businesses — you’ll earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
Key takeaways
- A business credit card can help startups build their credit while keeping their personal and business finances separate.
- Many types of startup owners may qualify for a business credit card — including sole proprietors and LLCs — even without a revenue source yet.
- If you haven’t established a business credit history, your personal credit history is typically used to approve your business credit card application.
- There are business card options available even if you have fair or bad credit.
As a startup owner, you’re likely juggling everything from hiring your first employees to acquiring different business licenses. On top of these complicated decisions, you’re trying to figure out what credit card you should be putting your new business expenses on.
Finding a business credit card doesn’t have to be another burden. If you know what type of card you’re looking for and where your business credit is at, you can narrow down your options pretty quickly. Choosing a credit card for your startup sooner rather than later can help you earn rewards while you invest in your business and start your accounting off on a clean slate by keeping your personal and business finances separate.
Find the best card for you
| Scenario | LendingTree's recommendation |
|---|---|
| I want a cash back card for my startup | The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card |
| I have bad credit | Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card |
I have fair credit| Capital One Spark Classic for Business |
|
| I own an online business | American Express® Business Gold Card |
| I want a large sign-up bonus | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
| I travel for business frequently | The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
| I want to finance a large purchase using an intro APR offer | U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card |
| I want unlimited cash back | U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card |
Compare the best business credit cards for startups
You can determine which business credit card is best for your startup by looking at how their annual fees, rewards rates and welcome offers compare. For example, if you’re looking for a $0-annual-fee card, the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card would be a good fit.
If you want a card that’s going to help you earn rewards, you can use it to invest back into your startup. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card or the American Express® Business Gold Card can be valuable.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
|
Winner
|
No annual fee | 1% - 2% cash back
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%
| $250 statement credit
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
| |
Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card*
|
Bad credit
|
$0 | 1.5% cash back
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
| N/A | |
Capital One Spark Classic for Business*
|
Fair credit
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| N/A | |
American Express® Business Gold Card
|
Online businesses
|
$375 | 1X - 4X points
| 100,000 points
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
| |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card*
|
Sign-up bonus
|
$95 | 1X - 3X points
| 90,000 points
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Businses travel
|
$895 | 1X - 5X points
| 200,000 points
Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
| |
U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card*
|
Intro APR on purchases
|
$0 | N/A | N/A | |
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card*
|
Unlimited cash back
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| $500 cash back
Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4,500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
|
How we chose these cards
We take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to identify the best business credit cards for startups. We use an objective rating and ranking system that evaluates over 200 credit cards from more than 50 issuers. All recommendations are made by LendingTree’s editorial team, completely independent of affiliate partnerships or compensation. Every card is selected based on its merit and ability to help people achieve their financial goals. We use the following criteria to make our picks:
We calculate the rewards earned for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes sign-up bonuses and annual bonuses (including annual free night certificates). We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum redemption thresholds, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
We also compare a card’s benefits — such as purchase protections, travel protections, elite status benefits and travel credits — against benefits from other cards.
Note that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best rewards credit card for business. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s bonus categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
Top business credit cards for startups
Winner (cash back credit card for startups)
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: A generous flat-rate cash back* rewards program, an introductory APR offer and the ability to spend above your credit limit give you lots of flexibility.
- No annual fee
- High rate of cash back* on every purchase
- Intro APR offer on purchases
- Solid welcome offer
- Spending cap on bonus rewards
- Charges a foreign transaction fee
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is our overall pick for the best business credit card for startup businesses. That’s because it offers startup-friendly features, like elevated cash back* on purchases up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year, an introductory APR offer and no annual fee.
This card is also a fine choice for making big purchases for your new business. You’ll get an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, followed by a 16.99% - 26.99% Variable APR. This gives you a a good amount of time to pay off your purchase with no interest; plus, you can use the cash back* from the welcome offer to help pay it off.
Furthermore, this card gives you flexibility in making large purchases through Expanded Buying Power. Amex may allow you to spend above your credit limit, based on factors including your payment history, credit record and financial resources that the issuer is aware of. (Note, however, that whenever you spend above your credit limit, the amount above your limit will need to be paid in full by your due date.)
Expert’s take: This card would make an excellent first business card for many startup owners, regardless of industry. It’s hard to beat its valuable cash back* rate and other business perks for no annual fee.
– Tracy Brackman, senior credit cards editor at LendingTree
→ Learn more about The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.99% - 26.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on the first $50,000 of purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Rates & Fees
Best startup credit card for bad credit
Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: You’ll get free access to your business credit score, which can help you keep better track of your credit journey.
- $0 annual fee
- Simple cash back rate
- Free access to business credit scores
- Cash flow management tools
- High security deposit required
- No intro APR
- No sign-up bonus
The Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a solid option if you or your business has bad credit, since it’s a secured credit card. This means it’s a more accessible option than typical credit cards and reports your payments to the three credit bureaus.
You will need to put down at least a $1,000 security deposit, which is high compared to most other secured credit cards. Your security deposit will act as your credit limit, so the plus side is a higher deposit means you have a higher credit limit and more wiggle room for your business to work with.
Expert’s take: The Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is targeted toward business owners with less-than-ideal credit, but its solid rewards rate with no earning cap is a valuable perk you’d expect from an unsecured card.
– Tracy Brackman, senior credit cards editor at LendingTree
→ Learn more about the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual caps
- $0 annual fee
- Open an account with a $1,000 minimum deposit
- Cash flow management tools, including automatic payments, transfers and download into QuickBooks
Unsecured business credit card for startups with fair credit
Capital One Spark Classic for Business*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: The recommended credit requirements open doors to entrepreneurs with lower credit scores. The flat-rate rewards program also appeals to those who appreciate simplicity.
- $0 annual fee
- Earn cash back rewards with every purchase
- Open to consumers with fair credit
- 1% cash back rewards rate is lower than other cards
- High regular APR
- No intro APR
- No sign-up bonus
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business has a $0 annual fee and lets you earn unlimited 1% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions. Plus, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.
Although you can earn cash back on every purchase, the earning rate is lackluster. This card’s main appeal is that applicants with lower credit scores can apply. While the top business credit cards are available to those with good or excellent credit, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is recommended for those with fair credit.
Expert’s take: While the Capital One Spark Classic for Business lacks impressive benefits, it can be a good stepping stone for startup owners looking to qualify for more valuable cards in the future.
– Tracy Brackman, senior credit cards editor at LendingTree
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions. Plus, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.
- No annual fee
- Build and strengthen credit for your business by using this credit card responsibly
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
Startup card for online businesses
American Express® Business Gold Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: Your purchases earn flexible points, and you can earn an elevated rate in two of your top eligible categories each month. This includes qualifying software and electronics, which makes it a great option for tech startups.
- Excellent welcome offer
- Generous rewards on eligible purchases
- Transfer points to 15-plus loyalty programs
- $375 annual fee
- Rewards good mostly for travel
- Bonus spending has an annual cap
One of the best benefits of the American Express® Business Gold Card is that the bonus spending is tailored to your specific business.
The best part is that the bonus categories can change each month, making it a great option if your spending changes from time to time. Plus, the points that you earn are flexible and can be redeemed for a variety of travel purchases, including transfers to more than 15 hotel and airline loyalty programs.
Expert’s take: If you plan to spend a lot on the card’s eligible categories, then the annual fee shouldn’t scare you. This card can be great for startup owners who don’t mind the complex rewards rate.
– Robin Ratcliff, senior managing editor at LendingTree
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.*
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
- The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- *Terms Apply
- Rates & Fees
Sign-up bonus for startups
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: This card can be a great option for startups or other businesses that spend heavily on qualifying social media advertising, shipping and internet services.
- Outstanding sign-up bonus
- Solid earnings on common business purchases
- Transfer points to 10+ hotel and airline partners
- No foreign transaction fees
- Points are worth more on Chase TravelSM redemptions
- $95 annual fee
- No 0% intro APR offer
If you’re looking for a business credit card with a large sign-up bonus, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card may be right for you. It also comes with bonus spending categories that can be attractive for many businesses, including travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. So if your business does a lot of spending in these categories, it’s yet another reason to consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
The perks of the card can easily outweigh the $95 annual fee, but the card does lose some appeal with its lack of an introductory 0% APR offer.
Expert’s take: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card caters to many types of startup owners with its practical rewards categories — and its sign-up bonus just sweetens the deal. Since it is so valuable, you can plan a big purchase around the sign-up bonus to maximize its value.
– Robin Ratcliff, senior managing editor at LendingTree
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Travel business card for startups
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: With a long list of travel perks — including airport lounge access — this card is ideal for startup owners who travel often.
- Outstanding array of luxury travel benefits
- Over $2,000 worth of annual statement credits (enrollment required)
- High rewards rate on travel purchases
- Access to the world’s largest lounge network
- $895 annual fee
- Few bonus spending categories outside travel
- Statement credits can be difficult to use
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty $895 annual fee but also has outstanding luxury and travel benefits. If you frequently travel for your startup, you can more than justify the annual fee with over $2,000 in statement credits (terms apply and enrollment required) and access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection®.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is certainly not for everyone. But if the unparalleled list of credits and benefits can help you supercharge your startup, this might be the card you need.
Expert’s take: Although it has a whopping annual fee, startup owners can certainly recoup it by making sure to squeeze out all the benefits The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has to offer.
– Robin Ratcliff, senior managing editor at LendingTree
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- New! Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- New! Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- New! Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Enhanced! 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- $895 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
0% APR business credit for startups
U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: The long introductory APR offer on new purchases may give your business more financial flexibility.
- Outstanding intro APR on purchases
- $0 annual fee
- No sign-up bonus
- No rewards for ongoing spending
- Balance transfer fee
- Foreign transaction fee
The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card features one of the longest introductory periods around for purchases. You’ll get a 0% intro on purchases for 12 billing cycles, after which a 16.49% - 25.49% Variable APR applies.
So if you need to spend big to get your startup off the ground and want a lengthy intro APR card to use for paying off your purchases, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card is the card to get.
Other business cards may serve you better if you want to rack up rewards or get a big sign-up bonus, but this one excels when you need maximum time without paying interest.
Expert’s take: It’s hard to come by a business card that offers a long intro APR. The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card can provide a long and flexible financing option for those daunting startup costs.
– Sarah Fisher, deputy editor at LendingTree
- 0% Intro APR on purchase and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 16.49% - 25.49%.
- Save on interest when you transfer balances from higher rate credit cards.
- Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses and employee spending.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Unlimited cash back rewards
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Benefits for startups: This card comes with an introductory APR on new purchases, plus an annual statement credit for a qualifying software subscription.
- $0 annual fee
- Earn unlimited cash back on eligible business expenses
- Generous sign-up bonus
- Intro APR on purchases
- Annual credit for software subscription expenses
- Modest rewards rate on general purchases
- Fuel and EV charging purchases of more than $200 only earn 1% cash back
- Foreign transaction fees
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card offers a large sign-up bonus: Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4,500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account. Most cards only allow 90 days or three months to earn the bonus.
You’ll get 3% cash back on lucrative categories, like gas stations and restaurants.
You’ll also get a 0% intro on purchases for 12 billing cycles, after which a 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR applies. Plus, you can earn a $100 annual statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses like QuickBooks or FreshBooks. The credit is automatically applied after 11 consecutive months of eligible payments to the service provider.
Expert’s take: This card offers great value for a $0 annual fee. It offers an annual statement credit of up to $100 on certain software subscription services, an intro APR period, a generous welcome offer and cash back rewards on eligible business expenses.
– Sarah Fisher, deputy editor at LendingTree
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4,500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Center when using your card.
- Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Who can get a business card?
As a startup owner, it can be confusing to understand who’s eligible for a business credit card — especially if you don’t yet have a revenue stream or your business isn’t legally structured yet. However, you can and should apply for a business card in those scenarios.
Can you get a business credit card with no revenue?
You can get a business card even if your startup is not making a profit or even any revenue yet. However, you’ll likely need to have good personal credit if you want to get approved in this scenario. Get a free personal credit report before you apply to make sure it’s clear of any errors to better your chances of getting approved.
Can you get a business credit card without an EIN?
If you’re a sole proprietor in the early stages of your business, you may not have filed for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) yet. Although an EIN is not technically required for you to apply for a business card from many issuers, it’s best if you apply for one before you truly need it.
Your EIN is like a Social Security Number (SSN) for your business and without one, you may be asked to use your personal SSN on your business card application. Getting an EIN is free, quick and easy — simply follow the instructions on the IRS website.
Why you should have a business credit card as a startup owner
Having to find and apply for the right business card for you could be a hassle when you’re dealing with starting a small business. But it’s worth the time it takes to find the right match for several reasons:
- Separation between personal and business finances: Keeping your personal and business finances separate, even if you’re a one-person operation, is important to protect your assets legally and keep your bookkeeping clean.
- Earn cash back or travel rewards: Earning rewards on your purchases in the form of cash back or points can help your business save — even more so if you have a rewards-earning strategy with multiple cards.
- Purchase and travel protections: A business credit card can offer peace of mind on your business and/or travel purchases if something goes wrong.
- Easier taxes and accounting: Bookkeeping throughout the year and tax season is a lot easier when your business expenses are neatly organized and categorized.
- Build business credit: As your business grows and you need a good business credit score for things like loans, a good credit history can open up many opportunities.
How to get a business credit card for a startup
- Find out your personal credit score: Most issuers will run a hard check on your personal credit score when you apply for a business credit card. Knowing your credit score can help you determine if you may need to apply for secured credit cards or other business cards geared toward bad credit.
- Determine what types of expenses you’ll pay: The types of expenses your business will make can help you decide what kind of rewards you should look into for your future credit card. That may be gas, travel, office supplies or other common spending categories.
- Research credit card options: There are plenty of business cards out there to choose from. Look for cards that reward your potential common expense categories in the annual fee range you’d prefer.
- Gather your personal and business information: Some information you may need to fill out a business credit card application includes your EIN, your business revenue, estimated monthly spend and number of employees.
- Get prequalified: Most common issuers will let you see if you’re prequalified for a card, which gives you an idea whether you’ll be approved or not with no cost or damage to your credit. If you’re prequalified, it’s not a guarantee you’ll be approved — but it can offer peace of mind when filing a real application.
- Submit your application online: Once you’ve narrowed down the card you want, you can simply fill out an application on the issuer’s website.
What is a personal guarantee?
Most business cards will require a personal guarantee to apply for a card. That means that you’re personally liable for not paying your business debts. Depending on the card, you may be liable up to a certain amount of debt or the full amount of debt.
There are business card options that don’t require a personal guarantee. Although it can sound scary, opting for a card with a personal guarantee can widen your options and increase your chances of getting approved for a card.
Do you need a good credit score to get a business card?
A good personal credit score can certainly help you get your first credit card for your new business. However, it’s not necessarily required for you to get a business card even if you have no business credit yet.
There are options available, but it’s a good idea to do what you can to improve your personal credit score before you apply for your first business credit card. That can include pulling your credit report for free and seeing where your credit is hurting and looking for any errors bringing your score down.
What types of business cards can you get with bad credit?
If you have bad credit, your options for a business credit card are more limited. Secured business cards like the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card are a more accessible option for business owners with bad credit. They require a refundable security deposit that acts as your credit limit for the card and may come with fewer perks than typical business cards.
There are options for fair credit as well, like the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It comes with a $0 annual fee and a flat cash back rewards rate.
Does a business credit card impact personal credit?
When you apply for a business credit card, issuers will do a hard pull on your credit, which can temporarily lower your credit score. But outside your application, there are a few ways your business credit card can impact your personal credit.
Different issuers have different policies for reporting your business credit card activity to consumer credit card bureaus. Most issuers will only report negative information from your business card, like late payments or delinquencies, which can hurt your personal credit.
Making your payments on time generally won’t be reported to personal credit bureaus. However, on-time payments will help you build your business credit.
How to build business credit
Building your business credit can take time, but it will set you up for success in the long run.
- Use your credit card responsibly: Just like you should with a personal credit card, make all your business card payments in full and on time.
- Monitor your business credit reports: Regularly checking your business credit score and reports can help you stay on top of your credit progress. Many business cards will come with credit monitoring tools to help you track your score, but you can order a business credit report on Equifax or Experian for more details.
- Get a DUNS number: A DUNS number is issued by the business credit bureau Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and can help give you a deeper understanding of your business’s credit health. Getting your DUNS number is free and can be done on the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) website.
- Get vendors to report your payments to credit bureaus: Apart from your credit card payments, your payments to vendors can also help you build your business credit. It’s not uncommon for business owners, especially smaller ones, to talk to their vendors about having them report your on-time payments to the business credit bureaus.
- Use small loans or lines of credit: Small business loans or lines of credit are both ways you can build your business credit, though they both have pros and cons. For startups, lines of credit may be easier to get since secured options are available by putting up some collateral.
How long does it take to build business credit?
It can take several months or longer to build your business credit. There’s no set timeline, but getting a business credit card and making on-time payments each month is a solid way to start your credit journey.
Small business resources for startups
Getting a startup off the ground requires work and money. While a small business credit card can go a long way in offering financial flexibility, there are other resources you can use for anything from renting office space to paying vendors.
- Startup business loans can help you access between $500 and $5 million for your business.
- Small business grants come from federal, state and corporate sources. If applicable, check out these small business grants for minorities and business grants for women.
- Business lines of credit usually require a steady track record, both financially and as a business.
- Business loans may be harder to obtain for startups — but if your business has an established credit history, they may be an option.
- Personal loans may be easier to get, but they typically come with higher rates and more personal liability.
FAQs about business cards for startups
Your business does not need to be registered as an LLC or other type of corporation to get a business credit card. You can be a sole proprietor or freelancer and still qualify for a business credit card as long as you are trying to make a profit from your goods or services.
You should receive an instantaneous decision after you fill out an online application for a business credit card.
There’s no single easiest credit card for business owners to get. However, applying for a secured card can help improve your chances of getting approved since these are more accessible to people with bad or fair credit, though you will need to put down a security deposit.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card, Capital One Spark Classic for Business, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card and U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
