December 22, 2022
*Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
This article was last updated December 22, 2022 . Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is our top pick for the overall best business card for startups. This charge card offers flexibility in your spending limit and earns a flat-rate cash back on every purchase you make with the card.
When you’re moving full speed ahead to launch an innovative new company, making sure your business records are separate from your personal finances can save you time and prevent headaches down the road. One way to do that is to open a business credit card for your startup. The right card can help you manage your cash flow and separate your business spending from your personal life, as well as offering rewards and helpful benefits.
Based on our research of cards available through LendingTree, as well as top cards offered by major issuers, we selected some of the best business cards for startups.
Earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.
In addition to the sign-up bonus, it’s possible to earn an annual $200 cash bonus in years that you spend $200,000 or more on the card. That’s more than enough to recoup the amount of the $150 annual fee.
Where the Capital One Spark Cash Plus stands out is that there’s no preset spending limit. This is a charge card, and unlike a traditional small business credit card — with a credit limit you can’t spend beyond — your spending power adapts based on factors such as spending behavior, payment history and credit profile.
Note that unlike a traditional credit card, you can’t carry a balance from month to month on the Capital One Spark Cash Plus. You must pay in full every month or you’ll be charged a 2.99% monthly late fee.
You can travel abroad without worrying about a foreign transaction fee because this card charges none.
When you’re getting a new business up and running, you might need flexible spending power. With no preset spending limit, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers that. This charge card is ideal for startups that need to be nimble and move quickly, even when that means having to make a big purchase.
Earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.
In addition to the sign-up bonus, it’s possible to earn an annual $200 cash bonus in years that you spend $200,000 or more on the card. That’s more than enough to recoup the amount of the $150 annual fee.
Where the Capital One Spark Cash Plus stands out is that there’s no preset spending limit. This is a charge card, and unlike a traditional small business credit card — with a credit limit you can’t spend beyond — your spending power adapts based on factors such as spending behavior, payment history and credit profile.
Note that unlike a traditional credit card, you can’t carry a balance from month to month on the Capital One Spark Cash Plus. You must pay in full every month or you’ll be charged a 2.99% monthly late fee.
You can travel abroad without worrying about a foreign transaction fee because this card charges none.
When you’re getting a new business up and running, you might need flexible spending power. With no preset spending limit, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers that. This charge card is ideal for startups that need to be nimble and move quickly, even when that means having to make a big purchase.
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. If you max out the spending cap on the 2% rate, you’ll earn $1,000 in cash back. Plus, for the welcome offer, earn a earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months..
There’s a solid 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, after which a 17.99% - 25.99% variable APR applies. Best of all, there’s no annual fee to carry the card.
However, if traveling abroad, leave your American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card at home because there is a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.
If your startup needs a business card with no annual fee and an excellent flat cashback rate (up to the spending cap) the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card might be the card for you. Your cash back is automatically redeemed as a statement credit to your account on a monthly basis, keeping things simple.
And with its intro APR period on purchases and a decent welcome offer, this card is also a fine choice when you know you have big purchases to make for your new business.
Finally, this card offers a benefit called Expanded Buying Power. Amex may allow you to spend above your credit limit, based on factors such as your use of the card, your payment history, your credit record, and any financial resources that the issuer is aware you have. Note that whenever you spend above your credit limit, the amount above your limit will be due in full each part as part of your minimum payment due.
To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.
To see rates & fees for American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. If you max out the spending cap on the 2% rate, you’ll earn $1,000 in cash back. Plus, for the welcome offer, earn a earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months..
There’s a solid 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, after which a 17.99% - 25.99% variable APR applies. Best of all, there’s no annual fee to carry the card.
However, if traveling abroad, leave your American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card at home because there is a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.
If your startup needs a business card with no annual fee and an excellent flat cashback rate (up to the spending cap) the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card might be the card for you. Your cash back is automatically redeemed as a statement credit to your account on a monthly basis, keeping things simple.
And with its intro APR period on purchases and a decent welcome offer, this card is also a fine choice when you know you have big purchases to make for your new business.
Finally, this card offers a benefit called Expanded Buying Power. Amex may allow you to spend above your credit limit, based on factors such as your use of the card, your payment history, your credit record, and any financial resources that the issuer is aware you have. Note that whenever you spend above your credit limit, the amount above your limit will be due in full each part as part of your minimum payment due.
To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.
To see rates & fees for American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.
Check out our American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card review.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. If you can meet the high spend requirement, that’s a generous payout, especially since each point is worth 25% more when redeemed to book travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
Plus, earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn. If you max out spending cap on purchases that earn the 3X rate, you’ll earn 450,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points (that’s not factoring in what you can earn on purchases getting the 1X rate).
There is a $95 annual fee, but the value of the sign-up bonus far outweighs that in the first year. The foreign transaction fee is $0 and the card’s regular APR is 20.49% - 25.49% variable.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a great choice for your business if you’re going to be spending a lot in the first few months with the card and want to take advantage of that with a generous sign-up bonus.
If redeemed at 1 cent each, 100,000 points are worth $1,000. Or, if you take advantage of the 25% more value you get by using points to book travel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, that’s worth $1,250.
The card also offers excellent flexibility in transferring points 1:1 to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards®, JetBlue TrueBlue, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®, United MileagePlus®, Marriott Bonvoy™ and more.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. If you can meet the high spend requirement, that’s a generous payout, especially since each point is worth 25% more when redeemed to book travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
Plus, earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn. If you max out spending cap on purchases that earn the 3X rate, you’ll earn 450,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points (that’s not factoring in what you can earn on purchases getting the 1X rate).
There is a $95 annual fee, but the value of the sign-up bonus far outweighs that in the first year. The foreign transaction fee is $0 and the card’s regular APR is 20.49% - 25.49% variable.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a great choice for your business if you’re going to be spending a lot in the first few months with the card and want to take advantage of that with a generous sign-up bonus.
If redeemed at 1 cent each, 100,000 points are worth $1,000. Or, if you take advantage of the 25% more value you get by using points to book travel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, that’s worth $1,250.
The card also offers excellent flexibility in transferring points 1:1 to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards®, JetBlue TrueBlue, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®, United MileagePlus®, Marriott Bonvoy™ and more.
Check out our Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card review.
Earn 2 miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere. Plus, earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
And if business travel takes you outside the United States, don’t worry about being charged a foreign transaction fee, because the Capital One Spark Miles for Business has none.
There is an annual fee of $0 intro for first year; $95 after that. The card’s APR is 25.24% (variable).
If business requires you to travel frequently, and you just want to earn miles on every purchase without having to worry about different categories, consider the Capital One Spark Miles for Business.
Not only does this card earn miles at a great flat rate, but it also offers the flexibility to transfer miles to 19 airline and hotel partners (at a rate of 1:1, 2:1.5, or 2:1 depending on the specific partner).
Earn 2 miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere. Plus, earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
And if business travel takes you outside the United States, don’t worry about being charged a foreign transaction fee, because the Capital One Spark Miles for Business has none.
There is an annual fee of $0 intro for first year; $95 after that. The card’s APR is 25.24% (variable).
If business requires you to travel frequently, and you just want to earn miles on every purchase without having to worry about different categories, consider the Capital One Spark Miles for Business.
Not only does this card earn miles at a great flat rate, but it also offers the flexibility to transfer miles to 19 airline and hotel partners (at a rate of 1:1, 2:1.5, or 2:1 depending on the specific partner).
Check out our Capital One Spark Miles for Business review.
While the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or earn rewards, this no-frills small business card does come with long intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers.
Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles. After, a 16.49% to 25.49% APR applies.
Plus, get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. After that, a 16.49% to 25.49% APR applies. The balance transfer fee is either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
While the annual fee is $0, there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% on each foreign transaction.
If you need to spend big to get your startup off the ground, and you’re looking for a business credit card with a lengthy intro APR to give time to pay off your purchases without incurring interest charges, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card is the card to be looking at.
Or, if you need to save on interest charges from another, non-U.S. Bank card, the intro APR on balance transfers provides a generous amount of time to whittle down that balance. 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.
While the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or earn rewards, this no-frills small business card does come with long intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers.
Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles. After, a 16.49% to 25.49% APR applies.
Plus, get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. After that, a 16.49% to 25.49% APR applies. The balance transfer fee is either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
While the annual fee is $0, there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% on each foreign transaction.
If you need to spend big to get your startup off the ground, and you’re looking for a business credit card with a lengthy intro APR to give time to pay off your purchases without incurring interest charges, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card is the card to be looking at.
Or, if you need to save on interest charges from another, non-U.S. Bank card, the intro APR on balance transfers provides a generous amount of time to whittle down that balance. 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.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers cardholders 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Plus, new cardholders can earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
As befits a high-end travel card, the foreign transaction fee is none. The APR is 18.99% - 26.99% variable.
There is a $695 annual fee to carry the card, so it’s not for the infrequent traveler, but it comes with a long list of credits and benefits that make it worthwhile for business owners who are always on the go.
To see rates and fees for the Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
With a $695 annual fee, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express is certainly not for everyone.
But if you need an unparalleled list of credits and benefits that can help you supercharge your startup, this might be exactly the card you need. Some of what this card has to offer the savvy business owner include the following (and even more benefits are detailed under the benefits tab):
To see rates and fees for the Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers cardholders 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Plus, new cardholders can earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
As befits a high-end travel card, the foreign transaction fee is none. The APR is 18.99% - 26.99% variable.
There is a $695 annual fee to carry the card, so it’s not for the infrequent traveler, but it comes with a long list of credits and benefits that make it worthwhile for business owners who are always on the go.
To see rates and fees for the Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
With a $695 annual fee, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express is certainly not for everyone.
But if you need an unparalleled list of credits and benefits that can help you supercharge your startup, this might be exactly the card you need. Some of what this card has to offer the savvy business owner include the following (and even more benefits are detailed under the benefits tab):
To see rates and fees for the Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
Credit Card | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Intro Purchase APR | Regular APR | Recommended Credit | Card Review |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening | 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $150 | N/A | N/A | Excellent | Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review |
on American Express's secure site
| Terms Apply
|
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. | Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% | No annual fee | 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening | 17.99% - 25.99% Variable | Excellent/Good | American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Review |
![]() on Chase's secure site
|
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn. | $95 | N/A | 20.49% - 25.49% Variable | Excellent | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Review |
on Capital One's secure site
|
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. | 2 Miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that | N/A | 25.24% (Variable) | Excellent/Good | Capital One Spark Miles for Business Review |
|
N/A | N/A | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles | 16.49% to 25.49% | Excellent/Good | U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card Review |
![]() on American Express's secure site
| Terms Apply
|
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. | 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. | $695 | N/A | 18.99% - 26.99% Variable | Excellent/Good | The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Review |
The short answer is yes, it’s possible for business owners to get a business credit card for a startup. However, the longer answer is that you can be rejected for a business credit card based on a variety of factors just like you can for any credit card. For example, you can generally list the expected revenue for your business when applying, but an issuer might want to see proof of past revenue — that could present an issue for a new startup.
If you’re applying for a small business credit card, you as the business owner are personally responsible for what’s charged to the card. Some issuers only report business card activity to your personal credit if you fall behind on payments or incur other negative marks, but that’s not always the case; most Capital One business cards (the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is the exception) will report to your personal credit even with your account being in good standing, for example.
Note that corporate credit cards are a different matter and don’t require a personal guarantee.
Factors you should consider when choosing the best business credit card for your startup include whether you need an intro APR, whether it’s worth it to pay an annual fee in exchange for more robust benefits, and what type of rewards would be most useful to you (cash back, points or miles).
In selecting the best business credit cards for startups, we considered factors including reward programs, annual fees, and helpful features such as no preset spending limit or statement credits for travel expenses.
Most of the cards on this list have generous rewards programs. The one business card here that does not earn rewards offers a lengthy period of intro APR that makes it worthwhile if your startup is planning a big purchase and will need time to pay it off.
Some of the cards here charge annual fees and some do not. For those that do, taking advantage of rewards, sign-up bonuses or welcome offers, and well as any credits offered, can help recoup the annual fee amount.
Finally, certain cards fill a truly unique niche. For example, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers what may well be the widest ranging airport lounge access available with a travel card. For business owners who fly regularly throughout the year, that benefit offers substantial value.
To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.
To see rates and fees for the Business Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Glen Luke Flanagan is a senior credit card writer for LendingTree. He joined the team in June 2019, and covers topics including new credit cards, how your credit score works and what you need to know about credit card interest.
Before joining LendingTree, Glen worked in journalism and government communications. As a journalist at newspapers in North Carolina and South Carolina, his reporting won awards from the North Carolina Press Association and the South Carolina Press Association, respectively.
Glen earned his bachelor’s degree in media studies with a concentration in journalism from Radford University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2014. He also earned a master’s degree in English with a concentration in technical and professional communication, as well as a graduate certificate in marketing, from East Carolina University in May 2022.
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.