Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Here are the best credit cards for startups and new businesses from our partners
Credit card▼ | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | $250 | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Flat-rate cash-back rewards | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Cash-back bonus categories + welcome offer | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $350 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.9/5 Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus | $95 | 1x-3x Points | 100,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.8/5 Best for Travel rewards with no annual fee | $0 | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for 0% intro APR (purchases + balance transfers) | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Ramp Card Apply now on Ramp's website | 3.7/5 Best for Corporate card for startups (no personal guarantee) | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | N/A | Apply now on Ramp's website |
Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 3.1/5 Best for Startups with venture backing | $0 | 1x-7x Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Charge card for startups | $150 | 2%-5% Cashback | $1,200 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.6/5 Best for AmEx Membership Rewards | $0 | 1x-2x Points | 15,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall cash-back card for startups | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.9/5 Best for Incorporated startups with fair credit | $0 | 1.5% | $200 | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
American Express® Business Gold Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Bonus categories that sync with your spending | $375 | 1x-4x Points | 70,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for 4X points on travel (up to $150K) | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 1x-5x Points | 60,000 Points | Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Credit card▼ | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | $250 | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Flat-rate cash-back rewards | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Cash-back bonus categories + welcome offer | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $350 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.9/5 Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus | $95 | 1x-3x Points | 100,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.8/5 Best for Travel rewards with no annual fee | $0 | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for 0% intro APR (purchases + balance transfers) | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Ramp Card Apply now on Ramp's website | 3.7/5 Best for Corporate card for startups (no personal guarantee) | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | N/A | Apply now on Ramp's website |
Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 3.1/5 Best for Startups with venture backing | $0 | 1x-7x Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Charge card for startups | $150 | 2%-5% Cashback | $1,200 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.6/5 Best for AmEx Membership Rewards | $0 | 1x-2x Points | 15,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall cash-back card for startups | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.9/5 Best for Incorporated startups with fair credit | $0 | 1.5% | $200 | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
American Express® Business Gold Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Bonus categories that sync with your spending | $375 | 1x-4x Points | 70,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for 4X points on travel (up to $150K) | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 1x-5x Points | 60,000 Points | Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Discover business products tailored to your needs
Monitor your business credit score, manage your cash flow, and get curated recommendations to drive your business’s growth.
I'M INTERESTED IN:
Our pick for
Startups with annual spend below $50K
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
on American Express' website
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- 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, 18.49% - 26.49%, 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 up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. 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.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Flat-rate cash-back rewards
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
on Capital One's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Earn a $750 bonus when you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account
- Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Cash-back bonus categories + welcome offer
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
on Chase's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Travel rewards + sign-up bonus
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
on Chase's website
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 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 25% 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
Our pick for
Travel rewards with no annual fee
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
on Bank of America's website
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
on Bank of America's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent, or join Preferred Rewards for Business for no fee, and earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points for every $1 spent on all purchases if you have a Bank of America® business checking account and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier.
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
- Choose how to redeem points for a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America® Travel Center, for cash back or gift cards.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.49% to 28.49% will apply.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
0% intro APR (purchases + balance transfers)
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
on US Bank's website
Pros
- Bonus cash back categories
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 19.24% - 28.24%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Corporate card for startups (no personal guarantee)
Ramp Card
on Ramp's website
Pros
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Simple, straightforward rewards
- No personal guarantee or credit check
- Direct integrations with popular tools and card-level spending controls and alerts
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- Not available to sole proprietors or unincorporated businesses
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, no minimum spend required.
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
- No personal credit check or personal guarantee required.
- Issue unlimited virtual cards and physical cards for each employee.
- Prevent out-of-policy spending with built-in controls, including spend restrictions by category or merchant.
- Ramp is a corporate charge card powered by Visa. Businesses are required to pay the monthly balance in full by each statement period.
- Must have at least $75,000 in cash in any U.S. business bank account to qualify.
- Must have most of your operations and corporate spend in the US (although Ramp does support international transactions and will waive all related transaction fees).
- Ramp is only available to corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships. Individuals, sole proprietorships and unregistered businesses are not eligible.
Our pick for
Startups with venture backing
Brex Card
on Brex's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Qualify with limited/bad credit
- Bonus categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- No personal guarantee
Cons
- Complicated rewards structure
- High capital requirement for approval
- Daily repayment may be required
- Get 10,000 points when you spend $3,000 on a Brex Card within your first 3 months.
- No personal guarantee needed – Brex does not ask for a personal credit check or security deposit during the application.
- Credit limits 10-20x higher than traditional small business corporate cards.
- Minimum bank balance of $50,000 from professional investors may be required to qualify for Brex.
- Exclusive signup offers from the best products and tools for your business (e.g. AWS, Google Ads, WeWork, Salesforce) worth up to $150,000 in value.
- Earn points on every dollar spent with industry-leading multipliers: 7x on rideshare, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x on restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x on all other transactions.
- Earn 3x Brex Rewards points on all eligible Apple purchases through the link or your Brex dashboard.
- Miles transfer program to 7 airlines (including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air France, and more) and their loyalty programs, giving Brex customers access to book travel across all of the major global airline alliances - Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam.
- 30-day charge card running on the Mastercard network. Enjoy global acceptance with no foreign transaction fees.
- Build business credit: Brex partners with Dun & Bradstreet and Experian to report your on-time payments.
- Make employee expenses seamless - automated receipt-capture and expense matching and reconciliation via text, email, and mobile app. Instantly add new users and set spending limits.
- Contactless pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- Simplify reconciliation with built-in integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and more.
Our pick for
Charge card for startups
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
on Capital One's website
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- Rewards don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
- High spending requirement to hit full welcome bonus, annual bonus offers
- Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile
- Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
- $150 annual fee
- Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
AmEx Membership Rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
on American Express' website
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
- *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Overall cash-back card for startups
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
on Chase's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- 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.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Incorporated startups with fair credit
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
on Capital on Tap's website
Pros
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
- 1.5% rewards on all spend, no caps or restrictions
- Earn $200 cashback when you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months.
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign exchange fees
- APRs range from 18.49% to 35.99% variable
- Unlimited cards for your employees
- Capital on Tap Business Credit Cards are issued by WebBank
Our pick for
Bonus categories that sync with your spending
American Express® Business Gold Card
on American Express' website
Pros
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle 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 $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
- Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
- *Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
4X points on travel (up to $150K)
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
on US Bank's website
Pros
- Bonus categories
- Welcome offer
- Annual fee waived for the first year
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- No intro APR offer
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect™ World Elite Mastercard®, the business travel card that's 5X more rewarding.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points, worth $600 if you spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days from account opening.
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- Earn 4X points on travel, gas and EV charging stations on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend.
- Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers.
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn a $25 statement credit on every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter.
- Points transfer between business and consumer U.S. Bank Altitude products (excluding Reserve).
- Airport lounge access - Priority Pass™ Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide, plus four complimentary visits per membership year.
- Divide large purchases into fixed monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
View Rates & Fees
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
American Express® Business Gold Card
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Ramp Card
Brex Card
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
- Figure out what you can qualify for. The better your personal credit, the more business credit card options you’ll have. If your FICO score is below 690, focus on business credit cards for fair credit (FICO scores typically from 630 to 689) or business credit cards for bad credit (FICO scores below 630).
- Weigh the annual fee against potential rewards. Some credit cards charge annual fees, which may be hundreds of dollars. Those cards also tend to offer generous rewards on travel or other types of spending. If the rewards outweigh that cost, paying a fee may be worth it (plus, the annual fee may be tax deductible). But you can also choose from a number of business credit cards with no annual fee so your new business has one less expense.
- Look for a long intro period. A business credit card with a 0% APR introductory offer can help you pay off startup expenses over time — 12 or more billing cycles, in some cases — without owing interest on the balance you roll over.
- Consider a charge card. Business charge cards typically have no preset spending limit, making them a good option for startups with big expenses and an influx of cash. With a charge card, you’ll typically have to pay off your balance in full every month, though some — theInk Business Premier® Credit Card, for example — will let you finance certain purchases. So only opt for a charge card if you’re confident your cash flow can reliably keep pace with your expenses.
- Find rewards that match your spending. Some cash-back business credit cards offer a flat rewards rate on all your company’s spending, regardless of what you’re buying. Others offer higher rewards rates in categories like travel or gas — or on spending with specific companies, like Amazon or Lowe’s. Choose a card that’s likely to align with your purchasing patterns.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Many business credit cards let you combine rewards from the same issuer — including points earned on personal cards — and potentially increase the redemption value. For example, transferring points from the- Access to financing. New businesses generally don’t qualify for business loans due to their lack of a track record. Business credit cards offer startup funding that can help you cover costs while you build revenue. Credit cards are one of the most expensive forms of financing due to their high interest rates, though, so look for a 0% intro APR period if you want to spread out big expenses.
- Rewards for spending. New businesses often face a number of startup costs. A business credit card can earn you cash back or points for those purchases you have to make anyway. Some cards even offer bonus categories with bigger rewards on expenses like office supplies or advertising that you may need to invest in to get up and running.
- Separated finances. Business credit cards work a lot like personal credit cards. But all business owners, even freelancers and sole proprietors, should avoid using their personal credit cards for business spending and vice versa. A separate business credit card can help keep your books clean.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
It’s especially important for LLC owners to keep their business and personal finances separate. If you mix the two, your creditors could later argue that your LLC and personal finances weren’t really separate, which means you could lose the protection an LLC offers to your personal assets. Read our picks for the best business credit cards for LLCs.