Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences 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.
The best business credit cards for startups and new businesses offer spending power coupled with benefits that let you spread out big expenses over time or boost your bottom line, like a long 0% annual percentage rate (APR) introductory period or cash back tied to travel or certain purchases.
Business credit card issuers prioritize your personal credit history, so even new businesses can choose from the best small-business credit cards if the owner has good credit. There are business credit cards for startups with no credit as well, including secured business credit cards.
All of our picks for the best business cards are chosen by our editorial team, who follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the business card for your company. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. View our full methodology.
Note: Some of our selections for the best business credit cards for startups can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences 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.
The best business credit cards for startups and new businesses offer spending power coupled with benefits that let you spread out big expenses over time or boost your bottom line, like a long 0% annual percentage rate (APR) introductory period or cash back tied to travel or certain purchases.
Business credit card issuers prioritize your personal credit history, so even new businesses can choose from the best small-business credit cards if the owner has good credit. There are business credit cards for startups with no credit as well, including secured business credit cards.
All of our picks for the best business cards are chosen by our editorial team, who follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the business card for your company. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. View our full methodology.
Note: Some of our selections for the best business credit cards for startups can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
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 | 5.0/5 Best for Overall business card for startups | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | N/A | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit Apply now on Capital One's website | 4.6/5 Best for Cash back (flat rate) + sign-up bonus | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Top 3 most visited 🏆 Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Cash back (bonus categories) + sign-up bonus | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $900 | Top 3 most visited 🏆 Apply now on Chase's website |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Travel rewards + big sign-up offer | $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 | 3.7/5 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 | 5.0/5 Best for Intro APR + balance transfers | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on US Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Ramp Card Apply now on Ramp's website | 4.0/5 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 | 3.2/5 Best for Startups with professional funding | $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 | 4.2/5 Best for New businesses with heavy spending | $150 | 2%-5% Cashback | $1,200 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 4.3/5 Best for Cash-back boost (up to 75%) | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $300 | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Top 3 most visited 🏆 Apply now on American Express' website | 4.9/5 Best for Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards | $0 | 1x-2x Points | N/A | |
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Top 3 most visited 🏆 Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall cash-back card for startups | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $900 | Top 3 most visited 🏆 Apply now on Chase's website |
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.8/5 Best for Incorporated businesses with fair credit | $0 | 1.5% | $200 | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Our pick for
Overall business card for startups
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- 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
Cash back (flat rate) + sign-up bonus
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 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) + sign-up bonus
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
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
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
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 $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from 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
- 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.
- 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 + big sign-up offer
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
100,000 Points
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
100,000 Points
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 Ultimate Rewards®
- 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 Ultimate Rewards®
- 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
Read Review
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x Points
Intro offer
30,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x Points
Intro offer
30,000 Points
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 on all purchases everywhere, every time-no matter how much you spend.
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire.
- You can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
- 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
Intro APR + balance transfers
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
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
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
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
Read Review
Apply now
on Ramp's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
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
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
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 professional funding
Brex Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Brex's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points
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
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points
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
New businesses with heavy spending
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,200
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
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$1,200
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
Cash-back boost (up to 75%)
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Read Review
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High cash back rate
Cons
- Has foreign transaction fee
- Requires excellent credit
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$300
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High cash back rate
Cons
- Has foreign transaction fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- No annual cap and cash rewards don’t expire.
- No annual fee.
- You can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62% cash back on all purchases.
- Choose how to redeem your cash rewards – as a deposit into your Bank of America® checking or savings account, as a card statement credit or as a check mailed to you.
- 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
Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x Points
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x Points
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- 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
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$900
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
- Earn $900 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 businesses with fair credit
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Capital on Tap's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
$200
Pros
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Apply without a hard credit check
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
$200
Pros
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Apply without a hard credit check
- 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
- Applying has no impact on credit score
- APRs range from 17.74% to 35.99% variable
- Unlimited cards for your employees
- Capital on Tap Business Credit Cards are issued by WebBank
Full list of editorial picks: Best credit cards for startups and new businesses
Select the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Best overall business card for startups
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
boasts one of the better introductory APR offers among business credit cards. Beyond that, you earn a solid cash-back rate (at least for a while — the rate drops after you hit a spending threshold). There's also a $0
annual fee. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Flat-rate cash-back rewards
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit
offers a generous, attainable sign-up bonus, no annual fee and flat-rate cash-back rewards. Businesses that expect to spend $30,000 or more in their first three months should look to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus
, which offers a higher bonus and rewards rate (for a higher annual fee). Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Cash-back bonus categories, sign-up bonus
If your business's spending matches the bonus categories on the
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
, you can rack up some serious cash back. (If not, then look elsewhere.) There's an excellent sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee cash-back card, plus an introductory APR period for purchases. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Travel rewards + big sign-up offer
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere (assuming you spend enough to earn it), then gives you bonus rewards in common business spending categories. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Travel rewards (no annual fee)
This is the business version of the issuer's excellent no-annual-fee travel card. The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
pays solid rewards on every purchase and gives you wide flexibility in redeeming your points for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: 0% intro APR offer
The
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
is a solid cash-back card for business owners. Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases
. Plus, the card offers a competitive welcome bonus and 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%-28.24% Variable APR
— all with a $0
annual fee. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Corporate card for startups (no personal guarantee)
The
Ramp Card
's main selling point: It does not require a credit check or personal guarantee. You just need strong revenue and a healthy bank balance. The corporate charge card also offers unlimited cash-back rewards and card-level spending controls with no annual fee. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: New businesses with professional funding
Unlike most cards designed for entrepreneurs, the
Brex Card
doesn't require the cardholder to personally guarantee the debt on the card. Instead, Brex determines creditworthiness by evaluating a company's cash balance, spending patterns and investors. It's a good option when a business owner has a thin credit file but is well capitalized. The card earns rewards, too. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Startups with heavy spending
The
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
is an excellent option for business operators whose expenses don't fall into the bonus categories on other business credit cards. You get a high, flat rewards rate on every purchase, with no limit to how much you can earn. And you can earn a welcome bonus if you hit certain spending requirements. Just make sure that you can pay off your spending in full each month, as this is a charge card that doesn't let you revolve a balance. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Sole proprietors with fair credit
The rewards rate on the
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
isn't going to wow anyone; there's no sign-up bonus and the APR is high. What makes this card valuable is that it's available to business operators with fair credit (a credit score between 630-689), who don't have a lot of options in business credit cards — and it has no annual fee.Our pick for: Incorporated businesses with fair credit
The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
offers 1.5%
cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. And while it's available to business owners with fair credit, Capital on Tap says applicants with a FICO score of 670 or higher have the best chance of approval. One important note: This card is not available to sole proprietors, which excludes the majority of businesses. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Cash-back boost (up to 75%)
If your spending doesn't align with typical bonus categories, consider the
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
. This card offers 1.5%
cash back on all purchases with no annual cap. Rewards can climb even higher for Bank of America® customers who qualify for the Preferred Rewards for Business tier — up to 2.62% — which is tough to beat among flat-rate cash-back business credit cards. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
is a near-twin to The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, with one key difference: Rather than cash back, it pays you in AmEx Membership Rewards points. Learn more and apply.Our pick for: Overall cash-back card for startups
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
earns a simple, flat cash-back rate on every purchase, with no limit on how much you can earn. The sign-up bonus is outstanding for a cash-back card, particularly one with no annual fee, and there's an intro APR period for purchases. Learn more and apply.Can new businesses get business credit cards?
If you have good personal credit, you should have no issue getting a business credit card for a new business, since most issuers base approval on your personal FICO score instead of your business’s financial history.
Almost all business credit cards require a personal guarantee. This is a promise that if your business can’t repay the debt, you will.
If you have no personal credit history or bad credit, you can probably still get a business credit card, though you will have fewer options. You may need to start with a secured business credit card, which requires you to deposit cash with your credit card issuer that they can pull from if you don’t pay your bill.
Professionally funded startups or incorporated businesses with at least $50,000 in a business bank account may also qualify for a corporate credit card, which bases approval on company finances and business credit score. Corporate cards do not require a personal guarantee, which offers some added protection for your personal finances.
Do startups need business credit cards?
Startups don’t necessarily need business credit cards, but they offer some useful benefits.
- 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.- 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.
How do new small businesses establish credit?
Opening a business credit card is one of the first steps toward establishing and building business credit. Making on-time payments and keeping your spending low (20% to 30% of your credit limit) can help you strengthen your business credit score over time.
Why does that matter? A strong business credit score can help you establish trade lines and, later on, secure a business loan for your startup.
Registering your business, getting an EIN and applying for an identification number with business credit firm Dun & Bradstreet can also help you build business credit.
How to choose the best card for your new business
Follow these steps to find the right business credit card for your startup.
- Figure out what you can qualify for. The better your personal credit, the more business credit card options you’ll have. Focus on business credit cards for fair credit or business credit cards for bad credit if your credit score falls into those categories.
- Look for fees. 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. But there are also a number of business credit cards with no annual fee to choose from.
- Look for a long intro period. A business credit card with a 0% APR intro 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.
- Understand how charge cards work. Some business credit cards — like Ramp, Brex and Capital One Spark Cash Plus — are charge cards, which have to be paid off in full every month. You may not have encountered cards like these in your personal finances, so look out for these while researching your options. Avoid charge cards until your cash flow can reliably keep pace with your expenses.
- Look at rewards categories. 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.
To view rates and fees of
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, see this page.Last updated on September 21, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business credit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Business credit cards are available to most new businesses, including LLCs, provided the owner applying for the cards has strong personal credit. However, LLC owners will probably still have to sign personal guarantees to qualify — so you’ll be on the hook if your business can’t pay its credit card bill.
See our picks for the best business cards for LLCs.
You probably can’t get a business credit card with only your EIN — unless you’re applying for a corporate card, which are only available to incorporated businesses generating large amounts of revenue. For most business credit cards, you’ll need to provide your Social Security number.
Applicants with excellent credit may be instantly approved for some business credit cards. You may even get a virtual credit card number and access to your line of credit right away, which should let you make online purchases. You’ll have to wait for your physical card in the mail, though.
If your credit score falls in the bad, fair or good ranges, you may have to wait longer to be approved for a card.