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.
Most business credit cards don’t offer preapproval to let you know whether you’ll likely qualify before officially applying. But some issuers make near-instant application decisions — and there are ways to increase your chances of getting approved for a business credit card quickly.
Having good to excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 690) and strong revenue will give you the best chance of fast approval. Applying for a business credit card online can also speed up the process. Plus, a handful of issuers will give you a virtual card number (and credit line) right away, so you can start spending immediately.
Here are business credit cards that are known for fast approvals and offering virtual card numbers to eligible applicants. All of these selections are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates cards based on fees, rewards rates and redemption options, among numerous other factors.
Note: Some of our selections 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.
Most business credit cards don’t offer preapproval to let you know whether you’ll likely qualify before officially applying. But some issuers make near-instant application decisions — and there are ways to increase your chances of getting approved for a business credit card quickly.
Having good to excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 690) and strong revenue will give you the best chance of fast approval. Applying for a business credit card online can also speed up the process. Plus, a handful of issuers will give you a virtual card number (and credit line) right away, so you can start spending immediately.
Here are business credit cards that are known for fast approvals and offering virtual card numbers to eligible applicants. All of these selections are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates cards based on fees, rewards rates and redemption options, among numerous other factors.
Note: Some of our selections 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 instant approval business credit cards from our partners
| Credit card▼ | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website | 5.0/5 Best for Cash-back business card | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening | 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Capital One Spark Miles for Business Apply now on Capital One's website | 4.7/5 Best for Business travel card | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | N/A | 25.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.8/5 Best for Business owners with fair credit | $0 | N/A | 17.74%-35.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 3.2/5 Best for Corporate business card | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply now on Brex's website |
First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card | Best for Fast pre-qualification | $39 | N/A | 25.74% Variable |
Our pick for
Cash-back business card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR
18.49%-26.49% Variable APR
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
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Regular APR
18.49%-26.49% Variable APR
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
Business travel card
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.99% Variable APR
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No minimum redemption amount
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No Intro APR period
- High APR
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.99% Variable APR
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No minimum redemption amount
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No Intro APR period
- High APR
- 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
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- Fly through security with one statement credit for either the $85 TSA PreCheck® application fee or the $100 Global Entry application fee
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Business owners with fair credit
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Capital on Tap's website
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
17.74%-35.99% Variable APR
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
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
17.74%-35.99% Variable APR
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
Our pick for
Corporate business card
Brex Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Brex's website
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
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
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
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
Fast pre-qualification
First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
Annual fee
$39
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.74% Variable
Pros
- Qualify with limited / bad credit
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No rewards
- High APR
Annual fee
$39
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.74% Variable
Pros
- Qualify with limited / bad credit
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No rewards
- High APR
- Request your own credit limit between $2,000 and $100,000 (multiples of $50), when you apply, subject to credit approval.
- Earn interest on your security deposit.
- Variable 25.74% APR on purchases and balance transfers based on the Prime Rate.
NerdWallet's editorial picks: Best instant approval business credit cards
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Our pick for: Cash-back business card
If you need to make an immediate purchase, American Express offers instant card numbers for all its small-business cards (except the
Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express
), according to a company spokesperson. American Express Go users can also set up virtual cards to use online right away or add to a mobile wallet. The no-annual-fee The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
may be a good fit for fast spending thanks to its long introductory annual percentage rate, or APR, offer and solid cash-back rate. Read our full review.Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Our pick for: Business travel card
The
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
is one of the best business travel cards, offering unlimited 2
miles per dollar spent, with no caps or restrictions. There’s also no annual fee for the first year and a solid welcome bonus: 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.
Business owners who are approved for a Capital One business credit card can call the issuer's dedicated small-business support line to see whether they qualify for an instant virtual card number. Not all owners will qualify. Those who don’t need to wait seven to 10 business days for their physical card to arrive. Read our full review.Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Our pick for: Business owners with fair credit
The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
promises a decision within 48 hours of applying, and if approved, you’ll get instant access to your virtual card so you can start using it immediately. It is also one of the few business cards available to business owners with fair credit. Beyond instant spending power and flexible approval, the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
offers unlimited 1.5
% cash back on all purchases, 24/7 customer support and business-friendly features, including realtime spending insights and unlimited employee cards with customizable spending limits. Read our full review.Brex Card
Our pick for: Corporate business card
The
Brex Card
is available to well-funded incorporated businesses and looks at cash flow and revenue, rather than the business owner's personal credit history, to determine creditworthiness. If approved for a Brex Card
, you’ll get instant access to your virtual card number and can issue virtual cards for employees as well. The Brex Card
also doesn't require a personal guarantee and earns rewards. Read our full review.First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
Our pick for: Fast pre-qualification
If you have bad credit, it can take as little as 30 seconds to see whether you'll pre-qualify for the
First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
. In addition, First National Bank lets you choose your own credit limit between $2,000 and $100,000 (in multiples of $50) when you apply. This card charges a $39
annual fee.Business credit cards: Preapproval vs. instant approval
The preapproval process typically involves a soft inquiry to check your basic credit information and doesn’t affect your credit score. If you’re in a hurry, pre-qualifying can ensure you don’t waste time applying for a card you can’t get — but it also doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved quickly or in general.
Instant approval is possible with a business credit card but is never a guarantee. Some issuers can deliver a decision in as little as 60 seconds after you apply for a business credit card.
Even with instant approval, you may need to wait a week or longer for a physical card to arrive before you can use your new business card. A handful of issuers, including those noted above, offer instant virtual card numbers to eligible applicants.
How to get fast approval on a business credit card
Choosing a business credit card with application criteria you meet can help ensure fast approval. The biggest requirement is your personal FICO score. Most business credit cards require a score of 690 or higher, and some require a score of at least 720.
If you’ve been in business for a while and can demonstrate your annual business revenue, that will also likely help. Applying online improves your odds of a quick decision, too. But ultimately, the easiest business credit card to get is one you're qualified for.
How long does it take to get approved for a business credit card?
Some business credit card issuers can offer near-instant approval decisions. But there’s no hard-and-fast rule about how quickly applications can be processed.
Credit card companies need to take time to review your business financials as well as your personal credit history. Factors that could slow down the application process include:
- Having bad credit (typically a personal FICO score below 630) or frozen credit.
- Entering incorrect information on your application.
- Having a discrepancy on your credit report — for instance, if you’ve moved recently, your application could take up to two weeks to be approved.
Are there instant approval business credit cards for bad credit?
If you have bad credit, it will be tough to get approved for most business credit cards. Your best bet will likely be a secured business credit card.
With a secured business credit card, you provide a refundable deposit at the opening of the account. This helps reduce the lending risk for the credit card company and helps you start to build business credit.
However, credit limits on secured cards are tied to your deposit. That means these cards may not necessarily be the best fit if you’re looking for an instant approval business credit card because you need to access additional capital quickly.
In that instance, a bad credit business loan may make more sense. You may be able to qualify for a business line of credit, which functions similarly to a credit card, with subpar personal credit. Or if you have outstanding invoices from clients, invoice factoring could turn those into quick cash.
All information about the Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express is no longer available through NerdWallet.
Last updated on September 14, 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.