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Secured business credit cards can be a steppingstone for many entrepreneurs. These cards are an easy way to establish credit in your business's name, as most report your payment history to commercial credit bureaus. But the best options do more than that: They also reward your spending and make it easy to upgrade to a traditional small-business credit card — ideally without charging an annual fee.
You typically need a personal FICO score of at least 690 to qualify for a business credit card. While there are exceptions (noted below), a secured personal card may be the quickest path to a business credit card if your FICO score falls below that threshold. These cards report payment history to consumer credit bureaus, rather than commercial ones. And a strong payment track record can help you improve your FICO score so you can qualify for better options down the road.
A secured card may not be necessary for your business, though. A handful of business cards are available to qualified applicants with FICO scores as low as 650. A corporate card may also be an option; approval for these cards is typically based on your company's financial performance, rather than your personal credit. But corporate cards are only available to incorporated businesses.
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 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 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.
Secured business credit cards can be a steppingstone for many entrepreneurs. These cards are an easy way to establish credit in your business's name, as most report your payment history to commercial credit bureaus. But the best options do more than that: They also reward your spending and make it easy to upgrade to a traditional small-business credit card — ideally without charging an annual fee.
You typically need a personal FICO score of at least 690 to qualify for a business credit card. While there are exceptions (noted below), a secured personal card may be the quickest path to a business credit card if your FICO score falls below that threshold. These cards report payment history to consumer credit bureaus, rather than commercial ones. And a strong payment track record can help you improve your FICO score so you can qualify for better options down the road.
A secured card may not be necessary for your business, though. A handful of business cards are available to qualified applicants with FICO scores as low as 650. A corporate card may also be an option; approval for these cards is typically based on your company's financial performance, rather than your personal credit. But corporate cards are only available to incorporated businesses.
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 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 options
| Best for | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corporate card for venture-backed businesses Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 3.2/5 | $0 | 1x-7x Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
Corporate card with soft credit pull BILL Divvy Corporate Card Apply now on BILL Spend & Expense's website | 2.7/5 | $0 | 1x-7x Points | N/A | Apply now on BILL Spend & Expense's website |
Business credit card for fair, average credit Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.8/5 | $0 | 1.5% | N/A | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Secured credit card to improve personal credit Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | N/A | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
| Best for | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corporate card for venture-backed businesses Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 3.2/5 | $0 | 1x-7x Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
Corporate card with soft credit pull BILL Divvy Corporate Card Apply now on BILL Spend & Expense's website | 2.7/5 | $0 | 1x-7x Points | N/A | Apply now on BILL Spend & Expense's website |
Business credit card for fair, average credit Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 3.8/5 | $0 | 1.5% | N/A | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Secured credit card to improve personal credit Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | N/A | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
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Our pick for
Corporate card for venture-backed businesses
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
- Not available to sole proprietors
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
- Not available to sole proprietors
- 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
Corporate card with soft credit pull
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
Read Review
Apply now
on BILL Spend & Expense's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- No annual fee
- Card-level spending controls
Cons
- Complicated rewards structure with limits on redemption
- Balance must be paid in full each billing cycle
- Not available to sole proprietors.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- No annual fee
- Card-level spending controls
Cons
- Complicated rewards structure with limits on redemption
- Balance must be paid in full each billing cycle
- Not available to sole proprietors.
- Earn up to 7x rewards on restaurants and 5x on hotels with weekly billing. Terms apply.
- Credit lines up to $15 million but based on revenue, cash balance, business history and personal and business credit score.
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
- Unlimited free virtual cards.
- Spend management platform allows business owners to easily set and adjust individual and team budgets.
Our pick for
Business credit card for fair, average 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
N/A
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
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
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
- $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
Secured credit card to improve personal credit
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- Qualify with limited/bad credit
- Reports to the three major credit bureaus
- Earns rewards
- No minimum redemption amount
- Rewards don't expire
- No annual fee
Cons
- High APR
- No new cardholder bonus offer
- No bonus categories
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- Qualify with limited/bad credit
- Reports to the three major credit bureaus
- Earns rewards
- No minimum redemption amount
- Rewards don't expire
- No annual fee
Cons
- High APR
- No new cardholder bonus offer
- No bonus categories
- No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
- Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
- Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
View Rates & Fees
Not every card on this list is a secured business credit card, but different business credit cards will be easier to get depending on whether your business or personal credit is thin or poor. Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Secured business credit cards to build business credit
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card
This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no cap or expiration date on the rewards you earn. The card has a minimum security deposit of $1,000, which is equal to your credit limit and subject to credit approval. Bank of America® will periodically review your secured card and may upgrade you to an unsecured card if and when you qualify. This card has no annual fee.
Valley Bank Visa® Secured Business Credit Card
This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.
Valley Bank is a regional bank with locations in Alabama, Florida, New Jersey and New York. Its business credit cards are available to all qualifying U.S. businesses. The Valley Bank Visa® Secured Business Credit Card stands out by offering a 0% intro APR period on purchases for your first six months (the ongoing APR thereafter is 16.20% to 27.75%). That's a unique feature for a secured card, giving your business greater repayment flexibility. This card also has no annual fee, but your security deposit adds to its costs since you must put down 110% of your desired limit (with a $25,000 maximum).
First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.
The
First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
reports card activity to Dun & Bradstreet, one of the three main business credit bureaus, so on-time payments will help build your business credit score. This secured card does require a credit check (personal credit) and security deposit (between $2,000 and $10,000 in multiples of $100) which dictates your credit limit. This card charges a $39
annual fee.Charity Charge Nonprofit Secured Business Card
This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.
Charity Charge offers a nonprofit business credit card to organizations that meet specific revenue and time-in-business criteria. Nonprofits that don't qualify can opt for the Charity Charge Nonprofit Secured Business Card instead. That card features the same perks as the unsecured version (no annual fee, cash-back rebates at participating vendors and group purchasing discounts) but requires a minimum security deposit of $5,000 that acts as your credit limit.
Business credit cards for fair or average credit
NerdWallet star rating:
3.8
Capital on Tap says applicants with a FICO score of 670 or higher have the best chance of approval, but the card is available to business owners with fair credit (typically considered a score from 630 to 689). The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
issued by WebBank offers 1.5%
cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. One important note: This card is not available to sole proprietors, which excludes the majority of businesses. Learn more and apply.NerdWallet star rating:
3
Capital One does not offer a secured business credit card. But the
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
is available to business operators with fair or "average" credit, who typically don't have a lot of options in business credit cards. While this card comes with a high APR, it offers a $0
annual fee* and 1%
cash back on every purchase. Capital One is also the rare issuer that reports business card usage to commercial and personal credit bureaus. That can make this card an especially good choice if you're looking to build your personal and business credit.Corporate cards for incorporated businesses
NerdWallet star rating:
2.8
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 cash back on qualified purchases (the actual reward rate varies by business) and card-level spending controls. Ramp Card has no annual fee. Learn more and apply.NerdWallet star rating:
3.2
If you’re struggling to find business funding because of a low personal credit score, consider Brex. The issuer determines an applicant's creditworthiness by evaluating the company's cash balance, spending patterns and investors rather than the business owner's personal credit score. Learn more and apply.
NerdWallet star rating:
2.7
Unlike the corporate cards above, the
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
does require a personal credit check; however, it's a soft pull that won't impact your credit score. The BILL Divvy Corporate Card
generally requires a minimum FICO score of 650 or higher, but the issuer also considers annual revenue and business bank account balance — and its threshold for the latter (at least $20,000) is much lower than other corporate card options. Learn more and apply.Secured credit cards to help personal credit
NerdWallet star rating:
5
While there aren't Discover business credit cards, the issuer's personal secured credit card offers a generous cash-back program. Responsible habits will automatically trigger an evaluation from Discover after seven months of holding the card. Note that your original deposit, or security, must be paid through a bank account. Learn more and apply.
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
offers an impressive combination of features for those with poor credit. A deposit is required, but in exchange you get a $0
-annual-fee card that reports to all three credit bureaus; an automatic credit limit review after six months; and a possible upgrade path to an unsecured Capital One card. Oh, and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus 1.5% back on all other purchases, which equals what you'd find on many unsecured cards (see rates and fees). Learn more and apply.A secured business credit card is a line of credit for entrepreneurs that requires a cash deposit. That deposit typically functions as your credit limit, and the card issuer can seize it in instances of non-payment.
Secured business credit cards can make sense if your personal FICO score is below 690. That's the score you often need to qualify for most unsecured business credit cards. Secured cards are also a solid option — no matter your personal credit — for those lacking a business credit score, as they can let your business demonstrate responsible debt repayment.
Among major credit card issuers, Bank of America is the sole provider with a secured business credit card. Chase, Citi, Discover, U.S. Bank, American Express and others don't offer these cards. Wells Fargo previously did, but its secured business card is no longer available to new applicants.
These niche products are more common among regional financial institutions. For instance, the First National Bank of Omaha, Valley Bank and Metro Credit Union (headquartered in Chelsea, Mass.) all offer secured business cards. You may have additional options in your area, but make sure their features are competitive before opting for one of these choices — the Metro Business Builder Visa Credit Card charges a hefty $69 annual fee while offering no rewards, for instance.
Here are a few ways to make the most of a secured business credit card:
- Use the card once in a while, making one or two small purchases every month.
- Pay your balance in full every month before the due date. That way, you won't be charged interest. Interest rates on secured cards are generally higher than on unsecured cards.
- Watch your business credit score. You aren't entitled to view your full business credit reports for free, but there are ways to keep an eye on your scores for signs of improvement.
Keep in mind that business credit cards typically don't impact personal credit — except in instances of non-payment. That means using a secured business credit card won't necessarily qualify you for additional non-secured small-business credit cards.
Sometimes, issuers may upgrade you to an unsecured business card if you become eligible. Bank of America does this for its secured business card, for instance. Otherwise, you'll likely need to improve your personal credit or consider business cards that don't require a credit check, like corporate cards.
Many business credit cards require excellent personal credit. But entrepreneurs with credit scores between 630 (typically considered bad credit) and 690 may have better options than a secured business credit card. While there are a few business credit cards for fair or average credit, the following alternatives may have lower interest rates and fees or otherwise better fit your business's needs.
Business debit cards
Debit cards aren’t credit cards, as spending is tied to the cash balance in a linked business checking account. But business debit cards typically don’t require a credit check and may make sense for business owners who want to use plastic to better keep track of their transactions or their employees’ spending.
Nonbusiness credit cards
You don’t necessarily need a business credit card for business finances. If you’re a sole proprietor, you could get a separate personal secured credit card or opt for a personal card for fair or average credit (there are more of these for individuals than businesses).
These types of cards may help your personal credit — a must for future financing — but they’ll lack features like employee cards and often come with lower limits than business credit cards. Just be sure to keep your business and personal spending separate.
If you’re unsure whether you’ll pass a credit check, some business credit card issuers will let you pre-qualify. This process tells you whether you’ll likely be approved without affecting your personal credit score. It can also make sense to get a free credit score before applying. That way, you can find cards you may be eligible for and reduce the risk of failing a credit check.
Bad-credit business loans
If you want to grow your business credit but don't have ideal personal credit, a secured business credit card isn't your only option. Bad credit business loans are available from online lenders, and successfully repaying this financing may help establish your business credit score. These loans may come with high interest rates, though, so make sure you'll be able to afford the payments before you borrow.
* Information for the
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
was collected independently and not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.Last updated on September 10, 2024
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.
