Q: Can you open a business credit card for a sole proprietorship?

Yes, sole proprietors can open business credit cards. Approval for most small-business credit cards largely depends on your personal credit history, not factors like your time in business or annual revenue. You typically need a personal FICO score of at least 690, though there are some fair-credit business credit cards (630-689) that have fewer bells and whistles. Business owners with bad credit (a FICO score between 300-629) can use a secured credit card to build credit history. These cards require a deposit, typically equal to your requested credit limit.

Q: Can a sole proprietor deduct credit card fees?

If you use your business credit card only for your business expenses, then the annual fee will generally be tax-deductible — along with late fees, balance transfer fees, and potentially interest and credit card processing fees. Learn more about which business credit card fees are tax-deductible .

Q: Can you get a line of credit as a sole proprietor?

Sole proprietors can get lines of credit in the form of business credit cards. They can also apply for business lines of credit , which may offer higher credit limits and longer payback periods than business credit cards. However, business lines of credit also have more stringent qualification requirements — they’ll consider your time in business and annual revenue alongside your personal credit score, whereas business credit cards may only consider your credit score.

Q: Can you apply for a business credit card with no business income?

Yes, you can apply for a business credit card without any business income . You’ll just need to provide your business name (sole proprietors can use their own names), federal tax ID (sole proprietors can use their Social Security numbers) and a description of your business.

Best business cards for sole proprietors, freelancers

Here are our complete picks, in alphabetical order:

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Best for bonus points on office supplies + telecom.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for pooling points with personal Chase cards.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Best for financing startup costs.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for freelancers who spend < $50K per year.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card: Best for intro APR on balance transfers.
Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card : Best for freelancers with irregular cash flow.

You can apply for the cards highlighted below via NerdWallet's partners. Those relationships do not influence our editorial team's selections. Our small-business writers and editors chose the best cash-back business cards based on their independent research and ratings.

Jump to

Other business credit cards for sole proprietors

How we chose the best business cards for sole proprietors

Should you get a premium card as a sole proprietor?

3 tips for choosing a business credit card (from a business owner)

Do sole proprietors need business credit cards?

How to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor

Table of contents

╳

Other business credit cards for sole proprietors
How we chose the best business cards for sole proprietors
Should you get a premium card as a sole proprietor?
3 tips for choosing a business credit card (from a business owner)

Do sole proprietors need business credit cards?

How to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor

Show more Hide

Other business credit cards for sole proprietors

The following cards didn’t make our editorial team’s top picks ( jump to our methodology ). But we’d still recommend them if they fit your specific needs.

NerdWallet rating: 4.4

This secured business card is a good option (in fact, one of the only options) for freelancers and sole proprietors with bad credit. It helps you establish and build business credit, and earns 1.5% cash back on purchases. Like most secured cards, you need a security deposit. The minimum for this card is $1,000. That establishes your credit limit and is subject to 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. Read our full review .

NerdWallet rating: 4.7

The Spark Cash earns 2% back on purchases, with no spending cap. And it’s one of the only cash-back cards that does not charge a foreign transaction fee. It’s an excellent card, except for one crucial detail: It shows up on your personal credit report. That can have an outsized negative impact on sole proprietors and freelancers.

I left the Spark Cash off this list for that reason alone. It’s a risk. But from talking to business owners, it might be one worth taking for some.

Used responsibly, the Spark Cash can help you build personal and business credit at the same time. That was the case for Mollie Plotkin, founder of Mollie Plotkin Group, a talent agency.

“Having the Capital One Spark Cash Card show up on my personal credit was a surprise, but it didn’t have a negative impact at all,” she said. “It helped me build better credit and look better to loan officers for potential business loans.”

if you won’t carry a balance or use up your credit limit, this card could be a winner for you. Otherwise, steer clear. Most other business credit cards only impact your personal credit if you don't pay your bill.

NerdWallet rating: 4.8

The Venture X Business is a charge card , which means you need to pay off most purchases in full before your billing cycle ends. That doesn't work for freelancers with inconsistent cash flow. If you float purchases while you wait for clients to pay invoices, choose a card with an intro APR period instead. If you have consistent cash flow and travel regularly for client work, this card is an excellent option — especially if you can clear the welcome offer's spending requirement.

» Resources for sole proprietors: Bank accounts for sole proprietors | Do sole proprietors need EINs? | Insurance for sole proprietors

How we chose the best business cards for sole proprietors

To build this list of business cards for sole proprietors, I started with the 70+ business cards that NerdWallet’s editorial team evaluated in 2026. I only considered cards that earned a 4.5-star rating or higher.

From there, I narrowed it down further, focusing on the specific needs of solopreneurs. My guiding principles:

Low or no annual fee. Minimizing unnecessary expenses is a top priority for most freelancers and sole proprietors, so that was my focus. Could a premium card work for a freelancer? Absolutely. But there are caveats. I’ll talk more about that below.
No corporate cards. You can’t get the overwhelming majority of corporate cards as a sole proprietor. The BILL Divvy Corporate Card is the exception. But its main benefit — card-level spending controls — will likely be overkill for smaller businesses. And you can get better (and far easier to manage) rewards elsewhere.
No charge cards . These cards require payment in full each month. That might work for established sole proprietors, but it’s not ideal for business owners with irregular cash flow.

I also tapped our advisory board for advice (you’ll hear from a member below) and interviewed the following business owners:

Travis Borkenhagen, Owner, Elevation Event Photography.
Bob Bradley, Founder, Bradley Public Relations & Marketing.
Mollie Plotkin, Founder, Mollie Plotkin Group.
Josie Yacksmith, Co-owner, Yacksmith Properties.

I wanted to get a sense of what affected their real-life decision-making. Why did they choose the cards they did, and what would they do differently if given the chance?

Should you get a premium card as a sole proprietor?

Luxury business cards like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ promise a laundry list of perks in exchange for a massive annual fee. These cards aren’t an automatic no-go — that fee can be tax deductible , after all. But the business owners I talked to stressed these cards should work for your business, not the other way around.

More perks for a growing business

Mollie Plotkin opened a Capital One Spark Cash card when she launched her talent agency, Mollie Plotkin Group. Her priority then was keeping overhead low. As her business grew, her priorities shifted.

“Now that we’re a thriving small business, with a team that often travels, we needed more perks,” says Plotkin, who switched to the AmEx Business Platinum ($895 annual fee). “Between lounge access, Resy quarterly credits, hotel partnerships and more, Amex Platinum was worth the investment.”

Get the bonus, then get out

When Josie Yacksmith started Yacksmith Properties, a real estate investment company in Ontario, Canada, she opened two premium cards: the AmEx Business Platinum and the AmEx Aeroplan Business Reserve.

She used the cards to finance renovation costs, easily netting big sign-up bonuses on each card. Then, she downsized.

“Once the major renovations were done, we cancelled both,” she said. “The fees were too high for us without that spending.”

» MORE: See the best business credit cards in Canada

3 tips for choosing a business credit card (from a business owner)

Tracey Gill is the founder of Gill Business Enterprises, a business consulting and fractional CFO firm. She is also a member of NerdWallet’s Small-Business Advisory Board .

Gill has multiple business credit cards and she advises clients on their business finances. So I asked her: “What are the top three things you consider when choosing a new credit card for your business?” Here's what she said:

Rewards structure that matches actual spending patterns , not the marketing pitch. If most of my spend is on software subscriptions and travel, a card weighted toward gas and groceries is worthless to me. I map the top five spend categories and pick from there.
Customer service and dispute resolution. When a fraudulent charge hits or a vendor double bills, I need a card issuer that resolves it fast without making me the one doing the work. This matters more than an extra half point of cash back.
Annual fee versus real benefit. [I’m] not fee-averse in principle, but the math has to work. If a card costs $695 a year, the credits, points, and protections need to clear that with room to spare.

- Tracey Gill, Founder, Gill Business Enterprises

Do sole proprietors need business credit cards?

There’s no rule that sole proprietors have to have a business credit card. You can use a personal credit card for business purposes .

Travis Borkenhagen, owner of Elevation Event Photography, did just that while building his business as a freelance photographer. For the first five years, he ran all of his expenses through his personal Chase Sapphire card. As his company grew, he opened a Chase Ink Preferred .

“It was much simpler to track the expenses,” says Borkenhagen, who later switched to the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card . “Our bank can link up to our CRM service, which makes it much more clear and efficient.”

If you opt to use a personal card for your business, keep these three things in mind:

Use one card for company expenses and a separate card for personal spending . Mixing the two can cause accounting and tax headaches.
A personal credit card will not build your business credit history. A sole proprietor can have excellent personal credit but no business credit history. Opening a business credit card is one way to establish and build your business credit history, which may make it easier to get a business loan or line of credit in the future.

But a personal card will definitely affect your personal credit. Charging up business expenses on a personal credit card can affect your credit utilization ratios — which in turn could affect your credit score. Business credit cards, on the other hand, report to commercial credit bureaus. They don’t impact your personal credit unless you stop paying your bill. Some Capital One business cards are an exception to this rule.

How to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor

Here’s what you’ll need to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor:

Business name: Use your own name if you don’t have a formal business name.
Business contact information: Use your personal address and phone number if you don’t have a dedicated office or business phone.
Federal Taxpayer Identification Number: Use your Employer Identification Number. Don’t have one? Your Social Security number will also work.
Industry type: Note what field you work in, whether it’s retail, professional services or deliveries.
Annual revenue: It’s OK if your revenue fluctuates from year to year. Use your total business income for the previous year before taxes and expenses. New businesses with no prior revenue can put $0.

To view rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, see this page .

Last updated on August 11, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you open a business credit card for a sole proprietorship?

Yes, sole proprietors can open business credit cards. Approval for most small-business credit cards largely depends on your personal credit history, not factors like your time in business or annual revenue. You typically need a personal FICO score of at least 690, though there are some fair-credit business credit cards (630-689) that have fewer bells and whistles. Business owners with bad credit (a FICO score between 300-629) can use a secured credit card to build credit history. These cards require a deposit, typically equal to your requested credit limit.

Can a sole proprietor deduct credit card fees?

If you use your business credit card only for your business expenses, then the annual fee will generally be tax-deductible — along with late fees, balance transfer fees, and potentially interest and credit card processing fees. Learn more about which business credit card fees are tax-deductible .

Can you get a line of credit as a sole proprietor?

Sole proprietors can get lines of credit in the form of business credit cards. They can also apply for business lines of credit , which may offer higher credit limits and longer payback periods than business credit cards. However, business lines of credit also have more stringent qualification requirements — they’ll consider your time in business and annual revenue alongside your personal credit score, whereas business credit cards may only consider your credit score.

Can you apply for a business credit card with no business income?

Yes, you can apply for a business credit card without any business income . You’ll just need to provide your business name (sole proprietors can use their own names), federal tax ID (sole proprietors can use their Social Security numbers) and a description of your business.

Methodology

NerdWallet's writers and editors monitor more than 70 business credit cards to select the best options without outside input from partners or other business interests. We evaluate business cards based on value and simplicity, weighing fees, sign-up bonuses and reward rates, alongside perks like interest-free periods, statement credits and elite status (for travel cards).

We consider more than 20 data points for each card we score, including detailed information about rewards, credits and fees. We gather this information from rates and fees documents, deposit account agreements, financial institution websites and company representatives.

Our editorial team regularly reviews and updates our data to ensure consistency and accuracy. We also update our scoring on an ongoing basis to reflect changing industry norms and business owner needs. For instance, in 2026, we added a small deduction for cards that don’t allow users to issue virtual cards and removed the small increase for cards with no preset spending limit.

Final star ratings range from one to five stars. A five-star score represents the best available product for the largest number of business owners. Learn how NerdWallet rates small-business credit cards.

Meet the editorial team

Kelsey Sheehy

Senior writer | Small business, personal finance

Kelsey Sheehy is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She started at NerdWallet in 2015 and spent six years as a personal finance writer and spokesperson before switching gears to cover the financial decisions and challenges faced by small-business owners. Kelsey’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nasdaq and MarketWatch, among other publications. Kelsey has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC’s "World News Tonight" and has been quoted by the Los Angeles Times, CNBC, American Banker, NPR and Vice, among other publications. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Kelsey covered college (and how to pay for it) for U.S. News & World Report. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Best Business Credit Cards for Sole Proprietorships of 2026

Best business cards for sole proprietors, freelancers

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Best for Bonus points on office supplies + telecom

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Best for Bonus points on office supplies + telecom

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best for Pooling points with personal Chase cards

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best for Pooling points with personal Chase cards

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card

Best for Intro APR on balance transfers

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card

Best for Intro APR on balance transfers

Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card

Best for Freelancers with irregular cash flow

Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card

Best for Freelancers with irregular cash flow

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best for Freelancers who spend < $50K per year.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best for Freelancers who spend < $50K per year.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best for Financing startup costs

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best for Financing startup costs

Other business credit cards for sole proprietors

How we chose the best business cards for sole proprietors

Should you get a premium card as a sole proprietor?

More perks for a growing business

Get the bonus, then get out

3 tips for choosing a business credit card (from a business owner)

Do sole proprietors need business credit cards?

How to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology