5 Best Business Credit Cards for Sole Proprietorships
Sole proprietors and freelancers can use a business credit card to earn rewards, bridge cash flow gaps and finance larger purchases. Plus, they can help you establish and build your business credit history.
Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site
With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One's travel booking site
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site
With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One's travel booking site
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
Does not include lounge access or automatic elite status
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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
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
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
Does not include lounge access or automatic elite status
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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
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
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
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 purchases, or join Preferred Rewards for Business for no fee, and earn up to an unlimited 2.62% cash back on all purchases if you have a Bank of America® business checking account and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier.
No annual cap and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
No annual fee.
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 17.49% to 27.49% 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.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
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 purchases, or join Preferred Rewards for Business for no fee, and earn up to an unlimited 2.62% cash back on all purchases if you have a Bank of America® business checking account and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier.
No annual cap and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
No annual fee.
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 17.49% to 27.49% 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.
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
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®.
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
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®.
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Low rate outside bonus categories
Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4,500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center when using your card.
Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
No limit on total cash back earned.
Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Low rate outside bonus categories
Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4,500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center when using your card.
Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
No limit on total cash back earned.
Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
$150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
$150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back
Direct integrations with tools and card-level spending controls
Rewards do not expire
Card-level spending controls
Cons
Not available to sole proprietors
Rewards rate varies and is determined per customer
Get a $250 Ramp card upon approval. Limit one per new customer. No minimum spend required.
Eliminate expense reports with automated receipt capture via SMS, mobile app, and integrations with Gmail, Lyft, and more.
Control wasteful spending before it happens with built-in vendor and category restrictions.
Complete visibility into corporate spending to help guide strategic business decisions.
Seamless accounting and ERP integrations including QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and more.
Speed up monthly close with automated coding and reconciliation.
Up to 30x higher credit limits than traditional business credit cards.
Up to $350k partner rewards (AWS, UPS, Amazon Business, and more).
No personal credit check or personal guarantee required.
Up to 1.5% cashback on all card spend.
Get approved in less than 48 hours.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Issue unlimited virtual cards and physical cards for each employee.
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 $25,000 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.
Direct integrations with tools and card-level spending controls
Rewards do not expire
Card-level spending controls
Cons
Not available to sole proprietors
Rewards rate varies and is determined per customer
Get a $250 Ramp card upon approval. Limit one per new customer. No minimum spend required.
Eliminate expense reports with automated receipt capture via SMS, mobile app, and integrations with Gmail, Lyft, and more.
Control wasteful spending before it happens with built-in vendor and category restrictions.
Complete visibility into corporate spending to help guide strategic business decisions.
Seamless accounting and ERP integrations including QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and more.
Speed up monthly close with automated coding and reconciliation.
Up to 30x higher credit limits than traditional business credit cards.
Up to $350k partner rewards (AWS, UPS, Amazon Business, and more).
No personal credit check or personal guarantee required.
Up to 1.5% cashback on all card spend.
Get approved in less than 48 hours.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Issue unlimited virtual cards and physical cards for each employee.
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 $25,000 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.
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.
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.
Senior writer | Small business banking and credit cards, Paycheck Protection Program, consumer spending, and household finances
Kelsey Sheehy is a NerdWallet authority on small business. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nasdaq and MarketWatch, among other publications. Kelsey has appeared on the <a href="https://www.today.com/video/christmas-in-july-sales-to-take-advantage-of-now-64075333536">"Today"</a> show, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/tax-code-changes-leave-many-americans-with-unhappy-returns-1440385091860">NBC News</a> and <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/cost-smartphones-reaching-time-high-54166111">"ABC World News Tonight"</a> and has been quoted by the Los Angeles Times, CNBC and American Banker, among other publications. Email: <a href="mailto:ksheehy@nerdwallet.com">ksheehy@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
Advertiser disclosure
You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or
financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance
we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are
objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products
or services. Here is a list of our partners .
Senior writer | Small business banking and credit cards, Paycheck Protection Program, consumer spending, and household finances
Kelsey Sheehy is a NerdWallet authority on small business. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nasdaq and MarketWatch, among other publications. Kelsey has appeared on the <a href="https://www.today.com/video/christmas-in-july-sales-to-take-advantage-of-now-64075333536">"Today"</a> show, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/tax-code-changes-leave-many-americans-with-unhappy-returns-1440385091860">NBC News</a> and <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/cost-smartphones-reaching-time-high-54166111">"ABC World News Tonight"</a> and has been quoted by the Los Angeles Times, CNBC and American Banker, among other publications. Email: <a href="mailto:ksheehy@nerdwallet.com">ksheehy@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
Advertiser disclosure
You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or
financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance
we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are
objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products
or services. Here is a list of our partners .
Here are the best sole proprietorship business credit card
Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
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®.
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
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®.
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Low rate outside bonus categories
Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4,500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center when using your card.
Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
No limit on total cash back earned.
Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Low rate outside bonus categories
Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4,500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center when using your card.
Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
No limit on total cash back earned.
Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points if you spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days from account opening.
Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center when using your card.
Earn 4X points on travel, gas and EV charging stations* on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers.
Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
Earn a $25 statement credit for every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter.
Points transfer between business and consumer U.S. Bank Altitude products (excluding Reserve).
Airport lounge access - Priority Pass™ Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,700 VIP lounges worldwide, plus four complimentary visits per membership year.
Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points if you spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days from account opening.
Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center when using your card.
Earn 4X points on travel, gas and EV charging stations* on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers.
Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
Earn a $25 statement credit for every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter.
Points transfer between business and consumer U.S. Bank Altitude products (excluding Reserve).
Airport lounge access - Priority Pass™ Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,700 VIP lounges worldwide, plus four complimentary visits per membership year.
Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line
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
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line
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
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Other picks: Best business credit cards for sole proprietors
The following cards are not available through NerdWallet. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card
Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back
NerdWallet star rating: 5
If you're looking for a cash-back business card, the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card checks virtually every box. High rewards rate? Check. No annual fee? Check. Intro APR period? Check. Welcome offer? Check. In fact, it's hard to find something not to like about the Signify Business Cash, which is the only business credit card on our list to offer unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. Read our full review.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card
Our pick for: Secured card to build business credit
NerdWallet rating: 4.4
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. Read our full review.
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: Your total business income for the previous year before taxes and expenses. New businesses with no prior revenue can put $0.
Do sole proprietors need business credit cards?
Not necessarily. There’s no rule against using a personal credit card for business purposes. However, if you do so, keep one card dedicated for your sole prop’s use and a separate one for personal spending. Mixing the two can cause accounting and tax headaches.
There are additional drawbacks to be aware of if you go that route as well:
A personal credit card will not build your business credit history. Business and personal credit are two separate things. 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 — as a sole proprietor.
But a personal card will definitely affect your personal credit. When you use a personal credit card, issuers report lots of information to the three personal credit bureaus. If you put a bunch of business expenses on this card, that could affect your personal debt-to-income and credit utilization ratios — which in turn could affect your credit score. With business credit cards, on the other hand, credit card companies typically only report late payments to consumer credit bureaus.
Notes from card issuers
The information related to the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
Last updated on July 10, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes, sole proprietors can open business credit cards. Approval depends largely on your personal credit history rather than factors like your time in business or annual revenue. You need a personal FICO score of at least 690 to qualify for most business credit cards.
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.
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.
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.
Methodology
NerdWallet's business credit card team selects the best small-business credit cards 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). Business cards that earn the highest scores deliver the most value to the greatest number of business owners.
Notable changes to our methodology for 2025 include factoring in whether spending on employee cards earns rewards and counts toward the welcome offer requirements. We also now consider what information the card issuer reports to consumer credit bureaus. Learn how NerdWallet rates small-business credit cards.
Recommendations do not guarantee card approval
Apply now
2025 BEST CREDIT CARD
SMALL BUSINESS
