7 Best Business Credit Cards for Sole Proprietorships
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Sole proprietors can use a business credit card to earn rewards on daily business spending and finance larger purchases. While a personal credit card can check those boxes, you’ll need a business card to establish and build your business credit history — a must if you need a business loan down the line.
Opting for a small-business credit card unlocks reward categories rarely offered on personal cards, including shipping, advertising and office supplies, as well as standard categories like travel and restaurants.
Match your card to your spending needs and habits to maximize your rewards. Planning to make a big purchase? Look for a card with a long 0% introductory APR offer. Always on the road? Consider a card that earns extra cash back at the pump. No time to worry about bonus categories? A flat-rate rewards card may be a good fit.
Some of our selections for the best business credit cards for sole proprietors 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.
Sole proprietors can use a business credit card to earn rewards on daily business spending and finance larger purchases. While a personal credit card can check those boxes, you’ll need a business card to establish and build your business credit history — a must if you need a business loan down the line.
Opting for a small-business credit card unlocks reward categories rarely offered on personal cards, including shipping, advertising and office supplies, as well as standard categories like travel and restaurants.
Match your card to your spending needs and habits to maximize your rewards. Planning to make a big purchase? Look for a card with a long 0% introductory APR offer. Always on the road? Consider a card that earns extra cash back at the pump. No time to worry about bonus categories? A flat-rate rewards card may be a good fit.
Some of our selections for the best business credit cards for sole proprietors 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.
Best Business Credit Cards for Sole Proprietorships From Our Partners
| Credit Card | NerdWallet Rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Travel rewards bonus categories | $95 | N/A | 16.24%- | Apply now on Chase's website |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | Best for Cash back bonus categories | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months | 13.49%- | Apply now on Chase's website |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Flat-rate rewards (cash back) | $150 | N/A | N/A | Apply now on Capital One's website |
Capital One Spark Miles for Business Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Flat-rate rewards (travel) | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | N/A | 21.24% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital One's website |
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® Apply now on US Bank's website | Best for Intro APR + cash back rewards | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 Billing Cycles | 14.74%- | Apply now on US Bank's website |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Apply now on American Express's website | Best for Premium travel perks and rewards | $695 | N/A | 14.99%- | Apply now on American Express's website |
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Sole proprietors with bad credit (personal card) | $0 | N/A | 26.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital One's website |
Our pick for
Travel rewards bonus categories
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$95
N/A
16.24%-21.24% Variable APR
Pros
New cardholder bonus offer
Bonus categories
Transfer partners
Cons
Has annual fee
No intro APR offer
Pros
New cardholder bonus offer
Bonus categories
Transfer partners
Cons
Has annual fee
No intro APR offer
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Our pick for
Cash back bonus categories
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$0
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
13.49%-19.49% Variable APR
Pros
No annual fee
Intro APR period
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Requires good/excellent credit
Low rate outside bonus categories
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Pros
No annual fee
Intro APR period
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Requires good/excellent credit
Low rate outside bonus categories
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Our pick for
Flat-rate rewards (cash back)
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$150
N/A
N/A
Pros
Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
Rewards don’t expire
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Balance must be paid in full every month
Has annual fee
Pros
Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
Rewards don’t expire
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Balance must be paid in full every month
Has annual fee
Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening
Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile
Earn an annual $200 cash bonus every year you spend $200,000 or more
Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
$150 annual fee
Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
Our pick for
Flat-rate rewards (travel)
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
N/A
21.24% Variable APR
Pros
High rewards rate
No minimum redemption amount
Cons
Has annual fee
No Intro APR period
High 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
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
Our pick for
Intro APR + cash back rewards
on US Bank's website
on US Bank's website
$0
0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 Billing Cycles
14.74%-23.74% Variable APR
Pros
Bonus cash back categories
No annual fee
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Cons
Requires good/excellent credit
Low rate outside bonus categories
Pros
Bonus cash back categories
No annual fee
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Cons
Requires good/excellent credit
Low rate outside bonus categories
Limited Time Offer: Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center.
No limit on total cash back earned.
Rewards never expire.
Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 14.74% - 23.74%.
No annual fee.
Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
Terms and conditions apply
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Premium travel perks and rewards
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
$695
N/A
14.99%-22.99% Variable APR
Pros
Lounge membership
Transfer partners
Bonus categories
Automatic elite status
Premium travel protections
Cons
High annual fee
Complicated rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
Pros
Lounge membership
Transfer partners
Bonus categories
Automatic elite status
Premium travel protections
Cons
High annual fee
Complicated rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Plus, 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. After that, your APR will be 14.99% to 22.99% based on your credit worthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your Card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies, up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
$179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
$695 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Sole proprietors with bad credit (personal card)
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$0
N/A
26.99% Variable APR
Pros
No annual fee
Qualify with limited/bad credit
No foreign transaction fees
Report to three major credit bureaus
Cons
Requires minimum deposit
No rewards
High APR
Pros
No annual fee
Qualify with limited/bad credit
No foreign transaction fees
Report to three major credit bureaus
Cons
Requires minimum deposit
No rewards
High APR
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 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 and can help you understand how your credit history impacts your credit score
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS:
BEST BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS FOR SOLE PROPRIETORS
Select the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for travel rewards bonus categories
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere (assuming you spend enough to earn it), then gives you bonus rewards in common business spending categories. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review.
Our pick for cash back bonus categories
If your business's spending matches the bonus categories on the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can rack up some serious cash back. (If not, then look elsewhere.) There's an excellent sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee cash-back card, plus an introductory APR period for purchases. Read our review.
Our pick for flat-rate rewards (cash back)
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is an excellent option for business operators whose expenses don't fall into the bonus categories on other business credit cards. You get a high, flat rewards rate on every purchase, with no limit to how much you can earn. Just make sure that you can pay off your spending in full each month, as this is a charge card that doesn't let you revolve a balance. Read our review.
Our pick for flat-rate rewards (travel)
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is basically a business version of the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, and miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus, too. Read our review.
Our pick for Intro APR + cash back rewards
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® is a solid cash-back card for business owners. Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Plus, the card offers a competitive welcome bonus and 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 Billing Cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 14.74%-23.74% Variable APR — all with a $0 annual fee. Read our review.
Our pick for premium travel perks and rewards
Like the consumer version of this card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a big annual fee. But business travelers who prefer to go in style will find plenty that appeals to them: high rewards on certain travel purchases, bonus rewards on larger non-travel purchases, a superb newcomer welcome offer, extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, hundreds of dollars a year in available credits and a list of perks as long as your arm. It's not cheap, but luxury never is. Terms apply. Read our review.
Our pick for sole proprietors with bad credit (personal card)
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card requires a security deposit, as do all secured credit cards. But while most cards require you to put down a deposit equal to your credit line, this one allows some qualifying applicants to get a $200 credit line with a deposit of $49 or $99. Further, you can be automatically considered for a higher credit line with no additional deposit in as little as six months. Read our review.
Our pick for sole proprietors with bad credit
If you can afford to put a lot of money down, the First National Bank Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card may be a good choice for bad-credit borrowers. Your security deposit will earn interest, and First National Bank lets you choose your own credit limit between $2,000 and $100,000 (in multiples of $50) when you apply. Card activity is reported to Dun & Bradstreet, one of the three main business credit bureaus, so on-time payments will help build your business credit score. This card charges a $39 annual fee. Read our review.
How to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor
Sole proprietors can open a business credit card on the merits of their personal credit history.
Here’s what you’ll need to apply for a business credit card:
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.
You typically need a personal FICO score of at least 690 to qualify for a business credit card, though there are options for those with fair credit (630-689) that have fewer bells and whistles.
Business owners with bad credit (a FICO score between 300-629) can use a secured card to build credit history. These cards require a deposit, typically equal to your requested credit limit.
Last updated on May 9, 2022
Frequently asked questions
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 as a sole proprietor.
Sole proprietors can use a personal credit card for business purposes. If you do so, keep one card dedicated for your business use and a separate one for personal spending. Mixing the two can cause accounting and tax headaches.
Note that a personal credit card will not build your business credit history, making it harder to get a business loan or line of credit. Personal cards do affect your personal credit score, though, even when used for business purposes. If you have employees who will use the card, opt for a business credit card to protect your personal finances.
In most cases, you do not need a DBA, or doing business as, certificate to open a business credit card. Sole proprietors often don’t have a formal business name. In that case, simply use your name when applying for a business credit card.
