12 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups With No Credit of June 2025

Corporate cards are generally best for nonprofits. But if your organization is small or its leaders travel often, a traditional business credit card might work. (If you’re OK with a personal guarantee.)
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Best Small Business Credit Card 2025
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card
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Best small-business credit card

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

on Chase's website

Best Business Credit Cards for Startups With No Credit

Credit card Best for NerdWallet rating Annual fee Rewards rate Intro offer Learn more
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

on Chase's website

NerdWallet mini logo

BEST SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT CARD OF 2025

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$750

on Chase's website

Pros

  • High rewards rate
  • Intro APR period
  • No reward caps
  • New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

  • No bonus categories
Capital One Spark Miles Credit Card

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

on Capital One's website

Travel rewards

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

2x-5x

Miles

50,000

Miles

on Capital One's website

Pros

  • High rewards rate
  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • No reward caps
  • Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®
  • Annual fee waived for first year

Cons

  • Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
  • Does not include lounge access or automatic elite status
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

$95

1x-3x

Points

90,000

Points

on Chase's website

Pros

  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • High reward redemption rate
  • Transfer partners

Cons

  • Does not include lounge access or travel credits
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

on Bank of America's website

No annual fee travel card

$0

1.5x

Points

30,000

Points

on Bank of America's website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Intro APR offer
  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • No reward caps
  • Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members

Cons

  • Requires excellent credit
  • Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
  • Does not include lounge access or travel credits
Ramp

Ramp Card

on Ramp's website

Corporate card (no personal guarantee)

$0

1%-1.5%

Cashback

$250

on Ramp's website

Pros

  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • No personal guarantee or credit check
  • 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
Brex

Brex Card

on Brex's website

Corporate card for venture-backed startups

$0

1x-7x

Points

10,000

Points

on Brex's website

Pros

  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • No personal guarantee
  • Card-level spending controls

Cons

  • Complicated rewards structure
  • High capital requirement for approval
  • Daily repayment may be required
  • Not available to sole proprietors
Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

on Discover's website, or call

Secured card to build personal credit

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

Cashback Match™

on Discover's website, or call

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Reports to the three major credit bureaus
  • Apply with limited/bad credit
  • Earns rewards
  • New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

  • Requires minimum deposit
  • High APR
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

on American Express' website

Startups with annual spend below $50K

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

$250

on American Express' website

Pros

  • High cash-back bonus rate
  • Intro APR period
  • New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

  • Spending caps on bonus rewards
  • Low rate after you hit bonus cap
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

on Bank of America's website

Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$300

on Bank of America's website

Pros

  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • High rewards rate
  • Bonus rewards for qualifying Preferred Rewards for Business members

Cons

  • Requires excellent credit
  • Multiple accounts, high combined balance required to get Preferred Rewards bonus
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

on American Express' website

Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

$0

1x-2x

Points

15,000

Points

on American Express' website

Pros

  • High rewards rate
  • Intro APR period
  • New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

  • Spending caps on bonus rewards
  • Low rate after you hit bonus cap
BILL Divvy Corporate Card

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Corporate card for fair credit

$0

1x-7x

Points

N/A

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Card-level spending controls
  • No personal guarantee
  • Available to sole proprietors

Cons

  • Complicated rewards structure with limits on redemption
  • Rewards rate varies depending on user activity
Capital on Tap Visa

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

on Capital on Tap's website

Business credit card for fair, average credit

$0

1.5%

N/A

on Capital on Tap's website

Pros

  • High rewards rate
  • No reward caps
  • Available with fair credit
  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.

Cons

  • Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
  • Must enroll in automatic payments
  • Potential for very high APR
  • No new cardholder bonus offer
Credit card Best for NerdWallet rating Annual fee Rewards rate Intro offer Learn more
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

on Chase's website

NerdWallet mini logo

BEST SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT CARD OF 2025

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$750

on Chase's website

Capital One Spark Miles Credit Card

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

on Capital One's website

Travel rewards

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

2x-5x

Miles

50,000

Miles

on Capital One's website

Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

$95

1x-3x

Points

90,000

Points

on Chase's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

on Bank of America's website

No annual fee travel card

$0

1.5x

Points

30,000

Points

on Bank of America's website

Ramp

Ramp Card

on Ramp's website

Corporate card (no personal guarantee)

$0

1%-1.5%

Cashback

$250

on Ramp's website

Brex

Brex Card

on Brex's website

Corporate card for venture-backed startups

$0

1x-7x

Points

10,000

Points

on Brex's website

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

on Discover's website, or call

Secured card to build personal credit

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

Cashback Match™

on Discover's website, or call

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

on American Express' website

Startups with annual spend below $50K

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

$250

on American Express' website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

on Bank of America's website

Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$300

on Bank of America's website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

on American Express' website

Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

$0

1x-2x

Points

15,000

Points

on American Express' website

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Corporate card for fair credit

$0

1x-7x

Points

N/A

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Capital on Tap Visa

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

on Capital on Tap's website

Business credit card for fair, average credit

$0

1.5%

N/A

on Capital on Tap's website

Here are the best business credit cards for startups with no credit

Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge 2025 BEST CREDIT CARD SMALL BUSINESS

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best for Overall business card for startups with no credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$750

on Chase's website

Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge

2025 BEST CREDIT CARD

SMALL BUSINESS

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best for Overall business card for startups with no credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$750

on Chase's website

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Best for Travel rewards

Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Rewards rate
2x-5x

Miles

Intro offer
50,000

Miles

on Capital One's website

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Best for Travel rewards

Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Rewards rate
2x-5x

Miles

Intro offer
50,000

Miles

on Capital One's website

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

Annual fee
$95

Rewards rate
1x-3x

Points

Intro offer
90,000

Points

on Chase's website

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

Annual fee
$95

Rewards rate
1x-3x

Points

Intro offer
90,000

Points

on Chase's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Best for No annual fee travel card

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5x

Points

Intro offer
30,000

Points

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Best for No annual fee travel card

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5x

Points

Intro offer
30,000

Points

on Bank of America's website

Ramp Card

Best for Corporate card (no personal guarantee)

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1%-1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250

Clock icon New bonus offer

on Ramp's website

Ramp Card

Best for Corporate card (no personal guarantee)

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1%-1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250

Clock icon New bonus offer

on Ramp's website

Brex Card

Best for Corporate card for venture-backed startups

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
10,000

Points

on Brex's website

Brex Card

Best for Corporate card for venture-backed startups

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
10,000

Points

on Brex's website

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
Cashback Match™

on Discover's website, or call

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
Cashback Match™

on Discover's website, or call

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250

on American Express' website

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250

on American Express' website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Best for Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$300

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Best for Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$300

on Bank of America's website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Best for Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1x-2x

Points

Intro offer
15,000

Points

on American Express' website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Best for Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1x-2x

Points

Intro offer
15,000

Points

on American Express' website

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Best for Corporate card for fair credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
N/A

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Best for Corporate card for fair credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
N/A

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Best for Business credit card for fair, average credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5%

Intro offer
N/A

on Capital on Tap's website

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Best for Business credit card for fair, average credit

Annual fee
$0

Rewards rate
1.5%

Intro offer
N/A

on Capital on Tap's website

Other picks: Business credit cards for startups with no credit

The following business credit cards aren't available through NerdWallet. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card

Best for: Secured business credit card
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 startups can build business credit

Your business credit score tells potential suppliers and lenders how likely your company is to repay its debts. A better score may improve your chances of securing a small-business loan or getting more favorable terms.
Startups with no credit can establish and build their business credit history by establishing lines of credit via business credit cards and trade lines with suppliers, and making payments on time (or early).
Late payments, high balances on credit cards, tax liens and legal judgments against your business can all hurt your business credit score. Delinquencies and late payments on your business credit cards can affect your personal credit score, too.

Do business credit cards check personal credit?

Yes, nearly all business credit cards check your personal credit when you apply. Why? Because most business cards require a personal guarantee, which means you’re personally liable for the debt if your business fails to pay.
One notable exception: corporate cards. These cards do not require a personal guarantee since they're issued to a company, rather than an individual. Incorporated startups may be able to qualify for a corporate card if they have hefty cash reserves and a history of strong revenue.

Can you get a business credit card with bad personal credit?

Business owners with bad credit or no personal credit will have a hard time qualifying for most business credit cards. The easiest business credit card to get is often a secured card. These cards let you build your credit score before upgrading to a business credit card with better rewards.
Secured cards require an upfront deposit, which determines your credit limit, and a few even offer rewards. Most secured cards still require a personal credit check, though some are available with no credit check.
A secured personal card will help build your personal credit score, but not your business score. Likewise, most secured business credit cards will only help build business credit.
Notes from card issuers
To view rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.
Last updated on June 5, 2025