Best Business Credit Cards for Instant Approval of 2024

Preapproval isn't common among business credit cards, but some offer nearly instant approval once you apply.

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Written by Kelsey Sheehy
Senior Writer
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Edited by Robert Beaupre
Lead Assigning Editor
Fact Checked

The best way to get a business credit card preapproval is to have an existing relationship with the company offering it. For instance, using one of their other cards responsibly, having strong banking reserves with them or demonstrating some other kind of financial wherewithal (like via online sales) can entice a card issuer to want more of your business.

Otherwise, preapprovals are rare. Many small-business credit cards won't let you pre-qualify before applying, either.

However, some issuers do make near-instant application decisions. Here are some of the best cards with fast approvals, as well as ways to increase your chances of getting a business credit card quickly.

But first, think like a Nerd!

Terms like "preapproval" and "pre-qualification" are often thrown around interchangeably. Know what you're applying for before you do with these quick definitions.
One blue credit card on a flat surface with coins on both sides.
Pre-approvalA preapproval is a business card application offer that usually comes directly from an issuer.
Wallet with a gold credit card.
PrequalificationA pre-qualification is you asking the issuer whether you're likely to be approved.
One blue credit card with a green card behind it.
Instant approvalAn instant approval requires an actual application with a hard credit check.
Best instant approval business credit cards
ProductAnnual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn more
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

NerdWallet Rating 
4.7
Apply now

on American Express' website

$0 1%-2% 

Cashback

$250 
Apply now

on American Express' website

Capital One Spark Miles Credit Card

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

NerdWallet Rating 
4.5
Apply now

on Capital One's website

$0 intro for the first year, then $95 2x-5x 

Points

50,000 

Points

Apply now

on Capital One's website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

NerdWallet Rating 
4.4
Apply now

on American Express' website

$0 1x-2x 

Points

15,000 

Points

Apply now

on American Express' website

Capital on Tap Visa

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

NerdWallet Rating 
3.8
Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

$0 1.5% N/A 
Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Brex

Brex Card

NerdWallet Rating 
3.2
Apply now

on Brex's website

$0 1x-7x 

Points

10,000 

Points

Apply now

on Brex's website

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

NerdWallet Rating 
2.7
Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

$0 1x-7x 

Points

N/A 
Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

NerdWallet's editorial picks: Best instant approval business credit cards

250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.

95+ 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.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Our pick for: Cash-back business card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
American Express

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Rates and Fees

NerdWallet Rating  
4.7
Min Credit  

690

If you need to make an immediate purchase, American Express offers instant card numbers for almost all of its small-business cards, according to a company spokesperson. (Co-branded cards like the Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express and Amazon Business Prime American Express Card are exceptions; however, cardholders can spend instantly with the co-branded merchant.) The no-annual-fee The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card may be a good fit for fast spending thanks to its long introductory annual percentage rate, or APR, offer and solid cash-back rate. Learn more and apply.

Pros

No annual fee

High rewards rate

Intro APR period

Cash rewards

Cons

Spending caps on bonus rewards

Requires good/excellent credit

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Our pick for: Business travel card
Capital One Spark Miles Credit Card
Capital One

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Rates and Fees

NerdWallet Rating  
4.5
Min Credit  

690

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is one of the best business travel cards, offering unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent, with no caps or restrictions. There’s also no annual fee for the first year and a solid welcome bonus: 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. Business owners who are approved for a Capital One business credit card can call the issuer's dedicated small-business support line to see whether they qualify for an instant virtual card number. Not all owners will qualify. Those who don’t need to wait seven to 10 business days for their physical card to arrive. Learn more and apply.

Pros

High rewards rate

No minimum redemption amount

Cons

Has annual fee

No Intro APR period

High APR

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Our pick for: AmEx Membership Rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
American Express

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Rates and Fees

NerdWallet Rating  
4.4
Min Credit  

690

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a near-twin to The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, with one key difference: Rather than cash back, it pays you in AmEx Membership Rewards points. Learn more and apply.
Pros

No annual fee

High rewards rate

Intro APR period

Transfer partners

Cons

Spending caps on bonus rewards

Requires good/excellent credit

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Our pick for: Business owners with fair credit
Capital on Tap Visa
Capital on Tap

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

NerdWallet Rating  
3.8
Min Credit  

670

The Capital on Tap Business Credit Card promises a decision within 48 hours of applying, and if approved, you’ll get instant access to your virtual card so you can start using it immediately. It is also one of the few business cards available to business owners with fair credit. Beyond instant spending power and flexible approval, the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, 24/7 customer support and business-friendly features, including realtime spending insights and unlimited employee cards with customizable spending limits. Learn more and apply.

Pros

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases

24/7 customer service

Cons

Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits

Must enroll in automatic payments

Brex Card

Our pick for: Startups with outside investment
Brex
Brex

Brex Card

NerdWallet Rating  
3.2
Min Credit  

300

The Brex Card is available to well-funded, registered businesses and looks at cash flow and revenue, rather than the business owner's personal credit history, to determine creditworthiness. If approved for a Brex Card, you’ll get instant access to your virtual card number and can issue virtual cards for employees as well. The Brex Card also doesn't require a personal guarantee and earns rewards. Learn more and apply.

Pros

No annual fee

New cardholder bonus offer

Qualify with limited/bad credit

No foreign transaction fees

No personal guarantee

Cons

Complicated rewards structure

High capital requirement for approval

Daily repayment may be required

Not available to sole proprietors

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Our pick for: Corporate card with more flexible qualification requirements
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
BILL Spend & Expense

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

NerdWallet Rating  
2.7
Min Credit  

650

The BILL Divvy Corporate Card requires a personal credit check, but it's a soft pull. That’s similar to pre-qualification in that applying has no effect on your personal credit score. You will need at least fair credit to qualify (a FICO score of 650+), but BILL also considers factors like cash balances. Its threshold for those (typically at least $20,000) is lower than the Brex Card ($50,000), making the BILL Divvy Corporate Card potentially more accessible for some business owners. BILL also offers unlimited virtual card numbers. Learn more and apply.

Pros

No annual fee

Card-level spending controls

Cons

Complicated rewards structure with limits on redemption

Balance must be paid in full each billing cycle

Not available to sole proprietors

How to get fast approval on a business credit card

Having good to excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 690) and little debt will give you the best chance of fast approval. Most business credit cards require a score of 690 or higher, and some require a score of at least 720.

If you’ve been in business for a while and can demonstrate your annual business revenue, that will likely help.

Applying for a card online can also speed up the process. Plus, a handful of issuers will give you a virtual card number and credit line right away, so you can start spending immediately.

Preapproval vs. pre-qualification vs. instant approval

These terms may sound similar, but they have different meanings — and they may affect your credit differently.

A preapproval is a business card application offer that usually comes directly from an issuer. If you've ever gotten a letter or email offering you a business credit card, that's likely the result of a preapproval. Preapprovals are typically based on your existing relationship with that financial institution (for example, if you have a business checking account with them) or that issuer pulling your credit and deciding it wants your business. This kind of credit inquiry is known as a soft pull, and it doesn't affect your credit score.

Pre-qualification is you asking the issuer whether you're likely to be approved. Unlike a preapproval, you have to initiate a pre-qualification. To pre-qualify, you proactively provide the issuer with some basic information about yourself and your business. It then runs a soft credit check to see if you might qualify for the business card you're interested in. Again, the soft pull doesn't ding your personal credit, making pre-qualification a great tool to help you avoid wasting time or impacting your score by applying for a card you can’t get.

Preapprovals and pre-qualification are rare with business cards. When available, they can let you understand potential card options — but neither guarantees you’ll be approved.

Instant approval requires an actual application with a hard credit check. You'll still need to go through the standard application steps, which will involve a hard credit pull that may impact your credit score. That process can end with an instant approval, though — some issuers say they can deliver a decision in as little as 60 seconds after you apply for a business credit card.

How long does it take to get approved for a business credit card?

Some business credit card issuers can offer near-instant approval decisions. But there’s no hard-and-fast rule about how quickly applications can be processed. Credit card companies need to take time to review your business financials as well as your personal credit history.

Factors that could slow down the application process include:

  • Having bad credit (typically a personal FICO score below 630) or frozen credit.

  • Entering incorrect information on your application.

  • Having a discrepancy on your credit report — for instance, if you’ve moved recently, your application could take up to two weeks to be approved.

All information about the Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet.

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.

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business credit cards.