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Business Credit Cards For Cash Back, Intro Offers, Travel Rewards, & More

Looking for business credit card rewards? Whether you want cash back, travel rewards, or a great introductory rate on balance transfers, you'll find the best credit cards for small business on this list.

    Jason Vissers
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Chelsea Krause
  • REVIEWED BY

    Chelsea Krause

    Lead Staff Writer

Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.

The best business credit cards give you rewards for your spending while offering business perks like free employee cards.

Depending on the card, business credit cards may also offer such benefits as a 0% introductory APR, a money-saving balance transfer offer, or travel benefits. However, with so many offers available, it can be hard to identify the best credit card for your small business. That’s where we come in.

We’ve broken down the best business credit card offers, comparing their rates, fees, rewards, and requirements to help you decide which has the right combination of perks to make it the best business credit card for your business.

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CompanyKey TakeawaysNext StepsKey Takeaways
Chase Ink Business Preferred

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  • Overall best business credit card
  • Earn 3X points on your first $150K/year in spending on several business expense categories + a generous welcome bonus
  • Good to excellent credit recommended
  • Overall best business credit card
  • Earn 3X points on your first $150K/year in spending on several business expense categories + a generous welcome bonus
  • Good to excellent credit recommended

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American Express Business Gold Card

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  • Best business credit card for custom rewards
  • 4X points on your two highest spending categories
  • Good to excellent credit recommended
  • Best business credit card for custom rewards
  • 4X points on your two highest spending categories
  • Good to excellent credit recommended

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American Express Blue Business Cash

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  • Best business credit card for 0% intro rate
  • 2% cash back on your first $50K/year in purchases
  • Good to excellent credit recommanded
  • Best business credit card for 0% intro rate
  • 2% cash back on your first $50K/year in purchases
  • Good to excellent credit recommanded

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U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business

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  • Best business credit card for balance transfers
  • Unlimited 3% cash back on select business purchase categories
  • Good to excellent credit recommended
  • Best business credit card for balance transfers
  • Unlimited 3% cash back on select business purchase categories
  • Good to excellent credit recommended

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Brex

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  • Best business credit card for startups
  • Up to 8X rewards on select business categories if you make daily repayments
  • No credit requirements, but strict equity investment, company size, or revenue requirements apply
  • Best business credit card for startups
  • Up to 8X rewards on select business categories if you make daily repayments
  • No credit requirements, but strict equity investment, company size, or revenue requirements apply

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Spark Cash Select From Capital One

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  • Best business credit card for flat-rate rewards
  • 1.5% cash back on every business purchase
  • Excellent credit required
  • Best business credit card for flat-rate rewards
  • 1.5% cash back on every business purchase
  • Excellent credit required

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Spark® Miles from Capital One®

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  • Best business credit card for travel rewards
  • 2X miles on every purchase; 5X miles on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One
  • Excellent credit required
  • Best business credit card for travel rewards
  • 2X miles on every purchase; 5X miles on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One
  • Excellent credit required

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Spark Classic from Capital One

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  • Best business credit card for fair credit
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
  • Fair credit required
  • Best business credit card for fair credit
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
  • Fair credit required

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Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured

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  • Best business credit card for bad credit
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back
  • Bad credit + $1,000 security deposit required
  • Best business credit card for bad credit
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back
  • Bad credit + $1,000 security deposit required

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Table of Contents

The 9 Best Business Credit Cards

What’s the best small business credit card for you? This list of the nine best business credit cards is made to suit a range of business needs, so whether you want the best cash back rates, the best startup card, etc, you’ll find the credit card that fits your business.

Chase Ink Business Preferred: Overall Best Business Credit Card

Chase Ink Business Preferred

Total Rating 4.1
Rewards & Perks4.5

Rates & Fees3.4

Features5.0

Eligibility Requirements2.4

Customer Service4.5

User Reviews3.7

Annual Fee

$95

Minimum Recommended Credit

Good

Rewards Rate

3 or 1 point per dollar spent

Pros

  • 3X points on several business purchase categories
  • Generous $1,000+ welcome bonus
  • All points worth 25% more when redeemed for travel
  • Free employee cards

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Annual spending cap applies to the 3X points categories

Why We Chose Chase Ink Business Preferred As The Best Business Credit Card Overall

Chase’s line of Ink Business credit cards is widely considered to be the class of the industry, and Chase Ink Business Preferred is the business credit card that tops them all, in our estimation.

Between the 3X points you’ll earn for your first $150,000 spent annually on several common business expense categories, a welcome bonus worth $1,000 ($1,250 when redeemed for travel!), free employee cards, and a host of other business benefits, Chase Ink Business Preferred has something for just about every business owner.

Combine this with the fact that your points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel and that each point you earn can be transferred at full 1:1 value to Chase’s airline and hotel partner programs, and you have a business credit card whose value proposition is second to none.

Though the Ink Business Preferred does carry a $95 annual fee, you’ll fully offset this if you spend over $3,166.66 per year on the 3X earning categories — a threshold most businesses will easily surpass.

Chase Ink Business Preferred Rewards & Benefits

  • 3X points on your first $150,000/year in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet/cable/phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
  • 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025 (uncapped)
  • Unlimited 1X points on all other purchases
  • 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first three months, worth $1,000 in cash back or $1,250 when redeemed for travel
  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Transfer your points at full 1:1 value to 13 airline and hotel travel partner programs
  • Free employee cards
  • Travel & purchase coverage

Chase Ink Business Preferred Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: $95
  • APR as of 8/10/2023: 21.24%–26.24%, variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: $40

Chase Ink Business Preferred Eligibility Requirements

Chase doesn’t publish a minimum credit score to qualify for its Ink Business cards, but by all accounts, you’ll need good to excellent personal credit to qualify.

Get Started With Chase Ink Business Preferred

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American Express Business Gold Card: Best For Custom Rewards

American Express Business Gold Card


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Annual Fee

$295

Minimum Recommended Credit

Good

Rewards Rate

4 or 1 points per $1 spent

Pros

  • 4X points on your two highest spending categories
  • 70,000 point welcome bonus
  • Luxury travel perks
  • QuickBooks integration

Cons

  • $295 annual fee
  • $50 annual fee for the first employee card you order

Why We Chose The American Express Business Gold Card As The Best Business Credit Card For Custom Rewards

According to our study on major credit card issuers, American Express is the third most popular credit card issuer.  The American Express Business Gold Card offers a unique value proposition. With a hefty 4X points offered in the two purchase categories that you do most of your business spending in, this card allows users to get the biggest rewards bang for their spending.

Add in a generous welcome bonus, and the Amex Business Gold Card offers great value for the business prepared to take advantage of it. However, the card sports a high $295 annual fee, so lower-spending businesses won’t see the same savings as higher-spending businesses once this fee is taken into account.

Amex Business Gold Card Rewards & Benefits

This card tailors your bonus points to your particular business spending patterns. You’ll earn 4X points on your first $150,000/year in combined spending on your top-two highest spending centers from among these categories:

  • Airfare purchased directly from airlines
  • Advertising purchases on TV, online, and radio
  • Gas purchases at US gas stations
  • Restaurant purchases at US venues, including takeout and delivery
  • Technology purchases, including computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions
  • Shipping purchases

You’ll earn 1X points on all other purchases and on any purchases in these categories over the $150K annual spending cap.

Here’s what else you’ll get:

  • 70,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in your first three months
  • $50 annual fee on your first employee card; $0 annual fee on all subsequent employee cards
  • Vendor Pay by Bill.com
  • $100 experience credit and a room upgrade (when available) when you book at least two consecutive nights at properties participating in The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel program
  • Expense management tools
  • QuickBooks integration
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty

Amex Business Gold Card Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: $295
  • Pay Over Time APR as of 8/10/2023: 19.49%–27.49%, variable (this card is technically a charge card, but when you use Pay Over Time, the card resembles a traditional credit card)
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: $39 or 2.99% of the past-due amount, whichever is greater

Amex Business Gold Card Eligibility Requirements

Amex doesn’t publish a minimum credit score to qualify for this card, but we recommend that you have good to excellent personal credit before applying.

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American Express Blue Business Cash: Best Business Credit Card For 0% Intro APR

American Express Blue Business Cash


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Annual Fee

$0

Minimum Recommended Credit

Good

Rewards Rate

2% cash back

Pros

  • Introductory 0% APR for 12 months
  • Flat 2% cash back rate on purchases
  • No annual fee
  • Free employee cards

Cons

  • Foreign transaction fee
  • 2% cash back rate limited to your first $50K/year in purchases
  • Currently no welcome bonus

Why We Chose The American Express Blue Business Cash Card As The Best Business Credit Card For 0% Intro APR

If you’ll need to carry a balance on your business credit card, check out the American Express Blue Business Cash card. You’ll have a full year before you’ll have to start paying interest on your monthly balance. Introductory 0% APR periods aren’t as common in the business credit card world as they are in the personal credit card industry, so it’s noteworthy when you find any business credit card offering one, much less one offering a flat 2% cash back rate on purchases.

This cash back rate applies for your first $50/year in business spending, but beyond that, you won’t find much in the way of travel perks or additional credits. However, considering that the Blue Business Cash has no annual fee and a nice 0% APR period, it’s nonetheless an excellent value for businesses with more modest spending and travel needs. Just be wary of carrying a large balance after the first 12 months.

Amex Blue Business Cash Rewards & Benefits

  • 2% cash back on your first $50K/year in purchases
  • Unlimited 1% cash back thereafter
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Free employee cards
  • QuickBooks integration
  • Vendor Pay by Bill.com
  • Spend a certain amount above your credit limit

Amex Blue Business Cash Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: None
  • APR as of 8/10/2023: 18.49%–26.49%, variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%
  • Late payment fee: Up to $39

Amex Blue Business Cash Eligibility Requirements

Amex doesn’t publish a minimum credit score to qualify for this card, but we recommend that you have good to excellent personal credit before applying.

Get Started With American Express Blue Business Cash

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U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business: Best Business Credit Card For Balance Transfers

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business


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Pros

  • Introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
  • 3% cash back on select business purchase categories
  • 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and rental cars booked through U.S. Bank’s travel portal
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Bonus cash back categories may not align with your business spending
  • Foreign transaction fee

Why We Chose The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business As The Best Business Credit Card For Balance Transfers

The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business card has a solid cash back program, but the card’s main highlight is its extended introductory APR that applies to both purchases and balance transfers. The 0% APR period lasts for 15 months, making this an ideal business credit card should you want to carry or transfer a balance.

The 0% APR period applies to balance transfers made during your first 30 account days. There’s also a 3% transfer fee applied to each transfer with a $5 minimum, so your balance transfer won’t be completely free.

Other highlights of this card include its 3% cash back on select business purchase categories, its $500 welcome bonus, and its lack of an annual fee.

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Rewards & Benefits

  • Unlimited 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants
  • Unlimited 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and rental cars booked through U.S. Bank’s travel portal
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • $500 welcome bonus after you spend $4,500 in your first 150 days
  • $100 annual statement credit for software service purchases
  • Divide eligible purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest (just a fixed monthly fee) when you qualify for an ExtendPay plan
  • Free employee cards

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: None
  • APR as of 8/10/2023: 19.24%–28.24%, variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3%
  • Late payment fee: $40

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Eligibility Requirements

U.S. Bank doesn’t market a minimum credit score for this card, but we recommend that you have good to excellent personal credit before applying.

Get Started With U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business

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Brex Card: Best Business Credit Card For Startups

Brex


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Pros

  • Earn up to 8X points on business purchases
  • Valuable partner discounts
  • Travel rewards
  • No credit check or personal guarantee required

Cons

  • Strict eligibility requirements
  • Must make automatic daily repayments and make Brex your exclusive corporate card to earn the highest points rate
  • Can’t carry a balance month-to-month

Why We Chose Brex As The Best Business Credit Card For Startups

The Brex Card is a corporate credit card geared toward venture-backed startups. Being a corporate card, its primary draw is that you don’t undergo a credit check when you apply (thus, no credit score requirements), nor do you have to sign a personal guarantee to get the card, so if you can’t repay your bill, you won’t be held personally liable.

Though you can get this card with poor credit (or even no credit), Brex does have some steep requirements that we’ll list in the final section here. Suffice to say, your business will either need to have received (or will receive in the near future) significant equity investment, earn significant annual revenue, or have a significant number of employees in order to qualify.

The Brex card offers a very high rewards rate on some common business expenses, but in order to earn rewards at the highest rates, you’ll need to make automatic daily repayments of your balance and make Brex your exclusive corporate card. You’ll also need a valid US incorporation to qualify for the card.

Brex Rewards & Benefits

If you make Brex your exclusive corporate card and you make automatic daily repayments, you’ll earn spending rewards at the following rates, with no cap on the amount of spending that earns these rates:

  • 8X points on rideshare purchases (7X if you make monthly repayments)
  • 5X points on travel purchases booked through Brex Travel (4X with monthly repayments)
  • 4X points on restaurant purchases (3X with monthly repayments)
  • 3X points on software purchases (2X with monthly repayments)
  • 1X points on all other spending

If you don’t make Brex your only business card, you’ll only earn 1X points on all your purchases.

Here’s what else you’ll get:

  • Credits and discounts with Brex partner companies — over $180,000 in total
  • Expense management platform with bill pay
  • Automated receipts and reconciliation
  • Link to a Brex business account (formerly Brex Cash) that earns 4.92% yield (according to Brex)
  • Free employee cards

Brex Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: None
  • APR: Not applicable (you can’t carry a balance month-to-month)
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: None

Brex Eligibility Requirements

While Brex has no credit score requirements and no personal guarantee requirement, its eligibility requirements are nonetheless strict and complex.

All Brex accounts must have a valid US incorporation — your business must be a C-corp, S-corp, LLC, or LLP.

To qualify for a Brex card with daily repayments, you’ll need to meet at least one (not necessarily all) of the following conditions:

  • Received an equity investment of any amount (accelerator, angel, or VC) or plan to in the near future
  • Earn $1 million+ a year in revenue
  • Have more than 50 employees
  • Tech startups who are on a path to meeting the criteria above, and are referred by an existing customer or partner, may be eligible

Qualifying for monthly repayments is even more difficult. Startups will need to meet at least one of te following conditions:

  • If you’re part of an accelerator and meet the requirements for a Brex card with daily payments, you’re qualified for monthly payments
  • If you’ve received venture funding, you’re qualified for monthly repayments
  • If you’ve received a minimum in angel funding of $100,000 and plan to raise capital from an accelerator or VC in the future, you’re qualified for monthly repayments

Startups must also have a $50K+ cash balance to qualify for monthly repayments, “or potentially even lower if you’re referred by certain partners of ours,” according to Brex.

Mid-market and enterprise businesses, on the other hand, will need more than $400K/month in revenue to qualify for monthly repayments.

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Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select: Best For Flat-Rate Rewards

Spark Cash Select From Capital One


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Annual Fee

$0

Minimum Recommended Credit

Good

Rewards Rate

Unlimited 1.5% cash back

Pros

  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
  • $750 welcome bonus
  • No annual fee
  • Travel benefits

Cons

  • Excellent credit required
  • No elevated rewards-earning for any particular spending category

Why We Chose Capital One Spark Cash Select As The Best Business Credit Card For Flat-Rate Rewards

If your business spending isn’t concentrated in any one particular category, the Capital One Spark Cash Select card may be for you. Offering an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, there are few simpler ways to save money.

Be aware that Capital One offers a similar card — the Spark 2% Cash Plus– with 2% cash back on all purchases and a higher early spend bonus. However, it carries a rather hefty $150 annual fee and doesn’t let you carry a monthly balance. We decided to highlight the Spark Cash Select because it’s a more practical card for most small business owners, but large high-spending businesses who aren’t concerned about the limitations of a charge card may want to check out the Spark Cash Plus instead.

Capital One Spark Cash Select Rewards & Benefits

  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all business purchases
  • $750 bonus when you spend $6,000 in your first three months
  • Free employee cards with spend limits
  • $0 fraud liability
  • Roadside assistance

Capital One Spark Cash Select Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: None
  • APR as of 8/10/2023: 18.24%–24.24%, variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: Up to $39

Capital One Spark Cash Select Eligibility Requirements

The Capital One Spark Cask Select’s biggest drawback is that you must have excellent credit in order to qualify.

Get Started With Spark Cash Select From Capital One

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Capital One Spark 2X Miles: Best Business Credit Card For Travel Rewards

Spark® Miles from Capital One®


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Annual Fee

$95 ($0 the first year)

Minimum Recommended Credit

Excellent

Rewards Rate

Unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent

Pros

  • Unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
  • Unlimited 5X miles on every hotel and rental car booked through Capital One Travel
  • Two free visits per year to Capital One’s airport lounge network or its partner lounge network
  • The annual fee is waived for the first year

Cons

  • Excellent credit required
  • $95 annual fee after the first year

Why We Chose Capital One Spark Miles As The Best Business Credit Card For Travel Rewards

Capital One’s Spark Miles is an easy and practical way for frequent business travelers to earn miles, making this one of the best business credit cards for travel rewards that doesn’t come with a massive annual fee. Cardholders nab two miles for every dollar spent on all purchases, with no minimums and no expiration dates. Plus, Capital One bumps up that earning rate to 5x if you book hotels and car rentals through its travel portal.

You’ll get some additional travel perks as well, as you’ll see in the next section

Capital One Spark Miles Rewards & Benefits

  • Unlimited 5X miles on travel booked through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited 2X miles on all other business purchases
  • 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,500 in your first three months
  • $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
  • Transfer your miles to any of 15+ travel partner programs
  • Get two free visits per year to Capital One’s airport lounge network or its partner lounge network
  • $0 fraud liability

Capital One Spark Miles Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: None the first year; $95 thereafter
  • APR as of 8/10/2023: 25.99%, variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: Up to $39

Capital One Spark Miles Eligibility Requirements

Unfortunately, you’ll need excellent credit in order to qualify for the Capital One Spark Miles card.

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Capital One Spark 1% Classic: Best Business Credit Card For Fair Credit

Spark Classic from Capital One


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Annual Fee

$0

Minimum Recommended Credit

Fair

Rewards Rate

Unlimited 1% cash back

Pros

  • Available to applicants with fair credit
  • Unlimited 1% cash back
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Low rewards rate
  • Very high APR

Why We Chose Capital One Spark Classic As The Best Business Credit Card For Fair Credit

Unsecured credit cards for fair credit borrowers aren’t very common in the business credit card space. Thankfully, Capital One’s Spark Classic fills that gap and offers business owners with a fair or average credit score a way to boost their credit rating while leveraging their credit to make purchases.

While this card doesn’t deliver the highest level of rewards, it features no annual fee. Plus, using this card boosts your business credit score, allowing you to seek more rewarding cards in the future.

One word of caution: This card has a very high APR and no introductory APR period. Avoid carrying a balance month-to-month if at all possible.

Capital One Spark Classic Rewards & Benefits

  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
  • Free employee cards with spend limits
  • $0 fraud liability
  • Roadside assistance

Capital One Spark Classic Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: None
  • APR as of 8/10/2023: 30.49%, variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: Up to $39

Capital One Spark Classic Eligibility Requirements

You’ll need just fair credit to qualify for the Capital One Spark Classic.

Get Started With Spark Classic from Capital One

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Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured: Best Business Credit Card For Bad Credit

Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured


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Pros

  • Available to users with bad credit
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • No annual fee
  • You may be able to upgrade to an unsecured card if your credit improves

Cons

  • $1,000 minimum security deposit required
  • High APR

Why We Chose Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured As The Best Business Credit Card For Bad Credit

The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured may have a too-long-by-half name, but it provides an important service: it gives users with bad credit the ability to not only obtain a business credit card but also earn cash back at a 1.5% clip — very impressive for a bad credit business card!

As such, it’s one of the best business credit cards for bad credit.

Of course, as the card’s name reveals, you’ll need to put down a security deposit to use this card. This security deposit must be at least $1,000, and it establishes the amount of your credit line. Just be aware that this card carries a high APR. Avoid carrying a monthly balance if you can.

Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Rewards & Benefits

  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all business purchases
  • $300 bonus credit if you make $3,000 worth of purchase in the first 90 days
  • The ability to transition to an unsecured credit card if you improve your credit history
  • Cash flow management tools
  • Travel and emergency services
  • Free access to business credit scores
  • Fraud monitoring

Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Rates & Fees

  • Annual fee: None
  • APR as of 8/10/2023: 28.49%, variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: $0 if your balance is less than or equal to $100; $29 if $100.01–$1,000; $39 if $1,000.01–$5,000; $49 if greater than $5,000

Bank fo America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Eligibility Requirements

You’ll only need bad credit to qualify for the BofA Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured card. You’ll also need to provide a security deposit of at least $1,000. Your deposit will not earn interest.

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How To Choose The Best Business Credit Card For Your Business

Here are a few helpful tips to help you successfully apply for a business credit card.

Check Your Credit Score Before You Apply

Because credit card applications perform a “hard pull” on your credit history, applying for too many cards in quick succession can lower your credit score. Try to determine if you meet the qualifications to be approved before you apply for a card. To find out your credit score, visit one of our favorite free credit-checking sites.

Choose Rewards That Match Your Business Spending

Before you choose the best business credit card to apply for, think about how you’ve been spending money and how you picture that happening in the future. What kinds of rewards scheme will best suit your business? Which business credit card will provide the best value? Compare the pros and cons of cash back, travel, and rewards business cards. By matching a card with your business’s spending habits, you’ll be able to maximize your rewards.

Consider Extra Card Benefits

A business credit card may offer benefits beyond basic rewards, such as extended warranties or travel insurance and aid. If you’re trying to decide between two cards with similar base rewards, check their additional benefits to help you choose. Something seemingly small, such as zero foreign transaction fees or no-cost employee cards, can make a big difference, depending on how you plan to use the card.

If You Plan To Carry A Balance Initially, Find A Card With An Introductory 0% APR

The heading says it all. In a time of rising interest rates, credit card debt is particularly expensive. Try to avoid carrying a monthly balance, but if you absolutely have to, find a business credit card with an intro 0% APR period and work to pay off your balance before the period ends.

What Credit Score Is Needed For A Business Credit Card?

Your business credit score represents your creditworthiness. Credit card issuers will use it to evaluate how likely you are to pay on time, how much credit they should extend to your business, and even how high an interest rate they should charge you. Each credit card issuer has a different idea of what’s considered excellent, good, fair, and poor, so if you don’t qualify for one offer, keep looking until you find another one you like that you’re more qualified for.

Do you know what your credit score is and how to improve it? If you answered “No” to either of those questions, check out our guide to business credit scores. You can read our tips on how to get a business credit card to learn how to check your business credit score and what you can do to improve it if needed.

Can You Get A Business Credit Card To Start A Business?

It’s pretty common for entrepreneurs to start a business using a personal credit card to finance materials and operations at first. But which kind of credit card will be better for what you need: a personal credit card vs. a business credit card?

One advantage of using a business credit card is that using one establishes and helps build your business credit. You can’t do that by using a personal credit card. However, you won’t be able to get a business credit card if you’re running your new business more like a side hustle. You’ll probably have to establish your business officially, with a business license, tax ID/EIN, and a business bank account.

Simply put: If you’re looking for a way to start a business with no money, a credit card may not be your best bet.

How Do I Establish Credit For My Business?

If you’re a new small business owner without a business credit card or credit history, you can’t rely on your personal credit rating to build your business credit profile. So getting a business credit card can be a smart step. Don’t expect to start with a huge credit limit, however. You may need to start with what’s known as a secured business credit card, where you make and maintain a deposit that’s close to or equal to your credit limit. As you prove your business’s creditworthiness over time, you may be able to obtain a different kind of business credit card, with a higher limit.

Of course, you can start to establish your business credit profile simply by starting a business bank account. Once you’re set up with a business checking account that you use you pay bills, you may be able to get a business credit card from your business banking services provider.

Can You Get A Business Credit Card Without Income?

If you’re applying for a secured business credit card, the issuer may not perform a credit check. So technically, you could be approved without showing proof of income.

However, you should not get a business credit card unless you need one. As the business owner, you will probably be required to sign a personal guarantee for any debt incurred in your business name. Incur debt that you can’t pay off, and you’ll be held personally liable for it. Without any income, you’ll need to drain any savings you have to pay off your credit card debt. That’s not an advantageous situation!

What You Need To Apply For A Business Credit Card

When you’re ready to apply for a business credit card, you can make the application process a little easier by gathering some information in advance. Our step-by-step guide to applying for a business credit card can help you do this.

Standard information required on a business credit card application may include the following:

  • Business’s legal name, physical address, and phone number
  • Tax ID number (also known as Employer Identification Number or EIN)
  • Type of business
  • Business structure
  • Annual revenue for your business
  • Estimated monthly business spending
  • Business age
  • Your role in the business
  • Number of employees
  • Your personal information, including name, address, phone number, date of birth, and Social Security number

FAQs: The Best Credit Cards For Small Business

Do credit cards hurt small businesses?

Having a business credit card can help a small business if you choose the right card and use it properly. Choose a business credit card that allows you to build your business credit profile, offers rewards, such as travel perks or cash back to help your business grow, and offers terms your business can meet. Make your payments on time to improve your credit rating and minimize the amount you spend on paying interest.

Do you need an EIN for a business credit card?

You do not necessarily need an EIN to apply for a business credit card. If your business operates as a sole proprietorship, you can be approved using just your own Social Security number. Small businesses with a more complex structure, such as LLCs, will need an EIN, and even sole proprietorships will be able to receive better access to credit if they are officially structured with an EIN.

Should I get a business credit card for Etsy?

It’s a good idea for most small businesses to use a business credit card, including those that sell primarily on Etsy. Using a business credit card helps you keep your business purchases separate from your personal finances. That makes it easier to file your taxes, and keeping business expenses separate from your personal finances helps limit your financial liability if something goes wrong.

What is the fastest way to get business credit for an LLC?

The fastest way to get business credit for an LLC or any type of business is to start a business bank account. That will help you establish your business’s creditworthiness. From there, you can apply for a line of credit, loan, or business credit card to help fund your business growth.

What credit score is needed for Amazon business cards?

You need good to excellent credit to be approved for an Amazon business credit card. Amazon considers scores above 720 to rate excellent, and credit scores about 680 qualify as good.

Can I use a personal credit card to fund a business?

Yes, you can use a personal credit card for business expenses. Just make sure you’re using a separate credit card to fund your business — don’t commingle your personal and business expenses on the same card. If you get audited, you might have a hard time proving to the IRS that your claimed business charges are genuine.

Final Thoughts: Choosing From The Best Business Credit Cards

What’s the best small business credit card for you? It depends on your business type, size, and needs. It helps to understand the rewards your business credit card can help you earn, so a good starting point is to compare cash back, travel, and rewards business cards.

If your business frequently takes you or your employees on the road or into the skies, you might want to choose one of the best credit cards for business travel.

Larger businesses might be ready to graduate from a business credit card to a corporate card. Benefits include cards for employees, spend management tools, and other benefits that can save you time, money, and hassle. Start with our list of the best corporate credit cards and see if you find one that meets your needs.

Your business will benefit from having a business credit card that will help you finance your growth, no matter what type of card and rewards you choose. And if you have poor or no credit, you can start with a secured business credit card. You can help build your credit to the point where you can not only qualify for a better credit card — you’ll also be more likely to secure funding in the form of loans and lines of credit.

In the meantime, as you build your business credit, you can enjoy your pick of rewards from these best business credit cards. Whether you choose travel rewards, cash back, or other types of credit card rewards, such as gift cards, you can feel confident that you’re helping your business grow and expand its future options.

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Jason Vissers

Jason Vissers

Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Jason has been writing about small business software platforms, services, and financing since 2015. Jason’s expertise has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Time/NextAdvisor, Home Business Magazine, CreditCards.com, GoBankingRates, TheLadders.com, and other publications. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Diego State University and currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jason Vissers
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