Best Credit Card Processing Companies In 2024
Read More
May 29, 2024
Filed under: Credit Card Processing
Best Business Credit Cards With No Credit History
Check out these robust options for starter credit cards to help build your credit score if you are a business owner without a credit history.
-
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Lead Staff Writer
Last updated onUpdated
-
REVIEWED BY
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.
Finding the right business credit card is no easy feat. Add in a lack of business credit score or established credit history, and your search just got even tougher. There are very few no credit history credit cards for businesses.
Thankfully, you aren’t completely out of luck. You can still get a business credit card without a credit history.
We’ve done the hard part of wading through dozens of cards to bring you the best no credit history credit cards. While you won’t find as great of rewards as you would with the best business credit cards, you will still have the option to purchase on credit and a way to improve your credit score so that you can unlock better rewards and terms down the road.
Learn More About Our Top Picks
| Company | Best For | Next StepsBest For |
|---|---|---|
Brex
 |
|
|
BILL Spend & Expense
 |
|
|
Discover it Secured
 |
|
|
OpenSky Secured Visa Card
 |
|
|
Revenued Business Card
 |
|
|
| Show More Options | ||
Platinum Secured from Capital One
 |
|
|
Citi Secured Mastercard
 |
|
|
Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit
 |
|
|
Spark Classic from Capital One
 |
|
|
| Show Fewer Options |
Read more below to learn why we chose these options.
Table of Contents [hide][show]
- Can You Get A Business Credit Card Without A Credit Score?
- 8 Best Business Credit Cards For Those With No Credit History
- Brex : Best For Startups
- BILL Spend & Expense: Best Corporate Card
- Discover it Secured: Overall Best No Credit History Secured Card
- OpenSky Secured Visa Card: Best For High Acceptance Rates
- Revenued Business Card: Best For Cash Back
- Platinum Secured from Capital One: Best For No Annual Fees
- Citi Secured Mastercard: Best For Monitoring Your Credit Score
- Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit: Best For No Deposit
- Spark Classic from Capital One: Best For Instant Approval
- How To Choose The Right No Credit History Credit Card For Your Business
- How To Get A Business Credit Card With No Credit History
- No Credit History Credit Cards: FAQs
Table of Contents
- Can You Get A Business Credit Card Without A Credit Score?
- 8 Best Business Credit Cards For Those With No Credit History
- Brex : Best For Startups
- BILL Spend & Expense: Best Corporate Card
- Discover it Secured: Overall Best No Credit History Secured Card
- OpenSky Secured Visa Card: Best For High Acceptance Rates
- Revenued Business Card: Best For Cash Back
- Platinum Secured from Capital One: Best For No Annual Fees
- Citi Secured Mastercard: Best For Monitoring Your Credit Score
- Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit: Best For No Deposit
- Spark Classic from Capital One: Best For Instant Approval
- Corporate Card Review Methodology
- How To Choose The Right No Credit History Credit Card For Your Business
- How To Get A Business Credit Card With No Credit History
- No Credit History Credit Cards: FAQs
Can You Get A Business Credit Card Without A Credit Score?
The primary way people can build up their credit scores and establish a healthy credit history is to make monthly credit card payments on time. But if you’re a new business owner without a credit card or business credit history, you might wonder: How do you build up your credit when you don’t have a credit card in the first place?
While it’s not easy to find business credit cards with no credit history, thankfully, there are several business cards out there that you can get without a credit score.
To find a no credit history business credit card, you’ll need to look into two primary options: corporate cards and secured cards.
Corporate cards offer great benefits and employee spend controls, and even better, there’s no credit check or personal guarantee required. You will have to meet strict eligibility requirements and proof of large annual revenue or cash or hand to qualify for the best corporate credit cards. If you don’t have those, your next best option is a secured card.
With a secured credit card, you’re not likely to get many rewards, but you’ll at least have a business credit card without a good credit score. You’ll need to pay a set security deposit amount which isn’t ideal, but you can use this type of card to build your credit history so that you can apply for more competitive cards down the road. Unsecured business credit cards with no credit history are very difficult to find, though there are a couple of these options out there.
8 Best Business Credit Cards For Those With No Credit History
It can be difficult to find startup business credit cards with no credit history, but it’s not impossible. The following credit cards can be obtained with no credit history and can be used to cover business expenses.
- Brex: Best For Startups
- BILL Spend & Expense: Best Corporate Card
- Discover it Secured: Overall Best No Credit History Secured Card
- OpenSky Secured Visa Card: Best For High Acceptance Rates
- Revenued Business Card: Best For Cash Back
- Platinum Secured from Capital One: Best For No Annual Fees
- Citi Secured Mastercard: Best For Monitoring Your Credit Score
- Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit: Best For No Deposit
- Spark Classic from Capital One: Best For Instant Approval
Best Business Credit Cards With No Credit Compared
| Monthly or Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | APR | Security Deposit | Revenue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brex | $0 | 1x-8x | n/a | n/a | $1M or $100k in angel investing |
| BILL Spend & Expense | $0 | 1.5x-7x points | n/a | n/a | $20k+ |
| Discover it Secured | $0 | 1%-2% cashback | 28.24% | $200-$2,500 | n/a |
| OpenSky Secured Visa Card | $35 | n/a | 25.49% | $200-$3,000 | Monthly income must be greater than monthly expenses |
| Revenued Business Card | $0 | 3% cash back | n/a | n/a | $10k/month |
| Platinum Secured from Capital One | $0 | n/a | 29.99% | $49-$200 | n/a |
| Citi Secured Mastercard | $0 | n/a | 27.74% | $200-$2,500 | n/a |
| Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit | $75 due immediately; $99 annually after | 1% cash back | 29.74% | n/a | n/a |
| Spark Classic from Capital One | $0 | Unlimited 1% cash back | 29.99%, variable | n/a | n/a |
Brex : Best For Startups
Pros
- No credit check
- No personal guarantee
- Up to 8x points on common business expenses when you make automatic daily repayments
Cons
- Only for businesses with high growth potential and lots of cash in the bank
- Cannot carry a balance month-to-month
Why We Chose Brex As The Best No Credit History Credit Card For Startups
Brex set out to disrupt the traditional credit card underwriting model with its startup-friendly unsecured business credit card. To qualify for the Brex corporate card, you do not need any credit history whatsoever, as Brex does not check your credit score. Instead, the company takes into account factors such as your cash balance, your spending patterns, and your investors. As such, it is geared toward the needs of startups (especially tech startups) with high growth potential. The Brex Card also does not require a personal guarantee, so you won’t be held personally liable for any business debt, making it a top choice on our list of no credit history cards.
When To Choose A Brex Card
- If you are a startup with substantial revenue or equity investment
- You are a fast-growing startup that needs spend controls and rewards on spending
- You are comfortable with daily repayments for the highest level of rewards or are prepared for much lower rewards rates with monthly payments
BILL Spend & Expense: Best Corporate Card
Rewards Rate
Up to 7X points on restaurantsUp to 5X points on hotels
Annual Fee
$0Business Size
Small-to-mid-sized businessesMust generally have $20K+ in the bank
Pros
- Flexible rewards scheme that matches bill payoff frequency
- Strong budget management features
- No annual or employee card fees
Cons
- Can’t spend your rewards until you’ve had the card for 12 months
- Late payment fees and undisclosed foreign transaction fees
- Requires good/excellent credit to qualify
Why We Chose Bill Spend & Expense As The Best Corporate Card For No Credit History
Like most corporate cards, the BILL Spend & Expense card doesn't require a credit check. Unlike most corporate cards though, BILL is far more flexible when it comes to eligibility requirements. BILL Spend & Expense accepts sole proprietors, not just corporations and LLCs like most corporate cards. It also has one of the lowest revenue requirements out there for a corporate card, making it a much more feasible corporate card option for businesses with no credit history.
When To Choose A BILL Spend & Expense Card
- If your business has at least $20k in the bank
- You want competitive rewards
- You don’t qualify for other corporate cards (due to higher revenue requirements or to being a sole proprietor)
Get Started With BILL Spend & Expense
Discover it Secured: Overall Best No Credit History Secured Card
Discover it Secured |
|---|
Annual Fee
$0Minimum Recommended Credit
PoorRewards Rate
2% or 1% cash backPros
- No annual fee
- Good cash back program for a card of this type
- Reports to the big three credit bureaus
Cons
- A security deposit of at least $200 is required
- Relatively high APR
Why We Chose Discover it® Secured As The Best No Credit History Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured card is a traditional credit-building card in that it requires a security deposit between $200 and $2500, which will become your credit limit. Like most cards operating in this space, the card reports to the three major credit bureaus. Unlike most other cards on this list, Discover it® has no annual fee, actual rewards earning, and the ability to upgrade to an unsecured card at 7 months, earning this card our top recommendation as the best no credit history secured card for businesses.
When To Choose The Discover it® Secured Card
- You can make the $200+ cash deposit
- You want a secured card with cash back rewards
- You need a card to build credit with
- You haven’t had any recent bankruptcies
Get Started With Discover it Secured
OpenSky Secured Visa Card: Best For High Acceptance Rates
OpenSky Secured Visa Card |
|---|
Pros
- No credit check
- Reports to the big three credit bureaus
- Doesn’t require a bank account
Cons
- $35 annual fee
- A security deposit of at least $200 is required
Why We Chose OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card As The Best No Credit Card With High Acceptance Rate
When you apply for the OpenSky Secured Visa, you do not undergo a credit check, making this card ideal for businesses with no credit history -- so much so, that 88% of people who apply for this card are approved. And unlike with a corporate card like Brex, there are no revenue or business size requirements to qualify. That's because this is a secured credit card -- so long as you make a security deposit of at least $200 ($3,000 maximum) to establish your credit line, you're almost certainly good to go. This credit card helps you establish a credit history by reporting your spending to the big three credit bureaus.
When To Choose An OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
- You need a credit card with no credit check
- You can make a minimum deposit of at least $200
- You need a card that reports to the credit bureaus in order to build your credit score
- You don’t have many foreign transactions as there’s a hefty 3% foreign transaction fee
Get Started With OpenSky Secured Visa Card
Revenued Business Card: Best For Cash Back
Revenued Business Card |
|---|
Annual Fee
$0Minimum Recommended Credit
N/ARewards Rate
3% cash back on eligible purchasesPros
- No personal guarantee or credit check
- Unlimited 3% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
Cons
- Factoring costs can be high
- Can’t build your credit with card use
Why We Chose Revenued As The Best No Credit History Credit Card For Flat Cash Back
In terms of standout features, the Revenued Business Card's generous cash-back rate of 3%, which applies to all eligible purchases, might be the best flat cash-back rate for any business spending card currently on the market. In light of this, we're happy to feature Revenued in this best-of list. Technically, the Revenued Business Card is not a business credit card. It's actually a prepaid spending card tied to your future business revenue, akin to invoice factoring. If you qualify for the Revenued card, you'll get a revolving line of credit, with your future sales being your collateral, so expect a factor rate of 1.1 to 1.5. This is why the Revenued card has no personal guarantee requirement, nor does the company run credit checks on applicants.
When To Choose A Revenued Card
- You want a highly competitive cash back reward scheme
- You have a monthly revenue of $10k+
- You understand how factor rates work and are comfortable with one
Get Started With Revenued Business Card
Platinum Secured from Capital One: Best For No Annual Fees
Platinum Secured from Capital One |
|---|
Annual Fee
$0Minimum Recommended Credit
N/ARewards Rate
N/APros
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- You may get a credit limit higher than your deposit amount
Cons
- No rewards for your spending
- High APR
Why We Chose Capital One Premium Secured As The Best No Credit History Credit Card For No Annual Fees
The Secured Mastercard from Capital One offers an unusual benefit for a secured credit card: You may be able to get a credit limit higher than the amount of your security deposit. If you're approved, you'll get an initial $200 credit limit, but your required security deposit will be either $49, $99, or $200, depending on Capital One's assessment of your creditworthiness. You can also get access to a higher credit line after making your first five monthly payments on time. Combine this with the fact that the card charges no annual fee, and we're happy to give the Capital One Platinum Secured card a spot on this list.
When To Choose A Capital One Premium Secured Card
- You don’t plan on carrying a balance as the card has a high APY (currently 29.99% variable)
- You want a card with no annual fees
- You have $49-$200 for a deposit
- You want the ability to have a higher credit limit than the deposit you provide
Get Started With Platinum Secured from Capital One
Citi Secured Mastercard: Best For Monitoring Your Credit Score
Citi Secured Mastercard |
|---|
Pros
- No annual fee
- Reports to the big three credit bureaus
Cons
- No spending rewards
- Fairly high APR
Why We Chose Citi Secured Mastercard As The Best No Credit History Card For Monitoring Your Credit Score
The Citi Secured Mastercard is another secured credit card -- one intended for people with no credit or limited credit history. The card requires a security deposit of between $200-$2,500, which will be the basis for your credit limit. Citi will report your credit activity to the major consumer credit bureaus, so with responsible card use, the Citi Secured Mastercard can help you qualify for a quality unsecured credit card somewhere down the road. There's also built-in FICO score access to watch your credit grow.
When To Choose The Citi Secured Mastercard Card
- You want a way to easily monitor your FICO score as you build credit
- You have no recent bankruptcies
- You are willing to sacrifice cash back earning rewards for no annual fees and slightly lower APR than some other cards on this list
Get Started With Citi Secured Mastercard
Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit: Best For No Deposit
Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit |
|---|
Annual Fee
$75 for the first year; $99 thereafterMinimum Recommended Credit
PoorRewards Rate
1% cash backPros
- No security deposit required
- Reports to the big three credit bureaus
- 1% cash back on select spending categories
Cons
- $75 fee charged immediately, $99 annual fee thereafter
- Your initial credit line is just $300 ($225 after subtracting your initial $75 fee)
Why We Chose Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit As The Best No Credit History Card With No Deposit
The Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit is an unsecured credit option for borrowers with bad/limited credit who can't or won't pay a security deposit. However, you might not want to make this card your first choice due to the fees involved. If you are approved to get this card, you'll have to pay a $75 annual fee immediately, thus reducing your credit line from $300 to $225 right off the bat. Unfortunately, after the first year, your annual fee rises to $99/year, billed at $8.25/month.
Nonetheless, as one of the few unsecured credit card options available to business owners with no credit history, the Credit One Platinum Visa merits consideration.
When To Choose A Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit Card
- You want an unsecured card with no deposit
- You want a flat 1% cash back reward structure
- You plan on spending enough to offset the large annual fees
- You don’t plan on carrying a balance as the card has a high APY (currently 29.74% variable)
Get Started With Credit One Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit
Spark Classic from Capital One: Best For Instant Approval
Annual Fee
$0Minimum Recommended Credit
FairRewards Rate
Unlimited 1% cash backPros
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
- Cash back offered
- Reports to the business credit bureaus
Cons
- May not be able to get the card with no credit
- High APR
Why We Chose Capital One Spark 1% Classic As The Best No Credit History Card For Instant Approval
The Spark Classic card from Capital One comes with impressive business perks, such as free cards for your employees, unlimited 1% cash back, and instant approval, which is great if you need some business spending flexibility ASAP. This unsecured card (no deposit required) also helps you build your business credit score, as the Spark Classic reports to the business credit bureaus (but not the personal ones). However, while you may be able to get approved for the card with no credit history, you'll have a better chance of approval if you have at least some credit history.
When To Choose The Capital One Spark 1% Classic Card
- You don’t plan on carrying a balance as the card has a high APY (currently 29.99% variable)
- You want a flat 1% cash back
- You have at least some credit histoy (though you may still qualify with none)
Get Started With Spark Classic from Capital One
Corporate Card Review Methodology
We spend hours researching and evaluating each corporate card that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate our ratings.
When rating corporate cards, we use a 15-point rubric that looks at rewards and perks, rates and fees, features, eligibility requirements, customer service, and user reviews. We weigh each section differently to calculate the total star rating.
- Rewards & Perks: 40% of the total star rating
- Rates & Fees: 25% of the total star rating
- Features: 20% of the total star rating
- Eligibility Requirements: 5% of the total star rating
- Customer Support: 5% of the total star rating
- User Reviews: 5% of the total star rating
Note: We use a different credit card rating methodology to evaluate traditional business credit cards, as they often differ from corporate cards in benefits, qualifications, and use cases.
Each section is further broken down into granular, weighted subsections, in which we examine specific attributes like cash back and spending rewards, reward redemption options, annual fees, employee card access, extra perks and features, credit score and revenue requirements, customer support options, and the overall reputation of the corporate card issuer.
Read more about our corporate card rating methodology.
How To Choose The Right No Credit History Credit Card For Your Business
When it comes to choosing the best business credit card with no credit history, your job is actually easier than usual because there are so few credit card options that accept no credit history. The main decision you’ll have to make is looking at your finances to see if you have the revenue or cash on hand (or equivalent owner’s equity) to qualify for a corporate card.
If you qualify for a corporate card, this is definitely your best option. You’ll get access to much better rewards, like cash back and partner discounts, with a corporate card than you would with a secured card. Learn how to get a corporate card if this is you.
However, if you don’t qualify for a corporate card, you’ll next want to look at which card you do qualify for with the best rewards, APR, and fees. While you’re likely to encounter few fees and high APRs, there may still be some perks for a specific card that make it stand out for your business’s specific use case. The good news is that you aren’t locked into a secured card forever. You can use this to improve your credit so that you can qualify for better business credit cards in the future.
Additionally, many issuers of secured credit cards will let you upgrade to an unsecured credit card after you’ve used your card responsibly over a certain period of time.
How To Get A Business Credit Card With No Credit History
To get a business credit card with no credit history, you’ll need to make sure you have all of your other ducks in a row. You often will be asked to provide certain personal and business information, financial reports, and/or funds for a deposit in order to secure a credit card. Having all of this prepared ahead of time can really help you showcase your eligibility to a card issuer and make the process easier for you overall.
Our other tips and tricks for how to get a business credit card with no credit history include:
- Find A Co-Signer: If you have no credit history whatsoever, you’ll find it easier to get a credit card if you can find someone with a solid credit history — perhaps a parent or guardian — to co-sign your credit card application. However, this comes with major drawbacks: Your co-signer will have access to your finances and spending decisions, and if you don’t use your credit card wisely, it’s not just your credit score on the line. Miss a payment, and your co-signer’s credit will be negatively impacted as well.
- Seek A Secured Credit Card: Though you can find credit cards for people with no/bad credit that do not require a security deposit, these cards are few and far between. Your best bet for being approved is to apply for a secured credit card. Because these credit cards are secured by your initial deposit, the bank does not take on any risk by approving you for one of these credit cards.
- Target Startup-Specific Cards: If you don’t have a credit history because you’re a startup, check out our lineup of the best startup business credit cards. You may be able to qualify for one of these options based on other business criteria (like revenue or equity investments).
Additionally, there are many different no-credit personal credit cards you can get if you’re willing to use a personal credit card for business use. While there are pros and cons to this approach, it could still be a viable option for businesses that need access to credit but have no credit history or low credit scores.
No Credit History Credit Cards: FAQs
Chelsea Krause
Lead Staff Writer
Chelsea Krause is a writer who specializes in accounting, payroll, and small business loans. She has been with Merchant Maverick helping small business owners manage their finances since 2016. She is a QuickBooks Certified User and former eCommerce store owner. Her accounting expertise has been quoted in Forbes and her work appears in Startup Nation, Small Business Bonfire, and Women on Business. Chelsea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English & Creative Writing from George Fox University and studied abroad at the University of Oxford as well. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho.
View Chelsea Krause's professional experience on LinkedIn.
Latest posts by Chelsea Krause (see all)
- First Internet Bank Review - April 18, 2024
- How To Set Up Gusto Payroll - April 11, 2024
- The Best Business Checking Accounts - February 5, 2024
- Live Oak Bank Review - December 22, 2023
- What Is Depreciation? - November 27, 2023
