A business credit card for your new startup can help propel you through that first year.
Credit cards are convenient payment options — they’re accepted practically everywhere, they consolidate your spending into one monthly bill, and they provide a host of rewards and benefits.
The right card can save you some money on your most frequent expenses, or give you some extra time to pay while you wait for revenue to come in. Business cards tend to have special features for expense tracking and monitoring employee spending, along with other tools aimed at helping your company run smoothly. They make it easy to separate your business and personal spending.
You may have a new business, but in most cases the age of your business won’t affect your ability to get a business credit card. That’s because most business cards only look at your personal credit, and require a personal guarantee — just like regular credit cards. Your business credit usually isn’t involved. (Some notable exceptions are the Brex cards, which don’t require a personal guarantee and look at your business credit.)
| Best For | Card |
|---|---|
| Flat-Rate Rewards | Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review) |
| Flexible Spending | American Express® Business Gold Card (Review) |
| 0% APR/Borrowing Money | U.S. Bank Business Platinum |
| Businesses That Advertise | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Review) |
| Easiest Business Credit Card to Get | Capital One Spark Classic for Business (Review) |
| Business Owners With No Credit | Wells Fargo® Business Secured Credit Card |
| No Personal Guarantee & Industry-Specific Bonus Categories | Brex Daily Card (Review) |
Best for Flat-Rate Rewards
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Regular APR20.99% (Variable)
- Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Purchase above your credit limit with no hassle and no over-limit fees
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back for every purchase
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR20.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer FeeN/A
- Penalty APR29.40% (Variable)
- Late FeeUp to $39
- Returned Payment FeeN/A
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
The information related to Capital One Spark Cash for Business has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
A flat-rate rewards card gives you freedom from bonus categories — no thinking about which purchases earn what, and how to best optimize your credit card spending. Just easy cash back or points for every purchase, no hassle.
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review) provides an excellent rate for everything you buy, twice as much as the normal 1% or 1X point for non-category purchases. It usually comes with a great welcome bonus, too.
Flat-rate cards are perfect to pair with cards that have bonus categories for specific purchases, like internet services or office supplies. It’s a pretty simple strategy: Use that other card whenever you’re spending in its bonus categories, and use your flat-rate card for everything else. Solid rewards all around.
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Key Features
- Shopping protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty Protection, Price Protection
- Travel protections: Rental Insurance Coverage, Roadside Dispatch, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Travel Accident Insurance
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
More Flat-Rate Cards
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business (Review): 2X miles per dollar for every purchase with no limit; annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business (Review): 1.5X miles per dollar for every purchase with no limit; no annual fee
- Capital One Spark Cash Select – $500 Cash Bonus (Review): 1.5% cash back for every purchase with no limit; no annual fee
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Review): 1.5% cash back for every purchase with no limit; no annual fee
- American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (Review): 2% cash back for every purchase, up to $50,000 spent annually, then 1%; no annual fee (Rates & Fees)
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Review): 2X points for every purchase, up to $50,000 spent annually, then 1X; no annual fee (Rates & Fees)
Best for Flexible Spending
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$295
- Regular APR14.24% - 22.24% Variable
- 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar in the two categories with the highest spend per month, up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year (then 1X):
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines
- U.S. advertising purchases: online, TV, radio
- U.S. providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. shipping
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar for eligible purchases from American Express Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar for all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR14.24% - 22.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeN/A
- Penalty APR29.24% Variable
- Late Fee$39 or 2.99% of any past due Pay in Full amount, whichever is greater.
- Returned Payment Fee$39
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
The information related to American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Some companies have regular expenses each month, making it easy to plan out a credit card rewards strategy. But what if you make a variety of purchases, sometimes spending more on shipping, other times on advertising, or software, etc.?
You might want a flat-rate card like you’ll find above, or you might want to go with flexible bonus categories that can adapt to meet your needs. That’s what you’ll get with the American Express® Business Gold Card (Review), which gives more points for the categories you spend the most in each month.
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Key Features
- 25% airline bonus: Get 25% of your points back when booking eligible airfare through American Express Travel using Membership Rewards Pay with Points.
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners
- Amex Offers: Access to extra point offers at a wide variety of merchants
- Shopping and travel protections: Baggage Insurance Plan, Trip Delay Insurance, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline, Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $295
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
More Business Credit Cards for Flexible Spending
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card (Review): 3% cash back in your choice of one category each month, 2% cash back for dining (3% and 2% rewards limited to the first $50,000 spent annually); no annual fee
- U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card: 2X points in your top two categories per month; annual fee: No annual fee for the first year, $95 thereafter.
- Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review): 2% cash back for every purchase with no limit; annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business (Review): 2X miles per dollar for every purchase with no limit; annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Brex Daily Card (Review): Choose from three industry-specific rewards programs; credits for various business services; no annual fee; no personal guarantee required
Best for 0% APR/Borrowing Money
- Min. credit levelFair
- Annual Fee$0*
- Regular APR9.99%-17.99%* Variable
- 0% Intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 billing cycles. After that variable APR currently 9.99% - 17.99%*
- No annual fee*
- Free employee cards
- Zero fraud liability* protects you against unauthorized transactions
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR0%* intro on BTs for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers*
- Regular Balance Transfer APR9.99%-17.99%* Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee3%
- Penalty APR29.99%
- Late FeeUp to $39
- Returned Payment Fee$35
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee3% on each foreign transaction
The information related to U.S. Bank Business Platinum has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Maybe you’ve got some big startup expenses, more than you can pay off in the normal month-by-month fashion. A credit card with a 0% APR for purchases can give you some breathing room — you won’t be charged interest on the card balance for the length of the intro period, giving you time to ramp up operations and get that revenue going.
The U.S. Bank Business Platinum is one of the best in the biz, in this respect, offering 15 billing cycles on purchases at 0% interest before the regular 9.99%-17.99%* Variable rate kicks in. That’ll give you quite a while to get your cash flow in order and pay off the debt.
Or, if you’ve already got debt accruing interest on another credit card, you could transfer the balance over to this card and pay it down at no interest.
Remember that you’ll still need to make minimum payments each month, even when you have a 0% rate.
Key Features
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles on purchases, then 9.99%-17.99%* Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers*, then 9.99%-17.99%* Variable
- Balance Transfer fee: 3%
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
- Annual fee: $0*
More 0% APR Cards
- U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®: Purchase APR: 0%* for 12 billing cycles on purchases, then 13.99%-22.99%* Variable
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Review): Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Review): Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (Review): Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Review): Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Discover it® Business Card (Review): Purchase APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
Best for Businesses That Advertise
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$95
- Regular APR15.99%-20.99% Variable
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- $95 Annual Fee
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent per year on:
- Travel
- Shipping
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A for N/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99%-20.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late Fee$39
- Returned Payment Fee$39
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
Got a big ad budget? Most business cards put caps on their advertising bonus categories, unfortunately.
That’s true for our top pick, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Review). Despite the $150,000 annual spending limit cardholders can still earn a wealth of points, not only on advertising but other common business purchases, too.
If you’ll spend a lot more than that on advertising every year, you may want to pair this card with a flat-rate business rewards card with no limit on how much you can earn.
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Key Features
- 25% point bonus: When redeeming for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways, United, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hyatt
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more points by shopping at participating retailers with the Shop through Chase and Chase Offers marketplaces.
- Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection: Daily breakfast for two, free WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and more at eligible hotels
- Visa Signature Business benefits: Purchase Protection, Cell Phone Protection, Primary Auto Rental Coverage, Roadside Dispatch, and more
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
More Cards for Businesses That Advertise
- American Express® Business Gold Card (Review): 4X points in the two categories you spend the most in each month, including select U.S. advertising purchases, up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 1X
- Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review): 2% cash back for every purchase with no limit; annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business (Review): 2X miles per dollar for every purchase with no limit; annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card: 2X points in your top two categories per month, including advertising firms; annual fee: No annual fee for the first year, $95 thereafter.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Review): 5% cash back for Lyft rides (through March 2022), 1.5% cash back for every other purchase; no annual fee
Easiest Business Credit Card to Get
- Min. credit levelFair
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APR24.49% Variable
- 1% cash back on all purchases
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR24.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeN/A
- Penalty APR30.90% Variable
- Late FeeUp to $39
- Returned Payment FeeN/A
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
The information related to Capital One Spark Classic for Business has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Most business cards look at your personal credit when you apply, just like regular consumer cards. And like consumer cards, some business cards are made for people with good or excellent credit, while others are easier to get.
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business (Review) is relatively easy to get because it’s made for people with limited credit — that means you’ve established some credit history, but not too much (i.e., only a few credit accounts, or young accounts). The rewards and benefits aren’t very strong, but it’s not a bad offer if you’re new to credit with limited options.
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Key Features
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, and more
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
More Easy-to-Get Business Credit Cards
- Wells Fargo® Business Secured Credit Card: Cash back or point rewards option; required security deposit of $500 to $25,000; no annual fee
- Business Edition® Secured Visa® Card: Credit limit from $2,000 to $100,000; security deposit must be 110% of credit limit; $39 annual fee
- BBVA Compass Business Secured Visa Credit Card: Only available in select states; requires a Secured Savings Account of at least $500
Best for Business Owners With No Credit
- Min. credit levelLimited Credit History
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APRPrime + 11.90% Variable
- Up to 10 cards for you & employees
- Your choice of a cash back rewards program or a point rewards program
- More Bonus Points: When you shop online or in person at the Earn More Mall.
- Card Design Studio: Design your own card.
- No annual fee
- Cash Back Option: 1.5% cash back for every purchase
- Reward Points Option:
- 1X point per dollar for every purchase
- 1,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in a monthly billing period
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APRSee Terms
- Balance Transfer FeeSee Terms
- Penalty APRN/A
- Late FeeUp to $50
- Returned Payment Fee$29
- Additional Cards Annual Fee$25
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
If you haven’t yet established a credit history, you might wonder how to get started. How do you show you’re a responsible borrower, and can handle a credit card, if you’ve never borrowed?
Thankfully there are cards designed for you. The Wells Fargo® Business Secured Credit Card is one of only a few secured business cards, meaning it requires a security deposit to be approved.
In this case you’ll need to provide a deposit of $500 to $25,000, and your credit limit will be equal to your deposit. The landscape of secured business cards isn’t very impressive, but they tend to be better options for business spending than personal secured cards because they come with higher potential credit limits.
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Key Features
- Earn More Mall: Earn extra points and find discounts at select merchants (point rewards only).
- Zero Fraud Liability: You’re covered against fraud and unauthorized activity
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Security deposit: $500–$25,000
Insider tip
Maybe you’re looking for a business card that doesn’t use your personal credit to apply? Check out No Personal Guarantee Cards below, or read more about business cards without personal guarantees.
More Business Credit Cards for No Credit
- Business Edition® Secured Visa® Card: Credit limit from $2,000 to $100,000; security deposit must be 110% of credit limit; $39 annual fee
- BBVA Compass Business Secured Visa Credit Card: Only available in select states; requires a Secured Savings Account of at least $500
Best for No Personal Guarantee & Industry-Specific Rewards
- Min. credit levelEligibility determined by business financials
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APRNot Applicable - Paid in Full Daily
- Choose either Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credit over a year
- $150 in Google Ads credit
- 5% rebate on Microsoft ad products
- 40% off your first 12 months of QuickBooks
- 25% off an annual Monday.com subscription
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- Not available to consumers, sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
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Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Balance Transfer FeeN/A
- Penalty APRN/A
- Late FeeSee Terms
- Returned Payment FeeSee Terms
- Additional Cards Annual FeeFirst 4 for free; $5 per month after that
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
There’s a lot going on with the Brex business cards. They stand out in a number of ways:
- They don’t require a personal guarantee, meaning they don’t look at your personal credit when you apply (no hard inquiry on your personal credit reports)
- They’re easily accessible for small, medium, and large businesses
- They’re typically paired with a Brex Cash account
- You can pick from one of three comprehensive and above-average rewards programs
- You get thousands of dollars in business credits and perks
The Brex Daily Card (Review) is the most accessible Brex card, and requires a Brex Cash account. Your card balance will automatically be paid daily from the funds in your Brex Cash account, so you never have to worry about interest rates or late fees.
Take note: Brex products aren’t available to consumers, sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies.
Pick a rewards program that aligns best with your business spending (you can change it later, if you’d like):
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| Life Sciences Rewards |
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| Remote Workforce Rewards |
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Key Features
- Perks: Thousands of dollars in statement credits, plus discounts and more, for services like Amazon Web Services, WeWork, Google Ads, SendGrid, and Twilio (explained here)
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Insider tip
For businesses that require more time to pay, the Brex 30 Card (Review) is a similar option, but (obviously) gives you 30 days to pay. It has stricter requirements and is available without a Brex Cash account, although if you do pair it with Brex Cash you’ll earn more points per dollar. The Brex 30 Card requires a minimum $50,000 balance in any bank account for venture-backed companies; otherwise, the minimum is $100,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a new business, am I eligible for a credit card?
Yes — the fact that you have a new business doesn’t have anything to do with your eligibility for most small business credit cards. Like personal credit cards, most business cards look at your own personal credit when you apply; your business credit, good or bad, isn’t involved.
The exception to that rule is a rare class of business cards that don’t require a personal guarantee and don’t involve your personal credit scores. These cards look at your business credit and business financials to determine your eligibility. Some of these cards are available to new and small business owners, like the Brex cards, while others are geared toward larger corporations like the American Express corporate cards.
What’s the best credit card for a new business?
The best card for a new business depends on the nature of the business; there is no correct answer. Great cards for new businesses include:
- Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review): 2% cash back for every purchase; $500 cash bonus for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months; no foreign transaction fee
- American Express® Business Gold Card (Review): 4X points in the two categories you spend the most in each month (up to $150,000 spent per year, then 1X); 70,000 bonus points for spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership
- U.S. Bank Business Platinum: Purchase APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles on purchases, then 9.99%-17.99%* Variable
- Brex Daily Card (Review): No personal guarantee required; valuable industry-specific rewards programs; thousands of dollars in business perks and credits
What’s the easiest business credit card to get?
Like consumer cards, the easiest business cards to get are all secured cards:
- Wells Fargo® Business Secured Credit Card
- BBVA Compass Business Secured Visa Credit Card
- Business Edition® Secured Visa® Card
If you have some established credit history, but not much, you can also consider the Capital One Spark Classic for Business (Review).
The Brex cards may be easy to get for certain businesses as well, if you meet the financial requirements. The Brex Daily Card (Review) and Brex 30 Card (Review) don’t look at your personal credit when you apply, and instead use your business credit and business financials.
Can I get a business credit card for an LLC?
Yes — in general, any business credit card can be used for an LLC. Independent contractors, freelancers, and sole proprietors are typically eligible for business cards, too.
Having a dedicated card for your business spending makes it easier to separate your business and personal expenses, which is important when documenting for taxes and keeping things in order.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
