Join the thousands of people like you already growing their businesses and knowledge with our team of experts. We deliver timely updates, interesting insights, and exclusive promos to your inbox.
Finding a business credit card for your startup, when you have no credit history or business history, doesn't have to be a challenge.
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.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Jason VissersJason 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.
Expert Contributor
Last updated onUpdated
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.
REVIEWED BY
Chelsea KrauseChelsea 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.
Lead Staff Writer
Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.
Business credit cards for startups sound like a challenge to find. With no credit history or business history, how can you qualify for a business credit card?
Fortunately, you can find numerous business credit cards suitable for startups, new businesses, and entrepreneurs of all kinds.
A business credit card can smooth out your startup’s cash flow while you get your small business off the ground. A business credit card also can help you build your credit score and earn rewards for your spending.
The best credit cards for startups can come in all shapes and forms. Some may have generous rewards; others may work with entrepreneurs with less-than-perfect credit. We think this list includes a good option for every startup, including:
Ramp: Best Startup Card For Partner Perks
American Express: Best Startup Credit Card Introductory Offers
Spark 1% Cash Back: Best Startup Credit Card For Fair Credit
Chase: Best Startup Credit Card Bonus Offer
US Bank: Best Credit Card For Startups With 0% Intro Rate
Amazon: Best Credit Card For Small Startups
Capital On Tap: Best Flat-Rate Rewards Credit Card For Startups
$0 for the standard package, $12/user/month for Ramp Plus
Business Size
Corporations, LLCs, and LPs with $25K+ in the bank
Pros
Partner perks worth up to $350K
No fees of any kind
Up to 1.5% cash back
Free digital and physical employee cards
Cons
High cash reserve requirements
Cannot carry a balance
Why We Chose Ramp For The Best Startup Credit Card
Starting a business is expensive. Ramp is that rare business card that can help you cut expenses while you build your business.
Ramp does this in several ways. First, when you sign up for the Ramp corporate card, you become eligible for up to $175K in partner perks that any startup might find useful. Think 25% off a Slack plan, 50% off WeWork membership fees, 25% off Xero Business edition, and more.
Ramp also promises automatically generated money-saving suggestions that can save companies more than $100K in their first year of using Ramp.
Ramp Rewards & Benefits
The Ramp corporate card offers a very straightforward cash-back rewards scheme. You’ll get up to 1.5% cash back on all purchases, an excellent rate for a corporate card. Startups and small businesses with varied spending will benefit from this rewards program.
Beyond the cash back, Ramp offers some generous partner rewards and savings worth over $175K. Highlights include preferred access to AWS credits and $50,000 in Segment Credits.
Ramp’s most unique benefit is its algorithm-driven savings insights. Ramp digs into your company spending history and determines where you can cut costs and save money. For example, you might see a suggestion for consolidating duplicate software subscriptions purchased by different departments within your company.
Ramp Eligibility
Ramp is aimed at corporations, LLCs, and LPs registered in the US. Nonprofits are included. Sole proprietors and unregistered businesses are not eligible.
Because Ramp is a corporate card rather than a credit card, you won’t be able to carry a balance from month to month. Ramp looks at your company’s cash balance, cash flow, and other health indicators. A minimum bank balance of $25K is required.
Ramp Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Can use valuable discounts on software subscriptions and other purchases
Why We Chose American Express Blue Business Cash For The Best Startup Credit Card
It's no secret that it takes money to build a business. If you must carry a balance while you get your business on its feet, the American Express Blue Business Cash card can deliver significant savings with its 0% APR for the first 12 months.
That means you'll pay no interest on purchases for the first year you use this card.
Note: After the 12-month introductory period, the APR climbs to a variable rate between 18.49% and 21.49%.
American Express Blue Business Cash Rewards & Benefits
You already know you can pay 0% APR for 12 months with this card. You’ll also earn ongoing rewards of 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases in travel and shopping categories each year. After that cap, your earnings rate drops to a still-respectable 1%.
However, you won’t find many options for redeeming your rewards; there are no gift cards or travel redemption options. Instead, you’ll receive a statement credit each billing period — so long as you make your minimum payment each billing period. Unredeemed credit will be lost if you cancel your account.
You can request employee cards at no added cost. You’ll also receive some travel perks, including car rental loss and damage insurance. Purchasing perks include double warranty periods and dispute resolution on incorrect charges.
Amex Blue Business Cash Eligibility
American Express Blue Business Cash card is best suited for applicants with good to excellent personal credit. That means a personal credit score of at least 640.
If you don’t know your credit score, check it using one of our favorite free credit score websites.
Rewards are automatically credited to your account. And you’ll pay $0 in annual fees to use this card.
Amex Blue Business Cash Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Want to pay no interest on their credit card balance for 12 months
Want 2% cash back on eligible purchases for the first year (1% thereafter)
Why We Chose Spark 1% Cash Back For The Best Startup Credit Card
In a perfect world, every startup would be backed by an entrepreneur with outstanding personal credit. In the real world, it's not always easy to get your business off the ground if your credit score is only fair.
Capital One's Spark 1% Cash Back Business Credit Card is the best business credit card for startups and entrepreneurs trying to meet their goals while dealing with average credit.
Spark 1% Cash Back Rewards & Benefits
Although the Spark Classic For Business Card doesn’t come with a lot of bells and whistles, there’s a lot to like here, including a $0 annual fee, unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase, with no limits or restrictions, and a chance to build and strengthen your business credit rating.
While the rewards rate is not the highest we’ve seen, it’s reasonable and better than you might expect with only a fair credit rating. Redeem your card rewards in the form of a statement credit or a check. There’s no minimum to redeem, and your points won’t expire as long as your account is active. Keep in mind that this card carries a high APR, currently at 30.74%, so this is not a card you want to use to carry a balance.
Spark 1% Cash Back cardholders can request free employee cards.
Spark 1% Cash Back Eligibility
Spark 1% Cash Back Business Credit Card is aimed at those aged 18+ with fair or average credit. That means you’re generally considered eligible for this card even if you’ve defaulted on a loan in the past five years or have a limited credit history (three years or less).
Although Capital One does not require a minimum credit score, you should aim for a personal credit score of around 580 if you plan to apply for this card.
Capital One Spark 1% Cash Back Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Have less-than-perfect credit
Want free employee cards and a $0 annual fee
Want to earn unlimited 1% cash back
Don’t mind the high APR because they don’t intend to carry a balance
Why We Chose Chase Ink Business Cash For The Best Startup Credit Card
We consider Chase Ink Business Cash the best overall business credit card for startups because it offers the best combination of key factors: a generous welcome offer, an introductory 0% APR, a generous rewards rate, and no annual fee. All in all, it's hard to find a card that's better tailored to the needs of startups better than Ink Business Cash.
Chase Ink Business Cash Rewards & Benefits
Startup businesses will benefit from this card’s offer of 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each year. No other business card offers such high cash back for the spending necessary to build your office.
You’ll also earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants and 1% rewards on everything else. You can redeem your rewards for statement credits, travel, and more via Chase Ultimate Rewards. A special 5% offer on Lyft spending applies through March 2025.
To earn the $900 cash-back bonus, you’ll need to spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of using the card. And if your startup needs to carry a balance for a time, while you work to bring your business into profitability, you’ll especially appreciate the 12 months of 0% APR. The rate rises to a minimum of 18.49% after the introductory period.
Employee cards are available at no additional cost. Additional benefits include an auto rental damage waiver, travel and emergency services, roadside dispatch, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and account management tools.
Chase Ink Business Cash Eligibility
Chase does not advertise a minimum credit score for this card. However, successful applicants generally have good to excellent credit. So you’ll want a credit score above 640 before you fill out the application.
Chase Ink Business Cash Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Want a $0 annual fee with strong cash-back potential
Spend within the featured categories and can max out your cash back
Spend enough to trigger the welcome bonus
Want cards for your employees
Have good to excellent credit
Don’t intend to carry a balance past the introductory period
Why We Chose Chase Ink Business Preferred For The Best Startup Credit Card
Chase Ink Business Preferred is one of the best credit cards for startups because of its high bonus offer. You'll start with 100,000 bonus points when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months.
That's equal to $1,000 if you opt for cash back. If your business involves travel, you can get a 25% value boost on your bonus points by redeeming them through Chase's travel portal, Chase Ultimate Rewards.
In other words, you can grab a bonus of $1,000-$1,250 just by using this credit card. Not bad.
Note that this card does carry a $95 annual fee, so add that number to your calculations when considering this business credit card for your startup.
Chase Ink Business Preferred Rewards & Benefits
In addition to the generous welcome offer, this card comes with additional benefits.
You can receive triple points for purchases in designated categories that include travel, shipping purchases, advertising, and internet and phone services. The bonus earnings apply only to the first $150K in combined purchases each year.
Chase also offers 5x points when you book Lyft rides, and Lyft purchases do not count toward the annual rewards cap. All other purchases earn one point for every $1 you spend, with no limit on 1x points earnings. Points never expire.
As mentioned, you can stretch your rewards by redeeming them for travel through Chase’s travel portal. Your points will be worth 25% more there.
This card comes with free employee cards, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, cellphone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and fraud protection.
Ink Business Preferred Eligibility
Chase does not advertise minimum credit score requirements for its business credit cards.
However, we generally recommend that business applicants have good to excellent credit before applying for the Chase Ink Business Preferred card. That means a credit score of 640+.
Chase Ink Business Preferred Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Have spending plans that allow you to earn the bonus offer
Don’t mind paying an annual fee
Travel and want a card with no foreign transaction fees and travel rewards
Don’t plan to spend more than $150K in the specified categories so you can earn the top rewards rate available with this card
Balance transfers allowed, with 0% APR during intro period
Cons
No rewards
3% balance transfer fee
Why We Chose US Bank Business For The Best Startup Credit Card
It's not hard to find a business credit card with a 0% intro rate. It is hard to find one that extends that offer for longer than US Bank's Business Platinum Card's full 18 billing cycles. The offer is good for new purchases and balance transfers.
That's a year and a half of no-interest spending, something that should appeal to any new business owner seeing more money going out of the bank than coming in while they develop products, refine their business model, and build a customer base.
Note: Expect to pay 3% of any balances transferred as a balance-transfer cost. After 20 months, the ARP will jump to 17.24%-26.24%, depending on your creditworthiness when you open your account. If you make payments late, exceed your credit limit, or earn other penalties, you can expect an APR of 29.99%
US Bank Business Platinum Rewards & Benefits
In addition to the enticing 0% APR, you can use this card with no annual fee. What you can’t expect with this card: cash back or rewards points you can use for statement credit, gift cards, or travel benefits.
However, you can ask to divide certain eligible purchases into equal monthly payments in exchange for a small fixed fee and no interest during the repayment period.
Employee cards are available, too.
US Bank Business Platinum Eligibility
US Bank’s Business Platinum credit card is available to all types of business structures, from sole proprietorships to corporations. You will need to verify your annual business revenue and share personal information, including Social Security numbers, for all co-owners.
No minimum credit score is disclosed but successful applicants likely will have good to excellent credit.
US Bank Business Platinum Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Can benefit from 18 months with 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers
Want a $0 fee card
Don’t care about earning rewards points or bonuses
Straight, unlimited 1.5% cash back & gift card rewards
Welcome offer
No annual fee
No foreign exchange fees
Cons
Revenue requirements
High APR
Why We Chose Capital On Tap For The Best Startup Credit Card
Capital on Tap Business credit card offers a straight 1.5% cash back on every purchase made with the card. While it's not the highest rewards rate we've seen, it's one of the easiest to keep track of.
You can redeem your points for cash rewards, discounted travel, or gift cards.
Note: If you plan to carry a balance, you'll face an APR ranging from 18.24% to 35.99%. In other words, you'll probably not want to carry a balance for long.
Capital On Tap Rewards & Benefits
With employee cards available, every business purchase your startup makes can earn unlimited 1.5% rewards with the Capital On Tap card. You can redeem your rewards for cash, discounted travel, or gift cards.
Spend $15K in your first three months to earn an additional $200 bonus.
Capital On Tap Eligibility
Capital On Tap says you’re eligible for this card if you’re an active company director or majority shareholder of a US-based business with annual revenue of $30K or more. You must meet all of these conditions to submit a successful application.
Capital On Tap Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Want to earn a flat 1.5% rewards rate on every purchase you and your employees make
Can spend $15K within three months to activate the welcome bonus offer
Why We Chose Amazon Business Prime For The Best Startup Credit Card
If your startup is on the small side and you intend to stay that way, you probably can source many of the supplies you'll need directly from Amazon. In that case, you likely already have a Prime membership. Add the Amazon Business Prime Amex card, and you can earn cash back on your purchases and the ability to pay them off over time, if you like.
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card is a great card for business owners who don't intend to carry a balance but might want a little extra time to pay off purchases. The catch, as you might guess from the name, is that you can only do that with purchases from Amazon.com, Amazon Web Services, or Whole Foods Market.
Amazon Business Prime Amex Rewards & Benefits
You can earn 5% rewards or 90-day terms on purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods Market. Or, get rates that apply to the first $120K in purchases each calendar year, with 1% on purchases exceeding that limit.
You can earn rewards on non-Amazon purchases too, with 2% back at US restaurants, gas stations, and wireless phone services. A standard 1% rate applies to all other purchases. Points never expire and can be redeemed for statement credit.
When you sign up for this business credit card, you’ll receive a $100 Amazon gift card.
Amazon Business Prime Eligibility
You must maintain an Amazon Prime membership to be eligible for this card. You also need a credit score in the “good” range.
Amazon Business Prime American Express Is The Best Credit Card For Startups That:
Purchase supplies and more from Amazon.com, Amazon Web Services, and Whole Foods
Already have a Prime membership
Would like a little extra time to pay off purchases
Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing credit cards and credit card providers since 2018. Our writers have tested dozens of cards, evaluating rewards and perks, rates and fees, features, eligibility requirements, customer service, and user reviews. Read more about how we rate credit cards.
Weighted Rating Breakdown
Rewards & Perks 40%
Rates & Fees 30%
Features 15%
Eligibility Requirements 5%
Customer Service 5%
User Reviews 5%
When comparing different cards, we consider many data points, including the relative cost of standard or extra fees, the range and value of benefits and perks offered, APR, availability, and credit score requirements. Our lists of the best cards include only those we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points, and share qualities such as widespread accessibility, low APR, flexible rewards, and additional perks like employee cards.
We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the credit cards included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.
How Do You Get Business Credit Cards For Startups?
Without a long credit history, you might hesitate to apply for a business credit card. But you don’t necessarily need a lengthy business history and sterling credit. Let’s take a look at what you do need.
What You Need To Apply For A Business Credit Card
Here are some of the things you’ll need to have when you’re ready to apply for a business credit card:
Business Name
Tax Identification Number: If you’re a freelancer or the sole proprietor of your small business, this could be your Social Security number. If your business structure is more complex or developed, you may have an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Business Type: Is your business a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation, or an LLC? You may need to be prepared to show the legal documents related to your business structure.
Business Type: What are you selling? You’ll most likely be asked to share at least a broad category for your business, such as designing apps, retail clothing sales, or landscaping for example.
Your Role: Are you the owner or a partner? Who else is involved in running the business? Be prepared to show personal identification and prove your status as a decision-maker for the business.
Business Information: You’ll need to provide your business’s physical address and phone number.
Business Size: Be prepared to discuss the number of employees working at your business and your annual business revenue and expenses. Don’t worry if you’re the only employee or if your business is brand new, with $0 in sales so far. Be honest. Your answers may affect how your application is processed and how much credit you’ll be given.
Your Personal Credit Score: If your business doesn’t have an established credit history of its own, your personal credit score may be all that credit card companies have to evaluate your application.
Remember, even though you’re applying for a business credit card: If your business is brand new, your chances of getting approved will depend to a significant degree on your personal credit. Most of the cards on this list will expect your application to include a personal guarantee that makes you legally responsible for the debt your business may incur.
FAQs: Business Credit Cards For Startups
Can you get a business credit card at startup?
You can get a business credit card for a startup business without an established business credit history or sales revenue. Credit card companies will most likely evaluate your application based on your personal credit history.
What is the fastest way to get business credit for an LLC?
The fastest way to get business credit for a startup is to research the business credit card options available to you and then apply for one. You can improve your odds of success by knowing your personal credit score and applying for cards that accept applicants with scores in your range. Applying for cards you’re unlikely to be approved for can negatively impact your credit score, so be sure you know the application requirements before you apply.
Can you get a business credit card with bad personal credit?
You can get a business credit card with bad personal credit if you apply for the right kind of card. There are cards available with no credit check and cards aimed at applicants with poor or no credit record. You can also look into a secured business credit card, like the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card.
What credit score is needed for a small-business credit card?
Small business credit cards are available to applicants with the full range of credit scores, from Excellent to nonexistent. The key is to know the requirements for any particular card before you apply. You don’t have to let your own poor credit history or your lack of credit limit your options.
Before Choosing A Business Credit Card
Having a business credit card can help smooth your startup operations. While access to credit can be a bad thing if you rely on it too much or use credit to overextend financially, it can also help your new small business. If you’re careful, a business credit card for startups can help you manage your business expenses and set you up for greater success.
It’s hard to know which business credit card will be the right choice for your startup. If your business doesn’t have a history or credit record of its own, you may want to choose from the best no-credit-check credit cards. If you have a higher score, you’ll have more options, but make sure you compare rates and terms to find the best option for your business.
Don’t overlook the rewards you can gain by using a business credit card. We’ve put together a list of the best rewards business credit cards. From cash back to travel rewards, you stand to gain valuable benefits for your startup when you use one of these cards. If you don’t see a card that looks right for you, you can reset your search by browsing our list of the best overall business credit cards.
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.
Let us know how well the content on this page solved your problem today. All feedback, positive or negative, helps us to improve the way we help small businesses.
Want to help shape the future of the Merchant Maverick website? Join our testing and survey community!
By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features.
Get Started With A New Top Pick 🏆Get funding up to $3 million as fast as same-day from this loan marketplace.Our expert reviewers found BusinessLoans.com to have a quick and easy application process alongside excellent support and guidance for borrowers.Start A Quick ApplicationNo minimum credit score required
We Want Your Feedback!
Help us to improve by providing some feedback on your experience today.
The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
Get Started With A New Top Pick 🏆Get funding up to $3 million as fast as same-day from this loan marketplace.Our expert reviewers found BusinessLoans.com to have a quick and easy application process alongside excellent support and guidance for borrowers.Start A Quick ApplicationNo minimum credit score required
Our expert reviewers found BusinessLoans.com to have a quick and easy application process alongside excellent support and guidance for borrowers.
Start A Quick Application
