Here are the best credit cards for startups and new businesses
Here are the best credit cards for startups and new businesses
Sort By
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Best for cash back (annual spend less than $50,000)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%
Intro offer
$250
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Low rate after you hit bonus cap
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Best for cash back (annual spend less than $50,000)
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%
Intro offer
$250
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Low rate after you hit bonus cap
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Intro offer
$2,000
⏱️ New bonus offer
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No preset spending limit
- No foreign transaction fees
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- High spending requirement to hit bonuses
- Requires excellent credit
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Best for no preset spending limit
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Intro offer
$2,000
⏱️ New bonus offer
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No preset spending limit
- No foreign transaction fees
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- High spending requirement to hit bonuses
- Requires excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- No cap on bonus rewards
- Intro APR period on purchases
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Best for 0% intro APR
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High cash-back bonus rate
- No cap on bonus rewards
- Intro APR period on purchases
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x
Intro offer
10,000
Apply now
on Brex's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No foreign transaction fees
- No personal guarantee
- Can apply with EIN only
Cons
- Complicated rewards structure
- High capital requirement for approval
- Daily repayment may be required
- Not available to sole proprietors
Brex Card
Best for corporate card for startups
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x
Intro offer
10,000
Apply now
on Brex's website
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No foreign transaction fees
- No personal guarantee
- Can apply with EIN only
Cons
- Complicated rewards structure
- High capital requirement for approval
- Daily repayment may be required
- Not available to sole proprietors
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Intro offer
$500
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- No Intro APR period
Capital One Spark Cash Select
Best for cash-back rewards + no foreign transaction fees
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Intro offer
$500
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Reports all card activity to consumer credit bureaus
- No Intro APR period
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Apply now
on Capital on Tap's website
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- Available with fair credit
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
- Potential for very high APR
- No new cardholder bonus offer
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Best for startups with fair credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Apply now
on Capital on Tap's website
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- Available with fair credit
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
- Potential for very high APR
- No new cardholder bonus offer
Annual fee
$375
Rewards rate
1x-4x
Intro offer
100,000
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Transfer partners
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Intro APR period
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- High annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
American Express® Business Gold Card
Best for advertising + software
Annual fee
$375
Rewards rate
1x-4x
Intro offer
100,000
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Transfer partners
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Intro APR period
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- High annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Intro offer
60,000
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High bonus rewards rate
- Annual fee waived for the first year
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
Cons
- No intro APR offer
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
Best for travel, gas + EV charging
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1x-5x
Intro offer
60,000
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High bonus rewards rate
- Annual fee waived for the first year
- Reports to Dun & Bradstreet
Cons
- No intro APR offer
- Activity on employee cards does not count toward bonus spending requirement
Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card
Best for: Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
NerdWallet star rating: 5
The Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card checks virtually every box when it comes to cash-back business credit cards. It's got a high rewards rate of 2% with no cap on rewards. There's no annual fee. It offers a 12-month 0% intro APR intro period on purchases (after that your variable APR will be 17.49% – 25.49%). There's even a welcome offer. While new businesses may take advantage of the high cash-back rewards rate and the 0% APR intro period, this card is worth a look for most business owners. Read NerdWallet's review of the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card.
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
Best for: Sole proprietors with fair credit
NerdWallet star rating:
3.3
The rewards rate on the
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
isn't going to wow anyone; there's no sign-up bonus and the APR is high. What makes this card valuable is that it's available to business operators with fair credit, who don't have a lot of options in business credit cards.Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card
Best for: New business owners with bad credit
This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.
This is one of a handful of secured credit cards that caters to businesses. You’ll have to put down a security deposit of at least $1,000, and your available credit line will be equal to your deposit. But using the card and making on-time payments can help build your business credit over time — plus, you’ll earn 1.5% cash back rewards. Bank of America automatically reviews secured accounts and you can upgrade to an unsecured card if your credit history improves.
» MORE: Best banks for startups
Follow these steps to find the right business credit card for your startup.
- Figure out what you can qualify for. The better your personal credit, the more business credit card options you’ll have. If your FICO score is below 690, focus on business credit cards for fair credit. Below 630? (FICO scores typically from 630 to 689) or business credit cards for bad credit (FICO scores below 630).
- Weigh the annual fee against potential rewards. Some credit cards charge annual fees, but those cards also tend to offer more generous rewards on travel or other types of spending. If the rewards outweigh that cost, paying a fee may be worth it (plus, the annual fee may be tax deductible). But you can also choose from a number of business credit cards with no annual fee so your new business has one less expense.
- Look for a long intro period. A business credit card with a 0% APR introductory offer can help you pay off startup expenses over time — 12 or more billing cycles, in some cases — without owing interest on the balance you roll over.
- Consider a charge card. Business charge cards typically have no preset spending limit, making them a good option for startups with big expenses and cash on hand. With a charge card, you’ll typically have to pay off your balance in full every month, though some — the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card, for example — will let you finance certain purchases. So only opt for a charge card if you’re confident your cash flow can reliably keep pace with your expenses.
- Find rewards that match your spending. Some cash-back business credit cards offer a flat rewards rate on all your company’s spending, regardless of what you’re buying. Others offer higher rewards rates in categories like travel or gas — or on spending with specific companies, like Amazon or Lowe’s. Choose a card that’s likely to align with your purchasing patterns.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Many business credit cards let you combine rewards from the same issuer — including points earned on personal cards — and potentially increase the redemption value. For example, transferring points from theChase Freedom Unlimited®
to an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
increases their value by 25%. Each issuer has its own rules. Learn about yours in NerdWallet's guide to combining credit card points. New businesses can typically get a business credit card without any business revenue or established business credit history. In fact, all you need is a good personal credit score — most business cards require a FICO score of 690 or higher — to get a business credit card for a new business, since most issuers base approval on your personal FICO score instead of your business’s financial history.
If you have no personal credit history or bad credit, you'll likely need to start with a secured business credit card, which requires you to deposit cash with your credit card issuer that they can pull from if you don’t pay your bill.
Professionally funded startups or incorporated businesses with a hefty business bank account may also qualify for a corporate credit card, which bases approval on company finances and business credit score. Corporate cards do not require a personal guarantee, which offers some added protection for your personal finances.
Startups don’t necessarily need business credit cards. Many entrepreneurs bootstrap their operations with personal credit cards, and card issuers don’t generally have rules against using consumer cards for business purchases.
But if you’re going to finance a new business with credit, there are some distinct advantages to doing so with a business credit card.
The biggest one is that it keeps your business and personal finances separate. All business owners, even freelancers and sole proprietors, should avoid using the same credit card for personal and business spending. You could choose a personal credit card and dedicate it solely to business expenses, or you could start using a business credit card right away.
But that’s where another key difference comes into play: personal cards affect your personal credit score regardless of how you use them. If you’re using your card a lot to front business costs (and potentially carrying debt as a result), that kind of utilization can weigh down your credit score. And a lower score could affect aspects of your life beyond your business, increasing your costs for things like housing, cars and insurance.
Most business credit cards, on the other hand, only affect your personal credit in instances like non-payment.
That doesn’t mean business debt doesn’t impact your personal finances, though. You’ll usually still have to personally guarantee business credit card debt, meaning you promise to repay it out of your own pocket if your business can’t.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
It’s especially important for LLC owners to keep their business and personal finances separate. If you mix the two, your creditors could later argue that your LLC and personal finances weren’t really separate, which means you could lose the protection an LLC offers to your personal assets. Read our picks for the best business credit cards for LLCs.- Access to financing. New businesses generally don’t qualify for business loans due to their lack of a track record. Business credit cards offer startup funding that can help you cover costs while you build revenue. Credit cards are one of the most expensive forms of financing due to their high interest rates, though, so look for a 0% intro APR period if you want to spread out big expenses.
- Business credit history. In general, card issuers report the use of a business credit card (and the payment of your bill — whether on time or late) to business credit bureaus, helping to create a credit profile specific to your business. Your business credit score can help you qualify for other types of financing in the future.
- Employee cards. Most business credit cards issue employee cards for free. Usually, you can control when and where employees use those cards — which can be a good way to empower your employees to make business purchases without putting your cash at risk.
- Expense management software. Some corporate cards, like Ramp and Brex, come with built-in expense management software that can help you set budgets for specific projects, keep track of expenses, collect receipts and create unlimited virtual cards for your team.
- Rewards for spending. New businesses often face a number of startup costs. A business credit card can earn you cash back or points for those purchases you have to make anyway. Some cards even offer bonus categories with bigger rewards on expenses like office supplies or advertising that you may need to invest in to get up and running.
- Credit card perks. In addition to rewards, many credit cards come with perks like rental car insurance and discounts at select vendors.
Opening a business credit card is one of the first steps toward establishing and building business credit. Making on-time payments and keeping your spending low (20% to 30% of your credit limit) can help you strengthen your business credit score over time.
Why does that matter? A strong business credit score can help you get more favorable terms with suppliers, lower business insurance rates and, eventually, secure a business loan for your startup.
Registering your business, getting an EIN and applying for an identification number with business credit firm Dun & Bradstreet can also help you build business credit.
To view rates and fees of
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, see this page.To view rates and fees of the
American Express® Business Gold Card
, see this page.View rates and fees of
Capital One Spark Cash Select
.View rates and fees of
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
.The information related to the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
The information related to the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
Last updated on January 6, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet's business credit card team selects the best small-business credit cards without outside input from partners or other business interests. We evaluate business cards based on value and simplicity, weighing fees, sign-up bonuses and reward rates, alongside perks like interest-free periods, statement credits and elite status (for travel cards). Business cards that earn the highest scores deliver the most value to the greatest number of business owners.
Notable changes to our methodology for 2025 include factoring in whether spending on employee cards earns rewards and counts toward the welcome offer requirements. We also now consider what information the card issuer reports to consumer credit bureaus. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
New LLCs can get a business credit card as long as the owner applying for the card has strong personal credit. Most business card issuers require a personal guarantee, so LLC owners are still on the hook if the business can’t pay its credit card bill. See our picks for the best business cards for LLCs.
You probably can’t get a business credit card with only your EIN — unless you’re applying for a corporate card, which are only available to incorporated businesses generating large amounts of revenue. For most business credit cards, you’ll need to provide your Social Security number.
Applicants with excellent credit may be instantly approved for some business credit cards. You may even get a virtual credit card number and access to your line of credit right away, which should let you make online purchases. You’ll have to wait for your physical card in the mail, though.