Here are the best credit cards for startups and new businesses
Here are the best credit cards for startups and new businesses
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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
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
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
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Intro offer
$2,000
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
- High spending requirement to hit full welcome bonus, annual bonus offers
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Best for Charge card for startups
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5%
Intro offer
$2,000
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Earns cash back on primary and employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Has annual fee
- High spending requirement to hit full welcome bonus, annual bonus offers
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Intro offer
$750
Apply now
on U.S. Bank's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Bonus cash back categories
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period on purchases
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
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
- Bonus cash back categories
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period on purchases
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Low rate outside bonus categories
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
- Qualify with limited/bad credit
- Bonus categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- No personal guarantee
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
- Qualify with limited/bad credit
- Bonus categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- No personal guarantee
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
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
Capital One Spark Cash Select
Best for Flat-rate cash-back rewards
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Intro offer
$500
Apply now
on Capital One's website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Apply now
on Capital on Tap's website
Pros
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
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
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
Annual fee
$375
Rewards rate
1x-4x
Intro offer
100,000
Apply now
on American Express' website
Rates & Fees
Pros
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
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
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
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
- Bonus categories
- Welcome offer
- Annual fee waived for the first year
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- No intro APR offer
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
- Bonus categories
- Welcome offer
- Annual fee waived for the first year
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
- No intro APR offer
Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Best for: Best overall card for new businesses
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
is a great choice for virtually every business owner, including new ones. It earns a simple, flat 1.5
% cash-back rate on every purchase, with no limit on how much you can earn. The sign-up bonus is outstanding for a cash-back card, particularly one with no annual fee: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
There’s even an intro APR period for purchases. Read NerdWallet's review of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
.U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Best for: 0% intro APR
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
stands out for its 0% APR intro period: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 billing cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 18.24%-27.24% Variable APR
. That’s a long runway for a new business owner. And on an ongoing basis, it’s a solid cash-back card: Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs). Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
Plus, the card offers a competitive welcome bonus and charges a $0
annual fee. Read NerdWallet's review of the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
.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 18.49% – 26.49%). 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 Cash Plus
Best for: Charge card for startups
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
is an excellent option for business operators whose expenses don't fall into the bonus categories on other business credit cards. You get a high, flat rewards rate — 2
% on every purchase — with no limit to how much you can earn. And you can earn a $2000
welcome bonus if you hit certain spending requirements. Just make sure that you have enough revenue or outside investment to pay off your spending in full each month, as this is a charge card that doesn't let you revolve a balance. (See rates and fees.) Read NerdWallet's review of the Capital One Spark Cash Plus
.U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
Best for: Travel, gas + EV charging
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The
U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
delivers impressive rewards on travel, no matter where you book it: Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center. Earn 4X points on travel, gas and EV charging stations* on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs). Earn 2X points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery and cell service providers. Earn 1X points on all other eligible spend.
There's also a solid welcome offer and no annual fee for the first year ($95
after that). Read NerdWallet's review of the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®
.Capital One Spark Cash Select
Best for: Flat-rate cash-back rewards
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select
is a top-notch cash-back card for new businesses. You'll earn a flat 1.5
% back on all purchases, with no caps or restrictions. And there's a great welcome offer: Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Unlike other cash-back cards, the Capital One Spark Cash Select
does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for startups that buy inventory overseas or businesses that occasionally travel overseas. But, as the name suggests, you'll need excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 720) to qualify. (See rates and fees.) Read NerdWallet's review of the Capital One Spark Cash Select
.Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best for: Travel rewards
NerdWallet star rating:
4.7
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read NerdWallet's review of the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
.Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best for: Setting up an office
NerdWallet star rating:
4.8
The
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
offers 5% cash back on up to $25,000 spent at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone bills. If you’re setting up an office for your new business, that could result in some serious rewards. (If not, then look elsewhere.) There's also an introductory APR for purchases and an excellent sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee cash-back card: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Read NerdWallet's review of the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
.The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Best for: Cash back (annual spent less than $50,000)
NerdWallet star rating:
4.7
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
boasts one of the better introductory APR offers among business credit cards: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
. Beyond that, you earn a strong 1%-2%
cash back. But that higher rate is reserved for your first $50,000 in spending — that’s why it’s a good choice for new small business owners who don’t expect to spend much more than that. There's also a $0
annual fee. Terms apply. Read NerdWallet's review of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
.American Express® Business Gold Card
Best for: Advertising + software
NerdWallet star rating:
4.6
The
American Express® Business Gold Card
has six bonus categories: advertising, gas stations, restaurants, software, transit and cell phone service. Whichever are your top two categories each month, that’s the spending you’ll earn bonus rewards on. That can translate into outstanding rewards, as long as your business spends money in those categories. If it doesn't, the steep annual fee ($375
) probably isn't worth it. Only purchases made in the U.S. qualify for bonus categories. Read NerdWallet's review of the American Express® Business Gold Card
.Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Best for: Startups with fair credit
NerdWallet star rating:
3.8
Capital on Tap says applicants with a FICO score of 670 or higher have the best chance of approval, but the card is available to business owners with fair credit (typically considered a score from 630 to 689). The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
issued by WebBank offers 1.5
% cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. Two important notes, however: This card is not available to sole proprietors, which excludes the majority of businesses, and you’ll need at least six months of business history to qualify. Read NerdWallet's review of the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
.Brex Card
Best for: Corporate card for startups
NerdWallet star rating:
3.2
The
Brex Card
and its associated spend management platform are designed for well-capitalized startups — new businesses will likely need an equity investment or a referral from an existing customer to qualify, plus at least $50,000 in cash. But if you qualify, the Brex Card
earns rewards and doesn’t require a personal guarantee. Brex Card
is linked to sophisticated spend and expense management software that may help startup founders keep a closer eye on their finances. Users can earn 1x-7x
cash back on their spending. Read NerdWallet's review of the Brex Card
.» MORE: Best banks for startups
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
Best for: Sole proprietors with fair credit
NerdWallet star rating:
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.
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 November 18, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business 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.