Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The best business credit cards for startups offer rewards, perks and flexible financing to help new businesses grow. Business credit card issuers prioritize your personal credit history over factors like time in business or annual revenue, so if you have good or excellent personal credit, your startup can likely choose from the best small-business credit cards.
Have a personal credit score below 690? Explore cards for business owners with fair/average credit (FICO of 630-689) or bad credit (FICO below 630).
Best business cards for startups
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Best for advertising + software.
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card: Best for new business owners with bad credit.
- Brex Card: Best corporate card for startups.
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus: Best for no preset spending limit.
- Capital One Spark Cash Select: Best for cash-back rewards + no foreign transaction fees.
- Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business: Best for sole proprietors with fair credit.
- Capital on Tap Business Credit Card: Best for startups with fair credit.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Best for up to 5% back on office supplies, internet and phone.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for travel rewards + big sign-up offer.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Best overall card for new businesses.
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for 2% back on up to $50K annually.
- U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: Best for travel, gas + EV charging (up to 4X points).
- U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card: Best for 0% APR period + 3% back on bonus categories.
- Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card: Best for unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.
While all of our picks for startup business credit cards are chosen by our editorial team without outside input, the cards highlighted below are those available from our partners. You can jump to our "other picks" section for additional options not currently available through NerdWallet.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
ALSO CONSIDER: Best LLC business cards || Best 0% APR business cards || Best no annual fee business cards || Best cash-back business cards
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The best business credit cards for startups offer rewards, perks and flexible financing to help new businesses grow. Business credit card issuers prioritize your personal credit history over factors like time in business or annual revenue, so if you have good or excellent personal credit, your startup can likely choose from the best small-business credit cards.
Have a personal credit score below 690? Explore cards for business owners with fair/average credit (FICO of 630-689) or bad credit (FICO below 630).
Best business cards for startups
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Best for advertising + software.
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card: Best for new business owners with bad credit.
- Brex Card: Best corporate card for startups.
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus: Best for no preset spending limit.
- Capital One Spark Cash Select: Best for cash-back rewards + no foreign transaction fees.
- Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business: Best for sole proprietors with fair credit.
- Capital on Tap Business Credit Card: Best for startups with fair credit.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Best for up to 5% back on office supplies, internet and phone.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for travel rewards + big sign-up offer.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Best overall card for new businesses.
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for 2% back on up to $50K annually.
- U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: Best for travel, gas + EV charging (up to 4X points).
- U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card: Best for 0% APR period + 3% back on bonus categories.
- Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card: Best for unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.
While all of our picks for startup business credit cards are chosen by our editorial team without outside input, the cards highlighted below are those available from our partners. You can jump to our "other picks" section for additional options not currently available through NerdWallet.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
ALSO CONSIDER: Best LLC business cards || Best 0% APR business cards || Best no annual fee business cards || Best cash-back business cards
Here are the best credit cards for startups and new businesses
| Best for | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Best Small Business Credit Card 2025 Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.9/5 | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on Chase's website |
No preset spending limit Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 | $150 | 2%-5% Cashback | $2,000 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Up to 5% back on office supplies, internet and phone Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.6/5 | $0 | 1%-5% Cashback | $350 | Apply now on Chase's website |
2% back on up to $50K annually The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.5/5 | $0 | 1%-2% Cashback | $250 | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Travel rewards + big sign-up offer Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 4.8/5 | $95 | 1x-3x Points | 90,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
0% APR period + 3% back on bonus categories U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees | 4.4/5 | $0 | 1%-3% Cashback | $750 | Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees |
Corporate card for startups Brex Card Apply now on Brex's website | 4.3/5 | $0 | 1x-7x Points | 10,000 Points | Apply now on Brex's website |
Cash-back rewards + no foreign transaction fees Capital One Spark Cash Select Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.6/5 | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | $500 | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Startups with fair credit Capital on Tap Business Credit Card Apply now on Capital on Tap's website | 4.6/5 | $0 | 1.5% | N/A | Apply now on Capital on Tap's website |
Advertising + software American Express® Business Gold Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.3/5 | $375 | 1x-4x Points | 100,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Travel, gas + EV charging (up to 4X points) U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees | 4.5/5 | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 1x-5x Points | 60,000 Points | Apply now on U.S. Bank's website Rates & Fees |
I'M INTERESTED IN:
Our pick for
Overall card for new businesses
Best Small Business Credit Card 2025
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
Best Small Business Credit Card 2025
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
$750
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- No reward caps
- New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
- No bonus categories
A no-brainer cash-back business card that delivers unlimited, flat-rate rewards alongside a stellar welcome offer and long intro APR period.
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
No preset spending limit
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Annual fee
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$2,000
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
$150
Rewards rate
2%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$2,000
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
Heavy spending startups with secure cash flow can increase their purchasing power — and their cash back — with the
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
. There's also a huge welcome offer, and your annual fee is refunded if you hit certain spending requirements. This charge card has no preset limit, but it doesn't allow you to carry a balance.- Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- $150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
- Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
- For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Up to 5% back on office supplies, internet and phone
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$350
Pros
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$350
Pros
- Intro APR period
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- Low rate outside bonus categories
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
If your new business is setting up a new office, this card is an excellent option. You'll earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined annual spending at office supply stores and on Internet, cable and phone bills. There's also a long 0% APR intro period and the welcome offer is split into two parts, making it a little easier for new businesses to hit the spending requirements. If you'll quickly blow through the $25K cap on bonus categories, check out the
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
or U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
instead.- 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
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
2% back on up to $50K annually
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2% Cashback
Intro offer
$250
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
This is a great option for businesses that don't expect to spend much in their first few years. You'll earn 2% on your first $50,000 in spending each year and 1% on any spending beyond that threshold. There's also a long intro APR period and a small but attainable welcome offer. Terms apply.
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Travel rewards + big sign-up offer
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
90,000 Points
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward redemption rate
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Does not include lounge access or travel credits
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
90,000 Points
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- High reward redemption rate
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Does not include lounge access or travel credits
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
delivers with a generous welcome offer and a high rewards rate on travel, advertising, shipping and telecom. - Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- 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
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- 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 Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
0% APR period + 3% back on bonus categories
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$750
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
1%-3% Cashback
Intro offer
$750
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
In addition to a long 0% intro APR period on purchases, this card boasts a big welcome offer and up to 3% cash back in certain bonus categories, with no cap on how much you can earn.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- 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).
- 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.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Corporate card for startups
Brex Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Brex's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points
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
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points
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
Venture-backed startups can qualify for this corporate card with as little as $50,000 in a business bank account (non-funded startups need $1 million). You can apply with an EIN only, and there's no personal guarantee or credit check. Cardholders can earn up to 7X points, take advantage of the card's built-in expense management tools and access discounts on popular business tools.
- Get 10,000 points when you spend $3,000 on a Brex Card within your first 3 months.
- No personal guarantee needed – Brex does not ask for a personal credit check or security deposit during the application.
- Credit limits 10-20x higher than traditional small business corporate cards.
- Minimum bank balance of $50,000 from professional investors may be required to qualify for Brex.
- Exclusive signup offers from the best products and tools for your business (e.g. AWS, Google Ads, WeWork, Salesforce) worth up to $150,000 in value.
- Earn points on every dollar spent with industry-leading multipliers: 7x on rideshare, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x on restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x on all other transactions.
- Earn 3x Brex Rewards points on all eligible Apple purchases through the link or your Brex dashboard.
- Miles transfer program to 7 airlines (including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air France, and more) and their loyalty programs, giving Brex customers access to book travel across all of the major global airline alliances - Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam.
- 30-day charge card running on the Mastercard network. Enjoy global acceptance with no foreign transaction fees.
- Build business credit: Brex partners with Dun & Bradstreet and Experian to report your on-time payments.
- Make employee expenses seamless - automated receipt-capture and expense matching and reconciliation via text, email, and mobile app. Instantly add new users and set spending limits.
- Contactless pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- Simplify reconciliation with built-in integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and more.
Our pick for
Cash-back rewards + no foreign transaction fees
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
$500
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
Simple rewards, a generous welcome offer and no annual fee make this card a winner for new business owners. Plus, the card does not charge a foreign transaction fee, saving you as much as 3% on international transactions. There are a few drawbacks, though. You'll need excellent credit to qualify, and this card will show up on your personal credit report. The latter could be a problem if you need to carry a balance.
- Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account
- Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Startups with fair credit
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Capital on Tap's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- Available with fair credit
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
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
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
- Available with fair credit
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
- Must enroll in automatic payments
- Potential for very high APR
- No new cardholder bonus offer
You don't need stellar credit to get this business card, which earns
1.5% rewards on all spend with no caps or restrictions. Rewards rate rises to 2% if you set up automatic weekly payments
. Applicants with with a FICO score of 670 or higher can typically qualify. Note: This card is not available to sole proprietors and other uninregistered businesses. - 1.5% rewards on all spend, no caps or restrictions
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign exchange fees
- APRs range from 17.49% to 43.49% variable
- Unlimited cards for your employees
- Capital on Tap Business Credit Cards are issued by WebBank
Our pick for
Advertising + software
Annual fee
$375
Rewards rate
1x-4x Points
Intro offer
100,000 Points
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
Expenses can vary from month to month for a startup, but the
American Express® Business Gold Card
automatically adjusts to reward where you're spending most. You'll earn 4X points on your top two spending categories each month (up to $150,000 in combined spending). The six eligible categories include advertising, software, U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, transit and wireless service. Terms apply.- Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
- 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.49% to 27.49% variable APR.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.*
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
- The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- *Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Travel, gas + EV charging (up to 4X points)
U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1x-5x Points
Intro offer
60,000 Points
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
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1x-5x Points
Intro offer
60,000 Points
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
You get big rewards on travel and no annual fee for the first year. Earn 4X points on your first $150,000 in combined travel expenses annually, including at gas and EV charging stations. You can also earn bonus points on dining, takeout and delivery.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points, worth $600 if you spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days from account opening.
- 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.
- Earn a $25 statement credit for every three consecutive monthly taxi or rideshare trips.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter.
- Points transfer between business and consumer U.S. Bank Altitude products (excluding Reserve).
- Airport lounge access - Priority Pass™ Digital annual membership with access to more than 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide, plus four complimentary visits per membership year.
- Terms and conditions apply.
View Rates & Fees
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.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
A separate business bank account can help organize your company finances, streamline taxes and make it easier to apply for a business loan. Check out our picks for 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 (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.
- 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.
- Consider the cards already in your wallet. Many business credit cards let you combine rewards from the same issuer — including points earned on personal cards — and potentially increase the redemption value. If you already have theChase Freedom Unlimited®orChase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for instance, you can combine points with theInk Business Preferred® Credit Cardto maximize your rewards.
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 balance 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. Most business credit cards, on the other hand, only affect your personal credit in instances like non-payment.
- 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 February 18, 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 small-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.