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12 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups With No Credit of April 2025

Written by

Kelsey Sheehy

Edited by

Ryan Lane

Last updated on April 15, 2025

Fact checked and reviewed
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Startups with no credit can still open a business credit card. Most card issuers prioritize your personal credit score over factors like business credit score or revenue. That means new companies can get a business credit card right away.
Lacking personal credit? Consider a personal or business secured card. A secured personal card will help build your personal credit score, positioning you to eventually upgrade to an unsecured startup business credit card. But if you simply want to establish your startup's credit, a secured business card is the better choice. The best option is the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured card.

Looking for a business credit card?

See our overall favorites, or choose a feature that will benefit your business spending the most.

Our top overall picks

on Nerdwallet's secure site

Startups with no credit can still open a business credit card. Most card issuers prioritize your personal credit score over factors like business credit score or revenue. That means new companies can get a business credit card right away.
Lacking personal credit? Consider a personal or business secured card. A secured personal card will help build your personal credit score, positioning you to eventually upgrade to an unsecured startup business credit card. But if you simply want to establish your startup's credit, a secured business card is the better choice. The best option is the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured card.

Looking for a business credit card?

See our overall favorites, or choose a feature that will benefit your business spending the most.

Our top overall picks

on Nerdwallet's secure site

Find the right credit card for your business

Answer a few quick questions, and we’ll match you to personalized card recommendations.

Here are the best business credit cards for startups with no credit

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Here are the best business credit cards for startups with no credit

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Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge2025 BEST CREDIT CARD SMALL BUSINESS

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

4.9 

Best for Overall business card for startups with no credit

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$750
Apply now

on Chase's website

Rates & Fees

Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge

2025 BEST CREDIT CARD

SMALL BUSINESS

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best for Overall business card for startups with no credit

4.9 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$750
Apply now

on Chase's website

Rates & Fees

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

4.7 

Best for Travel rewards

Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2x-5x

Miles

Intro offer
50,000

Miles

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Best for Travel rewards

4.7 
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2x-5x

Miles

Intro offer
50,000

Miles

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

4.8 

Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x

Points

Intro offer
90,000

Points

Apply now

on Chase's website

Rates & Fees

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

4.8 
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x

Points

Intro offer
90,000

Points

Apply now

on Chase's website

Rates & Fees

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

4.2 

Best for No annual fee travel card

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x

Points

Intro offer
30,000

Points

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Best for No annual fee travel card

4.2 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x

Points

Intro offer
30,000

Points

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Ramp Card

4.3 

Best for Corporate card (no personal guarantee)

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250

⏱️ New bonus offer

Apply now

on Ramp's website

Ramp Card

Best for Corporate card (no personal guarantee)

4.3 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250

⏱️ New bonus offer

Apply now

on Ramp's website

Brex Card

5.0 

Best for Corporate card for venture-backed startups

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
10,000

Points

Apply now

on Brex's website

Brex Card

Best for Corporate card for venture-backed startups

5.0 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
10,000

Points

Apply now

on Brex's website

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

5.0 

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
Cashback Match™
Apply now

on Discover's website, or call

Rates & Fees

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

5.0 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
Cashback Match™
Apply now

on Discover's website, or call

Rates & Fees

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

4.5 

Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250
Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K

4.5 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%

Cashback

Intro offer
$250
Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

4.6 

Best for Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$300
Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

Best for Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

4.6 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%

Cashback

Intro offer
$300
Apply now

on Bank of America's website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

4.4 

Best for Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x

Points

Intro offer
15,000

Points

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Best for Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

4.4 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x

Points

Intro offer
15,000

Points

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

4.2 

Best for Corporate card for fair credit

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
N/A
Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Best for Corporate card for fair credit

4.2 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x

Points

Intro offer
N/A
Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

4.6 

Best for Business credit card for fair, average credit

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Best for Business credit card for fair, average credit

4.6 
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
N/A
Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Other picks: Business credit cards for startups with no credit

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card

Best for: Secured business credit card
This product has not been rated by NerdWallet.
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no cap or expiration date on the rewards you earn. The card has a minimum security deposit of $1,000, which is equal to your credit limit and subject to credit approval. Bank of America® will periodically review your secured card and may upgrade you to an unsecured card if and when you qualify. This card has no annual fee.

How startups can build business credit

Your business credit score tells potential suppliers and lenders how likely your company is to repay its debts. A better score may improve your chances of securing a small-business loan or getting more favorable terms.
Startups with no credit can establish and build their business credit history by establishing lines of credit via business credit cards and trade lines with suppliers, and making payments on time (or early).
Late payments, high balances on credit cards, tax liens and legal judgments against your business can all hurt your business credit score. Delinquencies and late payments on your business credit cards can affect your personal credit score, too.

Do business credit cards check personal credit?

Yes, nearly all business credit cards check your personal credit when you apply. Why? Because most business cards require a personal guarantee, which means you’re personally liable for the debt if your business fails to pay.
One notable exception: corporate cards. These cards do not require a personal guarantee since they're issued to a company, rather than an individual. Incorporated startups may be able to qualify for a corporate card if they have hefty cash reserves and a history of strong revenue.

Can you get a business credit card with bad personal credit?

Business owners with bad credit or no personal credit will have a hard time qualifying for most business credit cards. The easiest business credit card to get is often a secured card. These cards let you build your credit score before upgrading to a business credit card with better rewards.
Secured cards require an upfront deposit, which determines your credit limit, and a few even offer rewards. Most secured cards still require a personal credit check, though some are available with no credit check.
A secured personal card will help build your personal credit score, but not your business score. Likewise, most secured business credit cards will only help 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 Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
, see this page.
Last updated on April 15, 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.
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Best Small Business Credit Card 2025
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card
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Best small-business credit card

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chase's website