Best Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit
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Business owners with bad personal credit have two primary options for business credit cards: secured cards and corporate cards. For most small businesses, a secured card will be your best bet.
Secured business cards require a cash security deposit, but are relatively easy to get even if your credit score is low. Corporate cards typically don't require a credit check, but you need strong annual revenue and a sizable bank balance to qualify. They’re also only available to incorporated businesses.
Want to establish business credit? Open a secured business credit card, like the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card. Focused on building your personal credit score? Opt for a secured personal card.
Best business credit cards for bad credit
Why trust NerdWallet
Select from the tabs below to explore the different types of credit cards available to business owners with bad credit: secured business, secured personal and corporate cards.
Corporate credit cards are best for businesses with a minimum bank balance of $20,000 or higher and substantial annual revenue. Most require you to operate as a corporation or LLC, though the BILL Divvy Corporate Card is available to sole proprietors.
Ramp Card
The Ramp Card's main selling point: It does not require a credit check or personal guarantee. You just need strong revenue and a healthy bank balance. The corporate charge card has no annual fee, built-in expense management and card-level spending controls. Ramp also offers cash back on qualified purchases, but the actual reward rate varies by business. Learn more and apply.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Earns cash back on purchases.
Can apply with EIN only; no personal credit check or guarantee.
Can help establish, build business credit.
Not available to sole proprietors.
High capital requirements (at least $50,000).
Brex Card
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Earns points on purchases (up to 7X).
Can apply with EIN only; no personal credit check or guarantee.
Can help establish, build business credit.
Welcome offer for new cardholders.
Not available to sole proprietors.
High capital requirements ($50,000 to $1 million).
Daily repayment may be required.
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
1x-7x
Unlike other corporate cards, the BILL Divvy Corporate Card does require a credit check, but the card's underwriting criteria are more flexible than other business credit cards. The BILL Divvy Corporate Card generally requires a minimum FICO score of 650 or higher, but the issuer also factors annual revenue and business bank account balance into approval decisions. If approved, you can earn up to 7x points on restaurants and 5x points on hotels, though weekly payments are required to hit the top tier. Learn more and apply.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Earns points on purchases (up to 7X).
Can help establish, build business credit.
Available to sole proprietors.
No personal guarantee.
Requires a personal credit check (soft pull only).
Complicated rewards structure.
Capital requirements (at least $20,000).
Alternatives to business credit cards for bad credit
Business owners with less-than-perfect personal credit have limited options for business credit cards and business funding. But there are a few options that exist beyond secured and corporate cards.
If your personal credit score is not bad, but not great ...
The following business credit cards are available to business owners with fair or average credit (typically a FICO score between 630 and 689).
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
1.5%
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
If you don’t want to put down a deposit, or need more capital than a secured card allows ...
Bad-credit business loans may be an option. For example, Fundbox’s business line of credit goes up to $150,000, and business owners with a credit score of at least 600 and six months in business can qualify. If you’re a startup with bad credit, an option like invoice financing could make sense depending on your business model.
A personal loan for bad credit may also be an option. While NerdWallet recommends separating your personal and business finances, these products can offer short-term financing and the opportunity to strengthen your personal credit for future business borrowing needs.
How do you apply for a business credit card with bad credit?
Know your credit score. Applying for a bunch of credit cards in a short time frame can hurt your credit score. It's also a red flag to issuers. So before you apply for a business credit card, check your personal credit score, then focus on cards with the best chance of approval. If your score is below 630, that will be secured cards (unless your company has excellent financials). If your score is between 630 and 690, fair credit business cards like the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business may be in play.
Research fees, deposit limits and other requirements. Bad credit business cards are not one-size-fits-all. Some have annual fees. Others have low maximum deposit limits, and therefore low credit limits. And some, like corporate cards, have high capital requirements. Compare terms and individual features of various cards to determine the best fit for your company.
Apply and make your deposit. You can apply for most bad credit business cards online and make your deposit (if needed) via ACH transfer. Corporate cards don't require a deposit, but you will need to connect your business bank account and provide financial statements to prove things like revenue and time in business.
Taking strategic steps — like paying existing cards down to lower your credit utilization or asking a friend or relative to add you to their accounts as an authorized user — can help you build personal credit quickly and expand your business credit card options.
Information for the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed by or provided by Capital One.
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.
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