Do prepaid business credit cards build credit?

To get a business credit card with bad personal credit, shop around for either secured business credit cards or unsecured personal cards for people with bad credit, and apply for the offer with the lowest fees. Lenders hold business cardholders personally liable for any unpaid business debt, so when you apply, the lender will review your personal credit history. This is done to project your ability to pay back any business debt. If you are approved, the lender will also require a signed personal guarantee. This assures the lender that the business owner will personally repay any business credit card debt when the business is unable to do so.… read full answer

Unfortunately, there aren’t really any unsecured cards marketed to small business owners with bad credit. You could get a personal credit card for poor credit and put business purchases on it, but unsecured cards for bad credit have expensive annual, monthly and one-time fees. This leaves secured credit cards as the better option.

Secured credit cards and unsecured personal cards for bad credit both allow you to establish or rebuild credit as you make business purchases. But with a secured card, there is a required security deposit. It serves as collateral and increases your approval odds since the lender takes on less risk. The card’s credit limit will be equal to the amount of the deposit. Deposits typically start at $200 and are fully refundable when you close your account in good standing.

Once you’ve found your desired credit card for business with bad personal credit, the steps to getting one are fairly straightforward.

How to get a business credit card with bad personal credit:

1. Submit an application. Depending on the card, you can apply online, by phone or in response to a targeted mail offer. If your bank or credit union offers a business credit card for bad credit, you may be able to apply in-person. Applying online will usually get you the quickest decision.
2. Put up the security deposit. This is required either when you apply or once you’re approved. You can write a check or authorize a one-time electronic bank draft for the amount of your deposit. The security deposit will be returned if your application is denied.
3. Wait for approval. Unless you have an unresolved bankruptcy or charge offs on your credit report, you stand a very good chance of getting approved for a secured credit card. A decision on your application can take a few seconds or a few weeks.
4. Wait for your card to arrive. Once you’re approved, your card should arrive by mail within 7-10 business days. Some issuers may expedite shipping of your card upon request. Expedited shipping may cost a fee, but could speed the delivery up to as little as 1-2 business days.
5. Activate your card. Once you receive your card, call the number/visit the URL printed on the decal affixed to it. If you activate by phone, you may have to place the call from the number listed on your application for security purposes.

Some of the best secured business credit cards for bad personal credit include the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card and the BBVA Compass Business Secured Credit Card. Or, you could go with a personal secured card such as Discover it® Secured. Just stay away from putting business and personal purchases on the same card.

There are several easy approval business credit cards. That’s because the easiest business credit cards to get only require fair or bad credit. They include Capital One Spark Classic for Business, the Staples Business Credit Card, and the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card. It’s also worth noting that while you must have a business to get one of these cards, your personal credit history matters a lot more than your company’s.… read full answer

Here are your options for easy approval business credit cards:

• Limited Credit: Capital One Spark Classic for Business
  You’ll get 1% cash back on all purchases. There’s no annual fee, and the purchase APR is 24.24%.
• Fair Credit: Staples Business Credit Card
  You’ll save $50 on a purchase of $150 or more made within 45 days of opening your account. You’ll also get 5% back in Staples credit for each purchase. There’s no annual fee. Your APR will be somewhere between 14.99% and 23.99%, depending on credit worthiness.
  
• Bad Credit: Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card
  You’ll get 1.5% cash back on purchases. The annual fee is $25. The minimum security deposit is $500. And the APR is 16.40%. The BBVA Compass Business Secured Card is another good option.
  
• Personal Option: Discover it Secured Credit Card

You’ll get 2% cash back on the first $1,000 you spend at gas stations and restaurants each quarter. You’ll get 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover matches the cash back you earn the first year. There’s no annual fee, the APR is 24.24%, and the minimum deposit is $200.

There are a few easy approval business credit cards, so you shouldn’t let limited or damaged credit prevent you from getting the card your business needs. And remember, if you pay your bills on time and keep your credit utilization ratio low, your credit should steadily improve over time.

The easiest unsecured card to get is the Fingerhut Credit Account. But it won’t suit everyone’s needs. Fingerhut is an online marketplace, and its card can only be used to make purchases on the site. So while it will give you an unsecured line of credit, it won’t really help you cover emergency expenses.… read full answer

If you’re looking for a card that can be used for anything, the Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card is your best bet. You can get approved for it with bad credit. It offers a $300 starting spending limit. And you can use it wherever Visa is accepted.

Those aren’t your only options, though. WalletHub’s editors compared all of the unsecured credit cards in our database of 1,000+ offers. And we selected our favorite easy-to-get offers.

Easiest Unsecured Credit Card to Get Approved For

• Fingerhut Credit Account: Overall
• Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card: Rewards
• Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business: Small Business
• Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card: Limited Credit
• Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students: Students

The easiest unsecured credit cards to get generally work best for minor emergencies. You will only receive a small amount of spending power, after all.

Unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit also tend to be very expensive, charging lots of fees and high interest rates. So if you don’t need a small emergency loan, the best course of action is to improve your credit inexpensively with a secured card. Secured cards are cheaper than unsecured cards, build credit just as effectively, and offer the closest thing you’ll find to guaranteed approval.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's complete list of the year’s easiest credit cards to get approved for​.