Best Business Credit Cards

Yes, you can use an EIN to get a credit card, though your selection will be limited if you don't also list your SSN. You can apply for a short list of business credit cards with just an EIN, and some of those cards require your business to have annual revenues of $5+ million.

Credit Cards You Can Apply for With an EIN Only

Most credit card issuers will require a Social Security number when you apply for a business credit card because in almost all cases, they will require a personal guarantee on the debt. That means you are personally liable for any charges on the account that the business is unable to pay. That's also why issuers will often initiate a hard inquiry on your personal credit report as part of the application process.

You need a credit score of 700 or higher to get the best business credit cards. The top business credit cards usually require at least good credit for approval, but there are still options for small business owners with fair, limited or bad credit. In other words, you can get a business credit card with pretty much any credit score, though the most attractive offers are reserved for the most creditworthy applicants.

By the way, it's your personal credit rating that really matters, even though you're applying for a business credit card. The higher your score is, and the more income you have relative to your debt, the better your chances of approval will be.

Popular Business Credit Cards by Credit Score Requirement

• Excellent credit: CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® & Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
• Good credit: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card & Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business 
• Fair credit: Capital One Spark Classic for Business & Office Depot Business Credit Card
• Bad credit: BBVA Compass Secured Visa® Business Credit Card

In general, good-to-excellent credit gets you access to the biggest sign-up bonuses, the highest ongoing rewards rates, and lots of options with no annual fee. People with lower scores are more likely to have to choose between low fees and other perks.

If you're wondering why credit card companies rely on personal credit to evaluate business credit card applications, a lot has to do with personal credit histories usually being longer than the business version. Since they're longer, they tend to be more predictive. Most credit card companies also consider a business owner's personal finances to be intertwined with the business. That's often true, since personal savings are the top source of start-up capital for new businesses.

The best business credit cards for new businesses offer low fees, high rewards rates, expense-tracking tools and other features aimed at helping new businesses. You are not stuck with an inferior card just because your company is new, as your personal creditworthiness matters more than the age of your business (some cards are from WalletHub partners). That’s why issuers request your Social Security number, and it’s why you can’t get a new business credit card without a credit check. 

Below, you can find small business credit cards for new business owners of all credit levels, including WalletHub’s editors’ picks for the best options by category, which were selected from 1,500+ offers.

Best Business Credit Cards for New Businesses (October 2022)

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The easiest business credit card to get is the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card because it accepts applicants with bad credit. This card also rewards cardholders with 1% cash back per $1 spent on all purchases and has a $0 annual fee. A minimum security deposit of $1000 is required, though.

In general, the easiest credit cards for a business to get require bad-to-fair credit for approval. It's also worth noting that while you must have a business to get most of these cards, your personal credit history matters a lot more than your company's credit standing.

Easy Approval Business Credit Cards

As you can see, there are a few easy approval business credit cards available, so you shouldn't let limited or damaged credit prevent you from getting the card your business needs. Also, remember that if you pay your bills on time and keep your credit utilization ratio low, your credit should steadily improve over time.

One of the best business credit card signup bonuses is 100,000 points, offered by the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. To earn the bonus, new cardholders must spend $15,000 in the first 3 months after opening an account. Each point from this bonus is worth 1.25 cents toward travel, so it can help pay for the card's $95 annual fee for several years.

But there are plenty of other business credit card signup bonuses worth considering. The best business credit card signup bonus for you may depend on the type of rewards you're looking for, the cost of the card and what other features the card provides. 

Here are some of the best business credit card signup bonuses:

Chase Ink Preferred offers 100,000 points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, you can earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent per year on travel and select business expenses, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. The card's annual fee is $95 and you need at least good credit for approval.

The JetBlue Business Credit Card offers 60,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days plus 10,000 miles after a purchase is made on an employee card . Plus, you can earn 6 points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases, 2 points at restaurants and office supply stores, and 1 point on all other purchases. The card's annual fee is $99 and you need at least good credit for approval.

Spark Cash Select with Bonus offers $500 for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months. In addition, you can earn 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. The card's annual fee is $0 and you need excellent credit for approval.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers 50,000 miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months. Plus, you can earn 2 miles per $1 on all purchases. You can then transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs or redeem them for any travel-related purchases. The card's annual fee is $0 intro for 1st yr, $95 after and you need at least good credit for approval. 

Ultimately, it's important to remember that while initial bonuses are valuable, they're a one-time deal. You'll need to make sure you have a credit card that stays worthwhile after the first year.

There are no unsecured business credit cards for bad credit. However, there are quite a few personal unsecured credit cards for bad credit that you can use for business purposes. One noteworthy example is the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit because it offers: 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. This card does not charge an application processing fee.

Even the Credit One Visa leaves a lot to be desired, though. For starters, the 1% cash back rewards categories are determined after you apply and may not wind up being relevant to your business. Also, the annual fee is $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after. You'll receive a minimum $300 starting credit limit. There's also a $19 fee for each employee you want to add as an authorized user.

Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Secured credit cards are better for small business owners with bad credit. They're easier to get because they require a security deposit to open the account. The deposit is fully refundable when you close the account in good standing.

Best Secured Credit Cards for Business

Ultimately, you can check our editors' latest picks for the best business credit cards for bad credit.

A business credit card with no personal credit check is hard to come by. Secured business credit cards are much easier to get than regular unsecured business credit cards, but there's still a personal credit check involved, and you'll have to pay a security deposit. A personal credit check allows lenders to measure a business owner's ability to pay back any debts when there's little or no business credit history to review.

In addition to the personal credit check, lenders require business owners to provide a personal guarantee. This states that the business owner is personally responsible for paying off any balance if the business is unable to do so. Very few business cards don't require a personal guarantee.

If you don't have good credit, there are personal credit cards that do not require a credit check at all. You can use them for business purposes, but they usually require a security deposit and don't let you borrow money.

If you decide that you're comfortable applying for a business credit card despite the personal credit check, check out our editors' top picks for the best business credit cards for each credit level. You might also be interested in WalletHub's credit building guide. This will help you on your road to excellent credit.

The best business credit card for travel is the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card because it offers an initial bonus of 100,000 points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months (worth $1,000) and 1 - 3 points per $1 spent on purchases. The Chase Ink Preferred card has a $95 annual fee and a $0 foreign fee.

Best Business Credit Cards for Travel

There are several great business credit cards for travel, and a lot depends on your unique preferences and needs. Perhaps you're a light spender who wants a business credit card with travel rewards and no annual fee. Or maybe you're a big spender who wants the most benefits possible, or someone who needs a card with no foreign transaction fees. Whatever type of business travel rewards card you're after, you should be able to find a great deal.

Above all else, make sure you choose a business travel credit card that allows you to earn more value than you have to pay in fees. For example, there's no point in getting a card with a big bonus and a high annual fee if you won't spend enough to earn the bonus. 

You can apply for a business credit card without a business by listing your name as the business name. If you don't have a tax identification number (ITIN) or an employer identification number (EIN), you can apply for a business card using your Social Security number, just as you would for a personal card.

So you don't have to be a registered business like an LLC or a corporation to apply for a business credit card. If you're conducting any independent income-producing activity, you may be eligible. This includes being self-employed as a freelancer or an independent contractor, selling goods online, doing consulting work, and many others. Bear in mind that just like with a general consumer credit card, you will be personally liable for business credit card debt. And small business credit cards are not covered by the CARD Act, which means users are not eligible for some consumer protections such as those against arbitrary interest rate increases. However, many issuers have voluntarily extended parts of the CARD Act protections to their business credit card customers.

While you don't have to run a company to get one, business credit cards are credit cards specifically geared toward business owners and people who have business expenses. They're meant to be used for business rather than personal purchases, which can be anything from small expenses for your side hustle to financing your startup idea. Business credit cards often benefit from useful tools such a expense tracking features and the ability to customize spending limits for employee authorized users. And the best business credit cards are often packed with more substantial rewards than personal credit cards.

The best cash back business credit card is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus because it offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. Capital One Spark Cash Plus also has an initial bonus of $500 for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months and $500 for spending $50,000 in the first 6 months. There is an annual fee of $150, and applicants need good personal credit or better for approval.

Best Cash Back Business Credit Cards

It's also worth mentioning that you shouldn't forget about cash back credit cards meant for personal use. There are some really great deals right now, especially if you don't plan to spend enough to qualify for a business card's initial bonus.