Best Business Credit Cards

To get a business credit card for your LLC, compare offers for cards to determine which business credit card is likely to save your LLC the most money, based on rewards, fees, interest rates and other features. Then, apply for the card online, wait for a decision and, if you're approved, wait for your card in the mail.

You can get a business credit card for an LLC, as long as you are permitted by the corporation. If you aren't an owner of the LLC, you must at least be an authorized officer  – in other words, legally able to sign for the company – in order to apply for a credit card in the LLC's name. Authorized officers will be named on the LLC's operating agreement, and can be the LLC's owner, president, managing member, member, or treasurer, for instance.

When it comes to which business credit cards you might qualify for, a lot depends on your personal credit score. Most small business credit card issuers will judge your application based on your personal creditworthiness because they require a personal guarantee for any balance on the account.

How to Get a Business Credit Card for Your LLC in 4 Steps

1. Check your credit score. Your personal credit score plays a big role in which business credit card you can get, but you don't need good credit to get a business credit card. You can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub.
2. Determine which card would be best for you. The ideal business credit card will give you the best value in rewards and benefits, based on your business spending and your overall needs. Narrow down the choices based on rewards rates in your biggest spending categories and other card benefits, and then compare expected earnings after taking any fees into account.
3. Fill out the application. You'll need to provide details about the LLC on the application, such as its name, address, phone number, annual income, number of employees, years in business, and Employer Identification Number (EIN). You'll also need to provide some information about yourself, such as your Social Security number and personal income, among other things.
4. Wait for a response. You could get a decision instantly, or the card issuer may need a closer look at your application. Most credit card issuers make a decision on applications within 2 weeks, and if you're approved, your new card should get to you in 7-10 business days after approval. If you get denied for the card, consider calling the card issuer's reconsideration line or looking into other credit card options.

Business credit cards can be assets for LLC owners, as they tend to offer more business-focused benefits and rewards, with the potential for higher credit limits than personal cards. That said, many LLC owners use a personal credit card for business purposes – and that's perfectly fine, if you aren't interested in building business credit and you keep your business and personal expenses separate.

Yes, you can apply for some business credit cards with an EIN only, but most credit cards will not allow it. Most business credit cards require a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number in addition to an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

The EIN shows that you're legitimately a business owner. The SSN, or ITIN, allows the credit card company to review your personal credit history when evaluating your application and hold you personally accountable for paying the bill if you're approved. Almost all business credit cards require personal liability. But there are a few exceptions.

Business Credit Cards You Can Apply for With an EIN Only

• Office Depot Business Credit Card: You can apply with without an SSN if your company makes over $5 million per year and has been in business for at least three years. Or, if you are a government entity (including schools) or a nonprofit, you can apply without personal liability also. This card only works for OfficeMax and Office Depot purchases. This card requires fair business or personal credit.
• Sam's Club® Business Credit Card: You can apply without an SSN if your company makes $5+ million per year, is more than 2 years old and has more than 10 employees. You can only get this card if you're a Sam's Club member, and you need good business or personal credit to be approved. You can use the card anywhere that accepts Mastercard.
• SuperAmerica Fleet Credit Cards: You can apply for these cards without an SSN if you've been in business for at least three years. You can use it at all SuperAmerica gas stations and 45,000 partner stations nationwide. Both cards require good business or personal credit.
• Shell Small Business Credit Card: You can get this card without any personal liability if you're applying on behalf of a government entity or non-profit, or if your business has been open for at least three years and does $1+ million in yearly sales. This card requires fair business or personal credit, and you can use it at any of the 12,000 Shell gas stations nationwide.

If you want to apply for a business card with only an EIN, the choices are slim. But your options become far greater when you consider the full range of cards that require personal liability.

If you're worried that your personal credit isn't good enough to qualify for a business credit card, remember that you can apply for a secured business card, or even consider applying for a secured personal card and use it for business expenses. So, consider personal options such as the Discover it® Secured Credit Card as well as the likes of the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card. Both are available to people with bad credit.

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 (August 2022)

View entire answer

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.

The banks with the best credit cards are Capital One, Citibank, Bank of America and Discover. These top 10 credit card companies all have good credit card offers for people across the creditworthiness spectrum. However, most major banks offer at least one credit card that would be best for someone.

People have different opinions on the best credit card company for one reason or another. Customer service is important to some credit card users. Others are attracted to credit card companies with a particularly trustworthy reputation. But none of that matters as much as a card's terms. The bank with the best credit card for you is whichever bank gives the best combination of rewards, interest rates and fees that you can get approved for. It doesn't really matter which credit card company issues the card, so long as it serves you well.

Availability plays a big role, though. The credit card companies with the best overall credit card offers aren't always the best credit card companies for everyone. If a bank's or credit union's credit cards all require good or excellent credit for approval, for example, it probably won't seem like the best option to people with bad, limited or fair credit. Some credit card companies focus on those creditworthiness segments more than others, including a number of reputable new issuers.

All things considered, the best credit card company will depend on what you're looking for and what type of credit card you can qualify for. If your priority is a card issuer's customer service, overall reputation, or other defining qualities, check out WalletHub's latest Credit Card Customer Satisfaction Study.

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 cards for travel are Capital One Spark Miles for Business and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Both cards offer big initial bonuses, high ongoing rewards rates, reasonable fees and unique business perks. 

There are several great business credit cards for travel, though, 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. You can find some popular options below.

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business
• JetBlue Business Credit Card
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
• Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business 
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card 

Above all else, make sure you choose a business travel credit card that allows you to earn more benefits than you have to pay in fees. 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.