Best Business Credit Cards for a New LLC

One of the best business credit cards you can get for your new LLC is Capital One Spark Classic for Business, which offers 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1% cash back on all other purchases. The Capital One Spark Classic card also has a $0 annual fee, and it accepts applicants with limited credit.

In general, the best credit cards you can get for a new LLC are business cards with low fees, good rewards, and business-specific perks like expense tracking tools.

Best Business Credit Cards for a New LLC

Business credit cards can be assets for LLC owners, as they offer more business-focused benefits and rewards. However, many LLC owners use a personal credit card for business purposes. This is also fine, as long as you keep your business and personal expenses separate.

For more options, you can check out our editors' latest picks for the best credit cards for business and the best credit cards overall.

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.

A good credit card to consider for a new LLC is the Capital One Spark Classic for Business, as it offers a range of business benefits such as year-end summaries, employee cards at no extra cost and experienced small business customer service. This card is even available to LLC representatives with limited credit.

You can learn more about these benefits from WalletHub's most recent Business Credit Card Study as well as check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

Yes, you can get a credit card for an LLC. As long as you're an officer or authorized representative of the LLC, you can apply for a business credit card for an LLC the same way you would for a partnership, corporation, or sole proprietorship.

Tips for Getting a Credit Card for an LLC

Work on your personal credit to improve your approval odds.

You must provide your Social Security number and agree to a credit check to apply for most business credit cards, because they usually require a personal guarantee. This means you agree to pay any balance your business is unable to pay back. As a result, improving your personal credit will help you qualify for a better credit card for your LLC.

Choose the right business credit card for your spending preferences.

If you travel frequently or spend a lot on office supplies, for example, seek out a card that gives bonus rewards for purchases in those categories. In addition, determine how much you'll likely spend on the card and decide if applying for a business credit card that charges an annual fee would be worth it. The more you plan to spend, the more it makes sense to pay for better rewards.

A business checking account at your bank could work in your favor.

As your business grows, an established relationship with a bank will be helpful when seeking additional credit. Just be sure your current account(s) are in good standing when you inquire.

An LLC owner may use a personal credit card for business purposes.

There's no rule against using a personal credit card for business purchases, though you'll need to keep your business and personal expenses on separate accounts.

To get a better idea of the credit card choices available to LLCs, check out our editors' picks for the best business credit cards as well as the best credit cards overall. You can also check your credit score for free on WalletHub to see which cards you're likely to qualify for.

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 1.5% cash back 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 Credit Cards for Business

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.

No, it is not illegal to use a business credit card for personal use. However, there are reasons you may not want to. After all, business credit cards are designed with business owners in mind, so the cards' rewards and benefits are geared more toward business needs than consumer needs. Using a business credit card for personal expenses can also make things a little harder when it's time to file your taxes. You cannot deduct any of the personal expenses charged to a business credit card as business purchases. If you do have too many deductions, it's likely the IRS will get involved, and that can make things very painful.

The rewards with business credit cards are also different from what a consumer might need. For instance, many business credit cards reward you most for expenses like office supplies and telecommunication services. Business credit cards often come with other features that aren't as important for consumers, too. For instance, many business credit cards have very detailed expense tracking and spending reports.

Another reason to avoid using a business credit card for personal use is that business credit cards aren't covered under the CARD Act. The Credit CARD Act of 2009 introduced a number of regulations to protect consumers from abusive practices by credit card issuers. However, business credit cards were excluded from the CARD Act. This means business credit card users don't have to be given notice before their interest rates get increased, among other things. While many business credit card issuers have voluntarily extended the CARD Act protections, it's not a requirement.

If you're interested in a business credit card for personal use because of the rewards, you may be able to find a consumer credit card with rewards to fulfill your needs. There are lots of really good options available right now, including offers with big rewards bonuses and high credit limits.