| Credit Card | Category | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate |
| Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card | Easiest to Get & Best Overall | $0 | 1.5% cash back |
| Capital One Spark Classic for Business | No Credit | $0 | 1 - 5% cash back |
| Valley Bank Visa® Secured Business Credit Card | 0% APR & Rewards | $0 | 1% cash back |
| Brex Corporate Card for Startups | No Personal Guarantee | $0 | 1 - 7 points per $1 |
| Shell Business Credit Card | Gas Rewards | $0 | 2 - 6 ¢ per gallon |
| Suncoast Credit Union Business Secured Visa Card | Flat-Rate Rewards Points | $0 | 1 point per $1 |
Using one of the easiest business credit cards to get can save you a lot of money. You just have to find the best card for your needs.
Methodology
In order to select the easiest business credit cards to get approved for, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare hundreds of credit card offers based on their approval requirements for new applicants. We also consider their fees, rates, rewards, and other notable features. Two-year cost is used as a tiebreaker between cards that are equally easy to get.
How Two-Year Cost Is Calculated
Two-year cost is used to approximate the monetary value of cards for better comparison and is calculated by combining annual and monthly membership fees over two years, adding any one-time fees or other fees (like balance transfer fees), adding any interest costs, and subtracting rewards. Negative amounts indicate savings. When fees or other terms are presented as a range, we use the midpoint for scoring purposes.
Rewards bonuses and credits have been taken into account for two-year cost calculations. However, bonuses applicable to only a very small portion of cardholders are not considered. For example, credits and bonuses awarded for spending or redeeming rewards through a company portal with non-co-branded cards have not been taken into account. Similarly, bonuses and credits related to spending with specific merchants using a non-co-branded card have not been taken into account (for example, if Card A offers credits with DoorDash, this feature would not be factored into calculations because it is hard to assess how many cardholders would use the benefit or exactly how much value they'd get from it).
Cardholder Spending Profiles
Given that different users have different goals and are likely to use their credit cards differently, we identified spending profiles that are representative of different users’ financial priorities and behaviors. For each cardholder type, we have assumed a specific amount of monthly spending by purchase type (e.g., groceries, gas, etc.), as well as an average balance, balance transfer amount, amount spent on large purchases and average monthly payment. Spending assumptions are based on PEX data.
How to Get One of the Easiest Business Credit Cards
1. Check your credit score.
Virtually all business credit cards require a personal guarantee, which means that you’re held liable for any debts the business can’t pay. As a result, it’s largely your personal credit score that comes into play when determining what cards you can qualify for. You can check your credit score for free here on WalletHub.
2. Decide whether to get a secured or unsecured card.
If you have bad credit, we recommend getting a secured business card. You’ll have to put down a security deposit to open your account, which will also determine your credit limit. You’ll get this deposit back in full when you close the card with a $0 balance.
If you have limited credit history and no credit score yet, or at least fair credit (a score of 640+), then you can pursue unsecured credit card options, which give you real borrowing power since there’s no deposit that you’re borrowing against.
3. Compare your options.
See how the cards’ requirements stack up against each other – not just when it comes to the minimum credit score, but also requirements for personal income, business revenue, etc. In addition, carefully compare the cards’ fees, interest rates, rewards and supplemental benefits, and note whether each card requires you to personally guarantee debts that your business can’t pay. After evaluating all of these factors, pick the card that figures to save you the most money while also fitting the unique needs of your business.
4. Submit an application.
Applying online always leads to the fastest response. You’ll have to provide both personal information and info about your business during the application process.
5. Wait for approval.
You might get approved for the card instantly, or it could take as long as 30 days to get a decision. Assuming you’re approved, your card should come in the mail within 7 to 10 business days after that.
More Easy Business Credit Card Pointers
Secured cards give you the best odds.
The easiest business credit cards to get are secured business credit cards because they require a security deposit to open the account. If your business can’t pay back what it owes, the issuer can keep the collateral. Because of that, there’s very little risk to the issuer, so your approval odds are extremely high. You can even get approved with bad personal credit or no credit history at all.
Your personal credit and income matter.
For most of the easiest business credit cards (and most business credit cards in general) your personal credit history and income matter a lot more than your company’s credit standing and revenue. That’s because almost all cards require what’s called a “personal guarantee,” where you’ll be held liable for paying any debts the business can’t.
Don’t wait for more options to open up.
There are relatively few business credit cards you can get with bad or limited credit, but more choices open up as your score increases. That said, you should get a card now, not when your credit improves, because using a credit card responsibly is the best way to increase your credit score. If you pay your bills on time and keep your credit utilization ratio low, your credit should steadily improve over time and help you upgrade to a better card eventually.
