Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details. Show
Startup businesses that cannot qualify for a small business loan may consider business credit cards as a good alternative source of funding. The best business credit cards for startups come with a 0% APR period, low annual fees, generous introductory and ongoing rewards, and low ongoing APRs. When selecting new business credit cards, it’s crucial to consider these factors and other features that your business may need. To see how these cards stack up against others we reviewed on our site, click Add to Compare on a card below and select up to two additional cards for comparison.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance. BEST FOR: Office-based businesses that want top cash back rewards
Apply Now On Chase's Secure Website Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 22.24% Variable
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Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 22.24% Variable Credit Needed Good, Excellent
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance. BEST FOR: Pocketing 1.5% cash back on every single purchase
Apply Now On Chase's Secure Website Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 22.24% Variable
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Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 22.24% Variable Credit Needed Good, Excellent
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U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®BEST FOR: 0% APR for 15 billing cycles
Apply Now On US Bank's Secure Website Intro APR 0% for first 15 billing cycles Regular APR 16.99% - 25.99% (Variable) Credit Needed Excellent/Good
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Intro APR 0% for first 15 billing cycles Regular APR 16.99% - 25.99% (Variable) Credit Needed Excellent/Good
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Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance. BEST FOR: Travel rewards and annual spending less than $19,000
Apply Now on Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business's secure website. Intro APR 0% on purchases Regular APR 15.49% - 25.49% (Variable) Credit Needed Excellent, Good
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Intro APR 0% on purchases Regular APR 15.49% - 25.49% (Variable) Credit Needed Excellent, Good
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American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance. BEST FOR: Those who want better cash back rewards
Apply Now on American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card's secure website. Intro APR 0% on purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 24.24% Variable Credit Needed Good, Excellent
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Intro APR 0% on purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 24.24% Variable Credit Needed Good, Excellent
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance. BEST FOR: Pocketing 2x points per $1 and 0% introductory APR for 12 months
Apply Now on The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express's secure website. Intro APR 0% on purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 24.24% Variable Credit Needed Good, Excellent
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Intro APR 0% on purchases Regular APR 16.24% - 24.24% Variable Credit Needed Good, Excellent
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U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance. BEST FOR: Extended 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Apply Now On US Bank's Secure Website Intro APR 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. Regular APR 14.99% - 23.99% (Variable) Credit Needed Excellent/Good
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Intro APR 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. Regular APR 14.99% - 23.99% (Variable) Credit Needed Excellent/Good
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Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance. BEST FOR: Fair credit business owners (580 to 669)
Apply Now on Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business's secure website. Regular APR 26.99% (Variable) Credit Needed Average, Fair, Limited
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Regular APR 26.99% (Variable) Credit Needed Average, Fair, Limited
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Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit CardBEST FOR: Those who cannot qualify for unsecured business credit cards
Apply Now on Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card's secure website.
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SVB Innovators Card
Apply Now on SVB Innovators Card's secure website.
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Chase Ink Business Cash®: Best Overall Credit Card for StartupsWhy we like it: Chase Ink Business CashSM is our best overall credit card for startups because it offers generous rewards and opportunities to lower your credit cost. When you’re a new business owner setting up an office (or a home office), you can earn 5% cash back on office supplies, internet, cable, and phone services for up to $25,000 each year. You’ll also earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 per year at restaurants and gas stations. Plus, you can earn 1% on all other business purchases, with no cap on rewards earned. Other benefits:
It’s also our best credit card for LLCs and one of our leading credit cards for consultants because of its strong rewards program and low cost. Chase Ink Business Unlimited®: Best for Straightforward Rewards ProgramWhy we like it: Chase Ink Business Unlimited® offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it ideal for startup owners who don’t have time to keep track of their spending categories. Similar to the Chase Ink Business CashSM, it comes with a 12-month 0% APR and a $750 cash bonus when you spend at least $7,500 within the first three months of card ownership. Other benefits:
Since it has a straightforward rewards program, it’s also an excellent choice for sole proprietors with expenses in various categories, making it our top sole proprietorship business credit card. U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®: Best for Fuel & Dining with Long 0% APR periodWhy we like it: If you’re looking for a business credit card with a long interest-free period on both purchases and balance transfers and want to earn rewards on your purchases, the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® is a great option. It’s best for startup business owners who are frequently on the road as it offers 3% cash back at eligible gas stations and restaurants. Plus, you can take advantage of zero-interest financing for the first 15 months of card membership. Other benefits:
The generous rewards on gas and other purchases make this our best fuel card for small businesses. It’s one of our top-recommended business cards for nonprofits. If you don’t need to earn rewards but prefer a 20-month zero-interest period and low ongoing APR, you may benefit more from the U.S Bank Business Platinum card. Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business: Best for Earning Travel Rewards With Flexible Redemption OptionsWhy we like it: Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business has no annual fee and offers unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars that are booked through Capital One Travel, making it a great choice if your startup requires you to travel frequently. You can use your rewards to book flights, rent cars, and pay for hotel stays. You can also redeem your miles to pay past travel purchases within 90 days of the date of the travel purchase, as a statement credit or check by mail, or as gift cards for restaurants, retailers, or hotels. Other benefits:
It’s our best business credit card for travel and one of our leading business credit cards for miles. American Express Blue Business CashTM: Best for Earning Cash Back With Flexible Buying PowerWhy we like it: The American Express Blue Business CashTM card features Expanded Buying Power, which allows you to spend beyond your credit limit whenever you need to. The amount you can spend above your credit limit will adjust based on your card usage, payment behavior, credit record, and financial resources. In addition, you’ll get 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back thereafter. Other benefits:
It’s our top-recommended business credit card for self-employed because of its rich rewards and flexible credit limit. If you prefer to earn points rewards, consider the American Express Blue Business® Plus. American Express Blue Business® Plus: Best Points-based Rewards Card With Flexible Credit LimitWhy we like it: American Express Blue Business® Plus card is similar to American Express Blue Business CashTM in many ways, except that it offers points-based rewards instead of cash back. You can earn 2x points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x point per dollar after that. Plus, it also allows you to spend over your credit limit through its Expanded Buying Power feature. Your buying power will adjust based on your spending and payment behavior, credit record, and financial resources. U.S Bank Business Platinum: Best for Longest Interest-free Period & Low Ongoing APRWhy we like it: If your startup’s primary need is more time to pay off costly purchases, such as equipment and furniture, then U.S. Bank Business Platinum is a great choice. It has the longest 0% APR period among all the cards on this list, making it our best 0% APR business credit card. It gives you zero-interest financing options on both purchases and balance transfers for a full 18 billing cycles. This lets you budget your monthly payments because, with nearly two years interest-free, your balance will be zero by the time the regular APR kicks in. Other benefits:
While its ongoing APR is lower compared to the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®, this card doesn’t offer introductory and ongoing rewards. Capital One® Spark® Classic: Best for Startup Business Owners With Fair CreditWhy we like it: When you have a fair credit score (580 to 669) and are starting a new business, you may qualify for the Capital One® Spark® Classic, our best business credit card for fair credit. It gives you a boost by offering two valuable features: 1% cash back on all business purchases with no limits and no annual fee. It’s important to note that unlike Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business, Capital One® Spark® Classic doesn’t offer a zero-interest financing option. Also, it comes with a high ongoing APR of 26.99%, so it’s best to pay your balance in full each month to avoid paying a high interest rate. Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card: Best for Startup Business Owners With Low Credit ScoresWhy we like it: The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a great choice if you have a low credit score or no credit history and cannot qualify for a regular unsecured business credit card. You can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and you can redeem your cash rewards as a deposit into your Bank of America checking or savings account, a statement credit, or a check mailed to you. To qualify, you need to make a security deposit of at least $1,000. Other benefits:
It’s also our best secured business credit card and the top business credit card for bad credit. Keep in mind that while it offers unlimited cash back rewards, it has no signup bonus and interest-free financing period. SVB Innovators Card: Best Charge Card With No Personal GuaranteeWhy we like it: Unlike all the other business cards on this list, the SVB Innovators Card is a charge card and not a credit card, which means your balance is due in full each month. What’s good about this is that it doesn’t come with an APR, and you’ll have a flexible credit limit that scales as your business grows. Since it doesn’t require a personal guarantee, the issuer won’t go after your personal assets in case your business fails to pay its debts. Other benefits:
Keep in mind that you need to pay your balance in full every month, or you’ll be charged with a late payment fee of $32 or 2.5% of the unpaid charges, whichever is greater. It’s our leading business card without personal guarantee. How We Evaluated Business Credit Cards for StartupsWhen choosing the best business credit cards for startups, we prioritized cards with no annual fees to help startup owners minimize their credit costs. We also considered the overall value of these cards, their requirements, and the various features that startup owners may need—such as rewards, spend categories, introductory bonuses, and introductory APRs. Is It Good to Use a Credit Card to Fund Your Business?Using business credit cards to finance a startup business is a good idea if you don’t yet qualify for a small business loan or need immediate funding for your working capital. A credit card application usually involves a simpler process and typically results in fast approval compared to a small business loan. Ideally, you can use a business credit card to purchase equipment and other supplies that you need to get your new business off the ground. If you plan to make a large purchase, it’s best to opt for a card that offers zero-interest financing options. Additionally, using it to pay for your everyday business expenses and other recurring expenses can help you earn rewards that are useful to your business. Bottom LineThe best business credit card for your startup is one tailored to your needs. Select a card that can give you lucrative rewards for every expense and interest-free options on substantial purchases. If you’d like to see more options, check out our list of the best small business credit cards or visit our Credit Card Marketplace. What credit score is needed for a Capital One business card?If you're considering a Capital One business credit card, here's what you should keep in mind: Know your credit score: All but one option — the Capital One Spark Classic for Business — requires excellent credit to be approved, which usually means any FICO score of 740 or above.
Do business credit cards do a hard pull?Applying for your first business credit card will trigger a hard credit inquiry on your personal credit, which could lower your score by a few points. And lenders might continue to conduct personal credit inquiries when you apply for additional small-business credit cards or small business loans.
What should be on a small business business card?What information should you put on your business card?. Company name.. Tagline.. Your name & title.. Contact details.. Your address -online or physical.. Social media handles.. A QR code.. Is it easier to qualify for a business credit card?It's easier to get a business credit card than you think. You can qualify for some of the best cards with a 670 personal credit score and some business income. Getting approved doesn't have to be as stressful as you might imagine it to be.
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