How to get a business credit card

Fear not: Applying for a business card, sometimes known as an LLC credit card, is fairly straightforward. And there are myriad benefits of having one, such as separating your personal and business finances and having access to expense-management tools.

Steps to getting a business credit card

Getting a business credit card doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Here’s how it works:

1. Form a business or LLC.
2. Establish business credit.
3. Find the right business credit card.
4. Check your eligibility requirements.
5. Apply and wait to get a decision.

1. Form a business or LLC.

There’s a low bar to jump for qualifying as a business. You’re eligible if you have a formal business structure such as a limited liability company (LLC) or S corporation. However, you can also apply as a sole proprietor. That means you qualify if you make money through freelance work — for example, as a photographer-for-hire or an Amazon seller. Just make sure you can produce documentation that proves you make money outside of regular employment.

2. Establish business credit.

Every provider will check your personal and business credit. Your personal credit weighs most on the provider’s decision, but having strong business credit will increase your odds of approval. As a rule of thumb, however, you’ll have better odds if you have a good to an excellent FICO credit score of 670 to 850.

To build business credit, start by obtaining vendor credit. Put your phone and utility bill under your business name. And ask your vendors — such as your office supply store or advertising agency — if you can start small lines of credit with them. You might also want to apply for a business loan. As you make consistent on-time payments of at least the minimum amount due, you’ll build your business credit.

3. Find the right business credit card.

There are many excellent cards on the market, and the perfect pick will depend on your specific needs. Here are a few key factors that’ll help you choose between different cards:

• Rewards. A large number of business credit cards come with a rewards program. This can be in the form of cash back or points and miles. In general, cashback cards are best for everyday spending like gas, dining, shipping services, department stores and office supplies, while points/miles cards are generally best for travel purchases.
• Intro APR period. An intro APR can be especially helpful if you want to make business purchases interest-free for a limited time, or if you have existing business debt and want to pay no interest on it for a limited time through a balance transfer.
• Welcome offer. Business cards usually have better welcome offers than you’ll find with personal cards. Welcome offers worth at least $500 are common. However, keep in mind they’re usually available one time only, for a few months after you open your card.
• Fees. A common annual fee for business cards is $95. Consider whether you want to add this expense to your balance sheet. You’ll also find cards with no annual fees, as well as premium products priced around $500 a year. Also, consider other fees — most notably, foreign transaction fees if you often travel abroad.

4. Check your eligibility requirements.

Generally, if you do business or receive payment for your services, you’re eligible to apply for a business card. This includes:

You don’t necessarily need to turn a profit to be eligible. But if you can provide projected revenue numbers in your application, it could help your chance of approval.

5. Apply and wait for a decision.

Once you’ve picked a business card, it’s time to apply. You’ll need to provide information about yourself, including:

• Your name, residential status and residential address.
• Your Social Security number and date of birth.
• Your email address and phone number.
• Financial information, such as your annual income and source of income.

You’ll also need to provide information about your business, including:

• The name of your business, its mailing address and its employee count.
• Your years in business and annual business revenue.
• Your tax identification number or Social Security number if you’re applying as a sole proprietor.

Fill out the application form, request employee cards if needed and agree to the provider’s terms. The last step is to review your application and submit it.

Compare business credit cards

Getting a business credit card can help you streamline your business finances and earn rewards on your purchases. Make sure you compare multiple options until you find the right fit for your wallet.

Sort by:

Name	Product	Rewards	Purchase APR	Annual fee
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card		1.5% cash back on all purchases	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)	$0	$750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card		3x points on the first $150,000 on travel and select business categories annually, then 1x after and on all other purchases	15.99% to 20.99% variable	$95	100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. That's $1,250 toward travel rewards when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards&reg	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Universal Premium Mastercard®		3 cents off per gallon when you buy 30,000 or more gallons in a month plus 3 cents off at the Retail Savings Network	27.24% variable	Up to $120	Earn 3 cents off per gallon when you buy 30,000 or more gallons in a month plus 3 cents off at the Retail Savings Network.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card		5% at office supply stores, on Internet, cable and phone up to $25,000 combined annually (then 1%), 2% on gas and dining up to $25,000 combined annually then 1% after that and on all other purchases	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)	$0	$750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 in the first 3 months.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
United℠ Business Card		Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, at gas stations, office supply stores, restaurants (including eligible delivery services), and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.	16.49% to 23.49% variable	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($99 thereafter)	Earn 60,000 bonus miles after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, get a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
BP Business Solutions Mastercard®		Up to 6 cents per gallon on fuel and 3.5 cents per gallon on diesel depending on number of gallons purchased per month	27.24% variable	Up to $120	Up to 6 cents per gallon on fuel and 3.5 cents per gallon on diesel depending on number of gallons purchased per month.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ARCO Business Solutions Fuel Card			18.24% to 27.24% variable	Up to $180	The ARCO Business Solutions Fuel Card gives your drivers access to greater performance with high quality fuels at ARCO locations. The card provides fleet managers with detailed reporting and individual spending controls for each and every driver.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card		3x points on Southwest Airlines, 2x points on social media and search engine advertising, Internet, cable, and phone services and 1x points on all other purchases	15.99% to 22.99% variable	$199	Earn 70,000 points when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 30,000 points after you spend $25,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card		2x points on Southwest Airlines and 1x points on all other purchases	15.99% to 22.99% variable	$99	Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months and 6,000 points after your card anniversary.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Brex 30 Card		7x points on rideshares, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x at restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x points on all other purchases	N/A	$0	The first corporate card for startups. No personal liability or security deposit needed, meaning your personal credit score won't be affected.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Business credit cards for startups, online businesses, freelancers and more

The following are a few great picks for certain business types.

What credit score do I need to get a business credit card?

Applicants with a good or excellent credit score of 670 or higher have a wide choice of credit card options. If your score is below 670, consider a secured business credit card.

When weighing your options, first read the provider’s requirements to make sure you’re eligible. That way, you avoid unnecessary hard pulls on your credit history, which can temporarily lower your overall score.

Personal vs. business credit score

Your personal credit score is different from your business credit score, though lenders may rely on both when reviewing your application for business credit. Each score reveals to potential creditors how you handle different types of financing.

An established business credit score can help your business down the road, when your larger business may need a larger business loan or line of credit.

Why should I get a business credit card?

There can be many advantages to getting a business card, including:

• Keeping your personal and business expenses separate.
• Gaining access to advanced expense-management tools, such as employee spending controls and quarterly or annual expense reports.
• Accelerated rewards on business purchases.
• Higher credit limits.
• Building business credit.

Who can apply for a business credit card?

LLCs and sole proprietors are both eligible for a business credit card. If you have a formal business structure, you’ll enter your tax identification number while applying for your card. If you’re applying as a sole proprietor, you’ll simply enter your Social Security number.

Can I apply for a business credit card without a business?

Yes. But you still need to do some form of work to qualify, like having an income as a freelance writer or an Amazon seller outside of your employment. In this case, you can mark on your credit card application that you are a sole proprietor and use your own Social Security number instead of the tax ID or EIN.

Don’t lie to the bank if you don’t really have a business because they may ask for supporting documentation to prove that you have a business or that you have an income.

Is an LLC credit card different than a business credit card?

No. Business credit cards and LLC credit cards are one and the same. If you operate an LLC, you’ll have the same business credit card opportunities as though you a different form of business, such as a partnership or operate as a sole proprietor.

Can I get a business credit card with poor personal credit?

Yes, but your options are slightly limited. To start building your credit with a business credit card, you can apply for a:

• Secured business credit card
• Credit card for bad credit
• Credit card for fair credit

Bottom line

Applying for a business credit card can be very simple. If you’ve decided on a business structure, it’s a matter of comparing different business credit cards and finding the best fit. When you’ve settled on a card, you can easily apply for it on the provider’s website.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I apply for a business credit card if I'm not earning income yet?

  Yes, as long as you intend to make a profit.

• Can I use my business credit card for personal expenses?

  Yes, but it’s not recommended. Sometimes a bank may review your expenses and if they see that you use a business credit card for personal expenses, they may close your credit card account.

• Will my card provider report my payment history to the business credit bureaus?

  Yes. Typically, your provider will report payment activity to at least one bureau.

• Will my business card activity affect my personal credit score?

  If your provider checks your personal credit score when you apply for the card, you’ll typically see a drop of a few points. However, your business card activity usually won’t affect your personal credit score after that. To verify whether your payment history is reported to your personal score, contact your provider.

• Does my business need a minimum amount of revenue to qualify for a business card?

  Not usually — as long as your personal income meets your provider’s requirements, you shouldn’t need to meet a revenue minimum.