If you run a small business or plan on starting a business, having a business credit card can help you streamline expenses, earn rewards and finance larger purchases. However, opening a new credit card can sometimes be easier said than done.
When applying for a business credit card, issuers may consider your personal credit score if you don't have a business credit report yet. As such, business owners with low personal credit scores may have difficulty being approved for a business credit card with favorable terms.
Fortunately, there are some business cards that are easier to get than others. CNBC Select reviewed dozens of popular options to determine which business cards are the easiest to get approved for. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)
Easiest business credit cards to get
Best for an average credit score
Capital One Spark 1% Classic
Rewards
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1% on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
30.74% variable
Balance transfer fee
None
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Average
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Free employee cards
- Average credit may qualify
- Redeem cash back for any amount at any time
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- No introductory 0% financing offers for purchases or balance transfers
Who's this for? The *Capital One Spark 1% Classic is best for business owners who have fair or average credit. It's often difficult to find an unsecured credit card that accepts applicants with less-than-ideal credit scores, making the *Spark 1% Classic stand out.
Standout benefits: The *Capital One Spark 1% Classic credit card doesn't charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee. This card also lets customers earn cash back while they are building their credit.
Best for bad credit
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
28.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
4% of each transaction (minimum $0)
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Poor/No credit history
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Bad credit may qualify
- Opportunity to transition to an unsecured card for qualified cardholders
- Flexible redemption options
Cons
- $1,000 minimum security deposit
- No welcome bonus
- No introductory 0% financing offers for purchases or balance transfers
Who's this for? The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is geared toward business owners who have poor or bad credit. As a secured credit card, you'll need to put down a deposit that acts as your "credit limit" in order to use this card. The minimum security deposit required for this card is $1,000.
Standout benefits: Secured credit cards generally aren't very rewarding, but cardholders can earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. And if you have a Bank of America Business Advantage 360 account, you can access your Dun & Bradstreet business credit score for free.
Best for start-ups without a credit score
Brex Card
Rewards
Earn rewards and cash back on everything you spend, like 7x on rideshare, 2x on recurring software, and access exclusive events and over $400K in software discounts.
Welcome bonus
10,000 points when you spend $3,000 on your Brex card within three months of your Brex business account being opened.
Annual fee
No annual fee
Intro APR
Brex does not charge interest
Regular APR
Brex does not charge interest
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
No foreign transaction fees, free ACH and wires worldwide, global acceptance on the Mastercard network
Credit needed
No personal guarantee or credit check. Only companies organized and registered in the United States may apply for a Brex account. See Platform Agreement for business criteria.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- You'll have to pay off the balance daily or monthly
*Offer available to new Brex Card customers only.
Brex Mastercard® issued by Emigrant Bank, Member FDIC. Brex Cash provided by Brex Treasury LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. Brex Treasury is not a bank; Brex Cash is not a bank account. Testimonials may not represent experiences of all clients. Terms apply, visit brex.com. Information about the Brex Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Brex Card is great for start-ups and fast-growing businesses because opening a Brex account and applying for the Brex Mastercard® Corporate Credit Card doesn't rely on the owner's credit scores. On the flip side, unlike traditional credit cards, it requires cardholders to pay off their balances in full either daily or monthly.
Standout benefits: Brex cardholders have access to a number of useful features for businesses, including expense management tools and discounts with various vendors.
Best for building personal credit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A on purchases
Regular APR
28.24% Variable
Balance transfer fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
New / Rebuilding
*See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- Cash-back program
- Generous welcome bonus
- Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit
Cons
- Cash-back program limits earnings: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%
- Low credit line prevents cardholders from charging high-cost items or many expenses
Who's this for? While the Discover it® Secured credit card is a personal credit card, it can still be useful for those who are preparing to apply for a business credit card in the future. Improving your personal credit now can help make it easier to get approved for business credit cards with more attractive offers down the line.
Standout benefits: The Discover it® Secured card has a unique welcome bonus offer where Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
More on our picks for the easiest business credit cards to get
Capital One Spark 1% Classic
The *Capital One Spark 1% Classic has lower credit score requirements than many cash-back business credit cards but still earns valuable rewards. Its other benefits are fairly limited, but the card has no annual fee, and once you build your credit, you'll be able to qualify for more valuable cards.
Rewards
- 5% back on hotels and rental cars you book through the Capital One Travel site
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The *Capital One Spark 1% Classic has no foreign transaction fees and offers roadside assistance and extended warranty protection. Account holders can request free employee cards and take advantage of various Capital One account management tools for businesses.
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card
The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a secured credit card, geared toward applicants with poor or no credit scores. It requires a $1,000 minimum security deposit, which acts as your credit line, but Bank of America may eventually upgrade you to an unsecured card.
Rewards
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
With this card, there is the ability to upgrade to an unsecured card after demonstrating positive credit habits for a certain amount of time. Cardholders also get access to cash flow management tools that let them schedule automatic payments and transfers as well as download transactions into QuickBooks.
Those with a Business Advantage 360 account can also access their Dun & Bradstreet business credit score for free.
Brex Business Card
The Brex Card is unique in that it considers other factors to determine eligibility beyond just credit scores. However, as a charge card, you won't be able to carry debt from one month to the next — all balances must be paid off in full either daily or monthly, depending on the type of card you're approved for.
Rewards
Cardholders enrolled in Brex Exclusive Rewards that make daily payments earn the highest rewards:
- 7X points per dollar on rideshare
- 2X points per dollar on recurring software
Learn more about all reward multipliers and options here.
Welcome bonus
10,000 points when you spend $3,000 on your Brex card within three months of your Brex business account being opened.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Although a card like the Brex Card may function like a debit card, it offers the standard suite of benefits that you'd expect from a credit card. In addition to the generous reward structure, cardholders can take advantage of benefits associated with the World Elite Mastercard® for Business program, including:
- Discounts on popular software for businesses, such as TurboTax, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks® and Salesforce Essentials
- MasterRental Insurance, which covers damage or theft of a rental car if you use your card to pay for it
- Complimentary ShopRunner membership, worth a value of $79 per year for perks like free return shipping and unlimited free two-day shipping
- Mastercard's Easy Savings program, which lets you score rebates for hotel stays, dining, car rentals, gas and other business expenses throughout the U.S.
There's also no limit to the number of employee credit cards you can get from Brex.
Discover it® Secured card
The Discover it® Secured is CNBC Select's top overall secured credit card. It can help business owners build their personal credit, and eventually help them qualify for the top business credit cards. It offers many benefits that are typically found with unsecured cards, including cash-back rewards, a generous welcome bonus and no foreign transaction fees — all for no annual fee.
Rewards
- Earn rewards and cash back on everything you spend
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
- Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it® Secured charges $0 in foreign transaction fees, which can save your business money if you frequently make purchases abroad. Plus, after seven months from account opening, Discover automatically reviews your credit card account to see if you can upgrade to an unsecured line of credit.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
FAQs
Do banks check personal credit for a business credit card?
Credit card issuers usually check your personal credit when you apply for a business credit card. However, if you're applying for a secured business credit card, your credit score and credit history may not be considered for approval.
How do I know if my business qualifies for a credit card?
Many types of businesses qualify for a business credit card. You don't need to register and incorporate your business before applying for a business credit card, but keep in mind that incorporating your business protects you from personal liability for any business debt you accrue.
How long does it take to get a business credit card?
It can take seven to 10 business days to actually receive your business credit card once you've been approved. The approval timeline may depend on the card issuer.
How do I get business credit with bad personal credit?
There are some business credit card options that approve applicants with low credit scores, but keep in mind that can be subjected to higher interest rates. You may also consider applying for secured credit cards since those are aimed at helping cardholders improve their credit before transitioning to an unsecured line of credit.
Bottom line
Applying for business credit cards may seem daunting at first, but they can be a valuable tool for helping build your business credit while taking your small business or startup to the next level. Some cards may be easier to get approved for than others so make sure you do your homework to know what you qualify for.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the easiest business credit cards.
Our methodology
To determine which business credit cards are the easiest to get approved for, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. business owners with poor or average credit. We compared each card on a range of features, including fees, minimum and maximum security deposit, APR, rewards and benefits for business owners, as well as any additional approval requirements and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem rewards.
The main criteria in our ranking were the rewards rates and accessibility to a small business owner without good credit. The fewer costs a card required, and the more rewards it offered to offset them, the higher it ranked on our list.
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*Information about the Capital One Spark 1% Classic Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
