How to apply as a sole proprietor
- Business name: Use your own legal name if you don't have a separate business name.
- Tax ID: Enter your SSN. An EIN is required only if you have employees or operate as a corporation or partnership.
- Business revenue: Report annual business revenue. Estimates are fine for a new or small operation.
- Personal income: You'll also report personal income. Some issuers, such as Capital One and Amex, ask for estimated monthly spending too.
- Personal guarantee: You'll agree to be personally liable. This is true for every bank small-business card, whatever your structure.
Freelancers and side-gig workers qualify. Approval mostly rests on your personal credit, so check your score first.
Best picks
Chase Ink Business Unlimited — simplest option
1.5% cash back on everything, no caps, $0 annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 16.74%–24.74% variable (as of October 2026)). The minimum credit line is $3,000, and employee cards cost nothing if you hire later. Rewards can be pooled with Chase Ultimate Rewards cards.
Chase Ink Business Cash — for home offices
5% on the first $25,000 a year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone; 2% on the first $25,000 at gas stations and restaurants; 1% elsewhere. $0 fee, 0% intro APR for 12 months. Cash back can't go to a non-Chase bank account since March 27, 2026, which matters if you bank elsewhere.
Amex Blue Business Plus — for points collectors
2x Membership Rewards on the first $50,000 a year, then 1x, with no annual fee and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening. Points transfer to Amex airline and hotel partners.
Amex Blue Business Cash — for automatic cash back
2% cash back on the first $50,000 a year, then 1%, credited automatically to your statement. $0 fee and 0% intro APR for 12 months.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business — for trades and drivers
3% at gas and EV charging, office supply stores, cell phone providers and restaurants, with no cap, plus a $100 yearly software subscription credit. Its intro APR covers purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles.
Comparison table
| Card | Fee | Rewards | Intro APR | Open to sole props? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited | $0 | 1.5% flat | 0%, 12 months | Yes |
| Chase Ink Business Cash | $0 | 5% / 2% / 1% | 0%, 12 months | Yes |
| Amex Blue Business Plus | $0 | 2x on first $50K, then 1x | 0%, 12 months | Yes |
| Amex Blue Business Cash | $0 | 2% on first $50K, then 1% | 0%, 12 months | Yes |
| U.S. Bank Triple Cash | $0 | 3% in 4 categories | 0%, 12 billing cycles | Yes |
| Ramp | $0 | Up to 1.5% | None (charge card) | No — entities only |
| Brex | $0 | Up to 7x in some categories | None (charge card) | No — entities only |
What changes when you form an LLC
An LLC doesn't remove the personal guarantee on bank business cards. Every small-business card from a bank requires it. What an LLC does open up is corporate cards:
- Ramp: Accepts corporations, LLCs, LPs and nonprofits with $25,000+ in a U.S. business bank account. No personal guarantee or personal credit check.
- Brex: Accepts C corps, S corps, LLCs and LLPs with an EIN and U.S. address. Requires significant cash or revenue — for example, a $50,000+ balance for venture-backed startups.
If your LLC doesn't hold that much cash, a bank card is still the practical choice. See cards with no personal guarantee for who qualifies.
Common application mistakes
- Overstating revenue. Estimates are fine, but keep them realistic and consistent with what you'd report elsewhere.
- Getting an EIN you don't need just to apply. A sole proprietor without employees can apply with an SSN.
- Assuming an LLC avoids the guarantee. It doesn't on bank cards.
- Ignoring credit reporting. If you'll run high balances, a card that reports only negative information to personal bureaus protects your personal utilization.
Tips before you apply
- Keep business spending on the business card. It makes bookkeeping and tax time easier, even as a sole proprietor.
- Know how it reports. Chase and Amex report only serious delinquencies to your personal credit. Capital One reports full activity on most Spark cards. Details are in business card vs. personal card.
- Start building business credit. A free D-U-N-S number and on-time payments start your business file. See the business credit guide.
- Check current terms on the issuer's site before applying; rates and offers change.
Just starting out? Our startup business card picks focus on intro APRs and easy approval factors. For the full lineup, see the best business credit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sole proprietors without an EIN can apply with their SSN. You need an EIN only if you have employees or operate as a corporation or partnership.
Not on bank business cards. Every small-business card from a bank requires a personal guarantee, regardless of business structure. Corporate cards like Ramp and Brex don't require one but only accept registered entities.
Report your annual business revenue; estimates are acceptable. You'll also list personal income, which issuers use alongside your credit to set approval and limits.
No. Both exclude sole proprietors. Ramp accepts corporations, LLCs, LPs and nonprofits, and Brex accepts C corps, S corps, LLCs and LLPs.
Who can apply for a small-business credit card? — NerdWallet
Chase Ink Business Unlimited review — NerdWallet
Chase Ink Business Cash review — NerdWallet
Amex Blue Business Plus review — NerdWallet
Amex Blue Business Cash review — NerdWallet
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business review — NerdWallet
Ramp Card review — NerdWallet
Brex business card — Nav
Do business credit cards affect your personal credit? — NerdWallet
Card terms, rates and fees change often and APRs are variable. Information was checked in October 2026; confirm current terms on the issuer's website before applying. MoneyVerge may be compensated by some card issuers; this does not affect our assessments.