Two routes to approval
Route 1: Your personal credit. Bank business cards check your personal score and require a personal guarantee. Revenue estimates are fine on the application. This works for most founders, freelancers and side businesses.
Route 2: Your company's cash. Corporate cards underwrite the business. Ramp needs $25,000+ in a U.S. business bank account but no minimum revenue or time in business. Brex looks for, among other paths, a $50,000+ cash balance for venture-backed startups. Both require a registered entity.
Best picks
Chase Ink Business Unlimited — best 0% APR plus flat rewards
1.5% on everything, $0 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.
Amex Blue Business Plus — best for points and flexibility
2x Membership Rewards on the first $50,000 a year, $0 fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening. Expanded Buying Power lets you spend above your limit within limits, useful when a young business hits a big bill.
Chase Ink Business Cash — best for SaaS and home-office startups
5% on the first $25,000 a year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone, plus a 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases. $0 fee, and Chase reviews the credit line every 6 months, which can help as a young business grows.
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business — best for building business credit
3% uncapped on gas and EV charging, office supplies, cell phone and restaurants, a $100 yearly software subscription credit, and 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles. It reports to Dun & Bradstreet.
Ramp — best for funded startups
No personal guarantee, no personal credit check, up to 1.5% cash back, and no annual card fee. Pay in full each statement.
Capital One Venture X Business — for founders who travel
2x miles on everything with a $395 fee, a $300 annual travel credit and lounge access. The current issuer offer is 150,000 bonus miles after $30,000 in spending in the first 3 months (offer changes often) — a high bar for most new businesses. It needs excellent credit (720+).
Comparison table
| Card | Fee | Intro APR | Rewards | Approval based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited | $0 | 0% purchases, 12 months | 1.5% | Personal credit (690–850) |
| Amex Blue Business Plus | $0 | 0% purchases, 12 months | 2x on first $50K/yr | Personal credit (690–850) |
| Chase Ink Business Cash | $0 | 0% purchases, 12 months | 5% / 2% / 1% | Personal credit (690–850) |
| U.S. Bank Triple Cash | $0 | 0% purchases and balance transfers, 12 billing cycles | 3% in 4 categories | Personal credit (good to excellent) |
| Capital One Spark Cash Select | $0 | 0% purchases, 9 months | 1.5% | Personal credit (720+) |
| Ramp | $0 | None (charge card) | Up to 1.5% | $25,000+ business cash |
| Capital One Venture X Business | $395 | None | 2x miles | Personal credit (720+) |
What to avoid in year one
- High-fee cards you can't use fully. A $395 or $375 card only pays off with steady, sizable spending or credits you'd use anyway.
- Chasing a bonus you can't hit. Spending $30,000 in 3 months to earn a bonus isn't worth buying things you don't need.
- Carrying balances on charge-style cards. Pay-over-time options on cards like the Venture X Business carry a 25.99% variable APR.
- Mixing personal and business spending. It complicates taxes and undoes the bookkeeping benefit of a business card.
Tips for new businesses
- Don't lean on the intro APR forever. Business cards lack most CARD Act protections, so plan to clear the balance before the 0% period ends.
- Start your business credit file now. Get a free D-U-N-S number and open net-30 vendor accounts. See how to build business credit.
- Weak personal credit? Work on it first with a secured card; standard business cards generally want a 670+ FICO.
- No LLC yet? You can apply as a sole proprietor with your SSN. See cards for LLCs and sole proprietors.
You're in good company: the SBA counts 36.2 million small businesses in the U.S., employing almost 46% of private-sector workers. Terms change, so check the issuer's site before applying. For more options see the best business credit cards and no-personal-guarantee cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bank business cards approve mainly on the owner's personal credit, and you can report estimated revenue. Ramp also has no minimum time in business but requires $25,000 in a U.S. business bank account.
Most of the cards here list good to excellent credit, around 690 and up. NerdWallet notes standard business cards generally want a 670+ personal FICO, and secured options exist below that.
Several offer 0% on purchases for 12 months, including the Chase Ink Business Unlimited, Ink Business Cash and Amex Blue Business Plus. The U.S. Bank Triple Cash covers purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles.
Only if you have a registered entity and enough cash in the bank, such as $25,000 for Ramp. They skip the personal guarantee but are paid in full each cycle, so they won't finance early costs the way a 0% intro APR card can.
No, if you're a sole proprietor without employees; you can use your SSN. An EIN is required if you have employees or operate as a corporation or partnership, and corporate cards like Brex require one.
Chase Ink Business Unlimited review — NerdWallet
Amex Blue Business Plus review — NerdWallet
Chase Ink Business Cash review — NerdWallet
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business review — NerdWallet
Capital One Spark Cash Select review — NerdWallet
Ramp Card review — NerdWallet
Brex business card — Nav
Venture X Business — Capital One
Who can apply for a small-business credit card? — NerdWallet
How to get and build business credit — NerdWallet
Number of small businesses in the U.S. exceeds 36 million — SBA Office of Advocacy
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.