Having one of the best business credit cards can help you boost your business.
It will allow you to make regular purchases and take care of cash emergencies.
But there are so many options out there that choosing one might seem impossible, especially if you have poor credit.
Here, you will find a list of the top commercial credit cards. It doesn't matter if you have good or bad credit; you'll find something that meets your needs. We also list some alternatives to help you fund your business needs.
10 Best Business Credit Cards For Good Credit
American Express Business Platinum Card
Main features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$595 |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
18.24% (for Pay Over Time balances) |
Penalty fees |
$39 or 2.99% for late payment. $39 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- You earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on qualifying purchases within the first 3 months of membership.
- Get access to more than 1,200 airport lounges in 500 countries spread out across the globe.
- The unsecured business card offers travelers more lounge options than any other alternatives on the market today.
- Receive up to $200 yearly in statement credits every time a qualifying airline charges incidental fees, such as in-flight refreshments.
American Express Business Gold Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$295 |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
14.24% – 22.24% |
Penalty fees |
$39 or 2.99% for late payment. $39 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of membership.
- Earn 4x points on the 2 categories where you spend most each month, up to the first $150,000 in combined spending, including shipping, buying gas, advertising in select media, and others.
Marriot Bonvoy Business American Express Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$125 |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
15.74% – 24.74% |
Penalty fees |
Up to $39 for late payment. $39 for return payment. |
Benefits and details
- Earn 100,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after using your new card to make $5,000 purchases within the first 3 months.
- Get 6 points for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Get 4 points at US restaurants, gas stations, wireless telephone services bought directly from service providers in the US, and on US shipping purchases.
- Earn 2 points on every other eligible purchase.
- Receive 1 free night award every year after your card's account anniversary. Plus, earn an additional free night award after spending $60,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
- No blackouts.
Capital One Spark Cash for Business
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$0 for the first year; $95 afterward |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
20.99% |
Penalty fees |
Up to $39 for late payment. |
Benefits and details
- Earn a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 within the first three months of card opening.
- Get an unlimited 2% cashback.
- Zero fraud liability if your plastic gets lost or stolen.
- Get automatic fraud alerts.
- Redeem points anytime; no minimums.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Easily and securely download your purchase records to multiple formats, including Excel, Quicken, or QuickBooks, to simplify accounting.
- Receive quarterly and yearly reports and efficiently handle your planning, budgeting, and taxes.
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
None |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
0% for the first 12 months, 13.24% to 19.24% after that |
Penalty fees |
$39 for late payment. $39 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- Earn $500 bonus cash back after spending $3,000 within 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on office supplies, internet, cable, and phone services.
- Also, earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on meals and gas.
- Earn 1% cash back on every other purchase.
- You can have annual fee redeem rewards, cash back, travel, and gift cards via Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- As long as your card stays open, cash rewards don't expire.
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$95 |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
15.99%–20.99% |
Penalty fees |
$39 for late payment. $39 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- Earn 100,000 points upon spending $15,000 within 3 months of card opening.
- Earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases, shipping travels, internet, cable, and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines yearly.
- Get free employee cards.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Capital One Spark Miles
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$0 for the first year and $95 afterward |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
20.99% |
Penalty fees |
$39 for late payment |
Benefits and details
- Spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of card opening and receive 50,000 bonus miles.
- There are no blackouts, seat restrictions, or minimum to redeem.
- You earn unlimited 2 miles per purchase.
- Zero fraud liability if a card gets stolen or lost.
- Redeem miles for hotel stays, airline tickets, and vacation packages with no expiration date.
United Business Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$0 for the first year; $99 afterward |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
16.49%–23.49% |
Penalty fees |
$39 for late payment. $39 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- Get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months of opening the card.
- Get 2 miles on purchases from United, including tickets, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi and other charges, restaurants and eligible delivery services, gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit and commuting.
- Also, get 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Employee cards at no additional cost.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$99 |
Required Credit Score |
690+ |
APR |
15.99%–22.99% |
Penalty fees |
$39 for late payment. $39 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- Earn 9,000 points annually on your cardmember anniversary.
- You can get free employee cards.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on business purchases within the first 3 months of opening the credit.
- Earn 3 points for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines purchases, 2 points for every $1 you spend on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services, and 1 point for every dollar you spend on all other purchases.
Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
None |
Required Credit Score |
720+ |
APR |
0% for the first 9 billing cycles, 12.24% to 22.24% after |
Penalty fees |
$19 – $49 for late payment. $39 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- Make $3,000 purchases within the first 90 days of opening and earn 30,000 bonus points.
- Every dollar you spend on travel purchases (such as airline, car, or hotel) earns you 3 points.
- Each dollar you spend on all purchases earns you 1.5 points each time, regardless of how much you spend.
- There is no limit to how many points you can accumulate.
- Points do not expire.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- As a Business Advantage Relationship Rewards client, you can earn up to a 75% rewards bonus for every purchase.
Bonus: US Bank Triple Cash Reward Business Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
None |
Required Credit Score |
700+ |
APR |
0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. |
Penalty fees |
$40 for late payment. $40 for return payment |
Benefits and details
- Earn $500 cash back after spending $4,500 on the account owner's card within 150 days of opening the account.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the travel rewards center and 3% on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants. Plus, earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn an annual $100 software credit for recurring software subscription expenses.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- There is no limit on the total cash back earned.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
Top 5 Best Business Credit Cards For Bad Credit History
OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$35 |
Required Credit Score |
300+ (no credit check) |
APR |
17.64% variable |
Penalty fees |
3% foreign transaction fee |
Benefits and details
- A $200 refundable minimum deposit is the cardholder's credit limit.
- No credit check when applying.
- Cardholders' eligibility to receive a more significant credit line or an unsecured card increases after 6 months.
- The issuer reports monthly payments to all 3 major credit bureaus.
- No monthly fees.
- 50% of cardholders making timely payments improve their FICO score by 30+ points in 3 months.
- Flexible payment due dates – cardholders choose the best date for them.
Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
None |
Required Credit Score |
300+ |
APR |
15.9% variable, cash advance 24.74% variable |
Penalty fees |
Maximum late fee $50, 4% cash advance fee (minimum $10) |
Benefits and details
- No membership or foreign fees.
- You need a $500 minimum security deposit if you have a bad credit score.
- 1.5% cash back for every $1 spent on net purchases. Cardholders must enroll in the cashback rewards program.
- Wells Fargo credits cashback quarterly to the cardholder's account or eligible checking or savings accounts.
- There's a periodic review to upgrade to an unsecured card.
- Wells Fargo Business Online lets cardholders track spending, payments, and transfers.
- Zero Liability Program, Rapid Alerts, Fraud monitoring, and Purchase Assurance help businesses keep finances safe.
Credit One Bank Platinum Visa
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$75 for the first year (charged when the account opened), $99 per year after that |
Required Credit Score |
300+ |
APR |
24.24% variable |
Penalty fees |
Cash Advance Fee $5 or 8%, whichever is greater; foreign transaction fee 3% or $1, whichever is greater; maximum late fee of $39 |
Benefits and details
- Credit line increases reviews.
- 1% cash back rewards on gas, food, mobile phone, internet, cable, and satellite TV service purchases.
- $300 spending limit with no security deposit required.
- Monthly credit bureau reporting.
- Applicants can apply without harming their credit.
First National Bank Of Omaha Business Edition Secured Visa Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
$39 |
Required Credit Score |
300+ |
APR |
20.49% variable, cash advance 25.49% variable |
Penalty fees |
Cash Advance Fee 5% (minimum $15), foreign transaction fee 3%, maximum late and over-limit fees $39 each |
Benefits and details
- $2,200 minimum security deposit (deposit is 110% of your credit limit).
- Credit limit between $2,000 and $100,000.
- Cardholders paid interest on the security deposit.
- Discounts are available with Visa SavingsEdge.
- Cardholders can track and monitor spending, red flag their tax deductions, and use collected data to prepare tax filings.
- This is an attractive financing option for a business owner with bad credit.
Secured Sable ONE Credit Card
Features |
Description |
Annual Fee |
None |
Required Credit Score |
300+ |
APR |
10.99% variable |
Penalty fees |
Foreign transaction fee of 2% |
Benefits and details
- A minimum security deposit of $10 (spending limit equals deposit amount).
- You don't need to pay a membership or monthly fees for this.
- 2% cash back on everyday business purchases from merchants such as Amazon, Uber, Uber Eats, Whole Foods, Netflix, Spotify, and others.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Cardholders receive a dollar-for-dollar match on all cash back at the end of the first year.
- Applicants can qualify with little or no credit history.
- No credit check to apply.
- Up to $10,000 credit limit.
- No SSN required for non-citizens.
How to Compare The Best Business Credit Cards
Requirements
Of course,
you need to have a business, even if it's a small sole proprietorship.
Also, ensure you know your credit score since most business
require you to meet a minimum threshold. You may not get approved for some cards unless your credit is good.
That said, there are also options for businesses with bad credit.
Finally,
while some business card providers require a Social Security Number, others will extend you one without an SSN.
Type Of Business
Are you and your employees always doing long-distance travel? Do you spend tons of money entertaining clients in restaurants? Maybe your company spends a lot on gas?
Select a business solution that maximizes benefits tailored to your business' needs. If you anticipate a significant purchase soon,
look for an option with an introductory 0% APR offer.
Interest rates
Some cards have a variable interest rate that can go up or down, while others have a fixed interest rate.
It's also important to
look at the annual percentage rate (APR), the cost of credit expressed as a yearly percentage. The APR includes the interest rate and any fees you may have to pay on your balance.
Finally, read the terms and conditions carefully to know what you're getting into. Some cards have no annual fee but may charge a late payment fee or other penalties.
Rewards program offered by the card
Some cards allow you to
earn cash back or points, which you can use for travel or other rewards, while others grant bonuses such as waiving annual fees or providing statement credits.
Make sure to compare each card's benefits to determine which offers the best value for your needs.
#CaminoTip
In order to keep your good credit score, always pay your monthly business credit card bill in full and on time. You can set up automatic payments so you don’t need to remind yourself. When you pay down your bill within 30 days, you don’t pay interest.
Most Common Requirements
- Minimum age of 18 or 21 years
- Date of birth
- Bank account information
- Valid ID to verify the person's identity
- Verified physical US address where the applicant resides
- Sufficient income or assets to make payments verified using tax returns, paycheck stubs, or annual W-2 statements
- Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (when accepted by the creditor)
- Credit score rank that meets lender requirements and credit history review
- That you have a limited number of new accounts
The application requests information such as:
- Your company's legal name or DBA if a sole proprietor
- Tax ID number
- Physical and mailing addresses (if they're different)
- Business entity type
- The business's industry designation
How to Get a Business Credit Card
First, find the application. If you go to a bank, you may find it online or on paper.
You will also need data from financial statements, bank statements, and tax returns.
#DidYouKnow
You may need to supply personal information such as SSN, date of birth, and income.
Creditors may ask for a personal guarantee signed by the business owners or partners validating that they will repay the debt should the business default on making payments.
Once you finish the application, go through it and provide your signature. Then, send it to the issuing entity.
It might be hours, days, or even weeks before you get a response, and an additional two weeks before you receive the item in question.
What Is a Business Credit Card?
Is a type of financial product designed for businesses.
It typically offers higher credit limits and a more comprehensive range of features.
It can finance office supplies, travel, and advertising expenses. It can also help establish a good payment history for your business.
What are the types of business credit cards?
- Secured: This card requires you to make a refundable security deposit (cash) that works as the credit limit.
- Unsecured: This card doesn't require a cash deposit, and the issuer establishes your credit limit depending on your credit score.
Pros and Cons of Business
Pros
- They're an easy and practical way to make business expenses
- Commercial cards offer bonuses and rewards
- They help you build your credit history
- They increase purchasing power, helping you make larger purchases and allowing you to borrow up to a specific limit to purchase items or services.
Cons
- Because of the interest and fees, they can end up being expensive
- You can't use them to make significant expenses (compared to purchases you can make with a loan)
- Many small business cards require a personal guarantee
Tips On How To Use Small Business Credit Cards
If you've never used this tool, maybe you're feeling anxious about how to use it. But you don't have to worry; by following these tips, you'll become an expert
- Create guidelines (and follow them!) on which expenses you can use the credit for and which ones you shouldn't
- Never use your business card for personal purposes and vice versa
- Never use more than 30% of your credit limit
- If your employees use it, make sure to have policies on how and who gets to use them.
- Make sure to use your points and cashback rewards (many people let them expire)
Tips to Improve Your Credit
If you want to build business credit, follow these tips
- Pay the bill 5 to 10 days before the due date.
- Pay the balance due or more than the minimum balance.
- After making timely payments for 4 to 6 months, ask the card issuer to increase your credit limit.
- Using no more than 30% of your available credit and less, if possible, helps to improve your credit score.
- Become an authorized user on another person's account who has a high credit limit and excellent credit history.
- Check your credit history report for errors and have mistakes removed.
- Make arrangements to report rent and utility payments to credit bureaus, showing you make payments on time.
- Add one or two new credit accounts, such as another card or a loan, to reduce your credit utilization ratio.
Alternatives to Business Credit Cards
- Business loans: Available from traditional and alternative lenders, small business loans protect personal wealth, build credit, and provide working capital.
Apply for a business loan today
- Savings account: With existing funds, business owners use their money to cover unexpected expenses without paying loan interest and fees.
- Personal credit card: You could also apply for a personal card to make business purchases. While this is not recommended, it might be the solution if you can't get other types of credit.
- Family and friends: This short-term financing helps small business owners start or sustain a business. However, they should write the financial arrangement and repay the debt regularly.
- SBA loans: Applicants may qualify for SBA loans, which offer small and large loan amounts and capped interest rates. The problem is that they have stringent requirements.
- Investors: Business owners benefit from an investor's business expertise without having a loan payment each month. Investors work with a network of professionals to help grow a business.
- Home Equity Loans: Borrowers borrow a percentage of their home's equity and make monthly fixed payments to repay the loan. The real estate property serves as collateral, which lowers borrowing costs.
A Better Option Than Credit Cards
Did you know that
business loans offer several advantages over business cards? First, these loans typically have lower
interest rates than credit cards. This can save your business money on the total amount you borrowed.
Second,
business loans come with fixed repayment terms that are easier to budget. This can give your business the ability to manage its cash flow better.
Third, you can use loans for various purposes, while credit cards are typically only valid for small purchases.
You can use a loan to finance your business's expansion or other significant projects.
Finally,
business loans are often easier to qualify.
This is because lenders typically consider businesses less risky than individuals when lending money.
Check out Camino Financial loans.
We provide loans with competitive interest rates and affordable monthly payments.
We are here to help you get the financial assistance you need and to provide you with the tools you need to succeed.
Apply for a business loan today
FAQs
|
What is the best business credit card?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best business credit card for you will depend on your individual business needs and spending habits.
Popular options include the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card, the American Express Business Gold Card, and the Visa Business Platinum Card. |
Can I apply for a business credit card without a traditional business or income?
Yes, you can apply for a business credit card without having an existing business or regular income. Lenders may approve your application using your SSN and personal credit histories, especially if you have other income sources and good personal credit scores.
However, the requirements might be more stringent, and you might need to sign a personal guarantee should the business fail to pay off a credit card balance. |
Can you get a business credit card with bad personal credit?
Yes. Even if you have a bad or poor credit score, lenders offer both secured and unsecured business credit cards. You might need to apply for a secured credit card (which requires collateral) or be subject to higher variable APRs.
Also, check our list of the best cards for bad credit. |
How does applying for a business credit card impact and relate to your credit score?
Most card issuers check both personal and business credit scores, especially when applicants must sign a personal guarantee.
Opening a business credit card might affect your credit score based on whether a soft or hard inquiry is done. It's advisable to have a credit score of 650 or higher for better rates and benefits, though some lenders might accept lower scores. |
How can I establish and maximize my business credit?
To establish business credit, apply for a card that reports to the 3 major credit bureaus. Pay your balance in full each month, use only 30% of your available spending limit, and request a credit limit increase after 6 months of timely payments.
To maximize benefits, use your card for as many business expenses as possible to earn reward points. Always pay your bill in full and on time to avoid unnecessary interest charges and maintain a good credit score. |
What's the role of business structure in obtaining a credit card?
The primary purpose of an EIN (Employee Identification Number) is for business taxes, but banks often require it for loans or credit cards.
While having an LLC or corporation can ease approval and offer tax benefits, even sole proprietors or small businesses without an LLC can obtain business credit cards. |
Why should I get a small business card?
A small business credit card can assist with unexpected expenses, enhance business credit, monitor employee expenses, and aid in organization. |