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Best Secured Business Credit Cards of April 2024

By Tina Orem, Katherine Fan
Last updated on March 12, 2024
Edited byRyan Lane
Fact checked and reviewed

⏰ Estimated read time: 9 minutes

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Secured business credit cards can be a steppingstone for many entrepreneurs. These cards are an easy way to establish credit in your business's name, as most report your payment history to commercial credit bureaus. But the best options do more than that — they also reward your spending and make it easy to upgrade to a traditional small-business credit card.
You typically need a personal FICO score of at least 690 to qualify for a business credit card. While there are exceptions (noted below), a secured personal card may be the quickest path to a business credit card if your FICO score falls below that threshold. These cards report payment history to consumer credit bureaus, rather than commercial ones. And a strong payment track record can help you improve your FICO score so you can qualify for better options down the road.
A secured card may not be necessary for your business, though. A handful of business cards are available to qualified applicants with FICO scores as low as 650. A corporate card may also be an option; approval for these cards is typically based on your company's financial performance, rather than your personal credit. But corporate cards are only available to incorporated businesses.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

Looking for a business credit card?

See our overall favorites, or choose your business type to find the best options for you.

Our top overall picks

on Nerdwallet's secure site

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Secured business credit cards can be a steppingstone for many entrepreneurs. These cards are an easy way to establish credit in your business's name, as most report your payment history to commercial credit bureaus. But the best options do more than that — they also reward your spending and make it easy to upgrade to a traditional small-business credit card.
You typically need a personal FICO score of at least 690 to qualify for a business credit card. While there are exceptions (noted below), a secured personal card may be the quickest path to a business credit card if your FICO score falls below that threshold. These cards report payment history to consumer credit bureaus, rather than commercial ones. And a strong payment track record can help you improve your FICO score so you can qualify for better options down the road.
A secured card may not be necessary for your business, though. A handful of business cards are available to qualified applicants with FICO scores as low as 650. A corporate card may also be an option; approval for these cards is typically based on your company's financial performance, rather than your personal credit. But corporate cards are only available to incorporated businesses.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

Looking for a business credit card?

See our overall favorites, or choose your business type to find the best options for you.

Our top overall picks

on Nerdwallet's secure site

Here are the best options from our partners

Credit cardNerdWallet ratingAnnual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn more

Ramp Card

Apply now

on Ramp's website

3.7/5

Best for Corporate card (no personal credit check)

$0

1.5%

Cashback

N/A

Apply now

on Ramp's website

Brex Card

Apply now

on Brex's website

3.1/5

Best for Corporate card (no personal credit check)

$0

1x-7x

Points

10,000

Points

Apply now

on Brex's website

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

2.9/5

Best for Corporate card (soft credit pull)

$0

1x-7x

Points

N/A

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

3.9/5

Best for Business credit card for fair, average credit

$0

1.5%

$200

Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

4.9/5

Best for Secured credit card to improve personal credit

$0

1.5%-5%

Cashback

N/A

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

Credit cardNerdWallet ratingAnnual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn more

Ramp Card

Apply now

on Ramp's website

3.7/5

Best for Corporate card (no personal credit check)

$0

1.5%

Cashback

N/A

Apply now

on Ramp's website

Brex Card

Apply now

on Brex's website

3.1/5

Best for Corporate card (no personal credit check)

$0

1x-7x

Points

10,000

Points

Apply now

on Brex's website

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

2.9/5

Best for Corporate card (soft credit pull)

$0

1x-7x

Points

N/A

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

3.9/5

Best for Business credit card for fair, average credit

$0

1.5%

$200

Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

4.9/5

Best for Secured credit card to improve personal credit

$0

1.5%-5%

Cashback

N/A

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

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Our picks for

Corporate card (no personal credit check)

Ramp Card

Apply now

on Ramp's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A

Pros

  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • Simple, straightforward rewards
  • No personal guarantee or credit check
  • Direct integrations with popular tools and card-level spending controls and alerts

Cons

  • Balance must be paid in full each month
  • Not available to sole proprietors or unincorporated businesses

Ramp Card

NerdWallet rating 

3.7/5
Apply now

on Ramp's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A

Brex Card

Apply now

on Brex's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • Qualify with limited/bad credit
  • Bonus categories
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No personal guarantee

Cons

  • Complicated rewards structure
  • High capital requirement for approval
  • Daily repayment may be required

Brex Card

NerdWallet rating 

3.1/5
Apply now

on Brex's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
10,000 Points

Our pick for

Corporate card (soft credit pull)

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
N/A

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Card-level spending controls

Cons

  • Complicated rewards structure with limits on redemption
  • Balance must be paid in full each billing cycle

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

NerdWallet rating 

2.9/5
Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-7x Points
Intro offer
N/A

Our pick for

Business credit card for fair, average credit

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
$200

Pros

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • 24/7 customer service

Cons

  • Not available to sole proprietors, charities or nonprofits
  • Must enroll in automatic payments

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

NerdWallet rating 

3.9/5
Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro offer
$200

Our pick for

Secured credit card to improve personal credit

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A

Pros

  • Qualify with limited/bad credit
  • Reports to the three major credit bureaus
  • Earns rewards
  • No minimum redemption amount
  • Rewards don't expire
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • High APR
  • No new cardholder bonus offer
  • No bonus categories

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

NerdWallet rating 

4.9/5
Apply now

on Capital One's website

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5% Cashback
Intro offer
N/A

NerdWallet's editorial picks: Best secured business credit cards

Not every card on this list is a secured business credit card, but different business credit cards will be easier to get depending on whether your business or personal credit is thin or poor. Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Secured business credit cards to build business credit

First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card

This card has not been rated by NerdWallet
The
First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
reports card activity to Dun & Bradstreet, one of the three main business credit bureaus, so on-time payments will help build your business credit score. This secured card does require a credit check (personal credit) and security deposit (between $2,000 and $10,000 in multiples of $100) which dictates your credit limit. This card charges a $
39
annual fee.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card

This card has not been rated by NerdWallet
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no cap or expiration date on the rewards you earn. The card has a minimum security deposit of $1,000, which is equal to your credit limit and subject to credit approval. Bank of America® will periodically review your secured card and may upgrade you to an unsecured card if and when you qualify. This card has no annual fee.

Business credit cards for fair or average credit

NerdWallet star rating:
3.9
Capital on Tap says applicants with a FICO score of 670 or higher have the best chance of approval, but the card is available to business owners with fair credit. The
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
offers
1.5%
cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and the potential for a low APR. One important note: This card is not available to sole proprietors, which excludes the majority of businesses. Learn more and apply.
NerdWallet star rating:
3
Capital One does not offer a secured business credit card. But the
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
is available to business operators with fair or "average" credit, who typically don't have a lot of options in business credit cards. While this card comes with a high APR, it offers a $
0
annual fee* and
1%
cash back on every purchase. Capital One is also the rare issuer that reports business card usage to commercial and personal credit bureaus. That can make this card an especially good choice if you're looking to build your personal and business credit.

Corporate cards (no personal credit check)

NerdWallet star rating:
3.7
The
Ramp Card
's main selling point: It does not require a credit check or personal guarantee. You just need strong revenue and a healthy bank balance. The corporate charge card also offers unlimited cash-back rewards and card-level spending controls with no annual fee. Learn more and apply.
NerdWallet star rating:
3.1
If you’re struggling to find business funding because of a low personal credit score, consider Brex. The issuer determines an applicant's creditworthiness by evaluating the company's cash balance, spending patterns and investors rather than the business owner's personal credit score. Learn more and apply.

Corporate cards (soft credit pull)

NerdWallet star rating:
2.9
Unlike other corporate cards, the
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
does require a personal credit check; however, it's a soft pull that won't impact your credit score. The
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
generally requires a minimum FICO score of 650 or higher, but the issuer also considers annual revenue and business bank account balance — and its threshold for the latter (at least $20,000) is much lower than other corporate card options. Learn more and apply.

Secured credit cards to help personal credit

NerdWallet star rating:
5
While there aren't Discover business credit cards, the issuer's personal secured credit card offers a generous cash-back program. Responsible habits will automatically trigger an evaluation from Discover after seven months of holding the card. Note that your original deposit, or security, must be paid through a bank account. Learn more and apply.
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
offers an impressive combination of features for those with poor credit. A deposit is required, but in exchange you get a
$0
-annual-fee card that reports to all three credit bureaus; an automatic credit limit review after six months; and a possible upgrade path to an unsecured Capital One card. Oh, and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus 1.5% back on all other purchases, which equals what you'd find on many unsecured cards (see rates and fees). Learn more and apply.

What is a secured business credit card?

A secured business credit card is a line of credit for entrepreneurs that requires a cash deposit. That deposit typically functions as your credit limit, and the card issuer can seize it in instances of non-payment.
Secured business credit cards can make sense if your personal FICO score is below 690. That's the score you often need to qualify for most unsecured business credit cards. Secured cards are also a solid option — no matter your personal credit — for those lacking a business credit score, as they can let your business demonstrate responsible debt repayment.

How to use a secured business credit card effectively

Here are a few ways to make the most of a secured business credit card:
  1. Use the card once in a while, making one or two small purchases every month.
  2. Pay your balance in full every month before the due date. That way, you won't be charged interest. Interest rates on secured cards are generally higher than on unsecured cards.
  3. Watch your business credit score. You aren't entitled to view your full business credit reports for free, but there are ways to keep an eye on your scores for signs of improvement.
Keep in mind that business credit cards typically don't impact personal credit — except in instances of non-payment. That means using a secured business credit card won't necessarily qualify you for additional non-secured small-business credit cards.
Sometimes, issuers may upgrade you to an unsecured business card if you become eligible. Bank of America does this for its secured business card, for instance. Otherwise, you'll likely need to improve your personal credit or consider business cards that don't require a credit check, like corporate cards.

Alternatives to secured business credit cards

Many business credit cards require excellent personal credit. But entrepreneurs with credit scores between 630 (typically considered bad credit) and 690 may have better options than a secured business credit card. While there are a few business credit cards for fair or average credit, the following alternatives may have lower interest rates and fees or otherwise better fit your business's needs.

Business debit cards

Debit cards aren’t credit cards, as spending is tied to the cash balance in a linked business checking account. But business debit cards typically don’t require a credit check and may make sense for business owners who want to use plastic to better keep track of their transactions or their employees’ spending.

Nonbusiness credit cards

You don’t necessarily need a business credit card for business finances. If you’re a sole proprietor, you could get a separate personal secured credit card or opt for a personal card for fair or average credit (there are more of these for individuals than businesses).
These types of cards may help your personal credit — a must for future financing — but they’ll lack features like employee cards and often come with lower limits than business credit cards. Just be sure to keep your business and personal spending separate.
If you’re unsure whether you’ll pass a credit check, some business credit card issuers will let you pre-qualify. This process tells you whether you’ll likely be approved without affecting your personal credit score. It can also make sense to get a free credit score before applying. That way, you can find cards you may be eligible for and reduce the risk of failing a credit check.

Bad-credit business loans

If you want to grow your business credit but don't have ideal personal credit, a secured business credit card isn't your only option. Bad credit business loans are available from online lenders, and successfully repaying this financing may help establish your business credit score. These loans may come with high interest rates, though, so make sure you'll be able to afford the payments before you borrow.
* Information for the
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
was collected independently and not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.
Last updated on March 12, 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business credit cards.
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Find a business credit card that works as hard as you do

Looking to earn rewards or build your credit? We’ll help match you to the perfect business credit card based on your qualifications.