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13 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups With No Credit of March 2024

By Kelsey Sheehy
Last updated on March 12, 2024
Edited byRyan Lane
Fact checked and reviewed

⏰ Estimated read time: 10 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.

Startups with no credit can still open a business credit card. Most card issuers prioritize personal credit score over factors like business credit score or revenue. That means new companies can get a business credit card with cash-back rewards, travel perks or a long intro APR period — often with no annual fee to keep costs low.
Business owners with no personal credit should consider a secured card. Secured cards require a deposit that determines your credit limit. A secured personal card will help build your personal credit score, positioning you to eventually upgrade to an unsecured startup business credit card. But if you simply want to establish your startup's credit, a secured business card is the better choice.
Incorporated startups with solid capital may have another option. Corporate cards typically don't require a credit check and let you apply with just an EIN. The tradeoff: You’ll need a hefty business bank account balance to qualify. Still, these cards might be a fit if your startup has venture backing or otherwise strong cash reserves.
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 a feature that will benefit your business spending the most.

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.

Startups with no credit can still open a business credit card. Most card issuers prioritize personal credit score over factors like business credit score or revenue. That means new companies can get a business credit card with cash-back rewards, travel perks or a long intro APR period — often with no annual fee to keep costs low.
Business owners with no personal credit should consider a secured card. Secured cards require a deposit that determines your credit limit. A secured personal card will help build your personal credit score, positioning you to eventually upgrade to an unsecured startup business credit card. But if you simply want to establish your startup's credit, a secured business card is the better choice.
Incorporated startups with solid capital may have another option. Corporate cards typically don't require a credit check and let you apply with just an EIN. The tradeoff: You’ll need a hefty business bank account balance to qualify. Still, these cards might be a fit if your startup has venture backing or otherwise strong cash reserves.
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 a feature that will benefit your business spending the most.

Our top overall picks

on Nerdwallet's secure site

Here are the best business credit cards for startups with no credit from our partners

Credit cardNerdWallet ratingAnnual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn more

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chase's website

5.0/5

Best for Overall business card for startups with no credit

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$750

Apply now

on Chase's website

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

4.8/5

Best for Travel rewards

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

2x-5x

Points

50,000

Points

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chase's website

4.9/5

Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

$95

1x-3x

Points

100,000

Points

Apply now

on Chase's website

Brex Card

Apply now

on Brex's website

3.1/5

Best for Corporate cards

$0

1x-7x

Points

10,000

Points

Apply now

on Brex's website

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Rates & Fees

5.0/5

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

Cashback Match™

Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Rates & Fees

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

4.9/5

Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

$250

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chime's website

4.6/5

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

$0

N/A

N/A

Apply now

on Chime's website

Ramp Card

Apply now

on Ramp's website

3.7/5

Best for Corporate cards

$0

1.5%

Cashback

N/A

Apply now

on Ramp's website

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

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

4.7/5

Best for Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$300

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

3.8/5

Best for No annual fee travel card

$0

1.5x

Points

30,000

Points

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

4.6/5

Best for Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

$0

1x-2x

Points

15,000

Points

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

2.9/5

Best for Corporate cards

$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

Credit cardNerdWallet ratingAnnual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn more

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chase's website

5.0/5

Best for Overall business card for startups with no credit

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$750

Apply now

on Chase's website

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

4.8/5

Best for Travel rewards

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

2x-5x

Points

50,000

Points

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Rates & Fees

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chase's website

4.9/5

Best for Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

$95

1x-3x

Points

100,000

Points

Apply now

on Chase's website

Brex Card

Apply now

on Brex's website

3.1/5

Best for Corporate cards

$0

1x-7x

Points

10,000

Points

Apply now

on Brex's website

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Rates & Fees

5.0/5

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

Cashback Match™

Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Rates & Fees

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

4.9/5

Best for Startups with annual spend below $50K

$0

1%-2%

Cashback

$250

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chime's website

4.6/5

Best for Secured card to build personal credit

$0

N/A

N/A

Apply now

on Chime's website

Ramp Card

Apply now

on Ramp's website

3.7/5

Best for Corporate cards

$0

1.5%

Cashback

N/A

Apply now

on Ramp's website

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

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

4.7/5

Best for Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

$0

1.5%

Cashback

$300

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

3.8/5

Best for No annual fee travel card

$0

1.5x

Points

30,000

Points

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

4.6/5

Best for Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

$0

1x-2x

Points

15,000

Points

Apply now

on American Express' website

Rates & Fees

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

2.9/5

Best for Corporate cards

$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

I'M INTERESTED IN:

Our pick for

Overall business card for startups with no credit

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chase's website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Intro APR period
  • No reward caps
  • New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

  • No bonus categories

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

NerdWallet rating 

5.0/5
Apply now

on Chase's website

Our pick for

Travel rewards

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Apply now

on Capital One's website

Pros

  • High rewards rate
  • No minimum redemption amount

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • No Intro APR period
  • High APR

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

NerdWallet rating 

4.8/5
Apply now

on Capital One's website

Our pick for

Travel rewards + sign-up bonus

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chase's website

Pros

  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • Bonus categories
  • Transfer partners

Cons

  • Has annual fee
  • No intro APR offer

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

NerdWallet rating 

4.9/5
Apply now

on Chase's website

Our picks for

Corporate cards

Brex Card

Apply now

on Brex's website

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

Ramp Card

Apply now

on Ramp's website

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

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Apply now

on BILL Spend & Expense's website

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

Our picks for

Secured card to build personal credit

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Reports to the three major credit bureaus
  • Qualify with limited/bad credit
  • Earns rewards
  • New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

  • Requires minimum deposit
  • High APR

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

NerdWallet rating 

5.0/5
Apply now

on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Apply now

on Chime's website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • No credit check to apply
  • No APR
  • Adjustable credit limit

Cons

  • Must open a Chime Checking Account
  • No rewards
  • No upgrade path

Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

NerdWallet rating 

4.6/5
Apply now

on Chime's website

Our pick for

Startups with annual spend below $50K

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Apply now

on American Express' website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • High rewards rate
  • Intro APR period
  • Cash rewards

Cons

  • Spending caps on bonus rewards
  • Requires good/excellent credit

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

NerdWallet rating 

4.9/5
Apply now

on American Express' website

Our pick for

Cash-back boost (up to 75%)

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

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • High cash back rate

Cons

  • Has foreign transaction fee
  • Requires excellent credit

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

NerdWallet rating 

4.7/5
Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Our pick for

No annual fee travel card

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • New cardholder bonus offer
  • No reward caps
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Requires excellent credit

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

NerdWallet rating 

3.8/5
Apply now

on Bank of America's website

Our pick for

Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Apply now

on American Express' website

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • High rewards rate
  • Intro APR period
  • Transfer partners

Cons

  • Spending caps on bonus rewards
  • Requires good/excellent credit

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

NerdWallet rating 

4.6/5
Apply now

on American Express' website

Our pick for

Business credit card for fair, average credit

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Apply now

on Capital on Tap's website

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

NerdWallet's editorial picks: Best business credit cards for startups with no credit

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Best for: Overall business card for startups with no credit
NerdWallet star rating:
5
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
earns a simple, flat cash-back rate on every purchase, with no limit on how much you can earn. The sign-up bonus is outstanding for a cash-back card, particularly one with no annual fee, and there's an intro APR period for purchases. Learn more and apply.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Best for: Secured card to build personal credit
NerdWallet star rating:
5
There are no Discover business credit cards. But the
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
may be a good alternative to help you build your personal credit score. It requires a cash security deposit, but unlike most secured cards, it also offers rewards. And what really makes it stand out from the competition are its upgrade possibilities: The issuer has a process in place for automatically reviewing accounts for possible transition to an unsecured card. Learn more and apply.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best for: Startups with annual spend below $50K
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
boasts one of the better introductory APR offers among business credit cards. Beyond that, you earn a solid cash-back rate (at least for a while — the rate drops after you hit a spending threshold). There's also a
$0
annual fee. Learn more and apply.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best for: Travel rewards + sign-up bonus
NerdWallet star rating:
4.9
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere:
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Best for: Travel rewards
NerdWallet star rating:
4.8
The
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus, too. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.

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

Best for: Cash-back boost (up to 75%)
NerdWallet star rating:
4.7
If your spending doesn't align with typical bonus categories, consider the
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
. This card offers
1.5%
cash back on all purchases with no annual cap. Rewards can climb even higher for Bank of America® customers who qualify for the bank's Preferred Rewards for Business program — up to 2.62%, depending on the tier — which is tough to beat among flat-rate cash-back business credit cards. Learn more and apply.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Best for: Intro APR + AmEx Membership Rewards
NerdWallet star rating:
4.6
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
is a near-twin to
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, with one key difference: Rather than cash back, it pays you in AmEx Membership Rewards points. Learn more and apply.

Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Best for: Secured card to build personal credit
NerdWallet star rating:
4.6
You'll need a Chime Checking Account — a free bank account that allows you to receive direct deposits — and at least $200 in direct deposits to it within the past 365 days to get this card. The money you move from the Chime Checking Account to the Credit Builder secured account determines your credit limit. There's no option to carry a balance from month to month, but this card doesn't require an upfront security deposit as many secured credit cards do. Learn more and apply.

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

Best for: Business credit card for fair, 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.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Best for: No annual fee travel card
NerdWallet star rating:
3.8
This is the business version of the issuer's excellent no-annual-fee travel card. The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
pays solid rewards on every purchase and gives you wide flexibility in redeeming your points for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Learn more and apply.

Ramp Card

Best for: Corporate cards
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.

Brex Card

Best for: Corporate cards
NerdWallet star rating:
3.1
Unlike most cards designed for entrepreneurs, the
Brex Card
doesn't require the cardholder to personally guarantee the debt on the card. Instead, Brex determines creditworthiness by evaluating a company's cash balance, spending patterns and investors. It's a good option when a business owner has a thin credit file but is well capitalized. The card earns rewards, too. Learn more and apply.

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

Best for: Corporate cards
NerdWallet star rating:
2.9
Unlike other corporate cards, the
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
does require a credit check and applicants generally needing a FICO score of 650 or higher. But the card's underwriting criteria — like a minimum $20,000 business account balance — may make it a more accessible corporate option for some. If approved, you can earn up to 7x points on restaurants and 5x points on hotels, though weekly payments are required to hit the top tier. Learn more and apply.

First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card

Best for: Secured business credit card
This product 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.

How startups can build business credit

Your business credit score tells potential suppliers and lenders how likely your company is to repay its debts. A better score equals more favorable terms and improves your chances of securing a small-business loan.
Startups with no credit can establish and build their business credit history by establishing lines of credit via business credit cards and trade lines with suppliers, and making payments on time (or early). Late payments, high balances on credit cards, tax liens and legal judgments against your business can all hurt your business credit score.

Do business credit cards check personal credit?

Yes, nearly all business credit cards check your personal credit when you apply. Why? Because most business cards require a personal guarantee, which means you’re personally liable for the debt if your business fails to pay.
One notable exception: corporate cards. These cards do not require a personal guarantee since they're issued to a company, rather than an individual. Incorporated startups may be able to qualify for a corporate card if they have hefty cash reserves and a history of strong revenue.

Can you get a business credit card with bad personal credit?

Business owners with bad credit or no personal credit will have a hard time qualifying for most business credit cards. The easiest business credit card to get is often a secured card. These cards let you build your credit score before upgrading to a business credit card with better rewards.
Secured cards require an upfront deposit, which determines your credit limit, and a few even offer rewards. Most secured cards still require a personal credit check, though some are available with no credit check. A secured personal card will help build your personal credit score, but not your business score. Likewise, most secured business credit cards will only help build business credit.
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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