Do you need a business credit card to enhance your company’s financial flexibility? There are so many credit cards for entrepreneurs on the market that it can be difficult to figure out which one is the best fit for your company’s needs.
In this review, we’ll explore some of the best business credit cards for startups. Let’s take a look at the most important features of each card to find out which is the best choice for you!
Our #1 Pick: BILL Divvy
Unlock top-tier rewards and powerful expense management tools for your startup with the BILL Divvy Corporate Card.
Get StartedUnsure if BILL is right for you? Continue reading our comprehensive review below to learn more and explore your options.
Top Startup Credit Cards
BILL Divvy Corporate Card 4.9/5 Visit Site |
Best Business Credit Card Overall
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Mercury IO Mastercard 4.8/5 Visit Site |
Best for Venture-Backed Startups
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Brex Corporate Card 4.6/5 Visit Site |
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Delta SkyMiles® Gold 4.5/5 Visit Site |
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Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus 4.4/5 Visit Site |
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Ramp Corporate Card 4.4/5 Visit Site |
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Amazon Business Prime American Express 4.3/5 Visit Site |
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Business credit cards are a great way to build business credit and allow startups to purchase items required to operate their business, such as equipment and office supplies. However, a great startup credit card will reward everyday business purchases, travel, and more, providing more value for your business.
To get a business credit card, there are a few steps you need to take. First, you need to register your business and get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), then apply for a business credit score. Finally, you need to determine the right credit card for your startup before you start applying.
Keep reading for a comparative guide of the best credit cards for entrepreneurs. Rated by the factors that matter to startup founders: fees, interest rates, rewards, and eligibility requirements.
7 Best Credit Cards for Entrepreneurs 2024
- BILL Divvy Corporate Card – Best for Expense Management
- Mercury IO Mastercard – Best for Venture-Backed Startups
- Brex Corporate Card – Best Mobile App
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card – Great for Travel Rewards
- Capital One Spark Cash – Ideal for Small Businesses
- Ramp Corporate Card – Best Finance Management Tools
- Amazon Business Prime American Express Card – Good for Brick-and-Mortar Businesses
Best Business Credit Card: BILL Divvy
BILL does a great job rewarding account holders for paying off their balances more frequently. It’s a reward rarely seen in the credit card industry and works very well with no hidden or annual fees.
Get Started1. BILL Divvy Corporate Card
- Annual Fee: None
- Regular APR: N/A
- Welcome Bonus: $500 Statement Credit
The BILL Divvy Corporate Card is a relatively new business card that rewards owners for paying their balance more frequently. Travel perks are exceptionally high for this class of card, and the intro offers help make this more attractive for entrepreneurs.
Pros
- 2x–7x reward points for purchases on restaurants, 2x–4x for hotels, 1.5x–2x on software subscriptions, and 1x–1.5x on all other purchases
- Expense management software included
- Access to business credit
- Virtual spend and expense cards
Cons
- Some missing features offered by competitors
- Customization of user roles is lacking
Despite the high reward system and great intro offers, you’re still getting a charge card by using BILL. You won’t be able to carry a balance for large purchases, but smaller budget businesses that pay their bills frequently will still gain lots of value.
Elevate Your Business with BILL
Enjoy flexible rewards that increase as you pay more frequently, plus gain access to valuable expense management tools.
Get Started2. Mercury IO Mastercard
- Annual Fee: None
- Regular APR: 15.95%–27.50%
- Welcome Bonus: None
Mercury IO Mastercard is a great business credit card choice for startups that are currently or are planning to utilize Mercury Bank’s suite of startup-centric banking services. As well as entrepreneurs looking for flexible restrictions on personal credit history.
Pros
- No credit check
- No annual or monthly fees
- Low minimum balance requirement at $50,000
- Customers can utilize Mercury’s bank services
Cons
- Only open to businesses with an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- High interest rate
With the Mercury IO Mastercard, you gain access to free checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, as well as domestic and USD international wire transfers. Plus, customers enjoy 1.5% cashback on purchases as well as free two-day shipping through ShopRunner on a wide range of online stores.
Fuel Your Startup with Mercury IO
Enjoy flexible banking services and a corporate card tailored for modern startups.
Get Started3. Brex Corporate Card
- Annual Fee: None
- Regular APR: 18.49%–24.49%
- Welcome Bonus: 10,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months
The Brex corporate card is ideal for venture-backed startups due to its high approval rate, few fees. Additionally, startups looking to build business credit can do so with this card on everyday business purchases.
Pros
- High reward point earning potential
- Free employee credit cards
- No annual fee
- Automated compliance features
Cons
- Not available to all business types
- Complex rewards structure
With the Brex Corporate card, you can choose to pay daily or monthly with those opting to pay daily receiving more reward opportunities. You can also anticipate a higher-than-average credit limit with the Brex Corporate card, according to their website.
4. Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card
- Annual Fee: $99
- Regular APR: 20.99%–29.99%
- Welcome Bonus: 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $6,000 in the first six months
The extra rewards and features of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express card outweigh the annual fees and make it a must-have for Delta flyers.
Pros
- One free checked bag on Delta flights and priority boarding
- Two miles earned for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made with Delta, select media, shipping purchases, and restaurants, and one mile per dollar on all other purchases
- $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year
- In-flight discounts
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Strict credit requirements
The financial rewards based on spending you’ll receive from the Delta Skymiles Gold card more than make up for the annual fee. Even then, the card’s intro offers include a $0 annual fee for the first year, but you’ll need good to excellent credit to be approved.
5. Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus
- Annual Fee: $150
- Regular APR: N/A
- Welcome Bonus: $1,200 cash bonus when you spend $30,000 in the first three months
Businesses with a fair or average credit rating have few options for credit cards, but the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus proves to be a diamond in the rough.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2% unlimited cash back
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Annual fee is refundable if you spend $150,000 annually
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
Companies with good to excellent credit should consider the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus card for its generous welcome bonus as well as excellent cashback rewards.
6. Ramp Corporate Card
- Annual Fee: None
- Regular APR: 0%
- Welcome Bonus: None
Ramp strikes the perfect balance for companies who are looking to have built-in budget management tools while also providing rewards for all purchases.
Pros
- Budget management tools for all card members
- Up to 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no limits or restrictions
- No annual fees, no interest rates, and no foreign transaction fees
- Automated reporting and receipt collection
- Unlimited cards and high credit limits ideal for large teams
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- No travel perks
The Ramp card has the financial tools your team needs to stay within budget while keeping fees low no matter what size startup you’re running. You’ll get the power of a financial team without having to hire any extra staff in the Ramp Corporate Card.
7. Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
- Annual Fee: None
- Regular APR: 19.49%-27.49%
- Welcome Bonus: $100 statement credit when you spend $3,000 in the first three months
Amazon Prime members need to consider the Business Prime American Express Card to gain value on purchases they’re already making and offset the annual membership cost.
Pros
- No annual or foreign transaction fee
- Up to 5% cash back on purchases through Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods Market, 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and wireless telephone services, 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Choice of cashback rewards above or a 90-day interest-free period
- Great for businesses that frequently shop on Amazon
Cons
- High interest rates
- Personal or Business Prime Membership required
The most unique aspect of this card from American Express is the choice between a cash-back reward system and a 90-day interest-free window. Having the flexibility for a company to choose makes the Amazon card even more attractive for existing Prime members.
Pros & Cons of Business Credit Cards
Pros
- A business credit card can give you the financial flexibility you need to run your company at its greatest potential. The purchasing power of these cards can allow your business to operate at a higher level.
- Whether you prefer cash-back or points-based rewards systems, you’ll get more for your money by using one of these cards than you would using your business checking account.
- Using a business credit card responsibly can help you build solid credit for your business.
Cons
- If you don’t pay off your entire balance regularly, the APRs of business credit cards can take a serious chunk out of your budget.
Which Business Credit Card Should You Use?
No other card on this list has a reward structure as high as what BILL offers. Client dinners, hotels, and software subscriptions all earn you rewards for every dollar spent, and the intro offers keep fees and interest low for the first year. You won’t be able to carry a balance, but companies that are looking to optimize their business credit should start with BILL.
Honorable Mentions
This review offers several great business credit cards for startups, but if you’re still not sure that one is right for you, we’ve got you covered. Here are some additional business credit cards that might be the right choice for your startup’s credit needs.
Rho
Rho offers a corporate credit card with up to 1.25% cash back and no annual fees. Plus, to qualify, you do not need a personal guarantee or personal credit score check. Rho offers a variety of features, including branded credit cards and unlimited physical and virtual cards for your team.
Capital One Spark 1% Classic for Business
With its $0 annual fee, Capital Spark 1% Classic for Business offers business owners with fair credit a great business credit card option without a yearly fee. Customers also have access to 1% unlimited cash back and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Nav Secured Card (Previously Tillful Card)
Nav Secured Card, previously the Tillful Card, is a soon-to-launch corporate card powered by Nav. Users can build business credit without the hassle of hard credit checks, annual fees, or personal guarantees. If you think the Nav Secured Card is right for you, you can join the waitlist or request early access to be one of the first to try it.
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash is a great business credit card for high rewards: 3% cash back on a category of your choice, 2% cash back on dining, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The biggest benefit of this card by far is the choice of cash back rewards, allowing you to customize your rewards benefits to your business spending and get the most out of your card.
American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card
The American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card is a good business credit card option for a variety of cash back opportunities, from groceries to gas. The card also features a variety of featured credits from Disney and Home Chef meal kits, as well as payment plan options for purchases over $100.
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card boasts a generous welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months. This can be converted into $1,000 cash back or $1,250 in travel rewards. Plus, this corporate credit card offers a variety of travel rewards, including 25% more in travel redemption and 5x points on Lyft rides.
How to Choose the Right Startup Credit Card
There is no one-size-fits-all startup credit card. Choosing the right credit card for your startup involves considering the rewards and benefits you receive, the fees and interest rates, as well as whether or not you are eligible. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to be thinking about when choosing a startup credit card:
Rewards
One of the benefits of a business or personal credit card is the rewards. Whether that be cash back rewards or travel miles, a great business credit card will offer valuable rewards for using their card. To make the most out of this benefit, however, you need to choose a card that rewards business purchases you make regularly.
Fees
When looking for the right startup credit card, you need to consider the fees required to use the card. The most common credit card fees are annual and foreign transaction fees. Fortunately, many business credit cards, such as BILL and Brex, do not charge fees.
Keep in mind that some cards require fees but may still be the right choice for your company, depending on the rewards, benefits, and how it compliments your business’s needs.
Welcome Bonus
This likely won’t be a deal breaker, but it may help you decide between a few different card options. Many startup credit cards offer cash or points as a welcome bonus if you spend a certain amount in the first several months of having your credit card. These can be a great way to bring in a little extra cash for your business for spending you will be doing anyway.
Requirements and Restrictions
Every business credit card has eligibility requirements. These can be business or personal credit scores, minimum balance requirements, or possibly an account with the bank offering the credit card. Before you apply for any corporate credit card, be sure to review the requirements.
Interest Rate
Finally, you need to consider the interest rate offered by your credit card provider. These typically range based on a few factors; however, you want to look for a startup credit card with a low regular APR.
FAQs
Can new businesses get a credit card?
Yes, new businesses can obtain credit cards if they meet the eligibility requirements for the credit card they are applying for. To determine if your business is eligible, research the credit card’s time in business requirement to be sure.
What is the easiest business credit card for startups?
The easiest credit card for your startup to secure depends largely on the company itself. However, the Mercury IO Mastercard does not require a credit check, making it easier than competitors with high credit requirements.
Why should startups get a business credit card?
Credit cards can help startups finance necessities for running their business, such as equipment and purchases at office supply stores as well as build business credit.
Can you use an EIN to get a credit card?
You will need an EIN or tax ID to get a business credit card. However, you will likely also need your Social Security number (SSN) for the personal guarantee required to obtain most business credit cards.
How do you establish business credit?
To build business credit, you need to register your business and get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), apply for a business credit score, open a business credit card, and keep up with your payments to ensure you maintain a healthy credit score.
Can I get a business credit card with bad credit?
Yes, there are business credit cards available for those with bad or fair credit scores. However, many of these credit cards will involve higher interest rates than others.