250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
95+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business credit card ratings rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet’s business credit card content, including our ratings, reviews and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet’s strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage. We independently evaluate and rate dozens of small-business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features to help you choose the best business card for your company.
A secured business credit card is the best way to establish and build your business credit if you can’t qualify for a traditional business card. Prioritize on-time payments and aim to keep credit utilization below 30% to have a positive impact on your business credit score.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card
This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.
This card is our pick for the best secured business credit card. It has no annual fee and earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You need a security deposit of at least $1,000, which is equal to your credit limit and subject to credit approval. Bank of America will periodically review your account and may upgrade you to an unsecured card if and when you qualify.
Pros
Can help establish, build business credit.
May be upgraded to an unsecured card if credit improves.
Free access to Dun & Bradstreet business credit scores in your online banking account.
Cons
Minimum security deposit of $1,000.
Does not help grow personal credit score.
Hello Alice Small Business Secured Mastercard®
This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.
This secured business card has no annual fee and a low minimum deposit ($500). You’ll earn points on purchases, which can be redeemed for items like gift cards, statement credits and Hello Alice workshops. This card also has an intro APR offer and a small welcome bonus for new cardholders (terms apply). Hello Alice reports payment activity to Dun & Bradstreet.
Pros
No annual fee and low minimum deposit.
Can help establish, build business credit.
Welcome offer and intro APR period (purchases and balance transfers).
Deposit refunded and/or credit limit increased with good payment history. Terms apply.
Cons
Maximum deposit/credit limit of $5,000.
Does not help grow personal credit score.
Other secured business credit cards
Very few national banks offer secured business cards — Bank of America is currently the only one — but many local and regional banks and credit unions do. You may need to live and/or operate a business in the bank’s service area to apply. Most credit unions also have membership requirements.
Here are some worth considering. Check with the bank before applying to confirm card details and eligibility.
Suncoast Credit Union Business Secured Visa: Businesses located in the Florida-based credit union’s 40-county service area can become members and apply. This card requires a minimum credit score of 560.
Valley Bank Visa® Secured Business Credit Card: Service area includes Alabama, California, Florida, New Jersey and New York.
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card: Service area includes parts of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. There must be an FNBO branch in your ZIP code to apply.
Pacific Premier Bank Business Edition Secured Visa Card: Service area includes Arizona, California, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington.
If bad personal credit is preventing you from financing your business, a secured personal credit card is the best choice to help you improve your credit over time and unlock better financing options down the road.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rate
1%-2%
Earn 2% cash back at Gas stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Cashback
While there aren’t Discover business credit cards, this 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.
Pros
No annual fee; low minimum deposit.
Earns cash back on purchases.
Can help build personal credit; reports to the three major consumer credit bureaus.
Cons
Maximum deposit/credit limit of $2,500.
Does not build business credit.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
Cashback
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% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, which equals what you’d find on many unsecured cards (see rates and fees). Learn more and apply.
Pros
No annual fee; low minimum deposit.
Earns cash back on purchases.
Can help build personal credit; reports to the three major consumer credit bureaus.
Cons
Maximum deposit/credit limit of $3,000.
Does not build business credit.
Corporate credit cards are best for businesses with a minimum bank balance of $20,000 or higher and substantial annual revenue. Most require you to operate as a corporation or LLC, though the BILL Divvy Corporate Card is available to sole proprietors.
NerdWallet Rating Â
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
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 has no annual fee, built-in expense management and card-level spending controls. Ramp also offers cash back on qualified purchases, but the actual reward rate varies by business. Learn more and apply.
Pros
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Earns cash back on purchases.
Can apply with EIN only; no personal credit check or guarantee.
Can help establish, build business credit.
Cons
Not available to sole proprietors.
High capital requirements (at least $50,000).
NerdWallet Rating Â
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
The Brex Card doesn’t require a personal credit check and business owners can apply with an EIN only. There’s also no personal guarantee. Instead, Brex determines creditworthiness by evaluating a company’s cash balance, spending patterns and investors. The Brex card also offers a decent welcome bonus, earns ongoing rewards and offers direct integration with popular accounting and bookkeeping software. Learn more and apply.
Pros
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Earns points on purchases (up to 7X).
Can apply with EIN only; no personal credit check or guarantee.
Can help establish, build business credit.
Welcome offer for new cardholders.
Cons
Not available to sole proprietors or unincorporated businesses.
High capital requirements ($50,000 to $1 million).
Daily repayment may be required.
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
BILL Spend & Expense
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
NerdWallet Rating Â
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Unlike other corporate cards, the BILL Divvy Corporate Card does require a credit check, but the card’s underwriting criteria are more flexible than other business credit cards. The BILL Divvy Corporate Card generally requires a minimum FICO score of 650 or higher, but the issuer also factors annual revenue and business bank account balance into approval decisions. 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.
Pros
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Earns points on purchases (up to 7X).
Can help establish, build business credit.
Available to sole proprietors.
Cons
Requires a personal credit check (soft pull only).
Complicated rewards structure.
High capital requirements (at least $20,000).
Alternatives to business credit cards for bad credit
Business owners with less-than-perfect personal credit have limited options for business credit cards and business funding. But there are a few options that exist beyond secured and corporate cards.
If your personal credit score not bad, but not great …
The following business credit cards are available to business owners with fair or average credit (typically a FICO score between 630 and 689).
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Capital on Tap
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating Â
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
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 (typically considered a score from 630 to 689). The Capital on Tap Business Credit Card issued by WebBank 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.
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
The rewards rate on the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business isn’t going to wow anyone; there’s no sign-up bonus and the APR is high. What makes this card valuable is that it’s available to business operators with fair credit, who don’t have a lot of options in business credit cards.
If you don’t want to put down a deposit, or need more capital than a secured card allows …
Bad-credit business loans may be an option. For example, Fundbox’s business line of credit goes up to $150,000, and business owners with a credit score of at least 600 and six months in business can qualify. If you’re a startup with bad credit, an option like invoice financing could make sense depending on your business model.
A personal loan for bad credit may also be an option. While NerdWallet recommends separating your personal and business finances, these products can offer short-term financing and the opportunity to strengthen your personal credit for future business borrowing needs.
How do you apply for a business credit card with bad credit?
Know your credit score. Applying for a bunch of credit cards in a short time frame can hurt your credit score. It’s also a red flag to issuers. So before you apply for a business credit card, check your personal credit score, then focus on cards with the best chance of approval. If your score is below 630, that will be secured cards (unless your company has excellent financials). If your score is between 630 and 690, fair credit business cards like the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business may be in play.
Research fees, deposit limits and other requirements. Bad credit business cards are not one-size-fits-all. Some have annual fees. Others have low maximum deposit limits, and therefore low credit limits. And some, like corporate cards, have high capital requirements. Compare terms and individual features of various cards to determine the best fit for your company.
Apply andmake your deposit. You can apply for most bad credit business cards online and make your deposit (if needed) via ACH transfer. Corporate cards don’t require a deposit, but you will need to connect your business bank account and provide financial statements to prove things like revenue and time in business.
Information for the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed by or provided by Capital One.
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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