Do you need an LLC to get a business credit card?

No, an LLC is not required to get approved for a business credit card. While it may be a good idea to help separate expenses and liabilities, issuers primarily evaluate creditworthiness, so having a good credit score and the required business information are the main factors.

What are alternatives to a business credit card?

Small business credit cards can provide a lot of value, but they’re not the best solution for every business. Some entrepreneurs will have expenses that exceed typical credit limits, need to carry a balance over a long period of time or simply have poor credit. The most common alternatives to business cards are: Business loans: The best small business loans can have higher loan amounts and lower interest rates than business credit cards. Business lines of credit: A business line of credit may come with higher credit limits than a business credit card, especially if you have good or excellent credit.

Can I get a business credit card with bad credit?

Yes. For example, you can qualify for the Revenued Business Card with a business credit score of 300. Other business credit cards for poor credit may also offer some easier-to-obtain options for you and your business. There are even a handful of secured business cards.

Best business credit cards of October 2026

Can I get a business credit card?

Good news! If you run a small business, you can get a business credit card.

You may also be surprised by what counts as a business. You don’t need to work in a traditional office building, own a store or warehouse, run a profitable business or even have a separate business entity to qualify for a business credit card. Sole proprietors can qualify for business credit cards using their Social Security number (SSN) as their business identification, although you can also use an employer identification number (EIN). In fact, 99.9% of all businesses (36.2 million) in the United States are small businesses, according to a February 2026 report by the Small Business Administration. These include:

Retail and sales
Food and hospitality
Client services
Trades and labor
Tech and online services

As long as you meet the issuer’s criteria for approval based on your personal credit history, you can qualify for a business credit card, regardless of your industry and even if you’re just starting a new business. Even if your small business consists of just you as a sole proprietor, there's a good chance you can find a business credit card that fits your needs.

What do I need to apply for a business card?

You'll need to provide issuers with some personal and business information to apply for a business card, including:

Business name and contact information: Contact information would include the business address and contact phone number. This information may be the same as your personal information.
Your position in the company: Issuers need to know who is responsible for paying the bill and who is authorized to make charges. Sole proprietors can refer to themselves as “owners” of their business.
Your personal information: You’ll need to provide your SSN and date of birth so the issuer can check your personal credit score. This information helps issuers determine your creditworthiness before offering you business credit. You also give issuers a personal guarantee that you'll assume responsibility for debt if the company ceases to exist.
Business income and spending projections: If your business is just starting or isn’t yet profitable, reporting $0 is acceptable. Projecting how much you might spend can help secure a higher credit line if needed.
Business details: You might need to describe your industry or the service your business provides, how long you’ve been operating the business or how many employees you have. Sole proprietors can be listed as the only employee for their business. Some issuers may also require further proof of your business, such as an EIN or tax ID number.

How to choose a business credit card

Your next step is choosing the right business card based on your needs and goals. Keep these factors in mind:

Find spending categories to match your business needs

The best business card for you will be the one that earns rewards where your business spends most. A good rule of thumb is that you want the business card to cover at least two of your main spending categories.
Along with popular categories like dining and travel, business cards typically earn rewards on expenses like shipping, advertising, office supplies, telecommunications, construction materials and in many other categories not covered by personal cards.
If your business expenses span several categories or you’d rather keep things simple, choose a business card with a flat rewards rate. Be sure to pay attention to any quarterly or annual rewards rate caps — many cards drop your rate to just 1% after you've reached a certain spending threshold.
Assess the card’s ongoing value

The best card for your business is the one that gives you consistent value. Whether it's high rewards rates, statement credits or travel perks, you should always ensure you're getting enough value from your card to make any annual fees worth it.
You may decide you're unlikely to use many of a card's perks or you wouldn't earn enough in rewards to offset the fee. You might also find that you could earn substantially more rewards and benefits with a premium card than you would with a no-annual-fee card.
Find a competitive welcome offer

An easy way to get outstanding initial value from your card is with a competitive welcome offer. Whether it’s a plentiful boost of cash back, points or miles or an intro APR to help your business finance expenses, the welcome offer is one of the most valuable features of the best business credit cards.
Since you can only get a welcome bonus once with a new card, we recommend extracting as much value as possible. Look for limited-time offers that give you a chance at especially high-value bonuses. You can also time your application for when you have upcoming purchases to quickly meet the minimum spending requirement. Just make sure you can meet the requirement in the specified timeframe and pay off your charges in full.

Many business owners find that smart credit card usage makes it easier for them to file taxes. By separating their business and personal expenses, it's easier to find eligible deductions and stay organized. Some business credit cards make it even easier by integrating directly with the business' accounting software.
Ted Rossman, Former Bankrate Expert Contributor and senior industry analyst

Pros and cons of a business credit card

Pros

Small business credit cards earn either cash back or travel points on common business expenses, such as office supplies, internet bills or dining expenses.
The best business cards often also come with free employee cards, allowing easy spending and monitoring access for everyone in your business.
You’ll likely find business cards that offer solid travel perks like airport lounge access.

Cons

Most small business cards come with higher annual fees.
Some are charge cards, which means they do not allow you to carry a balance — likely proving tricky for start-up companies.
Sole proprietors may not be eligible to apply for some business cards.

Can I use a personal credit card for my business?

While it’s not illegal to use a personal credit card for your business, it’s never a good idea to mix finances. You want to have a clear demarcation between business and personal spending, because it could become difficult to separate finances and there could also be tax implications.

Business credit cards offer rewards on business spending and business-specific perks like credits for expense management software. Personal cards focus more on rewarding everyday spending and offer perks designed to enhance your everyday life.

Here are some common features of business and personal credit cards to help you decide if a business card is right for you.

Personal cards	Report activity to three major credit bureaus Reward everyday spending Longer intro APR offers Perks and credits to enhance everyday life Consumer protection guaranteed Unlikely to reward business spending
Business cards	Build business credit score Reward business-related spending Higher credit limits Higher welcome bonuses Perks and credits to enhance your business Consumer protection laws don’t apply Often requires personal guarantee

About your business credit score

A business credit score applies to business entities rather than individuals and can range from 1 to 100, depending on the credit bureau.

Major issuers will report your activity to commercial credit bureaus, such as Dun & Bradstreet. Not all issuers report business activity, though, so it’s worth checking your business credit report if that is an important factor for you.

Ask the Experts

How do business credit cards impact business taxes?

Linda Ta Yonemoto, CFEI®

Founder, Good For You Money

For solopreneurs and entrepreneurs, business credit card expenses can be tax-deductible if they’re ordinary and necessary, meaning common in your industry and directly related to your legitimate business. This can include annual fees, interest, and certain service charges. Note: a credit card statement isn’t a substitute for solid bookkeeping, and those rewards and perks only pay off if they save you more than they cost at tax time.

x

Scott Ward, CFP®

CFP Board Ambassador and Senior Vice President for Compound Planning

While business credit cards often carry higher fees than personal cards, many of those costs, ranging from annual fees to interest and transaction charges, may be tax deductible when tied to legitimate business use. It's a good practice to verify eligible deductions with a qualified tax professional, though.

x

Spencer Betts, CFP®

CFP Board Ambassador and Financial Consultant with Bickling Financial Services

Using a business credit card can help organize expenses and make it easier to identify deductible items. It's generally suggested that small business owners, including those who own rental properties, have a separate credit card that they use exclusively for work purposes. That way, when tax filing time comes around there is one credit card report they need to look at to determine their expenses. With so many things to keep track of, simplifying your use of credit cards to one for personal and one for business can make your life easier.

x

Frequently asked questions about business credit cards

No, an LLC is not required to get approved for a business credit card. While it may be a good idea to help separate expenses and liabilities, issuers primarily evaluate creditworthiness, so having a good credit score and the required business information are the main factors.
Small business credit cards can provide a lot of value, but they’re not the best solution for every business. Some entrepreneurs will have expenses that exceed typical credit limits, need to carry a balance over a long period of time or simply have poor credit. The most common alternatives to business cards are:
- Business loans: The best small business loans can have higher loan amounts and lower interest rates than business credit cards.
- Business lines of credit: A business line of credit may come with higher credit limits than a business credit card, especially if you have good or excellent credit.
Yes. For example, you can qualify for the Revenued Business Card with a business credit score of 300. Other business credit cards for poor credit may also offer some easier-to-obtain options for you and your business. There are even a handful of secured business cards.

*The information about the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Business Credit Card and Brex Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Next steps in your credit card journey

Best 0% intro APR business credit cards

Looking for a business card with a little breathing room? Check out these options.

Business credit cards vs. personal credit cards

Decide which option is best for your small business or side hustle.

How does my business credit card impact my personal credit score?

You may be surprised to learn the answer.

How to get a business credit card with an EIN only

Some issuers accept EIN-only applications, but limitations may apply.

Meet the Bankrate Experts

Written by

Ana Staples Ana Staples

Principal Analyst, Credit Cards and Loans

How we choose the best business credit cards

50+

Cards rated

700+

Data points considered

10

Spending categories analyzed

40+

Perks evaluated

We select cards for the “Best business credit cards” page based primarily on how they score in our proprietary card rating system, our editors’ subjective assessment of card quality, card approval odds and credit requirements and unique card features.

Cards typically must score a minimum of 3.0 stars to be included on this list. However, we may include cards with scores below 3.0 if they have low credit requirements or unique features — despite their scores, these cards may still be among the “best” in certain categories. Card ratings are not influenced by advertisers or issuer relationships in any way.

Card selection and ordering may also vary based on business considerations, including Bankrate visitor interest, site interactions and card application volume. Affiliate commissions (see how we make money), limited-time offers and a card’s general popularity in the product landscape may also influence which cards we feature on our pages and the order in which they appear. Bankrate’s editorial and business teams also strive to feature a variety of card types from various issuers.

When evaluating the best business cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and which cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of small-business owners, from earning rewards in popular business spending categories or receiving cash back to getting payment flexibility or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points.

Here’s a look at how our rating methodology breaks down for business credit cards:

5

Overall Score

Value 40%
Flexibility 20%
Perks 20%
Customer experience 20%

The best business cards offer rewards in key business spending categories, so a primary factor in a business card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate and estimated annual rewards earnings.

To estimate a business card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average small-business owner’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular business spending categories.

We researched 10 key business spending categories including dining, gas, office supplies, travel, telecommunications, insurance and more to get a sense of the average small-business owner’s spending habits. We assumed an average annual spend of around $40,000 per year based on Bankrate survey data. Using this data, we are able to assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories.

This weighting allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your business purchases.

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings and rewards rate stack up against other business cards, factoring in the card’s annual fee.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.
We also score business cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance.

To start, each business card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other business cards. This is because an intro APR on new purchases or balance transfers can be a lifesaver if you need to pay down debt, finance a large business purchase or free up cash flow.

While intro APRs are not uncommon on business cards, they aren’t a given, so cards that offer this sort of payment flexibility will score higher in our card rating system.

Even more important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list, however, is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value.

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee.

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many business owners would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.
Business rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth.

As such, we rate each business card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards.

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.
We also score each card’s set of features — its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. Top-tier perks include benefits like airport lounge access, travel credits, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.

We give extra weight to perks especially useful or valuable for small-business owners, like being able to qualify with no personal guarantee, digital advertising credits, free employee cards and accounting perks.

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.
1. February 2026 report. U.S. Small Business Administration. Accessed on September 9, 2026.

Best business credit cards of October 2026

+ Show Summary

Determine your preferred category

Find your match

Choose to apply

Can I get a business credit card?

What do I need to apply for a business card?

How to choose a business credit card

Find spending categories to match your business needs

Assess the card’s ongoing value

Find a competitive welcome offer