We recommend the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card because it’s a secured credit card that earns unlimited rewards.
Secured credit cards generally have lower credit score requirements, making it easier for more people to qualify. However, security deposits are often required.
Let’s explore the easiest business credit cards to get to see which one makes the most sense for you.
Key takeaways
- We recommend the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured for its easier qualification requirements and simple rewards rate.
- In general, secured business credit cards have less strict qualification requirements. However, they also typically require security deposits and could have lower credit limits.
The easiest business credit cards to get
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card
- Capital One Spark Classic for Business
- First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card
- Brex Credit Card
- Ramp Card
Compare the easiest business credit card to get
Credit card | Main features | Recommended credit score | Annual fee |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card |
|
Bad, Poor | $0 |
|
Fair | $0 | |
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card |
|
Bad, Poor | $39 |
|
N/A | $0 | |
|
Bad, Poor | $0 |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card
- $0 annual fee
- Simple rewards rate
- Opportunity to transition to an unsecured card
- Requires a relatively big security deposit
The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard Secured makes sense if you want a secured credit card with a simple cashback rewards rate.
Welcome offer: This secured business credit card doesn’t have a welcome offer that enables you to earn cash back or rewards points after account opening, but it helps you earn cash back while building your business credit.
Rewards rate: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
Why we like it: Secured credit cards are generally easier to qualify for. And while many secured credit cards lack a decent rewards rate, the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured has a worthwhile rate for your everyday business expenses.
What we don’t like: You have to put down a minimum $1,000 security deposit that acts as your credit line. Fortunately, you can transition to an unsecured card if you qualify by using your card responsibly and improving your overall credit history.
Capital One Spark Classic for Business
- $0 annual fee
- Simple rewards rate
- Fair recommended credit score for applicants
- Only offers a single elevated rewards category
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business makes sense if you don’t have the best credit history but still want a card that earns rewards on qualifying purchases.
Welcome offer: This business credit card doesn’t offer an early spend or a welcome offer.
Rewards rate: Earn 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase for your business, plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Why we like it: You don’t typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify. But keep in mind that credit card companies consider various factors in addition to your credit score when determining your creditworthiness.
What we don’t like: Earning a base rate of 1% cash back on all purchases is better than nothing, but it’s lower than what you can find on other cash back business credit cards.
Learn more in our Capital One Spark Classic for Business review.
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card
- Credit limit that ranges from $2,000 to $100,000
- You can earn interest on your security deposit
- $39 annual fee
- Requires a security deposit
- No rewards program.
The FNBO Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card makes sense if you want a secured credit card with a high credit limit.
Welcome offer: This business credit card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or a welcome offer.
Rewards rate: The FNBO Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card doesn’t enable you to earn rewards on your purchases since it has no rewards program.
Why we like it: You can earn interest on your security deposit. Being able to earn interest on your security deposit is a unique feature among secured credit cards. Most of the time, your deposit doesn’t do anything more than act as your credit line by staying in a linked deposit account.
We also like that you can request your own credit limit between $2,000 and $100,000 (in multiples of $50) when you apply. Note that your request is subject to credit approval.
What we don’t like: You have to pay a $39 annual fee on top of putting down a security deposit. The FNBO Business Edition Secured also doesn’t earn any rewards.
Brex Credit Card
- $0 annual fee
- Appealing bonus categories
- EIN-based application process
- Business must be incorporated
- May require a $50,000 minimum cash balance for startups
The Brex Credit Card makes sense if you meet the incorporation and minimum cash balance requirements and your business expenses align with its bonus categories.
Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 points for spending your first $3,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional 20,000 if you link payroll to your Brex account, for a total 30,000 points.
Rewards rate: Earn 7X points on rideshare, 4X on Brex Travel, 3X at restaurants and on eligible Apple products, 2X on software subscriptions, and 1X on all other purchases with Brex Exclusive.
Why we like it: You have the opportunity to earn valuable bonus rewards in multiple spending categories. That includes 3X points on restaurants and eligible Apple products. Additionally, you could qualify for the Brex Credit Card with an employer identification number (EIN).
Learn how to get a business credit card with just EIN.
What we don’t like: Your business must be incorporated, so sole proprietors wouldn’t qualify for this credit card. And if your business is a startup, you typically need at least a $50,000 minimum cash balance to qualify.
Learn more in our Brex Credit Card review.
Ramp Card
- $0 annual fee
- Simple rewards rate
- No personal credit check or personal guarantee required
- Business must be incorporated
- $75,000 cash balance requirement
The Ramp Card makes sense if your business is incorporated and meets the cash balance requirement. This corporate credit card is also a good fit for people who don’t want a personal guarantee attached to their business credit card.
Welcome offer: This corporate credit card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or a welcome offer.
Rewards rate: Earn up to 1.5% cash back on qualified purchases (varies by customer and determined by Ramp).
Why we like it: If you don’t have a Social Security number (SSN), you can use an EIN and provide a copy of your foreign passport and documentation to prove your address.
What we don’t like: This is a corporate card, which means sole proprietors wouldn’t qualify. You also need to have at least $75,000 in cash in a U.S. business bank account linked to your application when you apply.
How to choose a business credit card that’s easy to get
Consider these factors to help you choose between business credit cards that are easy to get.
Credit requirements
Similar to personal credit cards, many business credit cards require a personal credit check of your credit report during the application process. This could have a small impact on your personal credit score.
The best business credit cards typically require at least a good credit score. That’s a 670 on the FICO scoring model. But it’s possible to find business credit cards that only require a fair credit history or even a bad credit score.
Note that business credit cards with no personal guarantee might still require a personal credit check even though you wouldn’t be personally liable for any debts on the business card.
If you want to build business credit, you need to make sure activity on your business card gets reported to business credit bureaus.
Security deposit
Secured business credit cards tend to have less strict credit requirements than unsecured business credit cards. The tradeoff is that you typically have to put down a security deposit that acts as your spending limit.
Fortunately, most card issuers make these security deposits refundable. You might also have a chance to upgrade to an unsecured version of the same card (which removes the security deposit requirement) through responsible credit card usage.
Business requirements
Because of business credit card requirements, not everyone can apply for business credit cards. Common requirements include:
- An individual tax identification number (ITIN), Social Security number (SSN), and/or employer identification number (EIN)
- The legal name of your business and its address
- The date your business was established
- Your business structure, such as a sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation, or partnership
- Your total gross annual income
- Your annual business revenue and estimated monthly spend
In some cases, certain business credit cards could have specific requirements. For example, you might need a minimum amount of cash in a business bank account to qualify for some corporate cards.
Annual fee
Nobody wants to pay an annual fee. That’s why we like no-annual-fee business credit cards.
However, cards with annual fees could still be worth it. Consider the potential value you might receive if you pay an annual fee, which could include the opportunity to improve your credit score and qualify for better cards.
Rewards and benefits
If you compare credit cards, you’ll find that rewards rates, perks, and benefits can greatly vary between cards. To find the best credit card for you, consider whether a business card’s rewards align with your everyday business purchases and personal finance goals.
For example, you might want a card that earns bonus points at gas stations if you’re on the road a lot for your business. Or it could make sense to apply for a card that provides additional rewards at office supply stores if that’s where you do the majority of your business purchases.
As a small business owner, here are a few perks and benefits you might want to consider.
- A welcome bonus you can earn soon after opening an account
- A high credit limit for increased cash flow
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free employee cards
- Integration with accounting or bookkeeping software, such as QuickBooks
- Using a travel rewards program as a cardholder
- Statement credits as a redemption option
- An introductory APR offer on purchases
Note that intro APR offers on balance transfers aren’t typically available on business credit cards. Also keep in mind that intro APR offers have an end date, so it’s important to take advantage of them before the card’s variable APR kicks in.
FAQ about easy business credit cards to get
Can you get approved for a business credit card immediately?
Yes, many credit card issuers provide instant approvals for business card applications. But whether you receive an instant approval often depends on the credit card company’s algorithm to determine your creditworthiness and eligibility. In some cases, you might have to wait a few days or longer to receive an answer by email or letter.
Can I get a business credit card with my EIN number?
Certain business credit card applications only require your EIN number. That typically means there’s no personal guarantee since you don’t have to provide a Social Security number. However, you have to meet certain requirements to qualify for these types of cards, which could include a minimum cash balance.
Do you get a hard inquiry if you apply for a business credit card?
It depends on the business credit card, but many business card applications require a hard inquiry, a form of review of your personal credit history. You can often tell if an application will result in a hard inquiry by finding out whether it requires your Social Security number.
Easiest business credit cards to get: bottom line
The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured makes sense if you want to earn unlimited cashback rewards on a secured business credit card. And through responsible credit usage, you could qualify to upgrade to an unsecured card.
If you already have a good or excellent credit score, there are better options available. Check out our list of the best small business credit cards to find the right business card for you, or if you have balances already, consider applying for a business balance transfer card.
Methodology
To determine the easiest business credit cards to qualify for, we first compiled a list of business credit cards that are available to business owners with varying credit scores. We then gathered information about these cards, including but not limited to their application requirements, recommended credit score, key features, annual fees, and APR rates.
The next step was determining which cards were the easiest to get for business owners. Keep in mind that our recommendations do not include all available business credit cards, and we did not rank the cards in any particular order. Instead, our recommendations aim to provide a starting point for business owners who are researching easy-to-get business credit cards.