5 best business credit cards for new businesses (June 2025)

New businesses can qualify for business credit cards, but the process is more challenging than for established enterprises with proven track records. Qualifying varies significantly depending on the provider, as different financial institutions evaluate applications using varying criteria and risk assessment models.

Traditional credit card providers typically rely heavily on personal credit scores and require personal guarantees from business owners. While this approach can help secure approval, it can create a problematic financial entanglement between personal and business finances. When you provide a personal guarantee, you become personally liable for any debt your business can’t repay, which can put personal assets and credit score at risk.

Although using personal credit can help a new business qualify for a credit card, other providers make credit available to new businesses without such requirements. Modern business credit card providers offer business credit cards for new businesses without personal credit checks or personal guarantees, effectively allowing businesses to apply with their Employer Identification Number (EIN).

EIN-only business credit card applications create a clear separation between your personal finances and business operations, protecting your personal credit profile while enabling your company to establish its own credit history. Providers evaluate applicants based on monthly revenue, cash reserves, business bank account activity, and operational history, allowing startups to get access to credit based on performance rather than your personal finances.

By choosing a business credit card with no personal guarantee requirements, you can access capital while maintaining the financial separation that protects both your personal assets and supports long-term business credit development. This approach allows your business to build its own credit profile from the ground up, creating valuable financial independence as your company grows.

New businesses may have fewer options for business credit cards, but there are different types of business credit cards available that can better suit different businesses.

Secured cards

Secured cards are intended for businesses with limited or no established credit history by requiring an upfront security deposit that determines your available credit limit. If you deposit $5,000, for example, your credit limit will typically match that amount, providing predictable access to funds while minimizing risk for the card issuer.

This deposit-based structure makes secured cards useful for new businesses with no credit, as approval doesn't depend on financial history or revenue. The security deposit acts as collateral, allowing card issuers to extend credit to businesses that might not qualify for traditional unsecured cards.

Beyond immediate credit access, the best secured business credit cards function as credit-building tools for your business. Regular usage and timely payments get reported to business credit bureaus, helping establish your company's credit profile from the ground up. Many secured cardholders can eventually qualify to upgrade to unsecured cards as their business credit strengthens, often with their security deposit returned.

Corporate cards

Corporate cards are intended for fast-growing startups that need extensive financial management capabilities beyond basic credit access. These cards offer centralized expense control, allowing businesses to issue multiple employee cards while maintaining oversight through customizable spending limits and real-time monitoring.

The core strength of modern corporate cards lies in their upfront spend controls and integrated expense management solutions. Companies can set spending controls at both the organizational and individual card levels, enforce policy compliance automatically, and track expenses as they occur rather than waiting for monthly statements. Automated receipts, smart approvals, and real-time categorization accelerate key finance and accounting workflows. Most corporate cards integrate directly with accounting and ERP platforms, eliminating manual data entry and reducing reconciliation time.

Some corporate card providers allow businesses to issue virtual cards for specific expenses and offer custom payment terms extending to net-30 or net-60 arrangements, along with other advanced features that allow businesses to monitor and control spend.

Charge cards

Business charge cards operate differently from traditional business credit cards by requiring full balance payment each billing cycle, but they compensate with flexible spending power that often lacks preset limits. Your purchasing capacity adjusts monthly based on your business’s financial performance, providing access to credit that can scale with your needs.

These cards typically offer competitive rewards programs across multiple spending categories, along with welcome bonuses for new cardholders. Beyond rewards, charge cards can include comprehensive expense management tools, purchase protection, and premium travel benefits such as airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and travel insurance coverage.

Most charge cards provide robust expense management software and integrate with popular accounting software platforms. While the standard requirement involves paying balances in full monthly, some cards offer flexible payment programs for large purchases, providing limited financing options when needed.

For new businesses looking for a business credit card, consider the options below to find the best option for your venture.

Brex corporate card

The Brex card is a global corporate credit card that offers startups and enterprise businesses high credit limits and AI-powered spend controls. With the Brex corporate card, new businesses can gain access to the credit they need to make critical purchases while ensuring that corporate spend remains within budget and policy.

Key details

• Annual fee: $0
• Minimum credit score requirement: N/A
• Variable APR: Charge card with no APR
• Typical spending limit range: Up to 10-20x higher than traditional business credit cards

Key benefits

• Apply with EIN-only: Brex allows new businesses to apply for the Brex card with only an EIN. Brex doesn’t require a personal credit check or personal guarantees, making the Brex corporate card ideal for founders who want to protect their personal assets while building business credit.
• Higher credit limits: Brex evaluates applicants based on business performance, allowing businesses to qualify for credit limits that are 10-20x higher than traditional credit cards. These limits can allow your business to make strategic investments such as bulk inventory purchases ahead of peak seasons or equipment acquisitions that drive productivity. Plus, Brex can grow with you by increasing credit limits as your business expands.
• Spend controls: Businesses can embed custom expense policies into the Brex card, enabling spend to be limited on nearly any parameter, including by employee or department, as well as vendor, category, and transaction amount. The granular control capabilities mean businesses can provide employees with necessary purchasing power while maintaining tight oversight over cash flow and budget adherence.
• Real-time visibility: With Brex, founders and accounting teams can track spending as it happens with real-time visibility. Unlike traditional expense management that relies on after-the-fact reporting, real-time tracking enables proactive financial control by flagging potential overspending before it impacts cash flow or derails monthly budgets.
• Automated expense reports: As employees use their cards, Brex AI matches receipts to outstanding expenses while categorizing and reviewing transactions. In-policy spending is automatically approved, eliminating the back-and-forth between employees and finance teams that typically slows expense reporting. Meanwhile, unusual activity or potential policy violations get flagged for manual review, ensuring oversight where it matters most without creating unnecessary friction for routine purchases.
• Accounting automation: Brex automates the expense reconciliation and coding process by syncing transaction data directly with popular accounting platforms like QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Xero, eliminating tedious manual entry that can take hours during month-end close. With its automated accounting software, Brex automatically applies appropriate codes based on merchant categories and established expense policies, while matching transactions to corresponding receipts and approvals. For new businesses with limited accounting resources, this streamlined process helps finance teams focus on strategic analysis rather than data entry.
• Business rewards: The Brex rewards program is tailored to modern business spending, offering up to 7x points on everyday expenses like Uber rides, travel, restaurants, and software subscriptions. Beyond standard cash back and travel rewards, Brex offers unique points redemption options including billboards and team offsites.

Who this card is best suited for

The Brex corporate credit card is best for businesses that need high credit limits without personal guarantees or established credit history. In particular, the Brex card fits growing businesses that need sophisticated expense management to control cash flow. Organizations that need real-time budget tracking, automated expense reporting, and seamless accounting integration will benefit from Brex’s comprehensive platform rather than the basic credit card functionality that competitors offer.

Valley Bank Visa Secured Business Credit Card

The Valley Bank Visa Secured Business Credit Card meets the needs of small business owners seeking to establish or rebuild business credit while handling routine operational expenses. This secured card requires a cash deposit that sets your credit limit, providing a path to credit access for new businesses with limited credit history.

Key details

• Annual fee: $0
• Minimum credit score requirement: Not disclosed
• Variable APR: 15.20% to 26.50%
• Typical spending limit range: Up to $25,000

Key benefits

• 0% intro APR
• 1% cash back rewards
• Emergency card replacement service
• Fraud protection

Who this card is best suited for

This card is best for businesses that need to establish business credit and can provide the required security deposit upfront. It works well for new businesses with limited credit history that want to separate personal and business finances while building creditworthiness through consistent card usage and timely payments.

BILL Divvy Card

The BILL Divvy card is a charge card that integrates into the BILL expense management platform. Business owners can apply for the BILL Divvy card without a personal guarantee and can access credit limits up to $5 million.

Key details

• Annual fee: $0
• Minimum credit score requirement: 670+
• Variable APR: Charge card with no APR
• Typical spending limit range: $1,000 to $5M

Key benefits

• Integrated expense management
• No annual fee
• Physical and virtual cards

Who this card is best suited for

The BILL Divvy card is best for small to mid-sized organizations looking for a charge card that offers expense management features. Businesses requiring advanced expense management tools should expect monthly subscription fees for premium features.

FairFigure Capital Card

The FairFigure Capital Card is designed for new and growing businesses looking to establish business credit scores. The FairFigure card allows businesses to apply with their EIN-only, which enables you to separate personal and business finances.

Key details

• Annual fee: $0
• Minimum credit score requirement: No requirement
• Variable APR: None
• Typical spending limit range: Variable

Key benefits

• Reports to major business credit bureaus
• Four- or eight-week repayment terms
• No personal guarantee required for established businesses
• Low revenue requirements

Who this card is best suited for

The FairFigure Capital Card is best for small to mid-sized businesses that want to separate personal and business finances while building business credit.

First National Bank Business Edition Secured Visa Card

The First National Bank Business Edition Secured Visa Card enables business owners to establish or rebuild business credit. Credit limits are determined by a refundable security deposit, which ranges from $2,000 to $10,000.

Key details

• Annual fee: $39
• Minimum credit score requirement: 300+
• Variable APR: 24.99%
• Typical spending limit range: $2,000 to $10,000

Key benefits

• Earn interest on security deposit
• Payments reported to business credit bureaus
• Online account management
• Purchase protection

Who this card is best suited for

First National Bank Business Edition Secured Visa Card is best for businesses that need to build credit, though approval requires both a personal credit check and a high minimum deposit of $2,000. It's best for business owners with decent personal credit who don't mind paying an annual fee to access basic features.

For new businesses, business credit cards can be a tool to help your business grow. These are some of the benefits of adding a business card to your financial stack.

Separate personal and business finances

Maintaining separation between personal and business finances is crucial for new businesses, both for legal protection and financial clarity. Business credit cards create this necessary boundary by establishing dedicated accounts for all company expenses, from office supplies and equipment purchases to client entertainment and travel costs.

This separation simplifies tax preparation, as business expenses are clearly documented and categorized through card statements rather than mixed with personal transactions. Additionally, separating accounts protects personal assets from business liabilities and helps establish your company as a distinct legal entity.

For new businesses seeking EIN only business credit cards, this separation becomes even more valuable as it allows credit building based purely on business performance rather than personal financial history.

Get access to credit

New businesses can face cash flow challenges and unexpected expenses that can derail operations without immediate access to funds. Business credit cards provide a financial safety net that allows companies to cover urgent expenses that can’t wait until you receive payment for outstanding invoices.

This credit access can be particularly valuable during seasonal fluctuations or when equipment failures demand immediate replacement. Unlike traditional business loans that require extensive documentation and lengthy approval processes, business credit cards offer immediate access to funds when opportunities or necessities arise.

Business credit cards for new businesses with no credit often provide this access even when traditional financing options remain unavailable, giving startups the flexibility needed to navigate early-stage challenges and capitalize on growth opportunities.

Establish payment history

Building business credit requires consistent payments and responsible credit usage. Business credit cards provide new companies with an accessible way to establish this payment history, as monthly card payments can be reported to business credit bureaus and contribute to your company's credit profile development.

A strong business credit history opens doors to better financing and more favorable terms, as well as improving credibility among customers. Starting this credit-building process early through responsible business credit card usage positions your company for better financial opportunities down the road, making it easier to secure the capital needed for significant growth phases.

Earn rewards

Business credit cards can enable necessary spending to earn valuable returns through rewards programs. Whether earning cash back on office supplies, travel points for client meetings, or category bonuses on advertising expenses, these rewards provide tangible value that personal cards used for business expenses can’t match.

Many business credit cards offer reward multipliers on common business categories like software, shipping, and office supplies, along with welcome bonuses that can provide immediate value for new cardholders. Corporate card rewards can be reinvested into operations or used in other ways, such as billboards.

For businesses with significant monthly spending, reward earnings can accumulate quickly and provide meaningful financial benefits that help offset operational costs while building credit and maintaining expense separation.

The best business credit card for your new business depends on several factors, including the card your business can qualify for, what your business needs, and how your business plans to use a card. For some businesses, that may mean a secured card is best, while for others, it may mean a traditional business credit card or corporate card is better suited for their needs.

Overall, the best card for new businesses is the Brex corporate card. Beyond high limits and a lack of personal guarantees, the Brex card and its integrated spend management software scale with your business, ensuring that further growth doesn’t mean you’ll need a different card solution. Unlike traditional corporate cards, Brex grows with your business.

Scale AI, a startup accelerating the development of artificial intelligence, like many new businesses, needed an expense management solution that would grow with the startup. “As we scaled, we wanted to be able to enable employees to move fast and make decisions and not be blocked by length approval chains,” says Alexandr Wang, founder and CEO of Scale AI. “We’ve been with Brex since our early startup days. They’ve helped us grow, and have grown with us.”

As Scale AI’s needs expanded, Brex was able to meet them. “We started with the Brex card and then added light budgeting. Now, we are using spend limits with flags for certain levels or kinds of spend,” Alexandr said. “Brex helps us stay creative in this market with insights and automation that drive strategic spend.”

Sign up for Brex today to get a corporate card that scales with your business.