The 4 Business Credit Cards to Consider With a Soft Pull in 2025

A soft pull business credit card is a type of business credit card that uses a soft credit inquiry during the initial application or prequalification process. Unlike traditional business credit cards that immediately perform a hard credit check, these cards allow you to see whether you'll qualify without impacting your personal credit score.

When you apply for a soft pull business credit card, the card issuer reviews your creditworthiness using a "soft inquiry" that doesn't appear on your credit reports or affect your credit score. This initial screening helps both you and the lender determine if you're a good fit before moving forward with a full application.

These cards typically evaluate your business's financial strength rather than relying heavily on your personal credit history. Card issuers may look at factors like your business revenue, cash flow management, bank account activity, and time in business to make approval decisions. This approach is particularly valuable for business owners who want to keep their personal and business finances separate.

It's important to note that while the initial application or pre-qualification uses a soft pull, some card issuers may still require a hard credit check for final approval. However, you'll know this upfront and can decide whether to proceed based on your prequalification results.

The benefits of the best soft pull business credit cards go beyond just the application process. They're designed to help companies access credit based on their actual performance and needs, rather than solely on the owner's personal credit history. This makes them an attractive option for both startups and established businesses with strong financials.

The key difference between soft and hard credit pulls lies in how they impact your credit score. While a soft pull, or soft inquiry, doesn't affect your credit score and isn't visible to other creditors when they review your credit report, a hard pull, or hard inquiry, temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points and remains visible on your credit report for up to two years.

A soft pull is essentially a light review of your credit information that you can do as many times as needed without any consequence. You might see soft pulls when checking your own credit score, getting prequalified for loans, or when companies send you pre-approved credit offers. On the other hand, other lenders can see hard inquiries, and multiple hard pulls in a short period can signal that you're actively seeking credit, which may make you appear riskier to potential lenders.

For business owners, this difference is important. If you're exploring multiple credit card options or frequently applying for business financing, soft pulls allow you to shop around without accumulating credit checks that could hurt your personal creditworthiness.

Business credit cards with soft pulls offer several benefits that can make them good options for founders and CFOs who want to protect their personal credit while accessing business financing.

Credit score is unaffected by an application

The most immediate advantage is that your personal credit score is not impacted during the application process. For founders or business owners who need to apply for various types of financing throughout the year, this protection can be valuable. You can take your time evaluating different options and even reapply to the same card later if your initial application isn't approved, all without lowering your credit score.

Eligibility can be based on business performance

With soft pull business credit cards, providers often evaluate applications based on the company’s performance rather than your personal credit history. Card issuers may consider factors like monthly revenue, cash flow patterns, and business growth trajectory. This approach can be particularly beneficial for business owners who have strong companies but may have limited personal credit history, or those who prefer to separate their business and personal finances.

Credit limits can be determined by business financials

Instead of personal credit history determining credit limits, these cards often tie credit limits to your business's financial capacity. This can cause higher credit limits for businesses with strong revenue, even if the owner has a shorter personal credit history. Some soft pull credit cards analyze your business account activity, monthly deposits, and cash flow to determine appropriate credit limits.

Can separate business and personal credit

Soft pull business credit cards can help establish boundaries between your business and personal finances. By focusing on business metrics rather than personal credit, these cards create the legal and financial separation that's important for business liability protection as well as tax preparation. For growing businesses, this separation becomes increasingly important as you scale and potentially bring on investors or partners.

As your business grows and looks to add a business credit card with a soft credit pull to your financial stack, consider these options.

Citizens Bank Everyday Points Business Mastercard

The Citizens Bank Everyday Points Business Mastercard is a business credit card that offers businesses 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee.

Key details

• APR: 15.49% to 25.49%
• Annual fee: $0
• Personal guarantee: Not disclosed
• Typical spending limit: Not disclosed
• Credit check: May only require a soft pull for prequalification

Key features

• 0% APR through the first six billing cycles
• No annual fee
• Unlimited 1.5% cash back

Who this card is best for

The Everyday Points Business credit card is best for businesses looking for a business credit card that may not impact personal credit and has a straightforward cash back program.

Capital on Tap Business Credit Card

The Capital on Tap Business Credit Card is intended for small and some medium-sized businesses looking for a business credit card that does a soft pull on personal credit histories. This card offers businesses cash back rewards, relatively high credit limits, and no annual or FX fees.

Key details

• APR: 17.49% to 57.49%
• Annual fee: $0
• Personal guarantee: Personal guarantee may be required
• Typical spending limit: Up to $50,000
• Credit check: Soft pull on personal credit history

Key features

• Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• Soft credit check on personal credit history
• Track business spending

Who this card is best for

The Capital on Tap business credit card is best for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a card that performs only a soft credit check on personal credit histories. Keep in mind, Capital on Tap does perform a hard credit check on business credit scores.

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

The BILL Divvy corporate card is a business charge card that allows businesses to manage spending through the BILL platform. During the application process, the BILL Divvy card uses a soft credit check on personal and business credit.

Key details

• APR: Charge card with no APR
• Annual fee: $0
• Personal guarantee: May require personal guarantee for companies without strong financials
• Typical spending limit: $1,000 to $5M
• Credit check: Soft pull on personal and business credit

Key features

• No annual fee
• Integrates with the BILL expense management platform
• Access relatively high credit limits
• Issue physical and virtual cards

Who this card is best for

The BILL Divvy corporate card is best for small to medium-sized businesses that have established credit histories but don’t want hard credit inquiries to appear on a personal credit report. The BILL Divvy card gives businesses access to some expense management tools, but businesses need to pay a subscription fee to access more advanced features.

Evergreen by FNBO Business Edition Credit Card

The Evergreen by FNBO Business Edition Credit Card is a business credit card that offers businesses 2% cash back on all purchases. During the prequalification process, this card may only conduct a soft credit check, which won’t negatively impact your personal credit score.

Key details

• APR: 18.24% to 28.99%
• Annual fee: $0
• Personal guarantee: Not disclosed
• Typical spending limit: Up to $50,000
• Credit check: May require a soft credit check during prequalification

Key features

• 0% introductory APR for first six billing cycles
• 2% cash back on all purchases
• No annual fee

No, most traditional business credit cards perform a hard credit pull (hard inquiry) when you apply, which can temporarily lower your personal credit score by a few points. The majority of business credit cards from major banks and financial institutions require a personal guarantee and will check your personal credit history through a hard inquiry as part of their underwriting process. This is because these cards typically base approval decisions and credit limits primarily on the business owner's personal creditworthiness rather than the business's financial performance.

Some business credit cards may start with a soft pull for pre-qualification purposes, allowing you to check whether you're likely to be approved without impacting your credit score. Only when you formally apply do they perform the hard pull. A growing number of alternative business credit solutions, particularly those targeting startups and tech companies, are moving away from personal credit checks entirely. These providers instead evaluate factors like business revenue, cash balance, spending patterns, and industry type.

It's important to carefully review the application requirements before applying for any business credit card. Look for language about "no personal guarantee required" or "no hard credit check" if preserving your personal credit score is a priority. Keep in mind that cards without hard pulls often have different qualification criteria, such as minimum revenue requirements or specific business banking relationships, and may offer charge card products rather than traditional revolving credit lines.

usiness credit cards that don't require hard credit pulls are a popular option among entrepreneurs and growing companies who want to preserve their personal credit scores while accessing business financing. These cards typically evaluate business performance metrics like revenue and cash flow instead of relying on personal credit history, making them accessible to businesses with strong financials but limited credit history.

Brex

The Brex card is a global corporate credit card that gives businesses access to high credit limits and AI-powered spend controls with no hard credit check. Brex uses your business performance to determine eligibility, giving your business access to credit based on revenue and other factors, not personal credit. Coupled with the Brex expense management software, the Brex card allows businesses to effectively manage cash flow and make the investments needed to grow.

Key details

• APR: Charge card with no APR
• Annual fee: $0
• Personal guarantee: No personal guarantee requirement
• Typical spending limit: Up to 20x higher than traditional business credit cards

Key features

• High credit limits: Brex determines credit limits based on your actual business financials, including revenue and savings, rather than personal credit history. This approach positions Brex among the best high limit business credit cards available, with the ability to offer credit limits that are 10-20x higher than traditional business credit cards. These limits can increase as your business grows, allowing growing companies with strong revenue streams to access substantially more credit than they might qualify for through traditional personal credit-based applications..
• No personal guarantees or credit checks: Unlike traditional business credit cards, Brex offers a business credit card with no personal guarantee that evaluates eligibility based solely on business financials. This means Brex doesn't require personal guarantees or hard credit checks to be approved. While this can give your company access to the credit limits it needs, it also allows you to separate your personal financial health from your business. This separation is important for preserving the liability protections that come with incorporating your business, whether you're structured as an LLC or corporation.
• Employee-level spend controls: Businesses can embed custom expense policies into each card at the employee level. These controls can be based on nearly any parameter, including by department and category, or amount and location. Spend policies are enforced each time an employee uses a card, which can enable your business to prevent out-of-policy spending before it happens.
• Automated expense reporting: Each time a Brex card is used for an expense, Brex AI reviews the expense and automates the expense approval process. First, Brex AI categorizes each expense and matches it to a receipt. From there, in-policy expenses are automatically approved while unusual or out-of-policy spending is routed through predetermined approval flows. This allows managers to focus on what matters by not requiring them to approve every expense.
• Automated bill pay: When your business receives an invoice, it can be automatically uploaded to the Brex platform, where the data, including due dates, items, vendors, and so on, is extracted. Through the accounts payable automation software, Brex then drafts a payment and routes it through predetermined approval flows, ensuring that payments get the right sign-offs and arrive before they’re due. For businesses looking to build credit, the steady payment history that Brex bill pay can establish is invaluable.
• Rewards: With the Brex card, businesses can earn rewards on all of their spending in addition to multipliers on categories such as rideshare, restaurants, software, and travel booked through Brex. The Brex card offers flexible redemption options for points, from traditional cash back and travel rewards to unique perks like advertising spend and team offsites.

Who this card is best for

The Brex corporate card is best for growing businesses that need high credit limits without the restrictions of traditional business credit cards. It's particularly valuable for companies with strong revenue but limited business credit history, as well as established businesses looking to separate their personal and business finances completely. Companies that need spend management software and automated financial processes will find Brex's AI-powered features especially beneficial for streamlining operations and maintaining financial control as they scale.

To choose the right soft-pull business credit card, evaluate several factors that can impact your business's financial operations and growth. Here's what to consider when comparing your options.

Cost

The cost of a card goes beyond the annual fee. Consider the entire fee structure, including foreign transaction fees, cash advance fees, late payment penalties, and any monthly maintenance charges. Some soft pull business credit cards offer no annual fee for the first year or waive fees entirely for businesses that meet certain spending thresholds. A card with a higher annual fee may cost less overall if it offers better rewards or lower transaction fees for your spending patterns.

Rewards

Evaluate corporate card reward programs based on where your business spends money. If you frequently purchase office supplies, software subscriptions, or travel for business, look for cards that offer multipliers in these categories. Some soft pull business credit cards provide flat-rate rewards on all purchases, while others offer higher rates for specific business expenses. Consider how you can redeem rewards, too, which can range from cash back and statement credits to travel benefits.

Credit limits

Your credit limit should meet your business's cash flow needs. Soft pull business credit cards often determine limits based on your business revenue and bank account activity, which can result in more appropriate limits than personal credit-based decisions. Some cards allow you to request limit increases based on business growth, while others automatically adjust limits as company performance improves.

Spend management features

Modern soft-pull business credit cards often include spend management tools that can streamline financial operations. Look for features like automated expense reporting, integration with ERP software, employee card controls, and real-time budgeting. Some cards offer advanced features like receipt generation and matching, automated accounts payable, and spend controls by category or employee. These features can be valuable for growing businesses that need better financial visibility and control.

Soft pull and no credit check business cards aren't the same thing, though they're often confused since both don’t have an impact on your personal credit score.

Soft pull business credit cards still check your credit, but they use a soft inquiry that doesn't affect your credit score or appear on your credit report to other lenders. These cards typically combine your credit information with business performance data to make approval decisions.

Business credit cards with no credit check, on the other hand, don't pull your credit report during the application process. Instead, they base approval decisions entirely on factors like business revenue, bank account activity, or require a security deposit.

Soft pull business credit cards can still consider your credit history as a positive factor if you have good credit, while no credit check cards ignore your credit entirely. This means soft pull cards might offer better terms or higher limits if you have strong credit, whereas no credit check cards treat all applicants similarly regardless of credit history.

Soft pull business credit cards can require a personal guarantee, but some of the best business credit cards with no personal guarantee don’t require any credit check. A personal guarantee means you're personally responsible for any debt your business accumulates if your business can’t repay it.

Many issuers require personal guarantees so they can recapture some of their losses in case your business can’t repay its debt. Smaller businesses or newer companies that may not have extensive business credit history or significant assets may be required to provide a personal guarantee since the issuer can see them as riskier.

However, the personal guarantee doesn't necessarily mean the card issuer will impact your personal credit. Soft pull business credit cards often focus on your business's ability to repay the debt and only look to the personal guarantee as a backup. Before applying, it's important to understand exactly what the personal guarantee covers and whether the card issuer reports account activity to your personal credit reports.

Qualifying for a business credit card without a hard credit check typically requires demonstrating your business's financial strength and stability through business metrics, and in many cases, issuers will need your Employer Identification Number (EIN) to determine eligibility. Here's what most soft pull business credit card issuers look for.

Monthly revenue requirements

Many soft pull business credit cards have a minimum monthly revenue requirement, which can vary widely, or a consistent revenue requirement. This shows issuers that your business generates the cash flow to make credit card payments. Some cards may accept lower revenue amounts for specific industries or business types, while others may require higher thresholds for premium cards with better benefits.

Time in business

Many lenders don’t set a minimum time in business requirements to qualify for a business credit card, but being in operation for over six months can help your odds of approval. This history shows stability and reduces the risk of lending to a brand-new venture. Established businesses with longer operating histories often qualify for better terms and higher credit limits.

Business bank account activity

Strong, consistent business bank account activity can be critical to get approval for a soft pull business credit card. Issuers often analyze your business banking patterns, looking for regular deposits, healthy account balances, and positive cash flow trends. They may request several months of bank statements or use open banking connections to review your business account activity in real-time.

Business credit score

A strong business credit score can improve your chances of approval and better terms. Business credit scores from agencies like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax are separate from personal credit and focus on your business's payment history with vendors, suppliers, and other creditors. Businesses looking for EIN only business credit cards will often need established business credit scores.

Getting a soft or no-pull business credit card provides your business with credit, and also helps establish your business as a legitimate, credible entity in the eyes of vendors, partners, and the broader business community.

A business credit card helps create a financial history for your company that's separate from your personal finances. This separation is important to maintain legal protections for your business structure, whether you're an LLC or a corporation. Beyond that, when you use a business credit card for company expenses, you're demonstrating to the IRS, potential auditors, and business partners that you treat your business as a distinct entity.

Business credit cards also help you build business credit. Even if the initial application uses a soft pull, many of these cards report your payment activity to the major business credit bureaus. Consistent, on-time payments help establish and improve your business credit score, which becomes increasingly valuable as your business grows and needs access to larger credit facilities, business loans, or favorable terms with suppliers.

As you build credit, you also build credibility with customers and vendors. When you pay vendors, suppliers, or business services with a business credit card rather than personal payment methods, it signals that you're running a serious operation. This can lead to better vendor relationships, improved payment terms, and increased trust from business partners.

For growing businesses, the credibility established through business credit cards can pay dividends in the future. This is particularly true if your business seeks other forms of business financing down the road, as lenders often view businesses with established credit relationships more favorably.

Before applying for a soft pull business credit card, be sure you understand the details of each card you’re considering.

Are payments reported to the major credit bureaus?

It's important to understand credit reporting for both your business and personal credit strategy. Look for card issuers that report payments to the major business credit bureaus, and keep in mind that positive reporting can help build your business credit profile over time, which becomes valuable for future financing.

Many business owners wonder, 'Do business credit cards affect personal credit?' The answer varies by issuer. Some business credit cards report all activity to personal credit bureaus, while others only report negative information, such as missed payments or defaults. If you're trying to keep business and personal credit completely separate, you'll want a card that doesn't report activity to your personal credit files.

Does the full application require a hard credit pull?

Even if the pre-qualification or initial screening only uses a soft pull, the final application might require a hard credit check. This distinction affects your credit score and should influence your decision about whether to proceed. Ask specifically when in the process a hard pull might occur and whether you'll be notified before it happens.

What are the qualification requirements?

Get specific details about exactly what your business needs to qualify, including minimum revenue requirements, time in business, required business structure, and any industry restrictions. Ask about the documentation you'll need to provide, such as bank statements, tax returns, or business registration documents. Understanding qualification requirements upfront helps you determine whether you're likely to be approved and what you might need to improve before applying.

The Brex card is the best EIN-only business credit card. Brex doesn’t run any sort of credit inquiry on personal credit, but rather uses business financials, such as cash flow, spending patterns, and financial backing, to determine eligibility. That allows founders to separate their personal finances from their business, legitimizing their venture in the eyes of lenders and potential customers.

While giving your business credibility, Brex’s high credit limits allow your business to access the credit it needs to make strategic investments to fuel future growth. And even with high credit limits, CFOs and accounting teams can retain control over spending through expense policies embedded into each card, real-time budgets, and AI-powered expense reviews.

Beyond cards and spend management, Brex offers businesses travel and expense management software, accounting automation, startup banking, and bill pay functionality, enabling your business to manage all corporate spend from within one platform. For Superhuman, a software company rebuilding inboxes, having to navigate multiple dashboards to manage cash flow slowed down the finance team and made scaling challenging.

Brex changed that for Superhuman, according to Andrew Maher, Head of Finance at Superhuman. “Our goal is to put as much stuff into Brex as possible, because the more that's in budgets, the more we can do in real time, the more control we have across all kinds of spend,” Andrew said. “We're able to focus on maximizing our runway and being cost-efficient. Brex is our critical finance tech stack and allows us to do more with the resources we have. We can make better decisions about where we should be spending and steer the company in the right direction.”

If your business is ready to add a powerful corporate card to your financial stack without hurting your personal credit, sign up for Brex today.