Best Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit [2024]

CREDIT CARDS - BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS
There aren’t too many options for business credit cards for bad credit, but you can still use consumer credit cards for business expenses.
Updated March 11, 2024
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There are a handful of options for business credit cards for bad credit. As business credit cards, these options can help you separate your personal and business expenses, increase cash flow, and help build your business credit history.

Some business credit card options enable you to earn valuable rewards on business purchases and provide helpful benefits, such as purchase protection or extended warranty coverage.

Let’s explore our recommendations for business credit cards for bad credit to see which one can be a good fit for you.

In this article

Key takeaways

  • The best business credit cards typically require at least a good credit score (670 FICO score), among other factors. However, there are cards that have less strict credit score requirements.
  • Some business cards for bad credit don’t even require a personal credit check. You might be able to qualify with only an employer identification number (EIN).
  • Some business credit cards have steep requirements for linked bank accounts rather than credit scores.
  • We like the Capital One Spark Classic for Business for its $0 annual fee and opportunities to earn cash back on purchases.
  • There aren’t many business credit cards for bad credit, so it might be worth considering consumer credit cards, as well, to increase your options.
  • Secured credit cards are some of the most popular options if you have bad credit.

The 4 best business credit cards for bad credit

Comparison of the best business credit cards for bad credit

Card name Best for Benefits Annual fee
Capital One Spark Classic for Business Cash back and card benefits
  • 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase for your business, plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • No foreign transaction fees
$0
Brex Credit Card Earning travel rewards
  • 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
  • No foreign transaction fees
$0
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card Best secured business card
  • Credit limit between $2,000 to $100,000
  • Earn interest on your security deposit
$39
Ramp Card Earning unlimited cash back
  • 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • No personal credit check or personal guarantee required
$0

Capital One Spark Classic for Business: Best for cash back and card benefits

Pros Cons
  • Doesn’t need the best credit score to qualify
  • Charges no foreign transaction fees
  • Provides cash back for eligible purchases
  • Offers purchase protections
  • Has $0 annual fee
  • Doesn’t typically come with a welcome bonus
  • Doesn’t have intro APR offers
  • Offers a low rewards rate

The Capital One Spark Classic for Business makes sense if you want a business credit card with low credit score requirements that earns cash back and provides useful card benefits.

Why we like it: People with bad or poor credit scores may not have as many credit cards to choose from, so the Capital One Spark Classic for Business presents an appealing option. However, keep in mind that your credit score is one of several factors that credit card issuers consider, so having a specific credit score doesn’t guarantee approval.

The Capital One Spark Classic for Business comes with a $0 annual fee and provides 1% unlimited cash back on every purchase for your business, plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Many credit cards in the poor credit score range don’t provide any rewards at all, so this is a welcome sight.

In addition, you can also take advantage of different card benefits, including purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and no foreign transaction fees1. These benefits can help if you make applicable business purchases that need protection or if you tend to travel abroad for business.

What we don’t like: The Capital One Spark Classic for Business earns cash back, but it’s not the highest rate you’ll see on business cards. It’s actually quite a low rate, so this might not be the best option if you want to maximize your earning potential.

Learn more in our Capital One Spark Classic for Business review.

Brex Credit Card: Best for earning travel rewards

Pros Cons
  • Doesn’t use a personal credit check
  • Allows you to earn points for eligible purchases
  • Has many redemption options, including travel or transfers to travel partners
  • Comes with a $0 annual fee
  • Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
  • Requires $50,000 in a linked bank account for startups
  • Ties your credit limit to your cash balance

The Brex Credit Card makes sense if you want to avoid a personal credit check, want to earn travel rewards, and have enough money in a linked bank account to qualify.

Why we like it: We like that you can get approved for the Brex Credit Card with only an EIN, meaning you don’t need to get a hard credit check on your personal credit report.

A $0 annual fee is always nice, and so is the opportunity to earn rewards that you can redeem for travel or transfer to travel partners. Pair these redemption options with the fact that you don’t have to pay foreign transaction fees, and you’ve got a decent business travel card on your hands.

The Brex Credit Card earns 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.

Brex transfer partners include:

  • Air France KLM Flying Blue
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • Aeromexico Club Premier
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

What we don’t like: The $50,000 in a linked bank account can be a steep requirement for some startups. It’s nice that there’s no personal credit check, but you have to put up a lot of money for a chance at approval.

It’s also a bit confusing how the credit limit works on this card because it’s tied to the cash balance of any linked funds that Brex can see. That can mean if something goes wrong with the link between Brex and your bank account(s), your credit limit can drop to $0.

Learn more in our Brex Credit Card review.

First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card: Best secured business card

Pros Cons
  • Allows you to earn interest on your security deposit
  • Has a credit limit between $2,000 and $100,000
  • Enables you to request the credit limit you want
  • Has a $39 annual fee
  • Requires a security deposit that’s 110% the size of your credit limit

The FNBO Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card makes sense if you think a secured credit card might be your best chance at approval.

Why we like it: As the name suggests, the FNBO Business Edition Secured Mastercard is a secured credit card. Secured credit cards tend to have lower credit requirements than standard credit cards. This could be helpful if other avenues with different credit cards haven’t worked out.

It’s also interesting that you can earn interest on your security deposit. Most secured credit cards require a security deposit, but you can’t always earn interest on your deposit. So this is a way to have your deposit money benefit you in more ways on top of providing a credit limit.

What we don’t like: Like most secured credit cards, you have to put down a security deposit. It’s nice that you can request a credit limit within the given range of this card, but your security deposit will be 110% of your credit limit. So if you request a credit limit of $100,000, you have to put down a deposit of $110,000.

On top of the security deposit, you also have to pay a $39 annual fee.

Learn more about the FNBO Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card.

Ramp Card: Best for earning unlimited cash back

Pros Cons
  • Doesn’t require a personal credit check or personal guarantee
  • Has a $0 annual fee
  • Offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • Has a $0 foreign transaction fee
  • Allows applying with only an EIN
  • Requires $75,000 in a linked bank account
  • Requires full payment of your balance every month
  • Doesn’t allow individuals or sole proprietors

The Ramp Card makes sense if you have a lot of money in a linked bank account, want a card with no personal credit check or personal guarantee required, and would like to earn unlimited cash back.

Why we like it: The Ramp Card is a straightforward rewards card that earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. This makes it easy to use this card for all your business needs, regardless of which category the expenses fall under.

It’s also helpful that the Ramp Card has a $0 annual fee. There is no personal credit check or personal guarantee required when you apply, which is handy for someone without the best credit score but has the money to back up their need for a business credit card.

What we don’t like: You need at least $75,000 in a linked bank account to apply. You also can’t be a sole proprietor, as only corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and limited partnerships (LPs) are allowed to apply.

The $75,000 requirement is more than steep enough to put this card out of reach for many small business owners.

Learn more about the Ramp Card.

Poor credit alternatives to business credit cards

You don’t necessarily need to use a business credit card for your business expenses. You can also use consumer credit cards for your business, which opens up more opportunities to find cards for poor credit.

But keep in mind that personal credit cards generally report activity to the major credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. So using these cards wouldn’t necessarily help build your business credit score, which is something that could help you secure business financing.

Additionally, by using a personal credit card, you wouldn’t be separating your personal finances from your business finances. This can complicate your accounting and tax filing.

Here are a few of our recommendations for consumer credit cards to consider if you have poor credit:

Find more options in our list of the best credit cards for poor credit.

How to choose the best business credit card for bad credit

There are some differences between business credit cards versus personal cards, including interest rates. However, they typically share the same decision-making factors whether you’re choosing a business or personal credit card for bad credit.

Consider these factors when deciding how to choose the best credit card for bad credit.

Credit score requirements

If you have bad or poor credit, you shouldn’t go for a credit card that typically has strict credit score requirements. This includes credit cards that might require a good or excellent credit score.

Rather, it makes sense to focus on credit cards that don’t do a credit check at all or have less strict requirements. This could help improve your chances of getting approved for a credit card.

Keep in mind that credit cards that don’t do credit checks often have other ways to determine your creditworthiness or to reduce the risk for credit card issuers. For example, most secured credit cards require a security deposit, which is money you put down that acts like your line of credit for your credit card account.

Annual fee

In general, credit cards with annual fees have better benefits and/or rewards than cards with no annual fees. This could include a higher rewards rate, no foreign transaction fees, or any number of other benefits.

But having an annual fee is similar to paying an upfront cost every year as a cardmember. This is fine if you think you get enough value from your card to be worth the cost, but no-annual-fee cards are also typically less stressful for most people.

Learn more about no-annual-fee business credit cards.

Card benefits

Does your credit card have purchase protection or extended warranty coverage? Do you have to pay foreign transaction fees?

Everyone has different preferences and personal finance goals when it comes to card benefits, so it’s worth taking your time to see which perks you might receive as a cardholder with different types of cards.

For business cards, consider how each card might help you with your business goals. This could include tracking expenses, issuing employee cards, or earning bonus rewards on common business purchases.

Rewards rate

Earning cash back, points, or miles is always beneficial, especially if you own a business with loads of expenses. But not all rewards credit cards are created equal, so it’s in your best interest to pay attention to earning rates on different cards.

If two cards are similar in most other ways, but one has a higher earning rate, it likely makes sense to choose the potentially more rewarding card.

Welcome bonus

Not all credit cards provide welcome offers for new cardholders, but many do. And this can be an easy way for you to earn a lot of rewards soon after account opening for purchases you were already planning on making.

FAQ about business credit cards for poor credit

Can I get a credit card for my business if my credit is bad?

Yes, there are business credit cards available for people with poor or bad credit. This includes business credit cards with less strict credit score requirements, as well as secured business cards. You can also consider personal credit cards that are meant for building your personal credit score, including secured credit cards.

Can you use an EIN to get a credit card?

Yes, you can get a business credit card with an EIN because certain lenders only require an EIN without needing a Social Security number. For example, there’s no personal credit check if you apply for the Brex Credit Card or the Ramp Card. Note that both cards have bank account requirements of $50,000 and $75,000, respectively.

Can you get a business credit card with no revenue?

You can qualify for a business credit card with little or no revenue because many small business credit card applications also consider other factors, such as your personal income and your expected revenue. This makes it possible for new business owners to get approved for business credit cards even if they haven’t made much or any money yet.

Best business credit cards for bad credit: bottom line

There are a few options for business credit cards for bad credit, with your selection generally coming from secured business credit cards or business cards that don’t require a personal credit check.

Apart from these different options, you also have the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. We like it because it’s a cashback rewards card that generally only requires a fair credit score. Keep in mind that card issuers look at multiple factors when determining your eligibility, so having a certain credit score doesn’t necessarily guarantee your approval.

For more of our top recommendations, compare credit cards and credit card offers.

Methodology

To determine the best business credit cards for people with bad credit, we first compiled a list of business credit cards that business owners may qualify for with poor credit. We then gathered information about these cards, including but not limited to earning rates, key features, and annual fees.

The next step was determining which cards could be good options for business owners with bad credit. Keep in mind that our recommendations do not include all available business credit cards for bad credit, and we did not rank the cards in any particular order. Instead, our recommendations aim to provide helpful information on a selection of business credit cards that may be suitable for individuals with bad credit.

Secured Credit for Small Business Owners

First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card

First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card

Current Offer

Earn interest on your security deposit

Annual Fee

$39

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details

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