Minimum credit scores for business credit cards in 2025

You need a personal credit score of 700 or higher to qualify for the best business credit cards. The exception to this rule is corporate cards, which usually don’t check your credit score. Instead, these cards require that you have a certain amount of capital in a business bank account. 

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In this article, we’ll explain the credit score requirements for business credit cards, how to improve your business credit score, and alternative business funding options to consider.

What is a business credit score?

Your business credit score is like your financial report card. It’s a number that shows how creditworthy your company is. 

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Having a higher business credit score unlocks major perks, as lenders use it to decide if they'll give you a loan and how much interest you'll pay. A better score can equal lower interest rates, more credit options, lower insurance premiums, and more. Suppliers might offer you more credit based on your score, letting you purchase more things now and pay later. You might also snag more favorable payment terms with vendors. 

How are business credit scores calculated?

Credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, Experian, and FICO calculate this score by looking at things like how well your business pays its bills, how long its been using credit, how much credit you're using, and if your business has had any legal issues.

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If you’re interested in improving your credit score to qualify for better credit cards, you’ll need to know what factors play a role in your score in the first place. These factors are slightly different when you compare business and personal credit scores.

Business credit score factors

The factors that impact your business credit score include:

• Payment history
• Outstanding balances
• Credit utilization ratio
• Trade experiences
• Years in business
• Business size

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A good business credit report largely depends on how long your company has been in business. A longer history of making payments as per your agreements and paying down outstanding balances will build your credit score over time.

Personal credit score factors

The factors that impact your personal credit score are as follows:

• Payment history on personal credit cards
• Credit utilization rate
• Credit age
• Credit mix
• New accounts

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You’ll likely have a great credit score if you manage your personal finances well by paying on time, using less than 30% of your available credit limit, and including a good mix of accounts that you’ve maintained for several years on your credit report.

Business credit vs. personal credit

What's the difference between business credit and personal credit? Business credit reflects the creditworthiness of your company, while personal credit reflects your individual creditworthiness. Business credit is based on factors like business revenue, your Employer Identification Number (EIN), and payment history on business accounts, while personal credit focuses on your individual income, your Social Security Number, and personal financial history.

What is a good business credit score?

You can get a business credit card with a personal FICO score of 630 or under; however, the best business credit cards usually require at least a score of 700. 

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Cards with higher credit score requirements generally have more favorable terms, higher credit limits, and a range of additional perks like rewards programs or travel benefits.

Can your business have good credit when your personal credit is bad?

Your business can have good credit even if your personal credit is bad. Business credit is evaluated based on the financial performance of your business, not your personal finances.  

However, if your business is a sole proprietorship or a partnership, your personal credit may be considered to some extent.

Are there any business credit cards for bad credit?

There are options for business credit cards even with bad credit, namely secured business credit cards and corporate cards.

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Secured business credit cards require a security deposit, which doubles as your line of credit. Because you have your own money backing up the credit, they’re a more accessible option for businesses with limited credit history. Plus, responsible use can help you build a strong credit foundation, paving the way for more favorable financing options down the line.

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Corporate cards, typically available to incorporated businesses, may be an option if your company has strong revenue and bank balances, regardless of its credit score. Similar to secured credit cards, some corporate cards require a personal guarantee—whereby business owners become personally liable for paying off the card’s balance.

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Ramp, uniquely, is a corporate card that does not require a personal guarantee.

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Good business credit cards

Here’s an overview of popular business credit cards by credit score requirement:

• For limited credit: Corporate cards, like the Ramp Corporate Card, can be great options for businesses with limited credit history because they don’t require a traditional credit check. Instead of relying on credit history, corporate cards assess your business's financial health based on factors like cash balance and revenue.
• For poor/bad credit (300-579): An option for low credit business credit cards are secured credit cards—like the First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card—or corporate cards that don’t consider your credit report (like the Ramp card mentioned above). Secured cards require a cash deposit which then acts as your credit limit. You can use a secured credit card to build your credit score until you can qualify for unsecured cards. 
• For fair credit (580 to 669): A fair credit score of around 650 is the minimum credit score for business credit card. With it, you can qualify for some unsecured business credit cards, like the Capital One Spark Classic For Business. This card is available to business owners with a limited credit history and has no annual fees; however, it comes with a steep regular APR rate of 30.74%. Other business credit cards for fair credit include the Nav Prime Card. 
• For good credit (670 to 739): If you have a credit score of 670 or higher, consider the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, which is often sought for its travel rewards program. That said, its credit limits might not work for most businesses, as they start at $5,000 and are raised slowly.
• For very good credit (740 to 799) or excellent credit (800-850): The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is considered one of the best business credit cards, and generally commands a credit score of at least 700 or higher.

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How to improve your business credit score

If you have less-than-perfect credit, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Nor are you stuck with a poor credit score forever. 

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Consider these tips to improve your business credit score:

• Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and register with Dun & Bradstreet for a DUNS Number to establish your business identity.
• Use accounts payable software to make sure your bills are always paid on time, alleviating the risk of late or missed payments.
• Open a corporate card or secured business credit card and use it properly to build your credit history.
• Be patient—the age of your business plays a role in your credit score.
• Keep your credit utilization to 30% or less.
• Grow your business revenue and profitability, as larger businesses enjoy better credit scores.

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If your business has limited credit history, lenders may heavily rely on your personal credit score to assess risk. In sole proprietorships and partnerships, your personal credit score often plays a significant role in determining your business's creditworthiness.

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Here are a few tips to help you improve your personal credit score:

• Make larger than minimum payments.
• Open a secured credit card and use it responsibly.
• Set up automatic bill payments to avoid making late payments.
• Keep your credit utilization rate below 30%.
• Make sure you have a good mix of loan types, including unsecured and secured loans.

Credit score requirements for other types of business funding

A business credit card is just one option for financing your business expenses. Here are a few alternative financing options and their credit score requirements:

Corporate cards: No credit check

Corporate cards are similar to business credit cards, except that you pay your balance in full every month. These cards also come with expense management features to streamline your business finances. 

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Unlike regular credit cards, corporate cards don’t perform a credit check—instead, to qualify you’ll just need to have a registered business and enough money in a business bank account. 

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With cards like Ramp, you may even qualify for higher credit limits than other cards with our sales-based underwriting.

Secured credit cards: No credit check

Secured credit cards don’t require a credit check, since you’ll be putting up a cash deposit to act as your line of credit. This removes any risk for the lender. Secured credit cards still often report to the major business credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and Dun & Bradstreet—so you can use them to build your credit score.

Business loans: Business score of 80 or personal credit score of 700+

A business credit score of 80 or personal credit score above 700, along with a reliable source of income, is usually the minimum to secure a business loan. However, some companies don’t consider your credit score at all in the underwriting process. These lenders pay more attention to your company’s sales and revenue.

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If your business credit score isn’t enough, lenders will ask for a personal guarantee. In this case, your personal score will come in handy.

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Here’s a snapshot of the credit score ranges to qualify for a business loan:

• Business credit score range: Your business credit score ranges from 1 to 100. Scores between 80 and 100 are considered great and will qualify your business for most loans. If your business credit score is below 80, you may need to make a personal guarantee for most loans.
• Personal credit score range: Personal credit scores above 700 are considered excellent and will qualify you for just about any loan. However, credit scores below 680 start to limit your options.

Business line of credit: Minimum credit score of 600

A minimum personal credit score of 600 is usually required for a business line of credit, though a higher score can help you secure a better interest rate. There are line of credit options for small business owners and larger businesses, each with their own requirements and interest rates. For a look at the current business line of credit rates from different lenders, you can read our updated guide to business lines of credit.

Equipment financing: Personal credit score of 500-650

A personal credit score of 500 to 650 is generally required to qualify for equipment financing. However, lenders may also require a certain amount of annual revenue and time in business. Equipment loans can be easier to qualify for since they’re available to businesses with low creditworthiness. Plus, repayment plans can span up to seven years, giving you plenty of time to repay the loan. Just be wary of interest rates when applying, especially as a small business.

Business bank account: No credit check

A business bank account isn’t a source of funding, but opening one is usually necessary to secure capital. You don’t need a good credit score to open a business account, but banks will check your ChexSystems report to assess your banking history. If you’ve overdrawn on your balance in past bank accounts, have unpaid bank fees, or have had an involuntary bank account closure, new banks may deny you an account.

How do I get my business credit rating?

Here are quick tips to obtain your business credit score from the major credit bureaus:

• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): The D&B website offers businesses a free basic report that provides limited access to four key scores.
• Experian: Businesses can buy a one-time Experian CreditScore report for around $40.
• Equifax: You must call to get a copy of your Equifax business credit score, which is otherwise only available to businesses when applying for a loan or credit card.

Get Ramp to improve your credit and access capital

Ramp isn’t as concerned with your credit score as most traditional credit card providers. Instead, we use your sales to determine your eligibility. That means you can use our platform to improve your credit score while accessing the funding you need. Ramp also comes with intuitive money management tools designed to help your business grow.