What are the Brex credit card requirements?

Brex specializes in serving high-growth companies and established mid-market businesses. But being a venture-backed startup isn’t a hard and fast rule — though there are others. To be eligible for the Brex corporate card, businesses must fulfill certain requirements. 

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Here’s a closer look at those requirements, plus the chances of being approved, whether Brex conducts a credit check, and the different payment methods for the card to help you determine if the Brex business credit card is the right choice for your company’s needs.

What is Brex?

Brex is a fintech company that provides financial services like corporate credit cards, cash management accounts, and expense management tools, all designed to help businesses streamline their finances and accelerate growth.

Is it hard to get a Brex credit card?

Yes, obtaining a Brex credit card can be more challenging than other options. 

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Brex primarily caters to venture-backed startups and high-growth companies with high amounts of cash on hand. This makes it less accessible for smaller businesses or those without substantial venture funding. For smaller businesses, options like the Ramp Business Credit Card may be a more suitable choice due to their lower eligibility requirements.

What are the requirements for a Brex business credit card?

Business registration and legal status

To apply for a Brex business credit card, your company must be legally registered in the United States. This includes having a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) and being incorporated as a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), partnership, or sole proprietorship.

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Brex welcomes international founders to apply for their business credit card, as long as they have a U.S. presence for billing and operations. This can include a US-registered company, virtual U.S. billing address, plans to serve U.S. customers, and a U.S. bank account (or a Brex business account).

Financial history and creditworthiness—no credit score needed

Brex evaluates the financial health of your business rather than relying solely on your personal credit score. This includes reviewing your business’s bank statements, financial records, and overall financial stability. 

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Businesses with strong revenue and cash flow are more likely to be approved.

Minimum bank balance

One of the requirements for a Brex business credit card is maintaining a minimum bank balance. Brex typically looks for a certain amount of cash reserves in your business bank account. While the exact amount can vary, businesses with a higher cash balance have better approval odds.

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According to the Brex website, startups must have “$50,000 as a minimum cash balance (if you’ve raised), or potentially even lower if you’re referred by certain partners of ours.” More established companies have higher bank balance thresholds. “A mid-market company or enterprise that qualifies for the Brex card with monthly payments will need more than $400K/month in revenue ($4.8MM/year).”

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Part of the arrangement is that Brex continually monitors your account balances. Brex dynamically adjusts your credit limit based on your available cash, which means your monthly credit limit can fluctuate based on the funds available in your connected bank accounts.

Industry type

The Brex entrepreneur program prefers businesses in certain industries like technology, e-commerce, and other growth-oriented sectors are generally favored. Traditional brick-and-mortar businesses or those in high-risk industries might face more scrutiny.

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Some nonprofits may also be approved for the Brex business credit card, but only on a case-by-case basis. 

Use of business bank account

Brex requires applicants to connect their business bank account to their platform for financial analysis. This connection allows Brex to continuously monitor your business’s financial health, which can impact your credit limit and overall account status.

No personal guarantee required

Notably, Brex doesn’t require a personal guarantee, so there’s no founder liability if the business goes belly up. This makes it attractive to business owners since, unlike a lot of other business credit cards, their personal assets are not at risk in case of default.

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» Learn more: The best business credit cards with no personal guarantee

What are the odds of being approved for a Brex business credit card?

The odds of being approved for a Brex business credit card largely depend on the financial health and stability of your business. Companies with strong revenue, significant cash reserves, and a healthy financial history have higher chances of approval. Brex’s focus on business performance rather than personal credit scores means that startups and rapidly growing companies can also have good approval odds, provided they meet the financial criteria set by Brex.

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According to Brex, customers who meet any of the following criteria are typically fast-tracked to approval.

• Received an equity investment of any amount (accelerator, angel, or VC) or plan to in the near future.
• More than $1 million a year in revenue.
• More than 50 employees.
• Tech startups who are on a path to meeting the criteria above, and are referred by an existing customer or partner.

Who is the Brex card best for?

The Brex Card is well-suited for entrepreneurs leading high-growth, venture-backed companies, particularly those with limited or no personal credit history.

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Ideal candidates for the Brex Business Credit Card include businesses that:

• Can consistently pay their card balance in full within 30 days using automatic debits.
• Are willing to share company bank accounts and funding information with Brex for financial analysis.
• Need access to a high credit limit to support their business growth.

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The Brex Card won’t shine in these scenarios:

• Business owners seeking extensive travel perks: Like airport lounge access or elite travel status. A better alternative is a business credit card focused on travel rewards.
• Small businesses with smaller cash flows: Sole proprietorships or small, family-owned businesses will likely not get approval. If smaller businesses want a card similar to Brex, they might consider the Ramp Business Credit Card instead, which requires $25,000 in the bank—half that of Brex.

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Discover Ramp's corporate card for modern finance

Learn more

What else you need to know

Brex is a charge card

The Brex card requires that your account be automatically debited to pay your entire balance each month which eliminates interest charges and prevents you from carrying a balance. 

Does Brex perform a hard pull for a business credit card?

Brex does not perform a hard pull on your personal credit when you apply for a business credit card. Instead, they evaluate the financial health of your business by analyzing your business bank account and financial records. This approach ensures that your personal credit score is not affected by the application process.

Can you pay Brex with a credit card?

Currently, Brex doesn’t allow payments to be made with another credit card. Payments must be made directly from your business bank account. This policy helps maintain the financial integrity and cash flow management that Brex emphasizes for its clients.

Expect higher credit limits

Brex often offers higher credit limits compared to traditional business credit cards. 

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Unlike traditional lenders who might set a static limit of, say, $10,000 and require you to request increases later, Brex continuously evaluates your business's financial health and adjusts your credit limit accordingly.

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Brex rewards

Brex offers a rewards program for eligible cardholders, with the potential for high earning rates—but there’s a catch. Cardholders must make the Brex Card their primary business card to enjoy bonuses like 4x points on travel booked through the Brex portal and 3x points at restaurants.

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For those who choose to use the Brex Card in conjunction with other business credit cards, it only earns 1x point per dollar on all purchases. 

How to fill out a Brex card application

You can fill out a Brex card application online in six easy steps, and whether or not you’re approved is decided quickly.

1. Visit the Brex website: Go to the Brex website and locate the "Apply Now" or "Get Started" button.  
2. Create an account: Provide basic information such as your name, work email, and company name.
3. Provide business details: Enter your company's legal name, registration number (EIN), and date of incorporation. Specify your company's industry, annual revenue, and number of employees. Describe your business model and funding sources (if applicable).
4. Link your bank account: Connect your business bank account to the Brex platform. This allows Brex to assess your company's financial health and determine your creditworthiness.  
5. Review, submit and await approval: Carefully review all the information you have entered for accuracy, agree to the terms and conditions, and submit your application. Brex will review your application and typically provide a decision within minutes. If approved, you'll receive a virtual card immediately and a physical card will be mailed to you shortly.

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In some cases, your application will be approved, but we’ll need you to provide some additional information. 

Get a Ramp Corporate Card with no credit check or personal guarantee

If you're looking for a business credit card that doesn’t require a personal credit check or personal guarantee, and is more accessible than Brex’s target customer, consider the Ramp Corporate Card. 

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Ramp offers a corporate card designed to simplify expense management and streamline financial operations for businesses.

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Like Brex, Ramp focuses on your business’s financial health rather than your personal credit, making it an alternative for companies looking to avoid personal liability.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article has not been officially confirmed by Brex and is subject to change.