Best business credit cards with no personal guarantee in January 2025

Most business credit cards require a personal guarantee, which allows creditors to hold you personally liable for any debts on your credit card.

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But what if you don’t want to put your financial stability on the line to access capital for your business? In this article, we explain personal guarantees, when business credit cards require them, and how to access business credit without one.

What is a personal guarantee on a business credit card?

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The personal guarantee gives the lender the right to start the collection process against you as the business owner. This could include everything from annoying phone calls to the lender reporting you to the credit bureaus.

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In extreme cases, a lender could file a lawsuit against you, resulting in the loss of personal assets such as your home. The personal guarantee applies to all business types, even limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations, which generally offer protection against personal liability.

Do all business credit cards require a personal guarantee?

If you're a new business owner, a personal guarantee is usually required to open a credit card. A business credit card without a personal guarantee will typically require a higher business credit score, which will pose an issue if your business is a startup or still unestablished.

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However, there are some business credit cards you can get without a personal guarantee or established business credit. Ramp’s corporate card, for example, uses your monthly sales data to underwrite your card. If your business is producing enough revenue, you may be approved for a card with a higher credit limit than typical credit cards.

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How to get a business credit card with no personal guarantee

If you don’t want to put your personal finances on the line, some card options don’t require a personal guarantee. However, some of these credit card offers are notoriously hard for new business owners to access, so be sure that you meet the requirements first.

General requirements

Lenders that offer business credit cards with no personal guarantee typically require you to have:

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• A well-established business: Your business will likely need articles of incorporation to show it's been operational for at least three years
• Strong business credit: Your business will likely need some form of positive credit history—like a history of responsible use of a business credit card with a personal guarantee or a business loan that has a proven history of on-time payments
• Deposit account: You may be required to open a deposit account and maintain a minimum balance with the lender. A deposit account is typically linked to the credit card, acting as a safety net for the lender, much like a personal credit card with a security deposit.
• Significant revenue and profitability: You may need to prove that your business generates a substantial annual profit

Consider corporate cards

Corporate cards work like credit cards, but they usually don't require a personal guarantee because they require a higher revenue threshold to be approved.

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You may be able to get approved even if you operate a relatively new business because some card providers offer sales-based underwriting to determine your revenue instead of requiring multiple years of financial documents.

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If you have multiple employees, you should consider corporate charge cards over business credit cards. They usually offer wider benefits like multiple cards, expense management features, and real-time reporting.

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Another benefit of corporate cards is that they don’t accrue monthly interest like credit cards. Instead, you pay balances off monthly, avoiding interest and late payment fees altogether.

The best business credit cards with no personal guarantee

Here are the best no-personal-guarantee business credit cards currently on the market:

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The Ramp Business Credit Card integrates advanced financial tools to help businesses streamline expense management. It offers customizable spending controls, real-time tracking, and automated expense categorization. Businesses can issue unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards without incurring annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or interest charges.

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To qualify, businesses need a minimum of $25,000 in a U.S. business bank account. Ramp operates as a charge card, requiring the balance to be paid in full each month. Ramp also provides cashback on purchases and integrates seamlessly with accounting software such as QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Intacct, and NetSuite.

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Key features:

• Cashback on purchases
• Unlimited free physical and virtual employee cards
• Real-time tracking and automated expense categorization
• Customizable spending controls and approval workflows
• Integration with accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Intacct, and NetSuite
• Access to partner discounts and rewards
• Requires a minimum $25,000 balance in a U.S. business bank account

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The BILL Divvy Corporate Card is designed for businesses looking for flexible expense management and rewards. It comes with integrated expense management software and allows businesses to issue physical and virtual cards with customizable spending limits. The card features a points-based rewards system with bonus points available in select categories, offering value to businesses with diverse spending needs.

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The card requires businesses to maintain at least $20,000 in cash reserves to qualify. It also operates on frequent repayment intervals (daily or weekly), which may not suit all businesses' cash flow cycles.

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Key features:

• Points-based rewards with bonus categories
• Integrated expense management tools
• Issue physical and virtual cards with spending controls
• Soft credit check during application
• Requires at least $20,000 in cash reserves

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The IO Card provides expense management tools, including real-time expense tracking and automated categorization. Businesses can issue unlimited physical and virtual employee cards with no additional fees. The card integrates with accounting software for streamlined financial management.

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To qualify, businesses must maintain a minimum cash reserve, and the full balance must be repaid monthly since the card operates as a charge card. These requirements may not align with businesses needing revolving credit or greater cash flow flexibility.

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Key features:

• Points-based rewards with bonus categories
• Real-time expense tracking and categorization
• Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards
• Integration with accounting software
• Customizable spending limits and approval workflows

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The Sam’s Club Business Mastercard offers cashback rewards across several spending categories, including gas, dining, and travel. It also provides no annual fee and the ability to earn Sam’s Cash for Sam’s Club purchases. Cardholders must be active Sam’s Club members to apply and use the card.

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The card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, and the rewards program is limited to specific categories. Additionally, the card requires membership in Sam’s Club, which involves an annual fee for access.

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Key features:

• 5% cashback on the first $6,000 spent annually on gas
• 3% cashback on dining and travel
• 1% cashback on other purchases
• Earn Sam’s Cash redeemable at Sam’s Club
• Requires active Sam’s Club membership

Summary of the best business credit cards with no personal guarantee

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How to choose the right card with no personal guarantee

If you’re looking for a new credit card for your business, it’s important to compare your options carefully. Consider the following as you explore what’s out there:

1. Look for rewards and perks that can help your business

As you shop your options, you may get drawn in by airline rewards or other loyalty programs. However, you'll want to make sure your business will use the rewards. If the card comes with annual fees and a high interest rate, it might not actually add value to your business.

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Some cards come with cashback, which means you won't have to navigate loyalty programs or spend within specific categories to earn rewards. For example, Ramp cards offer cashback on every purchase, regardless of category.

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Discover Ramp's corporate card for modern finance

Learn more

2. Compare interest, fees, and liabilities

Like many personal credit cards, small business credit cards typically come with a long list of fees, including:

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• Interest, aka APR
• Annual fees
• Foreign transaction fees
• Over-limit fees
• Late payment fees
• Balance transfer fees
• Cash advance fees

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It’s important to get a detailed understanding of all the fees associated with each option and choose a card that helps you minimize costs. Consider the liabilities associated with account ownership, like a requirement to open a deposit account with the issuer and maintain a minimum balance.

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If you find that it’s too much hassle, have a hard time getting approved, or want to avoid interest and fees entirely, you may want to consider a corporate card where you pay off your balance monthly.

3. Consider credit limits

According to the most recently available data, the average small business credit card credit limit in the United States is $56,100. However, your credit limit may be significantly higher or lower than average. This could be due to multiple factors, including:

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• Credit history: The more established your business credit is, the higher the credit limit you’ll qualify for. For example, a business with 10 years of on-time payments will likely be able to access more capital than a business with three years of on-time payments.
• Revenue and profitability: Providers ultimately want to know that your business can pay back the money it lends. The more profitability your company generates, the more money lenders are willing to offer.
• Credit utilization rate: Your business’s credit utilization rate is the percentage of available credit it has already used. When your credit utilization rate is too high, it’s a red flag to lenders. If you keep your credit utilization rate below 30%, you're more likely to access a higher credit limit.
• The lender: Some lenders are known for offering higher credit limits than others. If you have a working relationship with one lender, they're usually more willing to offer you higher limits.
• Underwriting style: If you use ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Stripe, or Amazon, you should consider looking for a card provider that uses sales-based underwriting. This typically leads to much higher credit limits—in some cases, up to 30x higher than traditional offerings.

4. Look for expense management software

When you’re evaluating business credit cards, you should look for something more than a traditional credit card. The best business credit cards offer tools that make it easier to track and control spending. Look for modern options that come with expense management software.

Access the capital your business needs with Ramp

If you need access to a spending card for your business, Ramp may be right for you. Our corporate business credit card comes with a wide range of expense management features, cash back on purchases, and integrations with platforms like QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct for easier, more accurate accounting.

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Ramp gives you complete control over your company’s spending, with features like:

• Unlimited employee cards with custom spending limits at the card and transaction level
• Merchant and category restrictions to help you implement your expense policy
• Real-time expense tracking and automated savings insights
• Access to bill pay and reimbursement capabilities so you can track all of your non-payroll spending in one place‍‍

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