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As a business owner, it's essential to separate your personal and business finances. One way to do this is by using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus. This can help protect your personal credit score and keep your business and personal credit activity separate.

In this article, we'll explore which business credit cards don't report to personal credit bureaus, which ones report to business credit bureaus, and the pros and cons of using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit. 

Which business credit cards report to personal credit bureaus?

Here's a table of some popular business credit card issuers and whether they report to personal credit bureaus:

Card issuer Reports to personal credit bureaus
Ramp No
American Express Yes, but only negative payment history
U.S. Bank Yes, but only for serious delinquencies
Wells Fargo No
Bank of America No
Discover Yes
Capital One Plus and Venture X business credit cards report delinquencies
Chase Yes, but only for serious delinquencies
Citi No

As you can see, only a few card issuers, such as Ramp, Bank of America, Citi, and Wells Fargo don't report any activity to personal credit bureaus. This means that using these cards responsibly won't impact your personal credit score, but it also means that any negative activity, like late payments or high balances, won't show up on your personal credit report.

Which business credit cards report to business credit bureaus?

While some business credit cards don't report to personal credit bureaus, most do report to major business credit bureaus. Reporting to commercial credit bureaus can help you build your business credit profile, making it easier to qualify for loans, lines of credit, and other financing options in the future. Here's a table showing which business credit cards report to which business credit bureaus:

Card issuer Dun & Bradstreet Equifax Experian
Ramp Yes Yes Yes
Chase Yes Yes Yes
American Express Yes Yes Yes
Bank of America Yes Yes Yes
Capital One Yes Yes Yes
Discover Yes Yes Yes
Wells Fargo Yes Yes Yes
U.S. Bank Yes No No
Citi Yes Yes Yes

Business credit cards that don't report to personal credit bureaus

Now that we've seen which card issuers report to personal credit bureaus, let's take a closer look at some specific business credit cards that don’t.

Pros of using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus

Separating personal and business finances 

Using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus helps keep personal and business expenses separate, making it easier to track and manage business finances. This separation is important for maintaining a clear distinction between personal and business credit, which is crucial for legal and tax purposes.

Protecting personal credit score 

When using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus, the card activity won't impact the cardholder's personal credit score, as long as payments are made on time and the account is managed responsibly. This prevents potential negative effects on personal credit, such as high credit utilization or late payments on the business card.

Higher credit limits 

Business credit cards often have higher credit limits compared to personal credit cards, providing more purchasing power for business expenses. These higher credit limits can be beneficial for businesses with significant expenses or those looking to make large purchases.

Cons of using a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus

No positive impact on personal credit score

Responsible use and timely payments on a business credit card that doesn't report to personal credit bureaus won't contribute to improving the cardholder's personal credit score. This means missing out on the opportunity to build personal credit through business credit card use.

Personal guarantee requirement

Some business credit cards, including those that don't report to personal credit bureaus, may still require a personal guarantee from the business owner. This means the business owner is personally responsible for the debt incurred on the card, blurring the line between personal and business finances.

Limited options

The number of business credit cards that don't report to personal credit bureaus may be limited compared to those that do. This can restrict the choice of cards with specific rewards, benefits, or features that may be advantageous for the business.

Does a business credit card affect your personal credit score?

In most cases, a business credit card will not go off your personal credit score as long as you make payments on time and keep your account in good standing. However, if you default on your business credit card or make late payments, the card issuer may report this negative activity to your personal credit report, which could hurt your personal credit score.

Build business credit with Ramp

If you're looking to build business credit without impacting your personal credit, Ramp is a great option. Ramp provides a corporate card that doesn't require a personal credit check or personal guarantee, making it an attractive choice for business owners with less-than-perfect personal credit.

Once you're approved for a Ramp card, you can start making purchases and earn cashback on transactions. Ramp also offers a variety of expense management and accounting software integrations to help streamline your business finances.

While Ramp doesn't report to personal credit bureaus, it does report to major business credit bureaus. This means that using your Ramp card responsibly can help you build your business credit profile over time.

In addition to building business credit, using a Ramp card can also help you:

  • Manage employee expenses with custom spend controls and real-time alerts
  • Automate expense reporting and receipt matching
  • Integrate with popular accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct
  • Access higher credit limits than traditional business credit cards
Try Ramp for free
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Contributor Finance Writer
John is a freelance writer and content strategist with over three years of experience and expertise covering topics on finance, HR/business, and IT security for small and medium-sized businesses. His work has been featured on reputable platforms like Forbes Advisor and Techopedia.
Ramp is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes make informed decisions. We adhere to strict editorial guidelines to ensure that our content meets and maintains our high standards.

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