How to get a business credit card with an EIN only
- 5 best business credit cards with EIN only
- Summary of the best EIN-only business credit cards
- Alternatives to EIN-only business cards
- Small business credit cards that are EIN-only
- Can you use an EIN to get a credit card?
- Pros and cons of credit cards with EIN only
- How to apply for a business credit card with EIN
- Types of EIN-only business credit cards
- Sign up for Ramp’s corporate business credit card using your EIN
You can use an Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead of a Social Security Number (SSN) to apply for a credit card, as long as it's a business credit card or corporate card.
However, it’s important to note that these EIN-only business credit cards tend to come with certain credit, revenue, and cash-on-hand requirements that other business credit cards lack.
Fortunately, there are a number of business credit cards more ideally suited to medium and small businesses—although some may require not just your EIN but your SSN to sign up. Some of the best business credit cards for smaller organizations belong to Ramp, Stripe, and BILL.
In this article, we’ll explain in detail how EIN-only cards work, how to go about applying for one, and what the best business credit cards are for every type of business scenario.
5 best business credit cards with EIN only
It’s entirely possible to sign up for a business credit card using only your EIN, but it will have to be what's called a corporate card. Corporate cards are the only type of business credit cards that only require an EIN. They're intended for established companies and usually come with requirements like high revenue and cash-on-hand.
Major financial institutions like Capital One, Chase, and American Express offer corporate cards, but they’re generally designed for large corporations generating millions in revenue. For small to mid-sized businesses and startups, online corporate card providers are a more suitable option.
The following corporate credit cards only require an EIN:
Ramp Business Credit Card
- Higher credit limits: Ramp provides credit limits up to 30 times higher than traditional business credit cards by assessing factors like revenue and funds raised, rather than relying solely on your business credit score
- Flexible qualification options: Ramp partners with major commerce platforms such as Stripe, Shopify, and Amazon to determine credit limits for startups using sales data. With just one year of sales history on these platforms, your business can qualify and accelerate growth
- Exclusive partner rewards: Ramp cardholders enjoy access to over $350,000 in rewards, including discounts, credits, and perks for services like UPS, Amazon Business, AWS, QuickBooks, OpenAI, Notion, HubSpot, and more
- Simplified spend control: Customize and enforce expense policies with Ramp’s spend controls. Set limits by vendor, category, or transaction, and automatically flag out-of-policy or suspicious activity
- Comprehensive financial tools: Ramp’s business credit card includes a suite of finance features such as expense management, financial reporting, accounting integrations, corporate travel booking, and accounts payable automation
- Eligibility: Only available to corporations, LLCs, or LPs; sole proprietors are ineligible
- US operations: Requires primary operations and corporate spending to be within the US, although international purchases are allowed without foreign transaction fees
- Balance transfers: Balance transfers are not supported
The Ramp Business Credit Card provides cashback on purchases and comes with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. It includes advanced expense management tools to help businesses automate financial workflows, control spending, and improve reporting. Ramp does not require a personal guarantee and offers a straightforward approval process tailored to business needs.
Designed for modern businesses, the card emphasizes simplicity and efficiency with features like spend controls, detailed analytics, and seamless integration with accounting software. With no preset spending limits and a focus on optimizing expenses, Ramp supports businesses in managing finances effectively while earning consistent rewards.
Nav Prime Card
- No credit check: This eliminates the risk of a hard inquiry impacting your personal credit score
- No security deposit: You don't need to put down any upfront funds to obtain the card
- Builds business credit: Responsible use of the card can help establish and improve your business credit history with major credit bureaus
- Two tradelines: Nav reports two tradelines to credit bureaus each month, potentially accelerating credit building
- High monthly fee: The card costs $49.99 monthly to use
- Limited spending power: As a charge card, you must pay your balance in full each month
- No rewards or perks: Even other cards you can get with just anEIN offer rewards programs, cashback, or other perks. This card doesn't
The Nav Prime Card doesn’t require a personal credit check, personal guarantee, or security deposit. Instead, the card focuses on building business credit through everyday purchases. Each transaction is reported as a tradeline, allowing businesses to establish a strong credit history over time.
One downside is that the Nav Prime Card is only available to Nav Prime members, and it's not available in a handful of U.S. states, including California, Nevada and the Dakotas.
BILL Divvy Corporate Card
- No personal guarantee: Approval does not require a personal guarantee
- Rewards program: Earn points on eligible purchases through a rewards system
- Expense management tools: Features built-in tools for tracking expenses and managing budgets
- No annual fee: Access the card without paying an annual fee
- US residency requirement: Restricted to businesses based in the United States
- Credit reporting: Activity is not reported to personal credit bureaus
- Card type: Operates as a charge card, requiring full payment each billing cycle
- Limited redemption options: Rewards may have fewer categories for redemption compared to other cards
The BILL Divvy Corporate Card provides a points-based rewards program and offers no annual fee, though foreign transaction fees of up to 0.9% apply. It includes budgeting tools to help businesses manage spend limits by category and align employee expenses with company policies. The card integrates directly with BILL’s financial tools for streamlined payment processes.
However, the foreign transaction fee could make this card less ideal for businesses with significant international operations. The points-based rewards program may also require more effort to maximize value compared to simpler cashback cards, and the features are geared more toward companies actively using BILL’s ecosystem.
Coast Fuel Card
- Significant fuel discounts: Earn 4¢-10¢ per gallon discounts at Coast partner stations and 2¢ per gallon discount at other stations
- Wide acceptance: Accepted at most major gas stations across the US
- No credit check: Businesses with poor or limited credit history can still access fuel cards and manage expenses.
- High fees. Each card charges a $4 flat monthly fee for use
- Limited discounts at non-partner stations. While it is the most widely accepted fuel card, its network may limit your rewards if you visit non-partner gas stations
- Narrow scope: This type of card is only useful if gasoline is a major, ongoing business expense
Business gas cards, or fleet cards, are yet another type of card to consider. They’re useful if your business manages over five vehicles and you need to track driver expenses. They often rely on your business's financial standing (company-only liability) for approval, rather than a company’s credit history. These are typically an option for businesses with substantial annual revenue, often exceeding $1 million.
One example is the Coast Fleet Card, which can be obtained using only your EIN. It doesn’t require a personal guarantee or impact your personal credit score. It’s accepted anywhere Visa is accepted, and offers rebates on fuel purchases.
Stripe Corporate Card
- No credit check or personal guarantee required: Approval is based on your business’s financial health rather than personal credit
- No foreign transaction fees: International purchases won’t incur additional charges, saving money on global spending
- Straightforward cashback program: Earn cashback on eligible purchases without complicated redemption processes
- Limited access due to beta program: Currently, only select businesses are eligible to participate in the corporate card program
- Transaction fees reduce cashback value: Fees on certain transactions can diminish the overall benefit of cashback rewards
- No rewards bonus categories: Cashback rates remain flat regardless of spending categories
The Stripe Corporate Card offers no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or personal guarantee requirements. It provides cashback rewards on all purchases, making it straightforward for businesses to earn savings without category restrictions. The card integrates seamlessly with Stripe’s payment platform, benefiting businesses already using its services.
While the card’s focus on cashback is straightforward, it lacks category-specific bonuses or additional perks like travel benefits, which some businesses may find limiting. The card is primarily suited for companies that already operate within the Stripe ecosystem, potentially narrowing its appeal to others.
Summary of the best EIN-only business credit cards
Card comparison
- Corporate card and spend management platform
- Cashback rewards on purchases
- Unlimited employee cards with custom spending limits
- Automated receipt matching
- Accounts payable software
- Must have $25,000 in a business bank account to qualify
- Balance must be paid in full each month
Annual Fee
$0
APR
N/A
Nav Prime Card- Business credit-building card designed for small businesses
- Reports payment activity to major business credit bureaus
- No personal credit check required for application
- Allows businesses to manage expenses and build credit simultaneously
- Requires a Nav Prime subscription to access
Annual Fee
$49/month (via Nav Prime subscription)
APR
N/A
BILL Divvy Corporate Card- Corporate card available to registered businesses with an EIN number and U.S. business bank account
- Requires an SSN, but only for a soft credit check, so there's no impact on your credit score
- Comes with expense management software
- Points-based rewards with bonus points in different categories
Annual Fee
$0
APR
N/A
Coast Visa Fleet Card- Fuel and maintenance card for businesses managing fleets
- No personal guarantee required
- Real-time purchase controls and spending insights
- Customizable driver and vehicle-level limits
- Accepted at thousands of fuel and maintenance locations
Annual Fee
$2/month per active card
APR
N/A
Stripe Corporate Card- Corporate card available on an invite-only basis to U.S. companies
- Requires a Stripe account to request access
- Charges transaction fees on purchases rather than having a monthly or annual fee
- Each card transaction costs between 1% and 2.9% plus an additional fee of between 0.30 and 0.80 cents
- Earn 1.5% cashback on purchases
Annual Fee
$0
APR
N/A
Alternatives to EIN-only business cards
If you have poor credit or don’t meet the requirements for a corporate card, secured cards can be a good alternative. With these cards, you put down a cash deposit that will act as your credit limit. Secured credit cards report to the business credit bureaus, so you can use them to build your credit score.
Although secured credit cards don’t come with credit score or capital requirements, you’ll have to provide your SSN to qualify. This is necessary for the personal guarantee you agree to with these cards.
Here are a few secured business credit cards:
Bank Of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
This secured credit card from Bank of America has no annual fee and requires a minimum $1,000 cash deposit. When you’re approved, your cash deposit will act as your line of credit. The card offers 1.5% cash back rewards with no annual cap, making it a good option for funding business expenses while improving your credit score.
The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
The First National Bank Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card requires a cash deposit between $2,200 and $110,000, which acts as its credit limit. The card reports to Dun & Bradstreet, so you can build your business credit score with that bureau. It also comes with some expense management features, like receipt capture for recordkeeping. The card has a $39 annual fee.
Wells Fargo Business Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card requires a security deposit between $500 to $25,000, which determines its credit limit. The card offers a choice between cash back or reward points; you can earn 1.5% cash back on every dollar spent or 1 point on every dollar spent, plus 1,000 bonus points when your company spends $1,000 or more in any billing period. There’s a $25 annual fee per card.
Small business credit cards that are EIN-only
Corporate credit cards are the only business cards that require just an EIN, but they're typically designed for larger, more established companies bringing in substantial annual revenue. If you're a small business owner, it's unlikely you'll meet those capital requirements.
In that case, you might want to consider a card from a financial technology company that caters to smaller businesses. The following are some of the best business credit cards for small companies:
- Ramp's corporate business credit card is designed for small to mid-sized companies.
- Expensify’s corporate card offers free and paid plans for companies with 1 to 10 employees.
- Shopify's business card is designed for shop owners who use their platform. If you own a small e-commerce store, their no-credit-check card might work well for you.
- Business gas cards, or fleet cards, are yet another type of card to consider. They’re useful if your business manages over five vehicles and you need to track driver expenses. The rewards on gas are usually less than business gas credit cards, but they come with better expense management tools, and often don’t require a credit check or personal guarantee.
- The iO Card’s primary requirement is maintaining an average cash balance of roughly $25,000 in your Mercury account. It’s a flat-rate cash back that doesn’t require a personal guarantee.
- The Square Credit Card doesn’t directly check your personal credit history; its eligibility is based on the sales volume you process through the Square platform.
Can you use an EIN to get a credit card?
It's possible to get a credit card with only an Employer Identification Number (EIN), though it isn't easy. If your business doesn't have established credit, you'll need to meet additional requirements to get approved for a card using just your EIN. Those requirements can involve meeting a certain monthly revenue threshold or having a certain amount of capital in the bank.
While sole proprietors can get an EIN, they're typically not eligible for small business credit cards using only their EIN. If you have a large, established business, you can usually get a corporate card without using an individual SSN or an EIN.
Can you get a business credit card without an SSN?
Yes, you can get a business credit card without an SSN, but you’ll need to provide an EIN or a tax ID. However, new businesses usually won't have the credit history to avoid getting a personal credit check and providing a personal guarantee. If you don’t have an SSN (e.g. you recently immigrated), you may be able to use your individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), or tax ID, in the application process.
Why some issuers don’t approve applications with only an EIN
Many card issuers prefer an SSN over an EIN—and many may ask you to provide both—because they require business owners to provide a personal guarantee. That’s because lending money to startups is extremely risky, and most credit cards don’t require collateral. Lenders want to protect themselves from losses by requiring individuals to promise to repay their debts if their business can’t.
Business credit card issuers that require a personal guarantee will look at your personal credit when deciding whether to approve your credit card application. In those cases, your personal credit will also factor into the size of the credit limit you receive and the interest rate, if applicable.
Some, but not all, business credit card issuers that require an SSN will report payments on the card to personal credit bureaus.
Why would a small business need a business credit card with EIN and not an SSN?
If you’re a small business owner, you might prefer a credit card with an EIN rather than an SSN for several reasons.
- Using an EIN instead of an SSN helps separate your personal finances from those of your business. That way, you can avoid taking on personal liability for your business’s debts, should you become unable to repay them. Cards that use only an EIN are also one of the few types of business credit cards that will not affect personal credit.
- Using an EIN can help your business build a credit history over time, as long as the card issuer is reporting payments to business credit-rating agencies. Building your business credit score can give your company access to extra sources of capital in the future, and make it more affordable for you to borrow money.
- Another reason you might want a credit card with just an EIN as a business owner is if you have bad credit. In that case, you wouldn’t have to worry about being denied based on your personal credit history.
It’s important to note that your business credit score is inextricably linked to your EIN, in the same way your SSN is tied to your personal credit score. Credit bureaus use it to determine your company’s creditworthiness.
Pros and cons of credit cards with EIN only
EIN-only credit cards are a great option if you want a card with no credit check, but they have their drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of credit cards with EIN only:
Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
Finance separation | Using an EIN rather than your personal SSN keeps your business credit score separate from your personal credit score. | Even though your personal credit score will be separate, as the business owner you’ll still be on the hook for any debt incurred on your card. |
Business credit | Cards that use your EIN usually report to the business credit bureaus, meaning that you can build your business credit score. | If you’re a small business owner or have no business credit history to begin with, it may be harder to find a card that doesn’t require your SSN. |
Credit limits | EIN-only cards often come with higher credit limits, as long as your business can prove it’s bringing in substantial revenue each month. | Higher credit limits open up the possibility of misuse if not managed properly. You can prevent this problem by choosing a card that allows for custom spending limits. |
How to apply for a business credit card with EIN
Here’s how to apply for a business credit card with only an EIN, in three steps:
1. Get your EIN
Before you can apply for a business credit card using your EIN, you’ll need to get an EIN for your business. You typically get an EIN when you register your business with the state, but if you don’t have one, you can request an EIN from the IRS using this online form.
Already have an EIN number but unsure where to find it?
Read our guide to learn how to perform an EIN lookup.
2. Find EIN-only business credit cards that work for you
Once you have an EIN, you’ll need to look for card issuers that will approve you with just an EIN—we’ve listed a few options below. Usually, your business will need to be registered as a limited-liability corporation (LLC), a partnership, or a corporation. Then, apply for a business credit card as you would any other credit card. If there’s a box asking for your SSN, just skip it and fill out the section requesting an EIN instead.
3. Apply for a business card with EIN
You'll also need to include other information about your business, like its name and corporate structure, its contact information, the size of your business, its current and projected revenues, and its date of registration. Once you’ve filled out the application, the card issuer will review and verify the information and then let you know whether you’ve been approved. Some card issuers will complete the verification process instantly, while others might take a few days.
Discover Ramp's corporate card for modern finance
Types of EIN-only business credit cards
There are different types of EIN-only business credit cards you might consider based on your business's needs. Here are the card options to look at:
Corporate business credit cards
When using a corporate business credit card, your business is responsible for any credit card debt, eliminating the need for a personal guarantee. An SNN isn’t necessary for corporate credit cards, so you can get a business credit card with just your EIN number.
To qualify for most corporate business credit cards, you'll also need a U.S. business bank account with a certain minimum balance. For the Ramp Card, you need a balance of at least $25,000. The Brex Card requires a minimum balance of $50,000 if you own a funded startup business, or higher if you haven't fundraised. BILL Divvy's minimum balance requirement is only $20,000, but they do run a soft credit check. Eligibility for Stripe's corporate card is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Store credit cards
Store credit cards are meant to be used at one specific store. While you’ll be more limited in where you can use them, they may make sense if the bulk of your business purchases come from a single vendor. As a bonus, store credit cards don’t come with a personal liability requirement. Best Buy’s credit card and Amazon’s Secured Store Card are examples of this type of card.
While store credit cards often offer rewards that can benefit your business, these are only redeemable at the store where you use the card. You’re better off with a more flexible corporate card that lets you set permissions on which stores employees can shop from, with a wider range of rewards.
Corporate gas credit cards
Much like a corporate store card, gas credit cards offer perks like discounts at the pump and other travel rewards. Many companies opt to use corporate gas cards instead of gas reimbursement programs.
As with store cards, corporate gas credit cards have limited use since they only work at gas stations within a specific network. That said, if gas is a significant expense for your company, a corporate credit card for gas might make sense. For a more flexible option, consider a corporate credit card that works anywhere, while offering category controls to limit where employees can spend. You can sign up for some gas cards using only your EIN.
Prepaid business cards
Business card issuers typically require an SSN to determine the creditworthiness of businesses without an established credit history. Since prepaid business cards reduce the risk to lenders (since there’s no possibility for losses), they don’t require an SSN or a personal credit check.
Prepaid business credit cards are one type of secured business credit cards. While these can be a useful tool to help you build business credit, an unsecured card offers much more flexibility.
Sign up for Ramp’s corporate business credit card using your EIN
Ramp’s corporate business credit cards offer more flexibility than other types of cards, as well as a range of additional perks for managing your business finances. You can use Ramp at all different types of stores while building your business credit score. Plus, Ramp helps you save more with its rewards and has credit limits up to 20 times higher than traditional banks.
We also make it easy to start an employee card program by allowing you to issue unlimited virtual credit cards. You can place spending limits or restrictions on where your employees can use the cards, empowering your company to spend as necessary while controlling for unnecessary expenses.
Plus, Ramp’s cards come packaged with a suite of expense management tools that allow you to track your finances in real-time.
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