How to apply for and get a business credit card

To choose the right business credit card, you should consider your company's spending patterns, financial infrastructure, and growth trajectory. Each card provider evaluates applications differently – some focus on personal credit scores while others prioritize revenue and business performance. But the application process follows similar core steps.

You can apply for most business credit cards online by providing basic company information, financial details, and documentation like tax returns or bank statements.

Business credit cards offer spending flexibility while creating a clear separation between personal and business expenses. They help you build business credit and earn rewards on everyday purchases, improving your access to better financing options as your company grows.

Why your business needs a credit card

Business credit cards provide structure, control, and growth opportunities that other payment methods simply can't offer, making them essential financial tools rather than just a convenience.

Keep business and personal expenses separate. When you mix personal and business spending, you create accounting headaches that cascade into tax complications and decreased financial visibility. A dedicated business card creates a natural boundary that prevents this problem at the source. Your finance team will save time during tax season, gain clearer insights into business spending patterns, and protect yourself in case of an audit by having a clean financial trail. Plus, many accounting professionals consider this separation a fundamental best practice for businesses of any size.

Build business credit history. Using a dedicated business card allows you to build credit for your company independently of your personal credit history. By using a dedicated business card responsibly and making timely payments, you can establish a strong credit history and score for your company. Your business credit record is separate from your personal credit, and it can open doors to financing options like business loans, lines of credit, higher card limits, and more as your company grows.

Earn relevant rewards. Business credit cards offer reward structures that are specifically designed for business spending habits. The specific offerings vary by card, but the right match between your spending patterns and credit card rewards can turn everyday business expenses into valuable returns that benefit your bottom line.

Streamline expense management. Modern business cards often include tools that automate tracking and categorization of expenses. These features reduce the administrative burden of expense management, provide better visibility into spending patterns, and integrate with accounting software to eliminate manual data entry. Cards that automatically capture receipts and categorize transactions can save you hours each week while ensuring more accurate expense reporting. Many also offer customizable spending controls for employee cards and real-time spending alerts to prevent overspending and unauthorized purchases.

Common business credit card requirements

Before applying for a business credit card, it's important to understand what issuers evaluate when reviewing your application. While requirements vary between providers, most consider several key factors:

Business structure

Your company's legal formation affects the application process. Incorporated entities like LLCs and corporations typically need their Employer Identification Number (EIN) and formation documents. Sole proprietors can often use their Social Security number, though having an EIN strengthens applications. Most card issuers accept all business types, but documentation requirements differ.

Revenue and cash flow considerations

Card issuers want assurance that your business can handle its financial obligations. They often review your revenue patterns, profitability, and bank statements to evaluate your repayment capacity. While minimum revenue requirements vary widely, consistent income improves your approval odds significantly. Some modern card providers focus more on your current bank balance and cash flow than on traditional credit factors.

Credit history evaluation

Traditional issuers often require high personal credit scores and evaluate both personal and business credit history before qualifying applicants. Your personal score often carries significant weight, especially for newer businesses without established credit profiles. Some issuers require minimum personal FICO scores of 670 or higher, while others may approve applicants with scores in the 600s. Modern cards, like Ramp, evaluate your business based on your financial metrics rather than credit scores.

Time in operation

How long your company has been in operation can influence your chances of approval. Card providers often view established businesses with proven track records as lower risk, making it easier for them to secure credit. In contrast, newly formed companies may face more scrutiny. Some issuers require at least one year of business history before considering your application, as they look for signs of stability and operational consistency before extending a credit line.

Industry-specific considerations

Certain industries face more scrutiny than others when applying for business credit. High-risk sectors or heavily regulated industries may find fewer options available. Some modern card providers have expanded accessibility to industries traditionally underserved by conventional banking, including technology startups, e-commerce businesses, and service-based companies.

How to apply for and get a business credit card

You can apply for a business credit card in just a few minutes, and you typically get the decision in less than a week. Here are the steps:

Gather the required information

When applying for a business credit card, you should gather the following items:

• Business bank account information, like routing number, account number, and recent statements
• Ownership information, including details for anyone who owns 25% or more of the business
• Government-issued ID for yourself and any other business owners

Submit the online application

Most business credit card applications can be completed in 15-30 minutes:

1. Go to the card issuer's website
2. Complete the online form with your business details
3. Double-check all information for accuracy
4. Submit your application

Make sure to fill out all sections completely to avoid unnecessary delays in processing.

Get approved and set up your account

After approval, you can immediately access your account features:

• Generate virtual cards for immediate use or team distribution
• Connect your accounting software for automatic expense sync
• Set spending limits and approval workflows for employees
• Configure receipt capture and categorization settings

Modern cards offer immediate virtual card access upon approval, while physical cards typically arrive within 7-10 business days.

Maximize your card's value

Once your account is active:

• Review your card's specific benefits and rewards structure
• Set up automatic payment aligned with your billing cycles
• Create expense policy best practices aligned with your business needs
• Take advantage of expense tracking features to monitor costs

Some cards help you identify cost-saving opportunities through vendor comparisons, subscription management, and contract renewal alerts. Focus on using these tools to optimize your spending rather than just earning rewards.

How to choose the right business credit card for your company

Choosing the best business credit card isn’t just about credit limits or travel perks – it’s about maximizing every dollar your company spends. For example, when Candid switched to Ramp, they increased the percentage of spending that earned cashback from under 5% to 14%, generating over $40,000 in rewards. “Our old program had cashback and certain expense categories that were better than others, but the percentage was lower.” said Dmitriy from Candid. Their experience shows how aligning your card with your actual spending patterns can unlock thousands in value. Here are some things to consider when choosing a business credit card for your company:

Match your spending patterns

Begin by analyzing where your business spends most frequently. Review your financial statements from the past year to identify your highest expense categories. If you travel frequently, look for cards with a rewards program focused on travel benefits and no foreign transaction fees. If your spending is spread across many categories, a flat-rate rewards card might provide better value than one with category-specific bonuses.

Evaluate the true cost

Consider the overall cost and utility. Some cards come with annual fees, interest charges, or require separate tools to manage expenses. For example, a card with flat-rate cash back and built-in expense tools may provide more consistent long-term value than one with specialized perks that don’t match your day-to-day needs.

Assess integration capabilities

Look for cards that connect with your existing accounting software and financial systems. The time saved through automated receipt capture, transaction categorization, and accounting integration can deliver significant operational value beyond the card's reward structure.

Weigh employee card management

If multiple team members need access to company funds, prioritize cards with built-in controls for employee spending. Consider whether you need the ability to set individual spending limits, restrict purchases to specific merchant categories, or generate virtual cards for one-time purchases.

Factor in business growth plans

Choose a card that can scale with your business. If you anticipate significant growth, look for options with flexible credit limits and upgrade paths. Some providers automatically increase limits as your business demonstrates stronger financial performance, whereas others require manual requests.

Traditional vs. modern business cards

Business credit cards have evolved beyond simple payment tools into sophisticated expense management platforms. While traditional cards focus primarily on transactions and rewards, modern business cards provide real-time financial insights and automated controls that help you make better spending decisions.

Traditional cards require you to manually track expenses, submit receipts, and categorize transactions after the fact. This creates a constant lag between spending and understanding where your money goes. You might discover budget overruns weeks later or find duplicate subscriptions only during quarterly budget reviews.

Modern business cards integrate directly with your accounting systems and provide immediate spending data. They automatically capture receipts, enforce spending policies in real-time, and alert you to unusual transactions before they become problems. Instead of reactive expense management, you get proactive financial control.

This is generally what the two types of cards compare:

Comparing business credit cards

Here’s a general breakdown of how popular business cards compare:

Why companies are choosing Ramp for business spending

Companies choose Ramp because it transforms credit cards into a finance automation platform that eliminates manual work, finds cost savings, and speeds up month-end close. Unlike traditional cards that just process payments, Ramp integrates expense management, accounting automation, and spend controls into one system.

Marqeta, the global modern card issuing platform, experienced this transformation firsthand when their finance team found themselves drowning in manual work. "Our previous corporate credit card program was very manual," says Megan Gemoll, Director of Corporate Accounting at Marqeta. "Every month we were doing a manual journal entry to upload all of our credit card transactions. There was no way for us to track who had and hadn't submitted receipts."

The results of switching to Ramp were immediate and significant. Marqeta reduced the time spent on corporate card management from 8 hours per month to just 1 hour–an 87% reduction in administrative overhead. The accounting team gained the ability to start expense analysis before month-end, since transactions automatically sync to their accounting system rather than requiring manual uploads.

New Way Landscape, a fast-growing landscaping company, faced different challenges with their legacy card provider. "Everything went through the card manager," explains Bill Cox, New Way's VP of Finance. "To get a card, I would order it, it would be sent to me, and then I would give it to the person." This cumbersome process created bottlenecks and limited who could have access to company cards.

After implementing Ramp, New Way discovered a more efficient way to operate. "I love that it's easy to give a card to somebody with controls that allow them to do as much or as little as we want them to do," says Bill. "The ability to easily give cards to people who couldn't have them in the past has been great." The improved card distribution and management system saved the accounting team hours each month while creating a more agile operating environment.

These efficiency gains aren't unique to these companies. Businesses using Ramp typically save 5% by identifying redundant subscriptions, negotiating better vendor terms, and eliminating wasteful spending.

Finance teams reclaim hundreds of hours annually through automated receipt collection, instant transaction categorization, and seamless accounting integration. What once required days of manual work now happens automatically.

Unlike traditional credit cards, Ramp evaluates your business based on its own financial health rather than personal credit scores, making it accessible to growing companies whose business fundamentals are stronger than the founder's personal credit history.

Get a Ramp Business Credit Card based on your business revenue

The business credit card you choose becomes an integral part of your operations. Beyond just payment processing, the right card gives you control over expenses, helps build your company's credit profile, and returns value through rewards on everyday spending.

Consider your business priorities: Do you need stronger expense tracking for your growing team? Want to maximize rewards on common business purchases? Looking to establish credit for future financing needs? Some cards excel in one area, while others offer a balanced approach across multiple benefits.

Ramp combines all these advantages with features designed for modern businesses–cashback, real-time visibility into company spending, and expense management with automated tracking and categorization. No annual fees, no personal credit requirements, and approval based on your business performance. See if you're eligible for Ramp’s modern corporate business credit card.