How to apply for and get a business credit card
- Can you qualify for a business credit card?
- Have this ready before you apply
- Business credit card application requirements
- How to apply for a business credit card
- Common mistakes to avoid when applying
- How to choose the right business credit card for your company
- Traditional business credit cards vs. corporate cards
- Why companies are choosing Ramp for business spending
AI Summary
A business credit card makes it easier to separate personal and company spending, manage cash flow, and keep your team's purchases organized. Applying is usually straightforward once you know what to prepare and what issuers look for. Here's what you need to know about qualifying, gathering your information, and choosing the right card for your business.
Note: The cashback percentages, limits, fees, and other figures mentioned in this article are for illustrative purposes only. They do not represent guaranteed or expected rates. Actual terms, credit limits, rewards, and approval criteria vary by card issuer and may change at any time. Readers should verify current details directly with each issuer before applying.
Can you qualify for a business credit card?
You don't need to run a large company to qualify for a business credit card. Sole proprietors, freelancers, independent contractors, LLCs, corporations, and startups can all be eligible to apply.
Issuers typically review three things:
- Who you are: Your legal name, contact information, date of birth, and tax identification details
- How your business operates: Your business name, structure, address, industry, time in business, and number of employees
- Your ability to repay: Your personal credit history, business revenue, cash flow, and bank information
Each issuer weighs these factors differently, so it's worth checking specific requirements before you apply. Traditional business cards often look at your personal credit and may require a personal guarantee. Other providers, like Ramp, focus more on your company's revenue and cash flow instead.
Have this ready before you apply
Having this information ready can speed up your application and help you avoid delays.
Personal details
- Legal name and home address
- Date of birth and contact information
- Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, when required
- Personal income, if requested
Business details
- Legal business name and any DBA name
- Business address, phone number, and email
- Business structure, such as sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or corporation
- Industry, time in business, and number of employees
- Employer Identification Number, or your Social Security number if you operate as a sole proprietor
Financial and ownership details
- Annual business revenue and expected monthly spend
- Business bank account information or recent statements, if requested
- Ownership information for people with a meaningful ownership stake
- Supporting documents, such as formation documents or tax records, if the issuer asks for them
Business credit card application requirements
When you apply for a business credit card, you'll need to provide enough information for the issuer to verify your identity and evaluate your business.
Most applications evaluate four areas:
- Personal identity and contact information
- Business profile, including legal name, structure, industry, and time in business
- Financial profile, including revenue, expected spend, or cash flow
- Credit history, or for some modern providers, your business's cash flow and bank balance
What if your business is new?
Being new doesn't disqualify you. If you're a freelancer, independent contractor, or new business owner, just report your current business activity and income accurately. If you're a sole proprietor without a separate EIN, you can typically apply using your own name and Social Security number.
If your business is relatively new, focus on what you can document: consistent revenue, a business bank account, clear records, and a realistic spending estimate.
Discover Ramp's corporate card for modern finance
How to apply for 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.
1. Gather the required information
Have these ready before you start:
- 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
2. Check your personal credit
Most traditional issuers pull your personal credit report as part of the application. A score of 680 or higher typically qualifies you for standard cards, while premium options from major banks often require 720 or above. Your score directly affects whether you're approved and how much credit you get.
If your personal credit score isn't strong enough for a traditional card, some providers take a different approach. Ramp, for example, evaluates your company's bank balance and revenue instead of your personal credit history. A lower personal score won't automatically disqualify you if the issuer focuses on your business financials.
Checking your score first helps you apply for cards you're likely to get approved for and avoid hard inquiries that could temporarily lower your score. You can check your score for free through services like Credit Karma or AnnualCreditReport.com.
3. Choose the right card
Start by reviewing your top spending categories from the past year. If your team spends heavily on travel, look for cards with travel rewards and no foreign transaction fees. If most of your spending goes toward software subscriptions, office supplies, or online advertising, a flat-rate cashback card may deliver more consistent value.
Think about which card type matches how you actually spend and manage cash flow. Cashback cards return a percentage on every purchase, while travel rewards cards offer points toward flights and hotels. If you're planning a large purchase and want to spread out payments, a 0% intro APR card could help. You'll get more value by matching the card to your actual spending patterns than by chasing the highest rewards rate.
You'll also want to decide whether you need a traditional bank card or a modern card that handles expense management too. Major banks like Chase, Citi, and Wells Fargo have well-known card programs. Modern providers like Ramp go further by combining spending controls, receipt capture, and accounting automation in one place. The real question: Do you want a card that just processes payments, or one that also manages your expenses?
4. Submit your application
Most business credit card applications can be completed in 15–30 minutes:
- Go to the card issuer's website
- Complete the online form with your business details
- Double-check all information for accuracy
- Submit your application
Make sure to fill out all sections completely to avoid unnecessary delays in processing.
5. 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
With modern cards, you can start using virtual cards right after approval. Physical cards usually arrive in 7–10 business days.
How long does approval take?
Approval can take anywhere from a few minutes to a week, depending on the issuer. Traditional banks typically take 3–7 business days, especially if they need to run credit checks or review additional documents. Some take longer if a human underwriter needs to review your application manually.
Modern providers often approve you within minutes or the same day at most. Ramp, for example, can issue virtual cards immediately after approval, so your team can start making purchases right away. If an issuer needs additional review, most modern providers still complete the process within 1–2 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.
Common mistakes to avoid when applying
A few simple errors can slow down your application or lead to an unnecessary denial:
- Mismatched business details: Double-check that your business name, address, and EIN match across your application, bank accounts, and official records
- Underestimating your monthly spend: Use a realistic estimate so the card and any resulting limit fit your actual needs
- Applying to too many cards at once: Each application may result in a hard credit inquiry depending on the issuer and product, which temporarily lowers your score. Do your research and apply for your top choice first.
How to choose the right business credit card for your company
The best card depends on how your company spends, pays, and grows.
Match the card to your spending
If your business spends heavily on travel, software, advertising, supplies, or vendor payments, look for a card whose rewards and controls align with those categories. A flat-rate rewards card can be easier to manage for companies with spending spread across many categories.
Consider more than rewards
A high rewards rate does not always mean the card is the best fit. Compare fees, payment terms, credit or spending limits, customer support, and the cost of managing expenses manually.
Evaluate employee-card and accounting needs
If several employees need to spend on behalf of the business, look for controls that make it easy to set limits, restrict merchant categories, issue virtual cards, and collect receipts. Integrations with your accounting tools can also reduce manual work at month-end.
Choose for the next stage, not just today
A card should still work as your company adds employees, vendors, and new spending categories. Consider whether the issuer can support more users, stronger controls, and more complex workflows as the business grows.
Traditional business credit cards vs. corporate cards
Traditional business credit cards work well if you want a straightforward card with rewards and flexibility for everyday purchases. Your eligibility and terms often depend on your personal credit, and some cards require a personal guarantee.
Corporate credit cards give you a single platform to manage employee spending, set controls, collect receipts, and automate accounting. Eligibility and payment terms are often different from traditional cards, so compare them carefully before you apply.
Why companies are choosing Ramp for business spending
Ramp isn't just a credit card—it's a platform that helps your finance team cut manual work, find savings, and close the books faster. You get expense management, accounting automation, and spending controls all in one place.
Your finance team can save hours each month with automated expense reviews, fraud detection, and real-time policy checks. Ramp's AI reviews your transactions instantly, flags policy issues before they become problems, and syncs approved expenses directly to your accounting tools.
- Marqeta cut corporate card admin time by 87%, freeing up hours each month for analysis instead of data entry
- New Way Landscape replaced a slow, manual process for distributing cards. Now they issue and manage employee cards in minutes with flexible controls.
On average, Ramp customers reduce wasteful spending by about 5% and save hundreds of hours a year on manual tasks.
If you want a card that gives you more visibility, control, and automation as you grow, Ramp combines cashback, real-time spending insights, and expense management in one place.
See if you're eligible for Ramp's modern corporate business credit card.
FAQs
Small business credit cards are available to owners of businesses of all sizes and enterprises, including sole proprietors, freelancers, gig workers, and independent contractors.
It's possible, but your options may be limited. Some issuers offer secured business credit cards, which require a refundable deposit and can help you rebuild your credit over time. Others evaluate your company's financial performance instead of relying on personal credit scores. Modern providers like Ramp approve based on business metrics, making them accessible even if you have bad credit or limited credit history.
Look for cards that align with your LLC's cash flow and everyday spending. Prioritize options that offer rewards on your most common expenses and support multiple employee cards with built-in spend controls. If your business is new, consider cards that evaluate company revenue or financial performance instead of personal credit, a helpful approach for business credit cards for startups and newer LLCs.
If denied, you'll receive a notice explaining the reasons, which often include insufficient revenue, poor credit history, or incomplete documentation. You can reapply after addressing these issues, typically waiting 30-90 days. Consider applying with a different issuer that has more flexible requirements, or look into modern cards that evaluate based on business financials rather than personal credit scores.
Revenue requirements vary widely by issuer. Traditional cards may require $50,000-$100,000 in annual revenue, while others accept businesses with as little as $10,000-$25,000 annually. Some modern card providers focus more on cash flow and bank balance rather than setting strict revenue minimums, making them accessible to newer or smaller businesses.
Yes, but options are limited. Most small business cards still require an SSN, though modern providers like Ramp and Brex approve based on business financials without a personal credit check. Explore your options with business credit cards that accept an EIN only.
It depends on the type of card. With most traditional cards, yes, it often involves a personal credit check and a personal guarantee, making you personally liable for the debt. This can temporarily lower your credit score. Modern cards don't require a personal credit check or guarantee, helping you keep business and personal finances separate.
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