How to increase your business credit card limit

Increasing your business credit card limit gives you more purchasing power, lowers your utilization ratio, and provides a buffer for emergencies. Unlike personal cards, business credit limit decisions often depend on company revenue, credit history, and, in some cases, the owner’s personal credit score.

Why business credit card limits matter

Your credit limit directly affects how smoothly your business can operate. A higher limit gives you room to cover expenses, invest in opportunities, and handle seasonal cash flow swings without maxing out.

It also shapes your business credit profile. Keeping your utilization ratio under 30% signals responsible borrowing, which helps improve your credit score and makes it easier to qualify for loans or favorable terms.

For context, small business credit card limits typically range from $10,000 to $50,000, while premium cards may exceed $100,000. A higher ceiling provides more flexibility to manage emergencies and build stronger supplier relationships without straining your cash flow.

Understanding how credit card issuers determine limits

Credit card issuers weigh several factors before approving a higher limit. They look at your company’s revenue, your business credit profile, and in some cases your personal credit score. They may also consider your business’s age and industry risk, and whether a hard or soft inquiry is required to process your request.

Business revenue and cash flow

Consistent business revenue and healthy cash flow show that your company can handle more credit. Issuers often set minimum thresholds:

• Entry-level cards: $50,000–$100,000 in annual revenue
• Mid-tier cards: $250,000–$500,000
• Premium cards: $1 million or more

Steady profitability and positive cash flow improve your odds of approval.

Business credit score and history

Your business credit score is a key factor in credit limit decisions. Issuers use models such as:

• FICO SBSS: 0–300 composite score many banks rely on
• Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX: 0–100 score based on payment timeliness
• Experian Intelliscore Plus: Predicts delinquency risk within 12 months
• Equifax Delinquency Score: Estimates likelihood of severe delinquency

Consistent on-time payments to lenders and suppliers strengthen these scores and signal reliability.

Personal credit score of the business owner

For newer or smaller businesses, issuers often check the owner’s personal credit. A personal guarantee is common, making you responsible if the business cannot repay. A FICO score of 670 or higher improves your chances of approval and better terms.

Business age and industry type

Lenders prefer companies with at least two years of operating history. Startups or firms in high-risk industries like restaurants or construction may face stricter requirements or lower starting limits, even if revenue is strong.

Hard vs. soft inquiries

A soft inquiry lets issuers review your credit without affecting your score. Some issuers, however, run a hard inquiry when you request a limit increase. Hard pulls can temporarily lower your score, so it’s worth asking your issuer which method they use.

How to request a business credit limit increase

Issuers want to see that you’ve used your card responsibly before granting more credit. Review your account history, check your credit, and gather documentation before making a request.

Steps to request an increase

1. Review your account activity: Make sure balances are low and payments are on time
2. Check business and personal credit reports: Correct any errors before applying
3. Prepare financial documents: Have recent profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and tax returns ready
4. Choose your request method: Most issuers allow online or phone requests
5. Submit your request: State the amount you want and explain the purpose, such as covering seasonal inventory or expansion
6. Follow up: If denied or partially approved, ask when you can reapply or what criteria you need to meet

When to request an increase

You’ll have the best odds after at least six months of responsible card use. Issuers are more likely to approve if you can show:

• Growing revenue
• A low utilization ratio (ideally under 30%)
• A history of on-time payments
• Moderate debt levels compared to income

Avoid applying immediately after a late payment, maxing out your card, or a recent denial.

How to submit your request

• Online: Log into your issuer’s portal, locate the option for a credit line increase, and provide requested details. Some issuers require document uploads
• Phone: Call the number on the back of your card and be ready to share revenue, average monthly spend, and your reason for requesting a higher limit

Required information may include your financial statements, tax returns, Employer Identification Number (EIN), and time in business. Having these ready speeds up review and improves your chances of approval.

Avoid these mistakes when requesting an increase:

• Requesting too often
• Applying while utilization is high
• Mixing personal and business expenses
• Forgetting to update business details with your issuer

Strategies to improve your chances of approval

The stronger your credit profile and financial documentation, the better your odds of a higher limit. Issuers want proof you can manage more credit responsibly.

Improve your business credit profile

Build credit in your company’s name by opening accounts and using them regularly. Establish trade lines with vendors and suppliers that report to bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet or Experian. Consistent, on-time payments strengthen your credit history.

Keep business and personal finances separate by using dedicated accounts and credit cards. Separation not only simplifies recordkeeping but also reinforces your company’s credibility with lenders.

Optimize your financial documentation

Provide a clear picture of your company’s health with organized financial records. Profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements show revenue trends and repayment ability.

Highlight revenue growth with year-over-year or quarterly comparisons. Have supporting documents—like tax returns and bank statements—ready to share. Presenting clean, well-organized records helps speed up review.

Manage your current credit responsibly

Show that you can manage existing credit before asking for more. Keep your utilization ratio under 30%, make more than the minimum payment, and pay every account on time. Strong repayment behavior signals reliability to issuers and protects both your business and personal credit scores.

Alternative options for higher credit limits

If your request is denied, you still have ways to expand your access to credit. Consider these alternatives:

Apply for additional business credit cards

Opening another card increases your total available credit, which lowers your utilization ratio. It also gives you flexibility to separate expenses by category or team. The tradeoff is having more accounts to manage.

Consider high-limit business cards

Some cards are designed with higher spending limits, often aimed at companies with strong revenue and established credit profiles. These can give you more purchasing power but usually require higher annual revenue and solid credit scores to qualify.

Explore charge cards

Charge cards don’t have a preset spending limit. Instead, your effective limit adjusts based on your payment history, revenue, and overall financial profile. They offer flexibility for larger purchases, but balances must be paid in full each month.

Access higher credit limits with Ramp

If you’re exploring ways to increase your business credit card limit, the Ramp Business Credit Card offers a smarter solution. Instead of relying only on personal credit scores, we use your company’s cash on hand and sales data to set credit limits, often up to 30x higher than traditional business cards.

Here are a few features you can expect from Ramp:

• Sales-based underwriting: With Ramp, you don't need a business credit history. Benefit from sales-based underwriting for easier approvals.
• Spend management tools: Utilize tools to track expenses and optimize spending, helping you manage your finances more effectively and grow your business
• Unlimited physical and virtual cards: Empower your employees with physical and virtual cards that come with unique rules and limits, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming expense reimbursement programs

Want to learn more? Get started with a free interactive product demo.