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There's a lot to consider when embarking on a new business venture. Deciding which credit card to get might not be your top priority, but the right small business credit card can help you streamline bookkeeping, earn rewards and even offer no-interest financing.
If you're stuck on which business rewards credit card is right for your startup, we've got you covered. CNBC Select reviewed dozens of options and selected the best business credit cards for startups in a variety of categories.
See our methodology for information on how we chose the best startup business credit cards.
Best business credit cards for startups
- Best for no annual fee: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (see rates and fees)
- Best for cash back: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for travel perks: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best for advertising: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (See rates and fees)
- Best for 0% intro APR: U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
- Best for startups without a credit score: Brex Business Card
Best for no annual fee: American Express Blue Business Plus
Who's this for? The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has a little bit of everything a startup founder could want, including no annual fee (see rates and fees), a promotional intro APR offer and straightforward yet valuable rewards.
Standout benefit for startups: The Blue Business Plus Card earns 2X Membership Rewards® points on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year, then 1X points. That's a higher-than-normal return for everyday business purchases, and the American Express Membership Rewards points you earn with this card can be transferred to over 20 airline and hotel partner loyalty programs. Terms and limitations apply.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a great option if you're starting a business because it's affordable, earns flexible travel rewards and offers an intro-APR on purchases for a year.
- Valuable intro-APR offer for purchases for 12 months
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
- No annual fee
- Bonus rewards for purchases are capped
- Few useful travel insurance benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.74% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You've got the power to spend above your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Best for cash back: Ink Business Unlimited
Who's this for? The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is ideal for earning strong cash back rewards on everyday business spending without paying an annual fee.
Standout benefit for startups: All purchases earn at least 1.5% cash back, and although some cards may offer a slightly higher return, they generally have caps on how much cash back you can earn or charge high annual fees, which eat into your rewards. Eligible items bought with this card receive automatic purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a flat-rate cash-back card with a strong intro-APR offer for purchases.
- Intro APR for purchases
- Valuable welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- You can't transfer rewards to travel partners without pairing it with another Chase card
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Best for travel perks: American Express Business Platinum
Who's this for? The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is geared toward business owners who are frequent travelers and value luxury benefits.
Standout benefit for startups: Cardholders enjoy a long list of travel perks, including airport lounge access, a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, comprehensive travel insurance, automatic hotel loyalty program status, rental car benefits and more.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
- Access to 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Hotel and rental car elite status perks
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
- High annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
- Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best for advertising: Ink Business Preferred
Who's this for? The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers valuable rewards for a wide range of business purchases, including advertising. Cardholders can add employee cards for no additional fee, there are no foreign transaction fees and you'll be hard-pressed to find a more valuable welcome bonus offer.
Standout benefit for startups: The Ink Business Preferred earns 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on the first $150,000 in combined spending in these select categories (then 1X points) each account anniversary year: Shipping purchases; advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines; travel; and internet, cable and phone services.
The points you earn are worth more when you use them to pay for travel booked through Chase TravelSM (or more when transferred to a partner travel program).
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent business card with useful benefits, valuable rewards and a generous welcome bonus.
- Earns flexible travel rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Valuable welcome bonus worth $1,125 in travel when redeemed through Chase Travel
- Strong travel and shopping protections
- No intro APR offer
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Go further when you book with Chase TravelSM. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for 0% intro APR: U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa
Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card is a good fit for startups that may need more time to pay off their balances. It also offers a straightforward $750 in cash back. Just spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
Standout benefit for startups: Upon approval, you'll receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles, then a 17.24% - 26.24% variable APR applies. For businesses that use accounting software, you can earn a $100 credit for recurring subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
The U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card is a no-annual-fee business card that earns cash back rewards on a variety of business and everyday categories.
- Annual $100 software statement credit
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Not very rewarding for purchases you make outside of the bonus categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6,000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Center when using your card.
- Take control of your card spend with U.S. Bank Spend Management—a game-changing platform for monitoring and managing business expenses.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Balance transfer fee
Either 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
Best for no credit score: Brex Card
Who's this for? The Brex Card is a charge card that may be easier to get, as it doesn't require a personal guarantee or credit check for the business owner. Instead, Brex takes the company's size, revenue and funding into account.
Standout benefit for startups: Brex isn't just a rewards card; it's a financial services company, and you can only get a Brex card if you also open a Brex business account. If your business is approved, you'll be able to earn generous rewards in useful bonus categories, like rideshare, Brex travel, restaurants, eligible Apple purchases through the Brex rewards portal and recurring software. You can opt for monthly or daily card payments, with the daily payment option offering more rewards.
Brex Card
Rewards
Earn rewards and cash back on everything you spend, like 7x on rideshare, 2x on recurring software, and access exclusive events and over $400K in software discounts.
Welcome bonus
10,000 points when you spend $3,000 on your Brex card within three months of your Brex business account being opened.
Annual fee
No annual fee
Intro APR
Brex does not charge interest
Regular APR
Brex does not charge interest
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
No foreign transaction fees, free ACH and wires worldwide, global acceptance on the Mastercard network
Credit needed
No personal guarantee or credit check. Only companies organized and registered in the United States may apply for a Brex account. See Platform Agreement for business criteria.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- You'll have to pay off the balance daily or monthly
*Offer available to new Brex Card customers only.
Brex Mastercard® issued by Emigrant Bank, Member FDIC. Brex Cash provided by Brex Treasury LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. Brex Treasury is not a bank; Brex Cash is not a bank account. Testimonials may not represent experiences of all clients. Terms apply, visit brex.com. Information about the Brex Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Can a startup get approved for a business credit card?
Startups often use the same types of credit cards designed for small businesses, and it's possible to open them even without a registered business entity, such as an LLC or corporation.
Applying for a business card is similar to applying for a personal one, with additional information such as your business name, annual revenue (or estimated revenue), business type and more. Since card issuers may consider a personal credit score if you don't have a business credit report yet, this could be a factor in your application.
Can you get a business card with no revenue?
While you definitely can get a credit card for your startup even without revenue, you'll likely be relying a lot more heavily on your own personal credit and financial habits. Instead of using the revenue from your business, you might be asked to provide your personal income to help boost your chances of approval.
It's also important to know that the vast majority of small business cards will require personal guarantees, which hold you personally liable for unpaid balances and debt. For many small-business credit cards, it's important to spend within your limits, even though a higher credit limit can create temptation.
What to consider when choosing a business card
When choosing a credit card for your startup, it might not be one single aspect that stands out to you; rather, the card may fall in the middle of your Venn diagram of wants.
Rewards
With many business cards offering cash back, travel rewards or flexible miles, it's important to think about which rewards you'd prefer to earn. If you travel for work a lot, the miles or rewards that help you save while flying could be great. But if you're looking to keep things simple, you could aim for more cash back.
Spending categories
It's important to review your business's spending habits so you can choose a card that actually earns you value on your purchases. Some cards offer elevated rewards in specific business categories, such as shipping or online advertising, while others provide higher returns on flights. Some just offer flat cash back on all purchases and skip all the various categories. Make sure you pick a card that fits your spending habits, even if it doesn't offer the largest welcome bonus.
Perks
While many business cards come with some level of travel and purchase protection, some offer specific benefits such as airport lounge access or elevated hotel status. If you're looking for a small business card with an intro APR offer, those are available as well.
Which cards can you realistically afford to get?
Just as with personal credit cards, before you sign up for a business card, double-check its annual fee and APR. While annual fees can easily be earned back, having a card with a lower APR could save you a lot in interest if you happen to carry a balance.
Make sure to stay within your business's budget; you can always apply for another card at a later date.
FAQs
Will a business credit card affect my personal credit?
When you apply for most business credit cards, there usually is a hard pull on your personal credit. However, many (but not all) small business cards won't appear on your personal credit reports because there are separate credit scores for businesses.
How do I choose the right credit card for my business?
Choosing the right card for your business largely comes down to understanding what your business needs and where you spend the most. If you or your employees frequently travel for business, a card with robust travel insurance is a good fit. Or if you spend heavily on shipping, look for a card that offers bonus rewards for shipping expenses.
Can you get a business credit card with no revenue?
If you're just starting a business and don't have any revenue yet, it is possible to get a business credit card. Many small business cards require a personal guarantee from the owner, so your personal income also factors into your approval odds.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every business credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best business credit cards for LLCs.
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Our methodology
To determine which business cards offer the best value for startups, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. business owners.
We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, employee card fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Read more
For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, click here.
*Information about the Capital One Spark Cash Plus has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
