Can I get a business credit card with no revenue?

Yes. Chase, Amex, and Capital One all accept sole proprietors with $0 in business revenue. You'll need a personal credit score of 670+ for most cards. Brex and Ramp evaluate company cash instead of revenue but require incorporated businesses.

What credit score do I need for a business credit card?

Most business cards require a personal credit score of 670-720+. Chase Ink cards generally need 690+. Brex and Ramp don't check personal credit at all but require your business to have cash in a bank account.

Should I get a business credit card for my startup?

Yes, if your startup has any expenses. A business card separates personal and business finances (critical for tax time), builds business credit, and earns rewards on spending you'd do anyway. There's no downside if you pay the balance monthly.

Which business credit card has the best sign-up bonus?

Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers $2,000 (and additional $2,000 per $500K spent), but requires $30K spend in 3 months and has a $150 annual fee. For most startups, Chase Ink Unlimited's $750 for $6,000 spend is the most achievable high-value bonus.

Do business credit cards affect my personal credit?

Most business cards (Chase, Amex) don't report regular activity to personal credit bureaus, but they do perform a hard inquiry on application. If you default, it can affect your personal credit. Brex and Ramp don't touch your personal credit at all.

Home / Best Business Credit Cards for Startups

10 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups in 2026

Getting a business credit card is one of the first financial moves for any startup — it separates personal and business expenses, builds business credit, and earns rewards on money you're already spending. We compared 10 cards on annual fees, sign-up bonuses, rewards structure, and whether you can get approved with zero revenue. Most cards on this list accept sole proprietors and pre-revenue businesses.

Last updated Mar 2026

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.

Best Overall

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

Best Budget

Chase Ink Business Cash

Best Value

Amex Blue Business Cash

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

The best all-around starter card with flat 1.5% cash back and no annual fee

Best Overall4.5/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
Intro APR	Custom	—	0% for 12 months on purchases
Regular APR	Custom	—	16.74%–24.74% variable

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓No annual fee
✓$750 sign-up bonus
✓0% APR for 12 months
✓Simple flat 1.5% on everything
✓Accepts $0-revenue sole proprietors

Cons

✗3% foreign transaction fee
✗1.5% rate is lower than category cards
✗Personal guarantee required
✗Requires 690+ credit score

Best for: First-time business card applicantsBest for: Startups wanting simple flat-rate rewardsBest for: Businesses with diverse spending categories

Not ideal: International businesses (3% FTF)Not ideal: High spenders who could earn more with category bonuses

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.5/5)

Praise: Best overall starter business card, simple rewards

Complaints: Foreign transaction fee, flat rate lower than category cards

Visit Chase Ink Business Unlimited Official website →

Chase Ink Business Preferred

Best for startups spending big on ads, shipping, and travel

4.4/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Custom	—	$95/year
Regular APR	Custom	—	~20.49%–26.49% variable

Contract: No contract

Pros

✓3x points on ads and travel ($150K/yr cap)
✓90K point sign-up bonus
✓No foreign transaction fees
✓Cell phone protection included
✓Points worth 25% more via Chase Travel

Cons

✗$95 annual fee
✗No 0% intro APR
✗$8,000 spend requirement for bonus
✗Personal guarantee required

Best for: Startups with heavy ad spendBest for: Businesses shipping productsBest for: Frequent business travelers

Not ideal: Low spenders who can't hit $8K bonus thresholdNot ideal: Businesses wanting 0% intro APR

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.4/5)

Praise: Excellent for ad spend and travel, huge sign-up bonus

Complaints: Annual fee, high bonus threshold

Visit Chase Ink Business Preferred Official website →

Chase Ink Business Cash

Up to 5% back on office supplies and telecom with no annual fee

Best Budget4.3/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
Intro APR	Custom	—	0% for 12 months on purchases
Regular APR	Custom	—	16.74%–24.74% variable

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓5% on office supplies and telecom
✓$750 sign-up bonus
✓No annual fee
✓0% APR for 12 months
✓Stacks well with other Ink cards

Cons

✗3% foreign transaction fee
✗Category caps at $25K/year
✗Lower 1% rate outside categories
✗Personal guarantee required

Best for: Office-heavy startups (supplies, internet, phone)Best for: Restaurants and food businesses (2% on dining)Best for: Pair with Ink Unlimited for category + flat-rate coverage

Not ideal: International businesses (3% FTF)Not ideal: Businesses not spending in bonus categories

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.3/5)

Praise: Great category bonuses, no annual fee, pairs well with Ink Unlimited

Complaints: Category caps, FTF

Visit Chase Ink Business Cash Official website →

Amex Blue Business Cash

Flat 2% cash back on everything up to $50K/year — no categories to track

Best Value4.4/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
Intro APR	Custom	—	0% for 12 months on purchases
Regular APR	Custom	—	16.74%–26.74% variable

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓Highest no-fee flat rate at 2%
✓No annual fee
✓0% APR for 12 months
✓Extended Buying Power (spend above limit)
✓Up to 99 free employee cards

Cons

✗2.7% foreign transaction fee
✗Drops to 1% above $50K/year
✗Lower sign-up bonus ($250 vs $750)
✗Amex less widely accepted than Visa/Mastercard

Best for: Startups wanting simple, high flat-rate rewardsBest for: Businesses spending under $50K/year on cardBest for: Amex ecosystem users

Not ideal: International businesses (2.7% FTF)Not ideal: High spenders over $50K/year (drops to 1%)

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.4/5)

Praise: Best flat-rate no-fee card, Extended Buying Power

Complaints: FTF, $50K cap, smaller bonus

Visit Amex Blue Business Cash Official website →

Amex Blue Business Plus

2x Membership Rewards points on everything — the points-earning version of Blue Business Cash

4.2/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
Intro APR	Custom	—	0% for 12 months on purchases
Regular APR	Custom	—	16.74%–26.74% variable

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓2x Membership Rewards on everything
✓No annual fee
✓Points transferable to airlines/hotels
✓0% APR for 12 months
✓Extended Buying Power

Cons

✗2.7% foreign transaction fee
✗Points worth varies (complex redemption)
✗Drops to 1x above $50K/year
✗Smaller sign-up bonus than Chase

Best for: Startups in the Amex Membership Rewards ecosystemBest for: Businesses that prefer points over cash backBest for: Pairing with personal Amex cards for point transfers

Not ideal: Businesses wanting straightforward cash backNot ideal: International spenders (2.7% FTF)

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.2/5)

Praise: Best no-fee points-earning card, good for Amex ecosystem

Complaints: FTF, point value varies, smaller bonus

Visit Amex Blue Business Plus Official website →

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Unlimited 2% cash back charge card for high-spending businesses

4.1/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Custom	—	$150/year
APR	Custom	—	N/A — charge card (balance due monthly)

Contract: No contract

Pros

✓Unlimited 2% with no cap
✓No preset spending limit
✓$2,000+ sign-up bonus (repeatable)
✓No foreign transaction fees
✓5% on travel via Capital One

Cons

✗$150 annual fee
✗Charge card — must pay in full monthly
✗$30K spend required for bonus
✗Revenue review required
✗Not for pre-revenue startups

Best for: High-spending established startups ($30K+/month)Best for: Businesses wanting no preset spending limitBest for: Frequent business travelers

Not ideal: Pre-revenue startupsNot ideal: Businesses needing to carry a balanceNot ideal: Low-volume spenders

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.1/5)

Praise: Massive bonuses for high spenders, unlimited 2%

Complaints: Annual fee, charge card only, high threshold

Visit Capital One Spark Cash Plus Official website →

Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select

No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees — Chase Ink Unlimited's main competitor

4/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
Regular APR	Custom	—	Variable (check Capital One)

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓No annual fee
✓No foreign transaction fees (beats Chase Ink)
✓$750 sign-up bonus
✓5% on travel via Capital One
✓Accepts $0-revenue startups

Cons

✗Requires 720+ credit score
✗1.5% rate (same as Chase Ink)
✗Less robust perks than Chase
✗Capital One business cards have fewer integrations

Best for: International startups (no FTF)Best for: Simple flat-rate seekers who travelBest for: Chase Ink alternative without FTF

Not ideal: Businesses wanting higher than 1.5% flat rateNot ideal: Those who prefer Amex rewards ecosystem

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.0/5)

Praise: No FTF, simple flat rate, good for international

Complaints: Higher credit requirement, same 1.5% as Chase

Visit Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select Official website →

Brex

No personal guarantee corporate card for VC-backed startups with cash in the bank

4.3/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
APR	Custom	—	N/A — charge card

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓No personal guarantee or credit check
✓No annual fee
✓Up to 7x rewards on categories
✓Built-in expense management
✓High limits based on company cash

Cons

✗Requires incorporated business
✗Needs substantial cash in bank
✗Not for sole proprietors
✗Charge card — must pay in full
✗Sign-up bonus varies

Best for: VC-backed startupsBest for: Incorporated companies with cash in bankBest for: Founders who don't want personal liability

Not ideal: Sole proprietorsNot ideal: Pre-funding startups with no cashNot ideal: Traditional small businesses

User reviews (G2: 4.3/5)

Praise: No personal guarantee, great rewards, good expense tools

Complaints: Requires cash in bank, not for sole proprietors

Visit Brex Official website →

Ramp

AI-powered expense management with up to 1.5% cash back and no personal guarantee

4.4/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
APR	Custom	—	N/A — charge card

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓No personal guarantee
✓AI-driven spend controls save money
✓Unlimited virtual cards per vendor
✓Real-time expense tracking
✓No annual fee

Cons

✗Lower cash back than Brex (1.5% vs 7x)
✗Requires incorporated business
✗Charge card — pay in full
✗Sign-up bonus less generous than traditional cards

Best for: Startups wanting AI expense automationBest for: Companies needing unlimited virtual cardsBest for: Businesses focused on spend optimization

Not ideal: Sole proprietorsNot ideal: Pre-funding startupsNot ideal: Businesses wanting higher rewards rates

User reviews (G2: 4.8/5)

Praise: Best expense management, great spend controls, saves money

Complaints: Lower rewards than Brex, requires LLC/Corp

Visit Ramp Official website →

#10

U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards

0% intro APR on purchases AND balance transfers with a $100 annual software credit

4.2/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Annual Fee	Free	—	$0 annual fee
Intro APR	Custom	—	0% for 12 billing cycles on purchases AND balance transfers
Regular APR	Custom	—	17.24%–26.24% variable

Contract: No contractFree tier available

Pros

✓0% APR on purchases AND balance transfers (rare)
✓$100 annual software credit
✓5% on gas/EV/office/phone
✓3% on restaurants and hotels
✓$750 sign-up bonus with 180-day window

Cons

✗3% foreign transaction fee
✗Employee spending doesn't count toward bonus
✗Category structure more complex
✗US Bank has fewer business perks than Chase

Best for: Startups needing balance transfer flexibilityBest for: Businesses spending on gas, office supplies, and diningBest for: Software-heavy businesses ($100 annual credit)

Not ideal: International businesses (3% FTF)Not ideal: Businesses wanting flat-rate simplicity

User reviews (NerdWallet: 4.2/5)

Praise: Best for balance transfers, good categories, software credit

Complaints: FTF, complex categories, employee spend excluded from bonus

Visit U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards Official website →

Buying Guide

Flat Rate vs Category Bonuses

If you spend evenly across categories, a flat-rate card (Chase Ink Unlimited at 1.5% or Amex Blue Business Cash at 2%) is simpler and often better. If your spending is concentrated in specific categories like office supplies or ads, category cards like Chase Ink Cash (5%) or Ink Preferred (3x) earn significantly more.

No Personal Guarantee Cards Exist — But Have Requirements

Brex and Ramp don't require personal guarantees, meaning your personal credit isn't at risk. The catch: both require incorporated businesses (LLC or C-Corp) with cash in the bank. Sole proprietors and pre-funding startups won't qualify.

Sign-Up Bonuses Are Worth Hundreds

A $750 bonus for $6,000 in spending is effectively 12.5% cash back on those purchases. If you have planned business expenses (equipment, software, inventory), time your card application to hit the bonus threshold naturally.

Start Building Business Credit Early

Business credit cards that report to business credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business) help you qualify for business loans later. Chase, Amex, and Capital One all report to business bureaus. Even a $0-annual-fee card builds your profile.

FAQ