Whether it’s an upcoming business trip or a major purchase you need to finance over time, there may be times when you need to get a business credit card quickly. 

Applying for any type of small business loan or financing, including credit cards, can seem intimidating though. Will you be approved? How long will it take? 

Here we’ll explain how easy (and fast) it can be to get a business credit card, based on your business needs and qualifications. 

How Easy Is It to Apply for a Business Credit Card?

Applying for a business credit card is usually fast and easy. Virtually every business credit card issuer allows you to apply online. Answer a few simple questions about your personal finances and your business, submit your application, and get a decision right away. 

Here’s a secret many new entrepreneurs don’t know: most small business credit card issuers base their approval on the owner’s personal credit scores, and income from all sources (not just business revenue). That means you may be able to easily qualify for a small business credit card as soon as you start your new business, even if you operate as a sole proprietorship and even if your business isn’t making money yet. 

Many of the best business credit cards require good to excellent personal credit to qualify, but there are some notable exceptions we’ll describe in a moment. 

Tip: Corporate credit cards and small business credit cards work similarly but the approval process is different. Corporate cards usually require documented business revenue and are not usually available to sole proprietorships. 

Can You Get a Business Credit Card Immediately?

In some cases, yes. While the approval process may be very fast, it will take time for the issuer to send you your physical credit card. It will usually take 5—10 business days to get your card in the mail. 

In the meantime, find out if the card issuer offers virtual credit cards. A virtual card number will let you immediately make purchases online while you wait for your new card to arrive.  

What Is the Easiest Way to Get a Business Credit Card?

The easiest way to get a business credit card is to apply online for a card you’re likely to get approved for. Most issuers don’t reveal their full qualifying criteria, though, so a great way to narrow down your choices is with Nav. 

With Nav, you’ll find card recommendations for top cards based on your data.

What Is the Easiest Business Credit Card to Get Approved For?

If you have good or excellent personal credit, and sufficient income from all sources (not just the business), you’ll have lots of cards to choose from. If you want a card with a good rewards program, whether that’s cash back, travel rewards and perks, or a card with no annual fee, you’ll often have your choice of card options. You’ll likely qualify for generous spending limits as well. 

Here are some of the best credit card options based on creditworthiness:

Good to Excellent Credit

Here are three great business credit card offers you may be able to get quickly if you have good to excellent personal credit scores. 

Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

This card has a valuable introductory APR of 0% for 9 billing cycles on purchases. There is also a solid welcome offer: $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.. And ongoing rewards earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter), 2% cash back on dining purchases (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter), and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Need to finance a major purchase, or cover startup business expenses? This popular Amex card offers 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. The cash back rewards rate is solid. Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. .

And yes, there’s a welcome bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card from Chase allows your business to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points based on business spending. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.

The sign-up bonus is quite generous. New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

All information about the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Nav. This card is not currently available through Nav. To see what business credit cards are available, please visit Nav’s credit card page.

Fair Credit

The offers . While many business credit cards require excellent credit scores, this card is more flexible. Foreign transaction fees: None

Poor Credit or No Credit 

If you have bad credit, or no credit, one of the easiest ways to to get a business credit card is with a secured credit card. 

A secured business credit card requires the cardholder to provide a refundable security deposit to the credit card company. Typically, your initial credit limit matches the amount of your deposit, though this can vary among issuers. 

Although it is backed by a deposit, a secured credit card isn’t a debit card. When you make purchases, the amount isn’t taken from your deposit. Instead, you’ll receive monthly bills and are expected to make monthly payments. Carrying a balance will result in interest charges, often at relatively high variable APRs (interest rates).

The main advantage of secured cards, whether for personal or business use, is their ability to help build credit. 

If a business secured card is reported to commercial credit bureaus, it can help boost your business credit scores, provided you pay on time. Similarly, while personal secured cards impact individual credit scores, remember that most business credit cards don’t appear on the small business owner’s personal credit reports unless they fail to make their payments. 

After consistent on-time payments over a period of time, many users of secured cards qualify for traditional, unsecured credit cards.

What makes secured cards especially appealing is their accessibility. They’re tailored for those with less-than-stellar credit ratings. Though they usually require a personal credit check, the criteria for approval are more lenient compared to unsecured cards.

For entrepreneurs who don’t have great credit, secured cards might be a good option.

Find the best business secured credit cards here. 

All Credit Types

If you’re looking for a business card that doesn’t require a personal credit check or a security deposit, consider the Nav Prime Card.* It’s a business charge card, not a credit card. Link your business checking account for daily repayment. Payment history is reported monthly as a tradeline to major business credit bureaus, helping to build business credit. You’ll also get an automatic virtual card number to start making purchases before your card arrives. 

The Nav Prime Card is available exclusively to Nav Prime members.

The Nav Prime Card is not available in  CA, NV, ND, or SD.

Add Nav Prime callout 

Can You Get Approved for a Business Credit Card With No Credit?

If you have no personal credit history, or don’t have a good personal credit score, your options will be limited. Most small business credit cards require good personal credit to qualify. Most do not check business credit history, though paying a business credit card on time can often help establish business credit. 

If you don’t have credit, or have a limited credit history, your best options are a secured card, a business secured card, or a business charge card like the Nav Prime Card.* 

How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Credit Card?

Most credit cards allow you to apply online and get a decision instantly. Once you are approved, it may take 5—10 business days to receive your physical credit card. Some issuers will provide a virtual credit card number you can use to make online purchases right away. 

If the issuer has questions about your credit card application, you may be asked to provide additional information. That review may add a few days or a couple of weeks to the application process. 

What Do I Need to Get a Business Credit Card?

For most business credit cards, you’ll need to supply the following information:

• Personal information: name, address, phone number, Social Security number
• Personal financial information: household income, whether you rent or own your home
• Business information: name of business, address, phone number, industry, type of business structure (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC or corporation), and Employer Identification Number or EIN, if available
• Business financial information: annual revenues 

You’ll be asked whether you want employee cards, and if so, you’ll provide additional information. 

A personal guarantee will usually be required, just like it would be with a personal credit card. That gives the issuer the ability to try to collect from the applicant’s personal assets if the business doesn’t pay back money it borrows. 

There are some business cards that base the decision solely on business revenues, and not household income. Those cards are usually called “corporate cards” and they are available to businesses with strong revenues. Sole proprietorships will not usually qualify. 

What Is the Fastest Business Credit Card to Get?

Almost every business credit card issuer offers fast and easy online applications. If you need a card to make a purchase online right away, choose an issuer that offers virtual card numbers once you are approved. That way you won’t have to wait for the physical card to arrive. 

What Credit Card for Business Is Overall the Easiest to Get?

Again, many business credit cards are easy to qualify for, provided you have strong personal FICO scores and sufficient household income. Because it doesn’t require a personal credit check or security deposit, the Nav Prime Card (a charge card) is one of the easiest to get.

*Nav Technologies, Inc. is a financial technology company and not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The Nav Visa® Business Debit Card and the Nav Prime Charge Card are issued by Thread Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa cards are accepted. See Cardholder Terms for additional details. FDIC insurance is available for funds on deposit through Thread Bank, Member FDIC. All other features of the Nav Prime membership are not associated with Thread Bank.