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A business credit card does two things a personal card can't: it separates business spending from personal spending for cleaner bookkeeping and tax prep, and — depending on the issuer — it can offer higher limits or no preset spending limit at all, since underwriting can weigh business revenue alongside your personal credit. Here's how the leading no-fee and category-bonus options compare.
Sole proprietors can apply too
You don't need an LLC or EIN to get a business card. If you freelance, drive for a rideshare app, sell on Etsy, or do any kind of self-employed work, you can typically apply as a sole proprietor using your own Social Security number and legal name as the "business name." Most issuers accept this without additional documentation at the application stage.
Best overall: Chase Ink Business Unlimited
Top pick
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Chase
1.5%
Cash back, flat rate, unlimited
$0
Annual fee
0%
Intro APR on purchases for 12 months
A flat 1.5% with no category tracking and no annual fee is the easiest business card to run — every purchase earns the same rate, so there's nothing to plan around. The 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases is also useful for financing startup costs or a slow season without paying interest while you're getting the business off the ground.
Best for category spending: Chase Ink Business Cash
Runner-up
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Chase
5%
Office supplies & internet/cable/phone, up to $25,000/yr combined
2%
Gas stations & restaurants, up to $25,000/yr combined
$0
Annual fee
If your business has recurring costs in office supplies, internet, phone service, gas, or client dinners, this earns meaningfully more than a flat-rate card on exactly that spending, with no annual fee to offset it.
A strong flat 2% rate with no annual fee, and Amex's approval process is generally more accessible to sole proprietors and newer businesses without an extensive revenue history than some competitors' higher-limit cards.
If your business regularly puts $10,000+ a month through a card, a no-preset-spending-limit card like Capital One Spark Cash Plus is worth a look: it earns a flat 2% unlimited, and the $150 annual fee is refunded automatically in any year you spend $150,000 or more.
Quick comparison
Card
Best for
Rewards rate
Annual fee
Ink Business Unlimited
Simplicity
1.5% flat
$0
Ink Business Cash
Office/utility spend
5% / 2% / 1%
$0
Amex Blue Business Cash
New businesses
2% up to $50k/yr
$0
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
High spenders
2% flat, unlimited
$150 (refundable)
Business cards and personal liability
Most small business cards, even for LLCs and corporations, still require a personal guarantee — meaning you're personally on the hook for the balance if the business can't pay. A business card generally doesn't shield your personal credit from the business's card debt the way forming an LLC shields you from other business liabilities.
Frequently asked
Will opening a business card show up on my personal credit report?
It depends on the issuer. Some report business card activity to your personal credit file (similar to a personal card), while others only report to business credit bureaus and reserve personal reporting for delinquencies. Check the specific issuer's policy before applying if this matters to your personal credit utilization.
Does a business card count against Chase's 5/24 rule?
Chase business cards generally don't count against the 5/24 rule the way personal cards do, and in most cases the account itself doesn't appear on your personal credit report at all unless you're delinquent. This makes Chase business cards a common tool for people managing their 5/24 status — see our sign-up bonus timing guide for more on sequencing applications.
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