There’s something weirdly exciting about starting a business with no credit. Like jumping out of a plane without checking if your parachute works.

But don’t worry – you’re not the first entrepreneur to find yourself in this situation. Plenty of founders launch their companies with nothing but a dream, determination, and a credit score that makes lenders run screaming.

The good news? You don’t need perfect credit to get a business credit card in 2025. There are actually quite a few options designed specifically for startups with no credit history.

Let me walk you through your options – with a healthy dose of my opinion sprinkled on top.

Why You Might Need a No-Credit Business Card

Look, I get it. When you’re starting a business, the last thing you want is more obstacles. And traditional business credit cards love throwing obstacles at you:

• “What’s your credit score?” (Um, let’s not talk about that)
• “We’ll need a personal guarantee.” (So if my business fails, I’m personally screwed? Cool cool cool)
• “Hard credit check required.” (RIP my already questionable credit score)

A business credit card that doesn’t require these things can be a game-changer for your startup by:

• Building your business credit separate from your personal credit
• Keeping your business expenses organized (instead of charging everything to that one personal card you got in college)
• Giving you access to capital without risking your personal financial health
• Offering rewards and perks that actually help your business grow

Best Business Cards That Don’t Check Your Credit

No Personal Credit Check Options

1. Ramp Business Card

This is the cool kid on the block for startups right now. Ramp doesn’t care about your personal credit score – they care about your business fundamentals.

To qualify:

• Need an EIN (Employer Identification Number)
• $25,000 minimum in your business bank account

What makes it awesome:

• Unlimited virtual cards (create one for each employee or vendor)
• Crazy good spending controls (limit what people can spend and where)
• 1.5% cashback on everything
• Zero fees (no annual fee, no late fees, no “we made this up” fees)
• Connects to QuickBooks, Xero, and other accounting software

Ramp is basically saying “we care more about your business’s future than your personal financial past,” which is refreshing AF in a sea of judgmental credit card companies.

2. Stripe Corporate Card

If you’re already using Stripe for payments, this is a no-brainer. No personal credit check required – they just look at your Stripe processing history.

The highlights:

• 1.5% cashback on all purchases
• Auto-applies payments to your Stripe balance
• Zero fees (including foreign transaction fees)
• Super clean integration with your Stripe dashboard

The catch? It’s invite-only. But if you process decent volume through Stripe, you’ve got a good shot at getting approved.

3. Nav Prime Card

This is a business charge card (meaning you pay it off monthly) that doesn’t do personal credit checks or guarantees.

What’s cool about it:

• Reports to business credit bureaus DAILY (hello, credit building on steroids)
• Connects directly to your business bank account
• Comes with detailed credit monitoring for both business and personal credit

The downside? There’s a $49.99 monthly fee for Nav Prime membership. But if building business credit is your priority, that might be worth it for the reporting benefits alone.

Secured Business Cards (When You Have No Choice)

If the no-credit-check options aren’t working out, secured cards are your next best bet. Yes, you need to put down a deposit, but it’s refundable, and they’re much easier to get approved for.

Valley Bank Visa Secured Business Card

• Reports to major business credit bureaus (crucial for building credit)
• 0% intro APR for six months (breathing room for early expenses)
• No annual fee (which is rare for secured cards)
• Credit limit based on your deposit (up to $25k)

FNBO Business Edition Secured Mastercard

• Security deposit between $2,000-$10,000
• Your deposit actually earns interest (not much, but better than nothing)
• Includes fraud protection and rental insurance
• $39 annual fee

Bank of America Business Advantage Secured

• Minimum $1,000 deposit
• 1.5% cashback on everything
• No annual fee
• Potential to graduate to an unsecured card with consistent payments

Options If You Have Some Credit (Even If It’s Not Great)

Maybe you have some credit history, but it’s more “meh” than “magnificent.” These cards are still within reach:

Capital One Spark Classic

• Accepts fair credit (580-669 FICO)
• 1% cashback on all purchases
• No annual fee
• Free employee cards

This card is basically saying, “We’ll give you a chance, but don’t mess it up.” Perfect for rebuilding credit while running a business.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

• Slightly higher credit requirements but still attainable
• 1.5% cashback on everything
• 0% intro APR period
• No annual fee

Chase has been known to approve businesses with limited history if other factors look good.

How to Choose the Right Card for Your Startup

When you’re weighing your options, consider these factors:

Personal Guarantee

Do you want to stake your personal assets on your business success? If not, cards like Ramp and Nav Prime are your best bet.

Repayment Terms

Charge cards (pay in full monthly) vs. credit cards (can carry a balance). Charge cards force discipline but offer less flexibility.

Fees

Look for:

• No or low annual fees
• No foreign transaction fees (especially if you do business internationally)
• Reasonable APRs (if you might carry a balance)

Credit Reporting

Does the card report to business credit bureaus? This is crucial if you’re trying to build business credit. Some only report to personal bureaus, which defeats the purpose.

Spending Controls

The ability to set limits for different employees or categories can save your startup from accidental overspending. Trust me, you don’t want your intern going wild on the company card.

Integration

Cards that connect with your accounting software will save you hours of manual data entry. Your future self (and accountant) will thank you.

Why Building Business Credit Actually Matters

It’s tempting to think, “Who cares about business credit? I just need access to money now!”

But establishing good business credit early:

• Opens doors to better financing terms later
• Helps you qualify for larger loans when you’re ready to scale
• Keeps your personal credit separate (protecting your ability to get a mortgage, car loan, etc.)
• Makes your business look more legitimate to potential partners and investors

The Bottom Line

Starting a business with no credit isn’t ideal, but it’s far from a deal-breaker in 2025. Cards like Ramp, Stripe Corporate, and Nav Prime offer legitimate paths to building business credit without personal credit checks. Secured cards provide another route if you can swing the deposit.

The most important thing is to start building business credit now, even if you have to start small. Your future self will be grateful when you’re qualifying for that big expansion loan with favorable terms.

Remember: Every successful business started somewhere. Even Amazon was once just a guy selling books from his garage. I’m pretty sure Jeff Bezos wasn’t born with an 850 credit score.