The Amazon Corporate Credit Line is a financing option for businesses and government institutions that make purchases on Amazon.com. This loan is best for firms that have been in business for at least two years or for owners willing to offer a personal promise to repay what they borrow.
Amazon offers two different versions of its credit line: a pay-in-full line and a revolving line. The pay-in-full line charges no interest but requires that you pay off the balance after each billing period. The revolving line allows you to carry a balance, but you’ll pay interest to do so. If you want a longer interest-free period or to earn rewards, you may want to consider one of the best small business lines of credit.
Amazon Corporate Credit Line vs Credit Line Alternatives
Provider | Who It Is Best For |
|---|---|
Businesses seeking a pay-in-full or revolving line of credit at Amazon.com | |
Firms also needing a line of credit for purchases outside Amazon.com | |
Prime borrowers needing a business line of credit for short-term working capital | |
Businesses wanting to make purchases from Amazon.com using the Kabbage card |
How the Amazon Corporate Credit Line Works
The Amazon.com Corporate Credit Line comes in two flavors: a pay-in-full credit line that charges no interest and a revolving credit line with a fixed purchase APR that offers the option to make minimum monthly payments. The size of your firm and the time you’ve been in business will dictate which option is best for you. The APR on the revolving line is lower than the typical small business credit card charges.
Amazon Pay-In-Full Credit Line
The Amazon.com Pay-in-Full Corporate Credit Line charges no interest and no annual fee. You’ll have a minimum of 55 days to pay invoices in full, which is a longer period than the typical charge card offers. This credit line is best for large businesses and government institutions needing account management flexibility. You’ll be able to give purchasing authority to multiple employees and set up accounts for different departments or locations.
Amazon Revolving Credit Line
The Amazon.com Revolving Corporate Credit Line revolving line of credit option charges no annual fee and charges a fixed interest rate on balances carried from month-to-month. You may pay in full each month or pay 12.99% APR on unpaid balances. A revolving business line of credit is best for small and medium-sized businesses wanting the flexibility to make minimum monthly payments or pay the balance in full each month.
Who the Amazon Corporate Credit Line Is Right For
The Amazon corporate line of credit is a financing choice that businesses of all sizes can take advantage of. The size of your firm and time in business will dictate which of the two options are right for you: the pay-in-full credit line or revolving credit line. Business owners will need to provide a guarantee to repay. Absent a guarantee with the pay-in-full option, the business will need to have at least two years of operations.
The Amazon corporate line of credit is best for:
- Frequent Amazon.com shoppers: The line of credit is only good for purchases at Amazon.com. You must provide your estimated monthly Amazon purchase volume when applying.
- Established businesses: You must provide a business address, number of employees and your Federal Employer Identification Number when applying.
- Owners willing to offer a personal guarantee: Amazon gives you the opportunity to offer a personal promise to repay on the pay-in-full credit line option. It requires you to agree to a personal guarantee on the revolving credit line option.
Apply for whichever version of the Amazon Corporate Credit Line best suits your firm’s needs. If you apply for the pay-in-full Amazon Corporate Credit Line and are denied, you still may qualify for the Amazon revolving corporate credit line.
Amazon Corporate Credit Line Costs
The Amazon Corporate Credit Line offers an option that charges no interest and one that charges a fixed rate on balances not paid in full each month. The fixed-rate APR is 12.99%. Neither option charges an annual fee nor a setup fee.
The Amazon Corporate Credit Line pay-in-full option includes the following costs:
- APR: This option charges no introductory or ongoing APR because you must pay the balance in full each cycle
- Late payment fee: 2% of the adjusted balance per month
- Returned check fee: $29
The Amazon Corporate Credit Line revolving option includes the following costs:
- Intro APR: None
- Ongoing APR: 12.99% APR for balances carried from one month to the next
- Delinquency APR: 29.99% if you cannot make a minimum payment on time, make a payment not honored by your bank, or exceed your credit limit; the delinquency APR may be applied indefinitely.
- Late payment fee: Up to $39.99
- Returned check fee: $29
The Amazon corporate line of credit may be a cheaper option when compared with the best small business credit cards. Like the pay-in-full option, small business charge cards charge no interest, but they come with an annual fee. The interest rate on the revolving Amazon line of credit is three percentage points or lower than the typical small business credit card charges.
Amazon Corporate Credit Line Loan Repayment Terms
Your repayment terms depend on the Amazon Corporate Credit Line you choose. The pay-in-full option requires that you pay off your balance after every invoice. An Amazon revolving credit line option does not have a required pay-off date, meaning you could carry a balance forever.
The repayment terms of the Amazon pay-in-full line of credit are:
- Repayment time: You have at least 55 days after receiving your invoice to pay your bill, which is longer than the typical 20 to 30 days most charge cards give you to pay
- Monthly minimum payments: Full balance
The repayment terms of the Amazon revolving credit line are:
- Repayment time: Amazon requires you to make minimum monthly payments that are primarily interest charges, but if you make only the minimum payment, it could take months or years to pay off your balance
- Monthly minimum payments: $50, one-twelfth of your new balance or the sum of finance charges, the late fee and 1% of your new balance, whichever is greater; if your new balance is less than $50, you must pay the balance in full
Choose the pay-in-full line of credit only if you know you’ll be able to pay off your Amazon.com balance every month. If you can’t pay in full, choose the revolving line of credit, which offers potentially smaller monthly minimum payments than a small business credit card. Credit cards require payments of 2% to 4% of the balance.
Amazon Corporate Credit Line Qualifications
Amazon offers no stated minimum credit score or business revenue requirements to qualify for the Amazon Corporate Credit Line. To qualify for the pay-in-full credit line, you must be in business for over two years or offer a personal guarantee. For the revolving credit line there is no time-in-business requirement, but it always requires a personal guarantee from the business owners.
Amazon bases the amount of credit you qualify for on several factors, including your credit score, time in business, and annual revenue. Users have reported lines of several thousand dollars or more, with some owners saying their credit line is larger than they received on a business credit card. Although Amazon doesn’t say it requires a specific credit score, given the low rates, you may need a good credit score of 680 or higher to qualify.
The revolving Amazon Corporate Credit Line doesn’t require that you have been in business for a certain amount of time, but you must provide a personal guarantee to repay the loan. You also must provide a Federal Employer Identification Number when applying or your Social Security number if you are a sole proprietor.
What the Amazon Corporate Credit Line Is Missing
You can only use the Amazon Corporate Credit Line to make purchases on Amazon.com. In addition, you can’t use your line of credit to make certain purchases. This includes such things as textbook rentals, subscriptions, gift cards, and software downloads.
You won’t be able to make the following purchases on Amazon.com with your line of credit:
- Cellphones associated with a plan
- Textbook rentals
- E-documents
- Games and software downloads
- Digital newspaper and magazine subscriptions
- Prime memberships
- Subscribe & Save and recurring delivery orders
- Print at home and email Amazon.com gift cards
A small business credit card or other credit line options may not restrict you from making certain purchases on Amazon.com. If your business budgets for significant spending in one of the restricted categories, consider another form of payment for your Amazon.com purchases.
Pros and Cons of the Amazon Corporate Credit Line
The Amazon Corporate Credit Line allows users to access a line of credit to pay for Amazon.com purchases. You can apply for either a pay-in-full credit line that requires you to pay your bill in full each cycle or a revolving line that allows you to carry a balance. The Amazon corporate line of credit is ideal for regular Amazon.com shoppers, but cannot be used to make purchases outside the online retailer.
Pros of the Amazon Corporate Credit Line
- Many businesses can benefit: Amazon offers credit lines tailored for businesses large and small. Choose the revolving line of credit for easier credit approval for small businesses or the pay-in-full line for larger businesses needing flexible spending controls.
- Fees are low: You’ll pay no interest or annual fee with the pay-in-full option and an APR of 12.99% with the revolving line. That APR is lower than most business credit cards charge and less expensive than other lines of credit.
- Extra time to repay: If you qualify for the pay-in-full option, you’ll have a minimum of 55 days from invoice to repay your balance. That’s a longer net repayment time than most other options on our list.
Cons of the Amazon Corporate Credit Line
- Good for Amazon purchases only: You can only use the Amazon corporate line of credit to purchase goods on Amazon.com. This is an inflexible option if you need access to credit to purchase goods and services outside of the online retailer.
- There are Amazon purchasing restrictions: There are certain products on Amazon.com itself that you can’t use your corporate line of credit to purchase, including games and digital magazine subscriptions.
- You’ll earn no rewards: Other options on our list allow you to earn up to 5% back on Amazon purchases. The Amazon Corporate Credit Line offers no rewards. If you use a small business credit card that offers rewards for Amazon purchases—and you pay off your bill in full each month—you’ll earn a handsome return.
Amazon Corporate Credit Line Reviews
Users of the pay-in-full and revolving Amazon Corporate Credit Lines have reviewed the product, offering positive reviews. Users say the APR on the revolving line of credit is low when compared with other payment options and they like that responsible use helps build business credit. Users with negative reviews say the invoicing process can be cumbersome and Synchrony Bank (the issuing bank) customer service needs improvement.
How to Get an Amazon Corporate Credit Line
Apply online for the Amazon corporate line of credit. You should be able to complete the application process within 10 minutes provided you have information like your tax identification number on hand. If you’re not approved, you may receive a decision within seven to 10 business days. The credit line is available for use after approval.
BlueVine: Best Amazon Corporate Credit Line Alternative
BlueVine is an online provider of business lines of credit of $5,000 to $250,000 with payment terms of six to 12 months. Owners need a minimum credit score of at least 600 to qualify. If you need an unsecured business line of credit for spending at Amazon.com and beyond, this is a good option since you have up to a year to repay and you can reuse the principal as often as it’s repaid.
BlueVine vs Amazon Corporate Credit Line
Unlike with the Amazon corporate line of credit, BlueVine funding is available for use at more than Amazon.com. You may use the line of credit at Amazon.com when you choose to be billed via invoice. BlueVine requires you to pay back your loan in either six or 12 months.
It’s often a good idea to have both a credit card and a small business line of credit (such as that offered by Amazon). However, you need to make sure you have sufficient cash flow to pay them both back within the required repayment terms. Otherwise, you could end up overextended and in financial trouble.
Your costs may be significantly higher with BlueVine than with Amazon. BlueVine charges simple interest starting at 4.8% for 26 weeks. Amazon offers an option that charges no interest or one that comes with an APR of 12.99%. The extra cost may be worth it to some businesses because you may have longer to repay.
BlueVine Rates & Fees
BlueVine Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Starting Interest Rate | 4.8% |
Expected APR | 15% to 78% |
Maintenance Fee | None |
BlueVine Terms
BlueVine Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Credit Line | Up to $250,000 |
Repayment Term | Six or 12 months |
Repayment Schedule | Weekly or monthly |
Collateral | Blanket Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filing |
Personal Guarantee | Required |
Funding Speed | Same business day |
BlueVine Qualifications
BlueVine Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Minimum Credit Score | 600 |
Minimum Time in Business | Six months |
Minimum Annual Revenue | $100,000 |
How to Apply with BlueVine
You can apply for a BlueVine line of credit via its online application in 10 minutes. When approved, you can get funded as soon as the next day for a line of credit of $5,000 to $250,000.
OnDeck: Best Amazon Corporate Credit Line Alternative for Prime Borrowers
Although OnDeck offers lines of credit to borrowers with credit scores as low as 600, this lender’s line of credit is best for owners with a prime credit score of at least 700 who need a credit line for spending both at Amazon and elsewhere. With a high personal credit score, you can qualify for an APR as low as 13.99%.
OnDeck vs Amazon Corporate Credit Line
OnDeck offers a line of credit for up to six months with payments due weekly. This line of credit is best for short-term borrowing—like a one-time large order from Amazon.com. You may secure a much higher line of credit with OnDeck than with Amazon.
Plus, if you need three months to three years to repay—for example, to take advantage of an inventory bargain or for equipment purchases—you can get a term loan from OnDeck, too.
OnDeck Rates & Fees
OnDeck Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Starting Interest Rate | 13.99% |
Estimated APR | 13.99% to 63.2% |
Maintenance Fee | $20 per month |
OnDeck Loan Terms
OnDeck Line of Credit Terms | |
|---|---|
Credit Line Amount | Up to $100,000 |
Repayment Term | 6 or 12 months |
Repayment Schedule | Weekly |
Collateral | Blanket UCC filing |
Personal Guarantee | Required |
Funding Speed | One business day |
OnDeck Qualifications
OnDeck Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Minimum Credit Score | 600 |
Minimum Time in Business | One year |
Minimum Annual Revenue | $100,000 |
How to Apply with OnDeck
You can pre-qualify for a line of credit in as little as 10 minutes by applying at OnDeck. The lender offers lines of credit of up to $100,000 with a six-month repayment term.
Kabbage: Best Amazon Corporate Credit Line Alternative for Funds Access
Kabbage is best for businesses needing a line of credit up to $250,000, which is larger than you’re likely to get with all but BlueVine. This line of credit is more convenient to use on Amazon purchases than other options because the lender provides you with a card, which is connected to your line of credit and can be used like a debit card. It considers each draw on your line of credit a new loan repayable within a year with costs starting at 1.5% per month.
Kabbage vs Amazon Corporate Credit Line
Kabbage offers a line of credit for up to one year with payments due monthly. You can use your card to make purchases of as little as $1 from Amazon.com or other vendors. The expected APR is higher than you’ll pay with the Amazon Corporate Credit Line, so this financing should be an option only if you need a big line of credit.
Kabbage Rates & Fees
Kabbage Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Advance Fee | 1.5% to 10% per month |
Expected APR | 24% to 90% |
Maintenance Fee | None |
Kabbage Loan Terms
Kabbage Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Credit Line | Up to $250,000 |
Repayment Term | Six, 12, or 18 months |
Repayment Schedule | Monthly |
Collateral | Blanket UCC filing |
Personal Guarantee | Required |
Funding Speed | One business day |
Kabbage Qualifications
Kabbage Line of Credit | |
|---|---|
Minimum Credit Score | 550 |
Minimum Time in Business | One year |
Minimum Annual Revenue | $50,000 |
How to Apply with Kabbage
You can complete Kabbage’s online application within 10 minutes and receive funding 24 hours after applying and winning approval. You’ll receive a line of credit up to $250,000 at a rate of 1.5% to 10% per month.
Bottom Line
The Amazon Corporate Credit Line is an inexpensive financing option for both small and large businesses that frequently make business purchases at Amazon.com. Qualification requirements vary based on whether you apply for a pay-in-full line of credit or a revolving line, which allows you to carry a balance from month to month.
