Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.
The best instant approval business credit cards are those that offer an online application option and approval decision within minutes, with benefits like introductory rewards, ongoing rewards, a 0% annual percentage rate (APR), sign-up bonuses, and other perks. When choosing the best one for your business, consider the ongoing APR, annual fee, and additional features. Your options include regular business credit cards, charge cards, and secured business cards.
Banks and card issuers don’t offer instant approval for business credit cards. In the brief time between application and the approval decision, the issuer is verifying your credit and identity rapidly.
Here are the six best business credit cards with instant approval:
- American Express Blue Business CashTM: Best overall instant approval business credit card with flexible credit limit
- First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card: Best for bad credit with fast prequalification process and high credit limit option
- Coast Fuel Card: Best for fuel expenses and businesses with fleets with no personal guarantee
- Capital One® Spark Classic® for Business: Best for business owners with fair credit
- Capital On Tap Business Credit Card: Best for instant virtual cards and credit limits up to $50,000 with fixed-rate cash back
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus: Best charge card with a generous introductory and annual cash bonus
Best Instant Approval Business Credit Cards At a Glance
Best For | Annual Fee | Sign-up Bonus | Ongoing Rewards | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Express Blue Business CashTM | Best overall instant approval business credit card with flexible credit limit | $0 | $250 statement credit when you spend $3,000 within 90 days | Up to 2x points per dollar | |
Credit Needed: Good to Excellent | |||||
 First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card | Bad credit with fast pre-qualification process and high credit limit option | $39 | None | None | |
Credit Needed: Very Poor to Good | |||||
 Coast Fuel Card | Fuel expenses and businesses with fleets with no personal guarantee | None; pay $4 per active card per month | None | Up to 6 cents off per gallon on fuel and 1% cash back on all other purchases | |
Credit Needed: Good to Excellent | |||||
 Capital One® Spark Classic® for Business | Business owners with fair credit | $0 | None | Up to 5% cash back | |
Credit Needed: Fair | |||||
 Capital On Tap Business Credit Card | Instant virtual cards and credit limits up to $50,000 with fixed-rate cash back | $0 | $200 cash back after spending $15,000 in the first three months | 1.5% cash back | |
Credit Needed: Fair, Average | |||||
 Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Charge card with a generous introductory and annual cash bonus | $150 | Up to $1,000 cash bonus after spending a total of $50,000 within six months | Up to 5% cash back | |
Credit Needed: Excellent | |||||
American Express Blue Business CashTM: Overall Best Instant Approval Business Card With Flexible Credit Limit
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
BEST FOR:
Those who want better cash back rewards
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- Fixed rate rewards
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter.
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- Fixed rate rewards
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter.
Why we like it: The American Express Blue Business CashTM Card is our best instant approval business credit card because of its straightforward cash back rewards and flexible credit limit. These are also among the reasons why it is our top-recommended cash back business credit card:
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases of up to $50,000 per calendar year, then earn 1% cash back thereafter—this will be credited to your billing statement automatically
- Spend over your credit limit with no overlimit fees through its Expanded Buying Power feature—the amount you can spend will vary based on your card usage, credit score, payment history, and financial resources
Other benefits:
- $0 annual fee
- Enjoy interest-free financing on purchases for the first 12 months
According to the American Express website, you can get a decision in as little as 30 seconds when you apply. Note that you’ll need a good to excellent credit score for American Express to approve your application. Once approved, you can start using the card immediately because nearly all American Express business cards offer instant card numbers.
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card: Best Secured Card With Fast Prequalification Process
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Card
BEST FOR:
Secured credit lines of as much as $100,000
- While FNBO does not offer any rewards for their new and existing cardholders for this card, you can still earn rewards through Mastercard Easy Savings®, where cardholders are able to save on purchases with automatic rebates from over 40,000 participating merchant locations available.
Pros
- Available for those with very poor to good scores
- Can set credit limits between $2,000 and $100,000
- Offers free management reports
Cons
- With annual fee
- Charges foreign transaction fee
- No introductory and ongoing rewards
- Requires a security deposit of 110% of the credit limit required
- TurboTax discount: Get a discount of up to $20 on TurboTax federal products when using First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®.
- QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Self-Employed discount: Receive either a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Online (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, or Advanced) or a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Self-Employed. This is applicable only to new QuickBooks Online customers.
- Free management reports: First National Bank of Omaha provides free management reports to help track expenses, monitor spending, note tax deductions, prepare tax filings, and predict costs easily.
- Zero liability: FNBO guarantees that you won’t be held responsible for any fraudulent charges made with both your card and account information.
- While FNBO does not offer any rewards for their new and existing cardholders for this card, you can still earn rewards through Mastercard Easy Savings®, where cardholders are able to save on purchases with automatic rebates from over 40,000 participating merchant locations available.
Pros
- Available for those with very poor to good scores
- Can set credit limits between $2,000 and $100,000
- Offers free management reports
Cons
- With annual fee
- Charges foreign transaction fee
- No introductory and ongoing rewards
- Requires a security deposit of 110% of the credit limit required
- TurboTax discount: Get a discount of up to $20 on TurboTax federal products when using First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®.
- QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Self-Employed discount: Receive either a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Online (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, or Advanced) or a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Self-Employed. This is applicable only to new QuickBooks Online customers.
- Free management reports: First National Bank of Omaha provides free management reports to help track expenses, monitor spending, note tax deductions, prepare tax filings, and predict costs easily.
- Zero liability: FNBO guarantees that you won’t be held responsible for any fraudulent charges made with both your card and account information.
Why we like it: The First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured® Visa Card is a secured credit card that allows you to prequalify online. It is our leading bad credit business credit card—if you have bad credit, you can check if you can prequalify in as quick as 1 minute.
Other benefits:
- Pay a low annual fee of $39
- Request a credit limit of $2,000 to $100,000, in multiples of $50—just make a security deposit of 110% of the amount of your requested credit limit, subject to approval
- Earn interest on your security deposit, which is fully refundable when you decide to close your credit card
- Save on purchases with automatic rebates at more than 40,000 merchants through Mastercard Easy Savings®
Aside from Mastercard Easy Savings®, the card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or ongoing rewards on your purchases. However, using the card responsibly lets you build your credit, so you can eventually qualify for other business credit cards with better terms. It also tops our list of the best business secured credit cards due to its high credit limit option.
Coast Fuel Card: Best for Fuel Expenses & Businesses With Fleets With No Personal Guarantee
Coast Fuel Card
BEST FOR:
Businesses with small to large fleets
- Up to 6 cents off per gallon at 5,000 gas stations and 2 cents off per gallon everywhere else
- 1% back on non-fuel purchases
Pros
- Universally accepted fleet card
- 1% cash back on nonfuel purchases
- Doesn’t require personal guarantee
Cons
- Charges monthly fees to active users
- Balance is due in full each month
- Doesn’t support cash withdrawals
- Customizable controls
- Spend reports
- Exclusive discounts from large partner networks
- Integrations with Quickbooks, Fleetio, Samsara, Geotab, Verizon Connect, Azuga, and more
- Up to 6 cents off per gallon at 5,000 gas stations and 2 cents off per gallon everywhere else
- 1% back on non-fuel purchases
Pros
- Universally accepted fleet card
- 1% cash back on nonfuel purchases
- Doesn’t require personal guarantee
Cons
- Charges monthly fees to active users
- Balance is due in full each month
- Doesn’t support cash withdrawals
- Customizable controls
- Spend reports
- Exclusive discounts from large partner networks
- Integrations with Quickbooks, Fleetio, Samsara, Geotab, Verizon Connect, Azuga, and more
Why we like it: The Coast Fuel Card is a Visa fleet and fuel charge card designed for businesses with significant fuel expenses and those that own small to large fleets. It doesn’t require a personal guarantee, meaning you won’t be personally liable for your business’s debts. While it charges no annual fee, you’ll need to pay a $4 monthly fee per active user. Additionally, since it is a charge card, your balance is due in full each month; otherwise, you’ll be charged $35 for late or returned payments.
Other benefits:
- Earn unlimited 2 cents off per gallon anywhere you purchase gas with no tiers or excluded stations
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase at merchants other than gas stations
- Receive premium rebates from partner merchants, including Casey’s, RaceTrac and RaceWay, Jiffy Lube, Discount Tire, Honk’s, and Take 5
- Enjoy exclusive discounts on selected software, including Intuit QuickBooks, Geotab telematics, Whip Around, and FleetComplete
- Take advantage of its easy-to-use spend management dashboard, which lets you control your employee spending
- Make use of intuitive reports and charts to monitor transactions seamlessly
It is one of our top-recommended business fuel cards because of its streamlined system and generous rewards. Coast offers a fast and simple online application that can be approved in minutes. In some cases, Coast may require additional documents, which will take the approval process from one to five business days. Note, however, that it doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus.
Capital One® Spark Classic® for Business: Best for Business Owners With Fair Credit
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
BEST FOR:
Those with fair credit
- 1% cash back every time you swipe
- Build your business credit through responsible usage
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- Opportunity to build business credit
- Only requires fair credit to qualify
- Doesn’t charge annual and balance transfer fees
Cons
- Charges high ongoing APR
- Has no 0% introductory APR
- No sign-up bonus
- Automatic payments: Setting up AutoPay in the Capital One mobile app will save you from having to worry about signing in to your account every month
- $0 fraud liability: If your card is either lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement and cash advance.
- Purchase records: You can download all purchase records quickly and securely in multiple formats, including Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®.
- Extended warranty: Get free additional warranty and protection on eligible items purchased with your business credit card.
- Free employee cards: You can create multiple employee cards, track employee spending, and customize spending limits while earning all the rewards from their purchases.
- 1% cash back every time you swipe
- Build your business credit through responsible usage
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- Opportunity to build business credit
- Only requires fair credit to qualify
- Doesn’t charge annual and balance transfer fees
Cons
- Charges high ongoing APR
- Has no 0% introductory APR
- No sign-up bonus
- Automatic payments: Setting up AutoPay in the Capital One mobile app will save you from having to worry about signing in to your account every month
- $0 fraud liability: If your card is either lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement and cash advance.
- Purchase records: You can download all purchase records quickly and securely in multiple formats, including Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®.
- Extended warranty: Get free additional warranty and protection on eligible items purchased with your business credit card.
- Free employee cards: You can create multiple employee cards, track employee spending, and customize spending limits while earning all the rewards from their purchases.
Why we like it: If you have fair credit, then Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business, our best business credit card for fair credit, is right for you. You can use it to finance your small business while earning unlimited rewards on your purchases. It is also one of our leading business cards for startups, making it a great option if you’re just starting out with your business.
Other benefits:
- Receive an unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Pay no annual fee, helping you reduce your overall credit cost
- Grow your credit score when you use the card responsibly—this will help you get qualified for other business credit cards with better terms and rewards
According to Capital One’s website, you will often get a response within 60 seconds if you apply by phone or online. While a credit check is required to determine approval, you only need a fair credit score to qualify. Keep in mind that its APR is quite high, so it’s best to plan your budget and pay your balance in full each month. Also, it doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus.
Capital On Tap Business Credit Card: Best for Instant Virtual Cards & Credit Limits Up to $50,000 With Fixed-rate Cash Back
Capital On Tap Business Credit Card Visa
BEST FOR:
Those who want fixed-rate cash back rewards
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Pros
- No annual, foreign transaction, and cash advance fees
- Low starting annual percentage rate (APR)
- High credit limit available
Cons
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- Sole proprietors and nonprofit orgs are not eligible
- Low sign-up bonus with high spending requirement
- Unlimited, free cards for employees
- Instant, virtual card is available right after approval
- Credit limits up to $50,000
- Uncapped 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Pros
- No annual, foreign transaction, and cash advance fees
- Low starting annual percentage rate (APR)
- High credit limit available
Cons
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- Sole proprietors and nonprofit orgs are not eligible
- Low sign-up bonus with high spending requirement
- Unlimited, free cards for employees
- Instant, virtual card is available right after approval
- Credit limits up to $50,000
- Uncapped 1.5% cash back on every purchase
Why we like it: If you need to make online purchases right away, Capital On Tap Business Credit Card offers instant virtual cards within minutes after approval. You can earn a fixed-rate 1.5% cash back on all purchases. What’s more, you could get up to a $50,000 credit limit, which will vary depending on your creditworthiness. It’s worth noting that to qualify for the card, your business must:
- Have been operating actively for at least six months
- Have at least $2,500 in monthly revenue
- Be registered as a limited liability company (LLC), partnership, or corporation (sole proprietorships, charities, nonprofits, trusts, clubs, and other nonregistered organizations are not qualified to apply)
Other benefits:
- Receive $200 cash back after spending $15,000 in purchases for the first three months of account opening
- Redeem your rewards as a statement credit and as travel or gift cards from Apple, Amazon, Airbnb, and more
- Pay no annual fee and enjoy earning unlimited fixed-rate rewards without the need to monitor spending categories
- Qualify for the card even if you have fair or average personal credit
Capital On Tap Business Credit Card, one of our leading small business credit cards, has an online application that can be completed in under two minutes. You will typically get a response within 48 hours. As soon as you’re approved, you will instantly be provided with a virtual card, which you can use immediately for virtual purchases. You will receive your physical card within four business days.
Capital One® Spark® Cash Plus: Best Charge Card With Generous Introductory & Annual Cash Bonuses
Capital One® Spark® Cash Plus Card
BEST FOR:
Businesses that want purchasing power and can pay their balances in full every month
- Earn a $1,200 cash bonus when you spend $30,000 in the first three months of card ownership
- Get 2% cash back on all business-related purchases without limits or category restrictions.
- Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Get a $150 annual fee refund after spending a minimum of $150,000 per year
Pros
- Does not have preset spending limits
- With introductory bonus
- Offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
Cons
- Charges annual fee
- Requires you to pay in full each month
- Requires excellent credit to qualify
- Payment flexibility: Pick your preferred monthly due date to control when to pay your credit card bill.
- $0 fraud liability: You can get an emergency replacement and cash advance if your card is lost or stolen.
- Extended warranty: Get free additional warranty and protection on selected items purchased with your card
- Roadside assistance: Capital One offers services to help you during auto-related emergencies, such as jump-starting, tire changing, and towing).
- Free employee cards and spend limits: Track employee spending while earning all rewards from their purchases and set customized spending limits for each card.
- Earn a $1,200 cash bonus when you spend $30,000 in the first three months of card ownership
- Get 2% cash back on all business-related purchases without limits or category restrictions.
- Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Get a $150 annual fee refund after spending a minimum of $150,000 per year
Pros
- Does not have preset spending limits
- With introductory bonus
- Offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
Cons
- Charges annual fee
- Requires you to pay in full each month
- Requires excellent credit to qualify
- Payment flexibility: Pick your preferred monthly due date to control when to pay your credit card bill.
- $0 fraud liability: You can get an emergency replacement and cash advance if your card is lost or stolen.
- Extended warranty: Get free additional warranty and protection on selected items purchased with your card
- Roadside assistance: Capital One offers services to help you during auto-related emergencies, such as jump-starting, tire changing, and towing).
- Free employee cards and spend limits: Track employee spending while earning all rewards from their purchases and set customized spending limits for each card.
Why we like it: Capital One® Spark® Cash Plus provides a substantial introductory bonus of up to $1,000 cash in the first six months of card ownership. Spend at least $5,000 in the first three months and earn $500—then after spending $50,000 in the first six months, receive another $500. Plus, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2% cash back on all your other business-related purchases.
Other benefits:
- Receive an annual cash bonus of $200 if you spend $200,000 or more—this is sufficient to cover the annual fee of $150
- Take advantage of no preset spending limit, which provides you with flexible buying power—your credit limit adjusts based on your usage, payment behavior, and credit history
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use the card for international transactions
Note that you need to have an excellent credit score to get approved instantly. Also, this is a pay-in-full card, meaning your balance is due in full each month; else, you’ll be charged a 2.99% monthly late fee. Its flexible buying power is one of the reasons why it is part of our roundup for the best high-limit business credit cards.
How We Selected Business Credit Cards With Instant Approval
When choosing the best instant approval business credit cards, we take into account the application process, whether online application or pre-qualification is available, and the requirements, fees, rewards, and features. We also included a charge card and a fuel credit card on the list, as these options may still be helpful for your business, depending on your needs and expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In general, no issuer will approve your credit card application instantly without performing a standard verification process first. Some applicants may be approved as fast as a few seconds to a few minutes while others may take a few days to a few weeks to receive feedback.
The length of the application and approval process for business credit cards varies from one card issuer to another. While most card issuers won’t deliberately declare that they offer instant approval, some of them include the fastest possible approval timeframe on their websites.
You need to meet the card issuer’s qualification requirements and apply online to get approved for a business credit card faster. Make sure you know your credit score and the issuer’s credit requirements to determine whether you qualify for your chosen card. Also, prepare the necessary documents and financial information, including:
- Business name, address, and business type
- Your role/position in the business
- Tax identification number (TIN), Social Security number, or employer identification number (EIN)
- Years in operation
- Number of employees
- Annual business revenue
- Estimated monthly expenses
Generally, instant approval refers to a fast application and approval process. When you apply for a credit card online, instant approval means you typically will receive a decision within a few minutes. Some card issuers will provide you with a virtual card number that you can use immediately while you wait for the arrival of the physical card.
Meanwhile, a preapproved credit card application is sent to you when your credit score and profile meet specific criteria set by the card issuer. An issuer may purchase a list of eligible individuals from a credit bureau so that it can send preapproved offers to those who meet the credit requirements. However, being preapproved does not guarantee approval—it means that the card issuer sees you as fitting the qualification profile that they predefined.
Bottom Line
The cards listed here offer an easy application process and fast decisions, usually in just a few minutes, which is as close to instant approval as you will find when shopping for any form of business financing. Before applying for an instant approval business credit card, be sure that your credit score—poor, fair, good, or excellent—aligns with the card’s requirements.
