7 Best Business Credit Cards With No Personal Guarantee 2022

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.

Most business credit card issuers require a personal guarantee, which makes you personally liable for your business’s debts in case it fails. If you don’t want to take this risk, then you can opt for a business credit card that doesn’t require a personal guarantee. An established small business with substantial annual revenues can usually qualify for business credit cards without personal guarantee.

Here are the seven best business cards with no personal guarantee:

• SVB Innovators Card: Best overall business card with no personal guarantee
• Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card: Best for business owners with fair or poor credit
• Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard®: Best for small businesses with recurring big-box store purchases
• Shell Small Business Fuel Card: Best for small businesses with fleet vehicles
• Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card: Best for small businesses with recurring office supply and furniture purchases
• Brex Card: Best for tech and life sciences startups and ecommerce businesses
• Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card: Best for nonprofit organizations

To see how these cards stack up against others we have reviewed on our site, click Add to Compare on a card below and select up to two additional cards for comparison.

SVB Innovators Card: Best Overall Business Card With No Personal Guarantee

Why we like it: The SVB Innovators Card is our choice for the best overall business credit card no personal guarantee because of its simplicity. It’s offered by the Silicon Valley Bank and designed for startup business owners who can pay their balances in full each month. This card is a charge card and not a credit card—it doesn’t come with interest because your full balance is due every month. The SVB Innovators Card is a great option for startups needing flexible credit lines that scale with their growth, as well as simple rewards program.

You’ll earn 2x points on every dollar spent on all purchases regardless of spending categories, with no caps or limit on how much you can earn. You can redeem your rewards for statement credits, gift cards, travel, or merchandise. This card comes with no annual fee, and you can add as many employee cards as you need with no additional charge. Further, the SVB Innovators Card is a Mastercard, which means you can use this anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Here are other things you need to know about the SVB Innovators Card:

• Business tools integration: You can automatically sync your transactions with popular digital payment apps for monitoring and controlling expenses and managing purchase transactions.
• Multiple payment options: You can activate various payment types—including physical cards, contactless features, and ghost cards—for better tracking and accountability.
• Online banking services: Online banking allows you to access all your SVB accounts and get real-time visibility into your company’s financial transactions.
• Significant late payment fee: Since this is a charge card, it comes with no annual percentage rate (APR). However, you should pay your balance in full every month; otherwise, you’ll be charged with a significant late payment fee of either $32 or 2.5% of the balance, whichever is greater.

Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card: Best for Business Owners With Fair or Poor Credit

Why we like it: The Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card is accessible to all business owners without size and revenue requirements because it isn’t a credit card. Since it’s a debit card, it doesn’t charge any interest and doesn’t require a credit check. Unlike the other cards on this list, you can be a business owner with fair or poor credit and still be eligible to apply for Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card.

The advantage of using the Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card is that you get unlimited domestic transactions without having to pay setup, debit, and decline or overdraft fees. You can also request a card for each of your employees. The fee for 1–10 cards, including the account owner’s card, is $29 a month. There are also pricing plans for up to 25, 100, and more than 100 cards. You can use this card anywhere that accepts Visa® cards.

There are two versions of the Bento debit card, and both can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet for contactless payments:

1. Spend limit card: This is for everyday purchases and is good for managing all business spending in one place.
2. Fixed-value card: This is best for one-time payments, per diems, or recurring vendor payments.

Other things we like about Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card are:

• Control: You can set the daily spend limit and restrict merchant category and international transactions on each employee card. You can make changes to these controls online or on the mobile app.
• Security: You can easily freeze a card if it gets lost or stolen.
• Expense reporting: Bento offers AI-based receipt capture and efficient reporting tools, and you can export data into QuickBooks or any other accounting platform.
• Free trial: Bento is free to use for the first 60 days, and you can cancel your account easily at any time.

Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard®: Best for Small Businesses With Recurring Big-box Store Purchases

Why we like it: The Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard® offers substantial rewards if you make frequent big-box store purchases. You can earn 5% cash back on your first $6,000 spent at Sam’s Club® and Walmart gas stations per year, then 1% thereafter. You can also earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at restaurants. Sam’s Club® Plus members can earn 3% cash back on purchases at Sam’s Club® locations or samsclub.com. If you aren’t a Plus member, you can earn 1% on all other purchases, including those at Sam’s Club®.

Since this is a Mastercard®, you can use it anywhere Mastercard® is accepted to earn rewards. If you get a Plus membership for $100 a year, you can earn even greater savings and rewards. Sam’s Club® Plus members can enjoy additional cash rewards, free shipping, and free curbside pickup.

Other things you need to know about the Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard® are:

• No monthly or annual fee: Aside from the annual Plus membership fee, this card comes with no monthly or annual fee.
• Sign-up bonus: Receive a $30 statement credit when you open an account and make at least $30 worth of Sam’s Club purchases within 30 days.
• Online shopping: Even if you don’t live near one of 600 Sam’s Club® locations in the US and Puerto Rico, you can purchase thousands of items from the website—delivery is free for Sam’s Club® Plus members.
• Cash back cap: You can only earn up to $5,000 cash back per year.
• Ongoing APR: The variable purchase APR is 15.65% or 23.65%, with a minimum interest charge of $2. APRs are subject to change based on the prime rate.

Shell Small Business Fuel Card: Best for Small Businesses With Fleet Vehicles

Why we like it: The Shell Small Business Fuel Card is accepted at more than 14,000 Shell stations across the country. You can use it to earn rebates of up to six cents per gallon at Shell, making it a great card for companies with fleet vehicles. You can also enjoy discounts at participating Jiffy Lube stations.

This card comes with no setup, monthly, or annual fees, and you can carry a balance each month with interest. It has a dedicated US-based customer service team, which is available 24/7. Moreover, you can access your account anywhere, anytime with online and mobile tools.

Here are other things that you need to know about the Shell Small Business Fuel Card:

• Exclusive to Shell: This card isn’t affiliated with either Visa or Mastercard. It can only be used at Shell stations.
• Detailed reports: It offers online account management that allows access to detailed reports, such as data analytics and all aspects of your business’s fueling activity.
• Control: You can set limits on what and how much can be purchased per employee card. You can also activate, suspend, and terminate cards through online and mobile tools.

Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card: Best for Small Businesses With Recurring Office Supply & Furniture Purchases

Why we like it: The Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card is a no-annual-fee card that can only be used at Office Depot® and OfficeMax® locations and its online store. That’s what makes this card an excellent option for small businesses making recurring purchases of office supplies and furniture and office technology, breakroom, and cleaning supplies.

Similar to the Sam’s Club® business credit card, you can earn greater rewards if you link your Office Depot® rewards membership to the account. You’ll receive 2% back on everything you charge. If you spend $500 in a 12-month period, then you’ll unlock VIP status—giving you the ability to earn 5% back in rewards on ink, toner, paper, and print services, free two-day delivery, and other exclusive perks.

Other things you need to know about the Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card are:

• Sign-up bonus: You can earn a $50 statement credit on your first purchase of $150 or more made within 60 days from opening an account.
• Carry a balance: You have the option to carry a balance, which is subject to an ongoing APR of 23.99% or a minimum interest of $2.

Brex Card: Best for Tech and Life Sciences Startups & Ecommerce Businesses

Why we like it: Just like the SVB Innovators Card, the Brex Card is a charge card, meaning it doesn’t come with an APR and your balance is due in full. It’s designed for tech startups and ecommerce businesses and is, in fact, one of our top-recommended cards for startups. It scales with your business’s growth because your credit limit can change depending on your business’s financial information, including available cash, spending patterns, and credit history. It’s also optimal for ecommerce businesses because it offers up to 3x points on recurring software expenses.

It comes with no annual fees and can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You can earn lucrative rewards, especially if your business industry is related to either tech or life sciences. Unlike the SVB Innovators Card which offers a simple rewards program without the need to keep track of spending categories, the Brex Card offers a varied number of points depending on categories. Rewards can be redeemed as cash, gift cards, miles, or a statement credit.

The Brex Card comes in two types:

1. Paid daily: This card works like a debit card—it is paid daily from your Brex Cash account balance. You can earn up to 8x rewards points on eligible purchases.
2. Paid monthly: This card offers 10x to 20x higher limits than traditional corporate cards. You need to pay your balance in full monthly. You can earn up to 7x rewards points on eligible purchases.

Here are the other things you need to know about the Brex card:

• Credit limit: For a Brex card that is paid daily, your credit limit is equal to the balance in your Brex Cash account. For a Brex card with monthly payments, Brex will determine your credit limit based on your funds in the bank—this is usually 10 to 20 times higher than all other business credit cards.
• Unlimited employee cards: You can get unlimited employee cards with custom limits at no additional cost.
• Helps build credit: You can build your business credit when you use your card responsibly because Brex reports your payments and usage behavior to credit bureaus.
• For tech and life sciences industries: If your business identifies with the tech and life sciences industries, you can enjoy rewards such as:
  • Tech: 8x on rideshares like Uber, Lyft, or taxi, 5x on travel booked via Brex Travel, 4x on restaurants, 3x on eligible Apple purchases through the Brex Rewards Portal, 3x on recurring software, 1x on all other transactions.
  • Life sciences: 8x on conference tickets, 5x on travel booked via Brex Travel, 3x on eligible Apple purchases through the Brex Rewards Portal, 2x on lab supplies, and 1x on all other transactions.

Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card: Best for Nonprofit Organizations

Why we like it: The Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card is a no-annual-fee business charge card designed for nonprofits. It made our list of the best credit cards for nonprofits because it offers exclusive discounts at more than 200 national vendors through Charity Charge’s partnership with CHAMPs. You can enjoy up to 20% discounts on your everyday expenses, such as office supplies, transportation, and wireless, with no enrollment fees and minimum purchase requirements.

It’s a Mastercard, so you can use it anywhere that accepts Mastercard. Additionally, you’ll earn automatic rebates from Mastercard®, like up to 4% on hotel bookings and dining, up to 1% on fuel, 5% on Microsoft advertising, and more. Your rebates will be applied to your account automatically when you use your card to pay for eligible purchases at any participating merchant.

You should also keep in mind these important things about the Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card:

• Balance is due in full each month: Since this card is a charge card, you should pay your balance in full each month or you’ll be charged with a late payment fee of 2.5% of the amount past due.
• Free employee cards: Nonprofits can order as many employee cards as they need at no additional cost.
• Control: The online account management allows you to set card limits for each employee and pause or cancel the card.

Why Business Credit Card Companies Require Personal Guarantees

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Other Ways to Limit Liability

Business cards with no personal guarantee are generally a better fit for medium and large businesses with high annual revenue. It’s important to note that a sole proprietor can’t get a business card without a personal guarantee.

If you’re a small business owner looking to limit your personal liability, here are a few tips you can use to reduce your exposure to unpaid debt and personal liability:

• Make payments on time: Making prompt payments is very crucial to avoid negative reporting on your personal credit. For charge cards where payments are withdrawn from your account automatically when the bill is due, make sure you have enough funds to cover the balance.
• Spend responsibly: Overspending increases the possibility that you won’t be able to make your payments in full or on time. Make sure to only charge expenses that you can afford to pay back right away.
• Manage employee spending: Most business credit cards offer online account management tools that you can use to apply spending controls and limits on employee cards. Limit the number of cards to only necessary users, and review employee card usage constantly.

How We Evaluated the Best Business Credit Cards With No Personal Guarantee

To determine the best business credit cards with no personal guarantee, we looked at fees, ease of application, and any rewards or benefits. We also considered the versatility of where the card could be used.

Bottom Line

Business credit cards without a personal guarantee are the right option if you don’t want the issuer to go after your personal assets in case you’re unable to pay your debts. However, it’s possible that your business assets will be seized if you fail to make payments on your card. As with any credit card, it’s important to use the card responsibly and in line with your budget.

If you’d like to see credit cards that require a personal guarantee, check out our guide to the best small business credit cards or visit our Credit Card Marketplace for a wider selection that’s available to more small business owners.