6 Best Business Credit Cards Without Personal Guarantee for 2023
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
Benilyn has over a decade of experience as a banking officer. Her expertise is featured throughout Fit Small Business in personal finance, credit card, and real estate investing content.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
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, you can opt for a business card that doesn’t require a personal guarantee. An established small business with substantial annual revenues can usually qualify for business credit cards without a personal guarantee. Your options include charge cards, store cards, prepaid cards, and debit cards.
On March 10, 2023 we removed Silicon Valley Bank from this list. Silicon Valley Bank, one of the largest providers of funding and support for startup companies, was shut down by regulators on March 10 and entered FDIC receivership. A recent attempt to raise venture capital funding failed, and it was turned over to FDIC receivership. Insured deposits will be available through the new bank created by the FDIC, Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara, starting March 13.
Here are the six best business cards with no personal guarantee:
- Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card: Best overall for business owners with fair or poor credit
- Shell Small Business Fuel Card: Best for small businesses with fleet vehicles
- Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard®: Best for small businesses with recurring big-box store purchases
- Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card: Best for small businesses with recurring office supply and furniture purchases
- Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card: Best for nonprofit organizations
- Emburse Spend Card: Best prepaid card with fixed-rate rewards
To see how these cards stack up against others that we have reviewed on our site, simply click Add to Compare on the card below and select up to two additional cards for comparison.
Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card: Best Overall 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. Similar to the Emburse Spend card, business owners with fair or poor credit are eligible to apply, making it one of our top-recommended business cards for fair credit.
You can take advantage of unlimited domestic transactions without having to pay setup fees, debit fees, decline fees, or overdraft fees. You can also request a card for each of your employees. It offers a 60-day free trial period, then you’ll be charged a monthly fee that ranges from $29 to $149, depending on the number of employee cards you need. Plus, you can use it anywhere that accepts Visa cards.
The Bento debit card has two versions, and both can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet for contactless payments:
- Spend limit card: Ideal for everyday purchases and good for managing all business spending in one place
- Fixed-value card: Best for one-time payments, per diems, or recurring vendor payments
Other features and benefits:
- 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 freeze a card easily if it gets lost or stolen.
- Expense reporting: Bento offers artificial intelligence (AI)-based receipt capture and efficient reporting tools, and you can export data into QuickBooks or any other accounting platform.
The Bento for Business Visa® Debit Card is available to any legitimate and verifiable business. If you’re a legally registered United States business with a verifiable physical location in the US, you can apply for it. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)-sanctioned individuals, entities, countries, and/or governments are ineligible.
Shell Small Business Fuel Card: Best for Small Businesses With Fleet Vehicles
Shell Small Business Card
BEST FOR:
Larger businesses
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
rates not disclosed—call (855) 398-9165 for the rates
Annual Fee
None
Credit Needed
Good
- Earn rebates of up to 5 cents per gallon
Pros
- Zero card fees
- Discounts at Jiffy Lube locations
Cons
- Businesses need to earn at least $1 million annually to qualify
- Total savings capped at $300 per billing cycle
- Online and mobile account management
- Cancel stolen or lost cards in real time online
- 24/7 customer service available
- Payment flexibility―revolve your balance or pay in full each billing cycle
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
rates not disclosed—call (855) 398-9165 for the rates
Annual Fee
None
Credit Needed
Good
- Earn rebates of up to 5 cents per gallon
Pros
- Zero card fees
- Discounts at Jiffy Lube locations
Cons
- Businesses need to earn at least $1 million annually to qualify
- Total savings capped at $300 per billing cycle
- Online and mobile account management
- Cancel stolen or lost cards in real time online
- 24/7 customer service available
- Payment flexibility―revolve your balance or pay in full each billing cycle
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 5 cents per gallon at Shell and enjoy discounts at participating Jiffy Lube stations. Being one of our best business fuel cards, it’s an ideal option if your business has fleets or you’re on the road frequently.
It comes with no setup, monthly, or annual fees, and you have the ability to 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.
Other features and benefits:
- Exclusive to Shell: The Shell Small Business Fuel Card isn’t affiliated with either Visa or Mastercard. It can only be used at Shell stations.
- Detailed reports: It offers online account management, which 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. Additionally, you can activate, suspend, and terminate cards through online and mobile tools.
To qualify for the Shell Small Business Fuel Card, your business should be in operation for at least three years and have a minimum of $1 million in annual earnings.
Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard®: Best for Small Businesses With Recurring Big-box Store Purchases
Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard®
BEST FOR:
5% back on gas at US gas stations and Sam's Club and Walmart fuel stations
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
17.90% or 25.90%
Annual Fee
$0 except for annual Sam’s Club Plus membership fee of $100
Credit Needed
Good
- Earn 5% back on gas at United States gas stations and Sam's Club and Walmart fuel stations, 3% on all Sam’s Club purchases, 3% back at restaurants, and 1% on all other eligible purchases
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted
Cons
- Businesses must show at least $5 million in annual sales revenue, be operational for at least two years, and have more than 10 employees to avoid personal guarantee
- No sign-up bonus
- Need to be a Sam’s Club Plus member to apply
- 600 Sam’s Club locations in the US and Puerto Rico
- Single-card convenience as Mastercard® doubles as your Sam’s Club membership card
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
17.90% or 25.90%
Annual Fee
$0 except for annual Sam’s Club Plus membership fee of $100
Credit Needed
Good
- Earn 5% back on gas at United States gas stations and Sam's Club and Walmart fuel stations, 3% on all Sam’s Club purchases, 3% back at restaurants, and 1% on all other eligible purchases
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted
Cons
- Businesses must show at least $5 million in annual sales revenue, be operational for at least two years, and have more than 10 employees to avoid personal guarantee
- No sign-up bonus
- Need to be a Sam’s Club Plus member to apply
- 600 Sam’s Club locations in the US and Puerto Rico
- Single-card convenience as Mastercard® doubles as your Sam’s Club membership card
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®. It’s worth noting that you can only earn up to $5,000 cash back per year.
As a welcome bonus, you’ll receive a $30 statement credit when you open a new account and make $30 in Sam’s Club purchases within 30 days. Since this is a Mastercard®, you can use it anywhere Mastercard® is accepted to earn rewards. If you get a Plus membership for $110 a year, you can enjoy additional cash rewards, free shipping, and free curbside pickup.
Other features and benefits:
- No monthly or annual fee: Aside from the annual Plus membership fee, this card comes with no monthly or annual fee.
- 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.
To apply for the Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard® without personal guarantee, you need to have good to excellent credit. You should also be in business for more than two years, with more than $5 million in annual revenues, and have more than 10 employees. You can still apply for the card without these requirements, but a personal guarantee is necessary for card approval.
Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card: Best for Businesses With Recurring Office Supply & Furniture Purchases
Office Depot OfficeMax Business Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Office supplies at Office Depot and OfficeMax
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
20.80% to 29.99%
Annual Fee
None
Credit Needed
Fair
- Receive $50 as a statement credit on your first purchase of $150
- Flexible payments or choose pay in full
- Exclusive offers plus sneak previews and special savings
Pros
- No annual fee
- Welcome bonus
- Available to applicants with fair credit
Cons
- High ongoing APR
- Need to be enrolled in the Rewards Program to get cashback rewards
- Can only be used at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores
- Office Depot® OfficeMax® Rewards Program. A free program where active members can get up to 2% cashback in rewards on your go-to supplies, furniture, equipment, and more.
- Itemized billing statements. Office Depot provides relevant information that can help business owners do proper budget allocation and forecasting of expenses when using their credit cards.
- Multiple cards per account. The Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card offers numerous cards within the same statement, thus increasing the number of authorized people who can use the same performance at a given time.
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
20.80% to 29.99%
Annual Fee
None
Credit Needed
Fair
- Receive $50 as a statement credit on your first purchase of $150
- Flexible payments or choose pay in full
- Exclusive offers plus sneak previews and special savings
Pros
- No annual fee
- Welcome bonus
- Available to applicants with fair credit
Cons
- High ongoing APR
- Need to be enrolled in the Rewards Program to get cashback rewards
- Can only be used at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores
- Office Depot® OfficeMax® Rewards Program. A free program where active members can get up to 2% cashback in rewards on your go-to supplies, furniture, equipment, and more.
- Itemized billing statements. Office Depot provides relevant information that can help business owners do proper budget allocation and forecasting of expenses when using their credit cards.
- Multiple cards per account. The Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card offers numerous cards within the same statement, thus increasing the number of authorized people who can use the same performance at a given time.
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. It is an excellent option for small businesses making recurring purchases of office supplies and furniture and office technology, breakroom, and cleaning supplies.
You can take advantage of the Office Depot® exclusive offers, sneak previews, and special savings. When you link your Office Depot® rewards membership to your credit card account, you’ll earn rewards automatically every time you use your card.
Other features and benefits:
- 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 annual percentage rate (APR), with a minimum interest of $2.
Government entities, nonprofit organizations, and corporations can qualify for the Office Depot® OfficeMax® Business Credit Card. The corporation must be in business for at least three years with more than $5 million in annual sales to be eligible for an account with business-only liability.
Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card: Best for Nonprofit Organizations
Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card
BEST FOR:
Receiving exclusive vendor discounts
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A - balance is due in full by the payment due date
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Up to 4% rebate on hotel bookings and dining
- Up to 1% rebate on fuel
- 5% rebate on Duns % Bradstreet
- 5% cashback on Microsoft advertising
- 10% rebate on Snapchat advertising
- 20% off with Dropbox
Pros
- No annual fee
- Automatic rebates
- Mastercard benefits
Cons
- Balance is due in full each month
- Strict eligibility requirements
- Vendor discounts: You’ll receive exclusive discounts at more than 200 national vendors through Purchasing Point. These include discounts on services at businesses such as FedEx and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. You can find all available vendors on the Purchasing Point’s vendor page.
- No personal guarantee: This card requires no personal guarantee, which means it doesn’t require a personal credit check. Plus, you aren’t personally liable for the company’s debt obligations.
- Extended warranty protection: Doubles the existing manufacturer’s warranty up to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per cardholder per year.
- Purchase assurance: Replaces new purchases that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per cardholder per year.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A - balance is due in full by the payment due date
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Up to 4% rebate on hotel bookings and dining
- Up to 1% rebate on fuel
- 5% rebate on Duns % Bradstreet
- 5% cashback on Microsoft advertising
- 10% rebate on Snapchat advertising
- 20% off with Dropbox
Pros
- No annual fee
- Automatic rebates
- Mastercard benefits
Cons
- Balance is due in full each month
- Strict eligibility requirements
- Vendor discounts: You’ll receive exclusive discounts at more than 200 national vendors through Purchasing Point. These include discounts on services at businesses such as FedEx and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. You can find all available vendors on the Purchasing Point’s vendor page.
- No personal guarantee: This card requires no personal guarantee, which means it doesn’t require a personal credit check. Plus, you aren’t personally liable for the company’s debt obligations.
- Extended warranty protection: Doubles the existing manufacturer’s warranty up to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per cardholder per year.
- Purchase assurance: Replaces new purchases that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per cardholder per year.
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. Your rebates will be applied to your account automatically when you use your card to pay for eligible purchases at any participating merchant. Note that 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.
Other features and benefits:
- Free employee cards: Nonprofits can order as many employee cards as they need for free.
- Control: Online account management allows you to set card limits for each employee and pause or cancel the card.
To qualify for the Charity Charge Nonprofit Business Card, your nonprofit must be US-based, be in operation for at least five years, and have a minimum of $100,000 in annual revenue. Nonprofits with at least two years in operation and $500,000 or more in annual revenue can also qualify.
Emburse Spend Card: Best Prepaid Card With Fixed-rate Rewards
Why we like it: Emburse Spend card is a prepaid business card that offers unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases. It doesn’t require a personal guarantee and has no annual or monthly fees. Because of its easy approval process without a personal credit check, it’s one of our outstanding business cards for bad credit.
It’s important to note that since this is a prepaid card, you need to load the card before you can use it. The maximum load limit is $100,000, but you can request an increase, subject to approval. Keep in mind that you cannot use the card to withdraw from the ATMs. Also, while it offers ongoing rewards, there’s no sign-up bonus.
Other features and benefits:
- Expense management system: With its streamlined software, you can monitor your transactions in real time, track your expenses, categorize vendors, approve or reject transactions, and prevent policy violations.
- Accounting integration: The system integrates with NetSuite, Intacct, QuickBooks Online, and Xero.
You can transfer funds easily through ACH. Just go to the “Bank Account” tab in your Settings page to connect to the following banks automatically: Bank of America, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, USAA, Charles Schwab, Capital One, TD Bank, Navy Federal, and SunTrust. If your bank isn’t on the list, you’ll need your bank account and routing numbers to connect manually.
How We Selected 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do business credit card companies require personal guarantees?
Credit card issuers are protected from the risk of unpaid debt by personal guarantees. A personal guarantee transfers that risk to the business owner directly, which is why nearly all business credit cards require a personal guarantee.
Lenders and credit card issuers need assurance that someone will be liable to pay the business debt even if the business fails. If your business defaults on payments, a personal guarantee means that the issuer can attempt to collect the debt directly from you.
How can I limit my personal risk?
As a business owner, you can limit your personal risk by using a no-personal-guarantee credit card if your business meets the size and revenue requirements. You also have the option to use a business charge card or business debit or prepaid card if you want to avoid a personal guarantee. These cards are much less likely to have restrictions on who qualifies for the card.
What are the other ways to limit my liability?
Here are a few tips a small business owner can follow to reduce 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, ensure you have enough funds to cover the balance.
- Spend responsibly: Overspending increases the possibility that you’ll be unable to make your payments in full or on time. See to it you 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.
Bottom Line
Business credit cards with no 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 other cards, check out our guide to the best small business credit cards.
