Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.
It’s still possible to qualify for a business credit card even with a bad credit score (below 670). The best business credit cards for bad credit will help you improve your credit score with responsible use. Our list includes business and personal secured credit cards, charge cards, and business prepaid cards.
Check out our top seven business credit cards for those with bad credit:
- Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card: Overall best business credit card with 0% intro period and fixed-rate cash back rewards
- First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®: Best for those who want a fixed-rate regular annual percentage rate (APR)
- Ramp Credit Card: Best corporate charge card with no personal credit check and a simple rewards program
- Emburse Spend Card: Best prepaid card with unlimited rewards
- First Tech Platinum Secured Mastercard®: Best for low ongoing APR and fewer fees with fixed-rate rewards
- First Progress Select Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card: Best personal credit card with rewards for payments
- Discover it Secured Card: Best personal credit card for gas station and restaurant rewards
Looking for robust expense management Business Cards? Check out Ramp Today |
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Overview of the Best Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit
Best For | Annual Fee | Rewards | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card | (Overall best) business credit card with 0% intro period and fixed-rate cash back rewards | $0 | Fixed 1% cash back | |
 First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® | Those who want a fixed-rate regular APR | $39 | None | |
 Ramp Credit Card | Corporate charge card with no personal credit check and a simple rewards program | $0 | Fixed-rate 1.5% cash back | |
 Emburse Spend Card | Prepaid card with unlimited rewards | $0 | Fixed-rate 1% cash back | |
 First Tech Platinum Secured Mastercard® | Low ongoing APR and fewer fees with fixed-rate rewards | $0 | Fixed-rate 1x point per dollar | |
 First Progress Select Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | Earning rewards for payments | $39 | 1% cash back | |
 Discover it Secured Card | Gas station and restaurant rewards | $0 | Up to 2% cash back |
Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card: Overall Best Business Credit Card With 0% Intro Period & Fixed-rate Cash Back Rewards
Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Those who need a secured business credit card with fixed-rate cash back rewards
- 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases
- 110% percent of your approved credit limit
- $1,000 to $25,000, based on customer request
Pros
- Applicants with poor or limited credit history can still qualify
- Offers 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers for six billing cycles
- $0 annual fee
- Offers 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases
- Report to major credit bureaus
Cons
- Credit limits are capped to $25,000
- Requires refundable security deposit of 110% credit limit
- Up to 25 free employee cards only
- Charges foreign transaction fee
- Online account access: Manage your account conveniently through online access.
- Fraud protection alerts: Immediate alerts for suspected fraudulent transactions.
- Visa purchase alerts: Receive near real-time notifications via email or text message for transactions made with your enrolled Visa card.
- Report to major credit bureaus: The card reports account information and transactions to major credit bureaus each month, helping users build credit with responsible use.
- 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases
- 110% percent of your approved credit limit
- $1,000 to $25,000, based on customer request
Pros
- Applicants with poor or limited credit history can still qualify
- Offers 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers for six billing cycles
- $0 annual fee
- Offers 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases
- Report to major credit bureaus
Cons
- Credit limits are capped to $25,000
- Requires refundable security deposit of 110% credit limit
- Up to 25 free employee cards only
- Charges foreign transaction fee
- Online account access: Manage your account conveniently through online access.
- Fraud protection alerts: Immediate alerts for suspected fraudulent transactions.
- Visa purchase alerts: Receive near real-time notifications via email or text message for transactions made with your enrolled Visa card.
- Report to major credit bureaus: The card reports account information and transactions to major credit bureaus each month, helping users build credit with responsible use.
Who Should Consider the Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card
Our best business credit card for bad credit offers a 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers for the first six billing cycles, and it charges $0 annual fees. This card can also help build up your credit score. It’s not a surprise that this is also our leading secured business credit card and one of our recommended cash back business credit cards.
Rewards:
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
Other benefits:
- Issue up to 25 cards under one account at no additional cost
- Receive instant fraud protection alerts via text and email in case a suspected fraudulent transaction is being processed
- Get up to $25,000 in credit limit
Take note of the following considerations:
- It requires a security deposit of 110% of your desired credit limit.
- It charges foreign transaction fees.
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®: Best for Those Who Want a Fixed-Rate APR
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 from $2,000 to $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 from $2,000 to $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.
Who Should Consider the First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®
Consider the First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® if you are looking for a secured business credit card with a fixed-rate regular APR. While it does not offer rewards for new and existing cardholders, you can still save on purchases with automatic rebates through the Mastercard Easy Savings. It’s no surprise that its features are why this is one of our best secured business credit cards.
Other benefits:
- Receive flexibility that can help cover the costs of your purchases, including supplies, travel, and equipment
- Access FNBO’s online platform to manage your account, view transactions, pay your bills, set up alerts, and more
- Receive a credit limit depending on your security deposit, which can be between $2,000 and $10,000
Take note of the following considerations:
- It requires a security deposit—which is 110% of the amount of your desired credit limit.
- It does not offer a 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers.
Ramp Credit Card: Best Corporate Charge Card With No Personal Credit Check & a Simple Rewards Program
Ramp Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Those who are using Ramp as their main financial management tool
- Up to 1.5% cash back on purchases, regardless of spending categories
Pros
- Offers rewards for cardholders
- Does not charge additional fees
- Offers direct integrations to notable accounting tasks
Cons
- Requires paying balances in full each month
- Is unavailable to sole proprietors and unincorporated businesses
- Travel and emergency assistance services: Call the Benefit Administrator at (800) 397-9010 if you are in the United States or (303) 967-1093 if you are outside of the US if you need emergency assistance.
- Purchase security: Receive a maximum of $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder in cases of theft or damage to purchases made with your card.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: When using this card for renting a car, you can be reimbursed for damages caused by theft or collision up to the Actual Cash Value of most rented cars. Note that rental periods of 31 consecutive days are covered.
- Extended warranty protection: Extend warranties for eligible purchases made with your covered account and/or rewards programs associated with your account.
- Up to 1.5% cash back on purchases, regardless of spending categories
Pros
- Offers rewards for cardholders
- Does not charge additional fees
- Offers direct integrations to notable accounting tasks
Cons
- Requires paying balances in full each month
- Is unavailable to sole proprietors and unincorporated businesses
- Travel and emergency assistance services: Call the Benefit Administrator at (800) 397-9010 if you are in the United States or (303) 967-1093 if you are outside of the US if you need emergency assistance.
- Purchase security: Receive a maximum of $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder in cases of theft or damage to purchases made with your card.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: When using this card for renting a car, you can be reimbursed for damages caused by theft or collision up to the Actual Cash Value of most rented cars. Note that rental periods of 31 consecutive days are covered.
- Extended warranty protection: Extend warranties for eligible purchases made with your covered account and/or rewards programs associated with your account.
Who Should Consider the Ramp Credit Card
Those who want a corporate charge card that does not require a personal credit check and offers a simple rewards program may want this card. It’s also a viable option if you frequently make large purchases due to its unlimited fixed-rate cash back rewards and if you can maintain at least $25,000 in a business bank account that you wish to connect with Ramp. This is why it’s one of our best business credit cards with no personal credit check.
Rewards:
- Up to 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Other benefits:
- Get live support from experts
- Access streamlined payment reconciliation that can automate your accounting process
- Receive exclusive partner discounts from notable brands such as QuickBooks, Vesto, 1Password, and more
Take note of the following considerations:
- It requires you to pay your balances in full each month.
- Ramp is not available for sole proprietors and unincorporated businesses.
Emburse Spend Card: Best Prepaid Card With Unlimited Rewards
Emburse Spend CardBEST FOR: Earning unlimited cash back rewards | |
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Spending Limit | Load Limit |
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Costs | |
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Who Should Consider the Emburse Spend Card
If you are looking for a business prepaid card that offers a robust expense management system where you can identify anomalies, create customized business reports, and ensure expense compliance, then this card is an excellent option. Issued by Celtic Bank, a Utah-Chartered Industrial Bank―member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC)―this card lets you earn unlimited cash back rewards and issue unlimited physical and virtual cards. These are why this is our most recommended business prepaid card and one of our preferred sole proprietorship business credit cards.
Rewards:
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
Other benefits:
- Offers a default $50,000 budget ceiling—which can increase with additional review
- Track real-time expenses, categorize vendors, and approve or reject transactions
Take note of the following considerations:
- It does not allow ATM cash withdrawals.
- It may charge you a subscription fee depending on either the number of employees in your business or if you want to get access to all features on Emburse Spend.
First Tech Platinum Secured Mastercard®: Best for Low Ongoing APR & Fewer Fees With Fixed-rate Rewards
First Tech Platinum Secured Mastercard®
BEST FOR:
Members of First Tech FCU who want to build their credit
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on eligible purchases
- Minimum $500, which determines your credit limit (up to $25,000)
- No fees for foreign transactions, cash advances, or balance transfers
- Reports to major credit bureaus
Pros
- Has low starting APR
- Enjoy $0 annual, foreign transaction, balance transfer, and cash advance fees
- Lets you earn rewards on purchases
Cons
- Has no welcome offer
- Does not offer a 0% introductory period
- You need to become a First Tech member to open an account
- Purchase assurance: When an item you bought with your covered card is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase, you may be eligible for benefits under this coverage
- Mastercard Global Service™: Provides worldwide, 24-hour assistance with Lost and Stolen Card Reporting, Emergency Card Replacement, and Emergency Cash Advance
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection™: This is a theft resolution service in case you become a victim of identity theft
- Ongoing rewards: Earn unlimited 1x points per dollar spent on purchases and redeem your rewards for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more—plus, your rewards don’t expire
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on eligible purchases
- Minimum $500, which determines your credit limit (up to $25,000)
- No fees for foreign transactions, cash advances, or balance transfers
- Reports to major credit bureaus
Pros
- Has low starting APR
- Enjoy $0 annual, foreign transaction, balance transfer, and cash advance fees
- Lets you earn rewards on purchases
Cons
- Has no welcome offer
- Does not offer a 0% introductory period
- You need to become a First Tech member to open an account
- Purchase assurance: When an item you bought with your covered card is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase, you may be eligible for benefits under this coverage
- Mastercard Global Service™: Provides worldwide, 24-hour assistance with Lost and Stolen Card Reporting, Emergency Card Replacement, and Emergency Cash Advance
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection™: This is a theft resolution service in case you become a victim of identity theft
- Ongoing rewards: Earn unlimited 1x points per dollar spent on purchases and redeem your rewards for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more—plus, your rewards don’t expire
Who Should Consider the First Tech Platinum Secured Mastercard®
Consider the First Tech Platinum Secured Mastercard® if you are looking for a personal secured business credit card that charges a low ongoing APR and offers fixed points rewards on all purchases. It also lets you redeem your earned points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more. These are our reasons for including it in our roundups of the best secured business credit cards.
Rewards:
- Unlimited 1x points on all purchases
Other benefits:
- Enjoy $0 annual, balance transfer, cash advance, and foreign transaction fees
- Receive a credit limit depending on your security deposit—which can range between $500 to $25,000
Take note of the following considerations:
- It requires you to be a First Tech member to qualify for the card.
- It requires you to pay your balances in full each month.
First Progress Select Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card: Best Personal Credit Card With Rewards for Payments
First Progress Select Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
- 1% cash back on payments made to your credit card account
Pros
- Helps build your credit score—reports to all three credit bureaus
- Free online reporting with Spend Analysis
Cons
- No welcome offer
- No ongoing rewards
- Branches are limited to selected states only (Texas, Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico)
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus
- Pay six months on time and apply to get a second credit card
- Easy, free access to credit education in the First Progress Card Mobile App
- Enrolled automatically in First Progress Rewards upon approval
- Expedited processing service option
- 1% cash back on payments made to your credit card account
Pros
- Helps build your credit score—reports to all three credit bureaus
- Free online reporting with Spend Analysis
Cons
- No welcome offer
- No ongoing rewards
- Branches are limited to selected states only (Texas, Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico)
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus
- Pay six months on time and apply to get a second credit card
- Easy, free access to credit education in the First Progress Card Mobile App
- Enrolled automatically in First Progress Rewards upon approval
- Expedited processing service option
Who Should Consider the First Progress Select Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
This secured personal credit card is viable for those who want to receive 1% cash back on their payments. It also reports your credit score to all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This unique feature is why it is one of our recommended secured business credit cards.
Rewards:
- 1% cash back on payments made with your card
Other benefits:
- Easy online application
- Offers a fixed-rate regular APR on purchases
- Receive a credit limit depending on your refundable security deposit—which can range between $200 to $2,000
Take note of the following considerations:
- It requires you to pay your balances in full each month.
- It does not offer rewards for its new cardholders.
- First Progress is located in the following states: Texas, Arizona, California, Florida, and Michigan.
Discover it® Secured Card: Best Personal Credit Card for Gas Station & Restaurant Rewards
Discover it® Secured
BEST FOR:
Business owners who need help rebuilding credit
- Earn cash back and build your credit with responsible use.
- It's a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Establish your credit line by providing a refundable security deposit from $200 to $2,500 after being approved. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at eight months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. In addition, earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all your other purchases―automatically
- Get 100% US-based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score
- We match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year automatically.
- Receive Free Social Security number alerts—Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up.
Pros
- With cash back rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Lets you enjoy $0 annual fees
- Offers automatic monthly account review
Cons
- No 0% annual percentage rate (APR) period on purchases and balance transfers
- High ongoing APR
- Updated FICO credit scores: You can get FICO® credit score, key factors, and other credit information on Discover.com and your statement.
- Data privacy: Remove personal information from selected people-search sites that may sell your data.
- Freeze it®: Freeze your account within seconds in the event you have misplaced your physical card
- Earn cash back and build your credit with responsible use.
- It's a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Establish your credit line by providing a refundable security deposit from $200 to $2,500 after being approved. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at eight months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. In addition, earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all your other purchases―automatically
- Get 100% US-based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score
- We match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year automatically.
- Receive Free Social Security number alerts—Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up.
Pros
- With cash back rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Lets you enjoy $0 annual fees
- Offers automatic monthly account review
Cons
- No 0% annual percentage rate (APR) period on purchases and balance transfers
- High ongoing APR
- Updated FICO credit scores: You can get FICO® credit score, key factors, and other credit information on Discover.com and your statement.
- Data privacy: Remove personal information from selected people-search sites that may sell your data.
- Freeze it®: Freeze your account within seconds in the event you have misplaced your physical card
Who Should Consider the Discover it® Secured Card
This secured personal credit card is an excellent choice if you are looking for a card that lets you earn premium cash back at gas stations and restaurants. This card also offers an introductory balance transfer rate and an introductory balance transfer fee. These are why it’s one of our best secured business credit cards.
Rewards:
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Other benefits:
- Redeem earned cash back in multiple ways: as a statement credit, through an electronic deposit, as a payment with your cash back bonus, as gift cards, and as a donation to any charitable institution
- Enjoy $0 annual fees
Take note of the following considerations:
- It does not offer a 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers.
- It has a cap on the 2% cash back that you can earn from purchases made at gas stations and restaurants.
How We Selected the Best Bad Credit Business Credit Cards
The best business credit cards for bad credit are easy to use, giving you convenient access to funding that you and your employees can use for your day-to-day business expenses. If you want to qualify for other financing options with better terms, it’s best to choose a card that can help you build your credit.
To choose the best cards, we considered the easy approval process, interest rates, and how the card helps improve your credit score. Ongoing rewards are also a plus factor that we took into account.
Alternatives to Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit
- Business loans for bad credit: There are business loan providers that will approve you for a loan even with a credit score of below 600. Head over to our guide to the leading business loans for bad credit for our top recommendations.
- Business equipment loans for bad credit: These loans are great if you plan to purchase equipment for your company and you need funding for that. For options, see our roundup of the best business equipment loans for bad credit.
To learn about the importance of business credit scores, read our article about what a business credit score is and how it works. When your score improves and you’re ready to apply for a wider variety of business credit cards, the top choices are in our list of the best small business credit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The lowest FICO score is 300, while the highest is 850. Refer to the table below to see the equivalent ratings of these scores:
Credit Score | Rating |
|---|---|
300 to 579 | Poor/Bad |
580 to 669 | Fair |
670 to 739 | Good |
740 to 799 | Very Good |
800 to 850 | Excellent |
Yes, applying for too many credit cards or loans can adversely affect your credit, especially if the card issuers or loan providers require a credit check. Keep in mind that most business credit cards check your personal credit scores as part of the application process, and too many hard credit inquiries can lower your credit score.
Yes, business owners need to build business credit. Having a business credit and a favorable score can help you qualify for a wider range of business credit cards and other forms of business financing.
To improve your credit score with a business credit card, you need to use it responsibly and pay your balance on time. Late payments will have a negative impact on your credit, so keep track of due dates and pay your bills promptly. To avoid defaulting on your cards, only use it on necessary expenses that your company has set aside a budget for.
To avoid this, you may opt for card options that don’t require a credit check, or make sure to check the credit requirements and determine whether or not you qualify before you submit an application.
Bottom Line
When you have poor credit and are deciding which of the business credit cards for bad credit is best for you, remember that not all of them function the same way. While secured credit cards require you to have extra funds that can serve as a security deposit, business prepaid cards require you to have funds available at all times as the payment will pull from the account that the card is linked to. Using your business card responsibly can help you build credit and eventually qualify for a regular business credit card.
