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Business owners with fair credit scores (ranging from 580 to 669) typically have limited business credit card options. When finding the best business credit cards for fair credit, consider the fees and other potential charges associated with owning the card, like Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) and penalties. Additionally, find cards that offer features that are valuable for your business, including the ability to build and improve credit when used responsibly.
Here are the six best business credit cards for fair credit:
- Capital One Spark 1% Classic: Overall best business credit card for fair credit with up to 5% cash back
- Ramp Credit Card: Best for no personal credit checks and no personal guarantee designed for large businesses
- Coast Fuel Card: Best for frequent fuel purchases and businesses with fleets
- Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card: Best secured business credit card with unlimited cash back and 0% APR
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best personal credit card with CreditWise access and 1.5% cash back
- BILL Divvy Corporate Card: Best for high rewards and multiple payment frequencies
Overview of the Best Business Credit Cards for Fair Credit
Best For | Annual Fee | Welcome Offer | Ongoing Rewards | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Capital One Spark 1% Classic | Overall best business credit card for fair credit with up to 5% cash back | $0 | None | Up to 5% cash back | |
 Ramp Card | No personal credit checks and no personal guarantee designed for large businesses | $0 | None | 1.5% cash back on purchases | |
 Coast Fuel Card | Frequent fuel purchases and businesses with fleets | $0 annual fee—pay only $4 per active card, per month | None | Up to 10 cents off per gallon on fuel and 1% cash back on all other purchases | |
 Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card | Secured business credit card with unlimited cash back and 0% APR | $0 | None | 1% cash back on all eligible purchases | |
 Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Personal credit card with CreditWise access and 1.5% cash back | $39 | None | 1.5% cash back | |
 BILL Divvy Corporate Card | High rewards and multiple payment frequencies | $0 | None | Up to 7x points |
Capital One Spark 1% Classic: Overall Best Business Credit Card for Fair Credit With up to 5% Cash Back
Capital One Spark 1% Classic
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 welcome offer
- 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 welcome offer
- 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
With the Capital One Spark 1% Classic, you can rebuild your credit when you use the card responsibly and pay your balance on time. You can also earn 1% or 5% cash back on your purchases. You’ll be able to redeem rewards as a statement credit or through a check sent by mail, and they don’t expire so long as your account is active and in good standing.
- 1% cash back on every purchase for your business, with no minimum to redeem
- 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- $0 annual fee
- $0 fraud liability keeps you protected from any unauthorized transactions
- Access to business-grade features like digital tools to manage your business expenses and employee spending
Ramp Card: Best for No Personal Credit Checks & No Personal Guarantee Designed for Large Businesses
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.
Why We Like It
Ramp is a corporate charge card designed for businesses that can make a minimum of $25,000 cash deposit to any bank account that will be linked to the Ramp system. It doesn’t perform personal credit checks and requires no personal guarantee, making it an ideal option for keeping your business and personal obligations separate. What’s more, it lets you earn unlimited, fixed-rate cash back on all eligible purchases, regardless of spending categories.
- 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases
- $0 annual fee
- Up to 20x higher credit limits compared with traditional business credit cards
- Direct integrations to QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and Sage Insight to automate accounting tasks
Coast Fuel Card: Best for Frequent Fuel Purchases & Businesses With Fleets
Coast Fuel Card
BEST FOR:
Businesses with small to large fleets
- Up to 10 cents off on every gallon on your statement
- 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 10 cents off on every gallon on your statement
- 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
Coast Fuel Card is a charge card ideal for businesses with significant fuel expenses and small to large fleets. Besides offering generous rebates on fuel expenses, it lets you earn a fixed-rate cash back on all purchases and has a smart platform that can help you track your expenditures. Additionally, it does not report your card transactions to personal credit bureaus, meaning your business transactions will not affect your personal credit score.
- 1% cash back on every purchase at merchants other than gas stations
- Up to 10 cents off per gallon at any gas station where Visa is accepted
- Up to $25,000 per year protection against fuel fraud losses when you enable the minimum required security features
- Exclusive discounts at partner networks, including QuickBooks, Speedway, 7-11, and Shell
- Customizable controls let you set spend limits, get real-time alerts, and enable certain spend categories your employees need
Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card: Best Secured Business Credit Card With Unlimited Cash Back & 0% APR
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.
Why We Like It
Valley Visa® Secured Business Credit Card is a great option if you have limited, poor, or fair credit. To qualify, you only need to make a security deposit equivalent to 110% of your desired credit limit, up to $25,000. On top of being able to earn unlimited cash back on your everyday purchases, you can enjoy 0% purchase APR, too, which is a rare feature found in a secured business credit card.
- 1% cash back on all eligible purchases
- $0 annual fee
- $0 over-the-credit-limit fee
- Fraud protection and access to an online account management system
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best Personal Credit Card With CreditWise Access & 1.5% Cash Back
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Fair credit applicants seeking cash back rewards
Pros
- Only requires fair credit
- Low annual fee
- Enjoy cash back on every purchase
Cons
- Charges an annual fee
- No intro balance transfer rate
- Automatic Credit Line Reviews: Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months.
- CreditWise: Enjoy unlimited access to your credit score and tools to help you monitor your credit profile with CreditWise from Capital One.
- Fraud Coverage: You’re covered by $0 Fraud Liability if your card is ever lost or stolen. That means you will not be responsible for fraudulent purchases.
Pros
- Only requires fair credit
- Low annual fee
- Enjoy cash back on every purchase
Cons
- Charges an annual fee
- No intro balance transfer rate
- Automatic Credit Line Reviews: Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months.
- CreditWise: Enjoy unlimited access to your credit score and tools to help you monitor your credit profile with CreditWise from Capital One.
- Fraud Coverage: You’re covered by $0 Fraud Liability if your card is ever lost or stolen. That means you will not be responsible for fraudulent purchases.
Why We Like It
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a personal credit card that qualifies those with an average, fair, or limited credit score. It offers unlimited, fixed-rate cash back on all purchases, plus you’ll get to enjoy free unlimited access to your credit score and tools to help you monitor your credit profile with CreditWise from Capital One.
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Automatic credit line reviews, so you can be considered for a higher credit limit in as little as six months
- $0 fraud liability coverage in case your card gets ever lost or stolen
- $0 foreign transaction fees
BILL Divvy Corporate Card: Best for High Rewards and Multiple Payment Frequencies
 BILL Divvy Card | |
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Costs | |
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Why We Like It
BILL Divvy is another corporate charge card. It offers credit limits ranging from $500 to $5 million, making it a great option for scalability. Aside from that, it comes with multiple payment frequencies—you can choose to pay your bill either weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. Plus, it lets you earn points rewards depending on how frequently you will be paying your credit card bill.
Weekly Payment:
- 7x points on restaurants
- 5x points on hotels
- 2x points on recurring software subscriptions
- 1.5x points on everything else
Semi-monthly Payment:
- 4x points on restaurants
- 3x points on hotels
- 1.75x points on recurring software subscriptions
- 1x points on everything else
Monthly Payment:
- 2x points on restaurants and hotels
- 1.5x points on recurring software subscriptions
- 1x points on everything else
- $0 annual fee
- Flexible rewards redemption options, including cash back, statement credit, gift cards, or travel
- BILL Spend & Expense software offers seamless, automatic expense management
- Accounting software integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct
How We Selected the Best Small Business Credit Cards for Fair Credit
In choosing the best small business cards for fair credit, we looked at cards that have a low or $0 annual fee and offer features that your small business may find valuable. We also took into account their interest rates, introductory and ongoing rewards, and other features and benefits, as well as whether they report to the credit bureaus and help grow your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fair credit has credit scores between 580 and 669 under the FICO or a 601 to 660 under VantageScore.
Having a fair credit score is considered a step higher than poor credit (between 300 and 579). Business owners with fair credit scores generally have limited financial opportunities when applying for loans and business credit cards. Meanwhile, having a good credit score (between 670 and 739) often means that you are eligible to qualify for business credit cards with higher rewards, benefits, and perks. It is important for business owners to find ways to reach at least good credit quickly.
Bottom Line
When you have a fair credit score, some business credit cards can help improve your credit if you use them responsibly and pay your bills on time. After approval, take advantage of free online and mobile banking to track your expenditures and create reminders to pay your credit card bill. Once your credit score improves, you’ll be eligible for a wider variety of cards with richer rewards and benefits.
