best business credit cards for startups
Running a startup means juggling multiple financial responsibilities. Whether it’s covering daily expenses, managing cash flow, or even making sure employees have the tools they need, the right credit card can make all the difference. The best startup credit cards do more than just help you pay bills—they can boost your cash flow, earn valuable rewards, help you build your business credit, and even streamline your entire financial system.
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Here’s a roundup of 9 of the best startup credit cards for 2024. Each card comes with unique benefits tailored to different types of businesses. So let’s dive into the options and help you find the one that best fits your needs.
9 Best Startup Credit Cards to Consider in 2024
1. Zeni Business Credit Card
Best for seamless expense management and cashback
The Zeni Business Credit Card is perfect for startups looking for more than just a basic credit card. It’s integrated with Zeni’s AI-powered financial platform, giving you the ability to track, categorize, and optimize your spending in real time.
Here’s what you’ll love about it:
- 1.75% cashback on all purchases, no matter the category
- Unlimited virtual and physical cards, so you can issue cards for your team instantly without any added costs
- Real-time spend visibility with automatic categorization to track expenses by team, location, or department
- Customizable credit limits for employees or departments, giving you more control over spending
- Expert financial support from Zeni’s team of professionals, ready to provide tailored advice and insights
If you’re looking for a credit card that integrates seamlessly with bookkeeping software, simplifies expense tracking, and offers valuable cashback, this is your pick.
best business credit cards for startups
2. Chase Ink Business Preferred Card
Best for earning points on big-ticket business expenses
The Chase Ink Business Preferred Card is a powerhouse for businesses that want to earn rewards while building credit. Whether you’re covering travel costs or paying for advertising, you’ll earn points at a higher rate.
Here’s what’s great about it:
- 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first three months
- 3x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases for categories like shipping, travel, internet services, and advertising
- 1x point on all other purchases
- Points can be redeemed for cash, travel, or gift cards through Chase Ultimate Rewards
The $95 annual fee is well worth it, especially if your business racks up a lot of expenses in the bonus categories.
best business credit cards for startups
3. Brex Card [best business credit cards for startups]
Best for businesses with limited credit history
If you’re just starting out and don’t have an established credit history, the Brex Card could be a game-changer. Unlike traditional credit cards, Brex doesn’t rely on your personal credit score. Instead, it evaluates your business revenue and funding, which can give you access to higher credit limits.
Key features include: best business credit cards for startups
- 7x points on rideshare purchases
- 4x points on travel booked through Brex Travel
- 3x points on restaurants
- 2x points on software subscriptions
- 1x points on all other purchases
Brex also offers special perks like AWS credits, discounts on QuickBooks, and discounted UPS shipments, making it a solid choice for tech-heavy startups. Plus, no personal guarantee is required, and there’s no annual fee.
4. Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus Card
Best for straightforward cash-back rewards
For startups that want a no-fuss, high-cash-back card, the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus Card is a great option. It gives you unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, with no categories to worry about.
Highlights include: best business credit cards for startups
- $750 cash bonus when you spend $7,500 in the first three months
- 2% cash back on all purchases, no category limits
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
With a $95 annual fee (waived the first year), this card is perfect for business owners who prefer simplicity while still earning valuable rewards.
5. Capital One Venture X Business Card
Best for frequent travelers
If your startup frequently covers travel expenses, the Capital One Venture X Business Card offers generous travel rewards and perks. From booking flights to hotel stays, this card will help you rack up miles while you travel for business.
Key benefits include: best business credit cards for startups
- 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $30,000 in the first three months
- 10x miles on hotel and rental car purchases through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel
- Airport lounge access, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credits, and more
With a $395 annual fee, it’s best for businesses with high travel expenses. This card can also help you save on travel costs while earning miles that you can redeem for future business trips.
6. Stripe Corporate Card
Best for Stripe users who want integrated spend management
For startups already using Stripe to process payments, the Stripe Corporate Card integrates perfectly with your account. The card gives you access to various spending controls, detailed reports, and helpful partner-based perks.
Here’s what you’ll get: best business credit cards for startups
- 1.5% cashback on all purchases
- $5,000 AWS credits, 50% off Expensify, discounted Airtable credits, and more
- No annual fee and no personal guarantee required
One downside: The Stripe Corporate Card only reports to the SBFE (Small Business Financial Exchange), not the major credit bureaus, which means it’s not ideal for building business credit. But if you already use Stripe and want an easy-to-use card, this one’s worth considering.
7. U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card
Best for 0% APR financing
The U.S. Bank Business Platinum Card is a no-frills card with a major perk—0% APR on purchases for the first 18 billing periods (typically 18 months). If you need to make a large purchase, this card offers one of the longest introductory 0% APR periods available.
Key benefits include:
- 0% APR for the first 18 billing periods on purchases
- No annual fee
- Excellent for financing large expenses like equipment or software without incurring interest during the introductory period
However, be cautious of the high APR (17.49% to 26.49%) after the intro period ends, and note that U.S. Bank doesn’t report to all business credit bureaus, so it’s not the best card for building business credit.
8. BILL Divvy Corporate Card
Best for expense management with high rewards
Now part of Bill.com, the BILL Divvy Corporate Card is ideal for startups that need tight control over company spending. The card is directly integrated with Divvy’s Spend & Expense software, allowing you to set budgets and track expenses for each employee in real time.
Rewards vary depending on your payment frequency:
- Weekly payments: 7x points on restaurants, 5x on hotels, 2x on software subscriptions
- Semi-monthly payments: 4x points on restaurants, 3x on hotels
- Monthly payments: 2x points on restaurants, 2x on hotels
With no annual fee and rewards for every spend category, the BILL Divvy card is an excellent choice for startups looking to optimize both their spending and rewards.
9. American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Best for a simple cash-back card with an intro APR offer
If you’re a fan of straightforward cashback rewards, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card delivers with 2% back on all purchases up to $50,000 per year and 1% thereafter.
Here’s why you might love it:
- $250 bonus when you spend $3,000 in the first three months
- 0% intro APR for the first 12 months on purchases
- No annual fee
If you want a simple cash-back system and don’t want to deal with categories or spending limits, this is the card for you. While it doesn’t offer quite the rewards potential of some others on this list, its straightforward cashback model can still be a major win for your startup.
How to Build Your Business Credit with Startup Credit Cards
A big advantage of using a startup credit card is that it helps build your business credit, which can be essential for future financing. Follow these steps to make sure your credit card works for you:
- Establish a separate business identity: Obtain an EIN, get a DUNS number, and open a business bank account.
- Make timely payments: Business credit scores are largely based on payment history, so pay your bills early to build a positive track record.
- Choose cards that report to all three bureaus: The best cards will report to Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, and Experian Business to help boost your