Business Credit Cards

Most small business credit cards underwrite primarily on the owner's personal FICO. Cards from issuers like Chase, American Express, and Capital One typically require a 670+ personal FICO for standard approval, though some secured or starter cards are accessible at 600+. Corporate cards (Brex, Ramp) underwrite on business financials rather than personal credit and may not require a personal guarantee.

Yes — cards from American Express, Chase, and Capital One report payment history to business credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, Experian Business). Consistent on-time payments build a Paydex score and business credit profile over 12-24 months. This matters when applying for larger business loans later, since underwriters pull both personal and business credit.

Use a business credit card for routine operating spend (supplies, travel, subscriptions) under $25K annually — the rewards and float outperform the cost. Use a business line of credit for larger, irregular cash-flow gaps ($25K+), payroll coverage, or situations where you need actual cash in a bank account rather than card purchasing power. The products serve different use cases.

Yes, for virtually all small business credit cards. The cardholder signs a personal guarantee — meaning the issuer can pursue personal assets if the business defaults. Corporate card programs (Brex, Ramp, Divvy) built for funded startups and established companies sometimes offer no-personal-guarantee structures, but they require demonstrable business revenue or venture backing to qualify.

Most small business card issuers perform a hard pull on personal credit at application (expect a 5-10 point temporary drop). Ongoing account activity is reported differently by issuer: American Express and Discover typically do not report business card utilization to personal credit bureaus, which helps personal utilization ratios. Chase and Capital One may report, which can affect personal scores. Confirm reporting policy before applying.

A credit card carries a revolving balance up to a fixed limit — minimum payments allow you to carry a balance month-to-month, accruing interest. A charge card (American Express Platinum Business, Green) requires full payment each billing cycle, has no preset spending limit, and charges no revolving interest. Charge cards work best for businesses with consistent cash flow that want unlimited spend flexibility without revolving debt.