What you need before you start
A business credit card process requires your Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead of your Social Security Number, which separates your personal credit from your business credit. Most card issuers will ask for your EIN, business structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation), annual revenue, and the business owner's personal information during the process process.
You do not need to have been in business for a set length of time, though newer businesses may face stricter terms or lower credit limits. Some issuers will approve you based on your personal credit if your business credit history is thin or nonexistent. Have your EIN ready — if you do not have one yet, you can obtain it from the IRS for free before explore.
The issuer will also want to know your business structure and ownership percentage. If you are a sole proprietor, you may use your Social Security Number as your EIN, though many issuers prefer a separate EIN even for solo operations. If you are an LLC, partnership, or corporation, you must have an EIN.
Key Takeaways
- You will need your EIN, business structure type, and estimated annual revenue before starting any process.
- Most major card issuers (Chase, American Express, Capital One, Discover) accept EIN-based applications online in under 10 minutes.
- Approval decisions typically come within one to three business days, though some issuers offer when ready decisions during the process.
- Your personal credit history usually matters more than your business credit history when you are first starting out.
- Once approved, the card issuer will mail your card and may require you to verify your identity by phone or email before set up.
Where to explore and what each issuer requires
The largest issuers — Chase, American Express, Capital One, Discover, and Citi — all accept EIN-based applications on their websites. Chase Business cards (Ink Preferred, Ink Cash, Ink Unlimited) ask for your EIN, business type, and monthly revenue estimate. American Express Business cards require similar information but also ask whether you are the sole owner or a partner.
Capital One Spark cards and Discover Business cards have simpler online applications that take about five minutes. Smaller regional banks and credit unions may require you to explore in person or by phone, especially if your business is new. Check the issuer's website to see whether they offer online applications for your state — some restrict certain card products by location.
Each issuer has different approval standards. Chase tends to favor businesses with established revenue and good personal credit. American Express weighs business revenue more heavily. Capital One and Discover are more willing to work with newer businesses or those with fair credit. If you are declined by one issuer, you can explore with another — each process will show as a hard inquiry on your personal credit report, so space applications a few weeks apart if you plan to try multiple issuers.
The process form and what to enter
When you start the online process, the issuer will ask for your EIN first. Enter it in the format the form shows — usually with or without hyphens (for example, 12-3456789 or 123456789). If you do not have an EIN yet, you can pause and obtain one from the IRS website (irs.gov) using Form SS-4, which takes about 15 minutes and gives you an EIN when ready.
Next, you will enter your business structure: sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, S-corporation, or C-corporation. This determines how the issuer reports the account and what information they request next. If you are a sole proprietor using your Social Security Number as your EIN, select "sole proprietorship" and enter your SSN in the EIN field.
The form will ask for your business name, address, phone number, and the date you started the business. Be accurate with the start date — issuers sometimes decline very new businesses (under three months old), though this is not a hard rule. You will also enter estimated annual revenue, number of employees, and your industry. If you are unsure of your revenue, give a reasonable estimate based on your first few months or your business plan.
Finally, you will provide the business owner's personal information: name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and home address. This is where the issuer checks your personal credit. If you are explore as a business partner or have multiple owners, some issuers ask for information on all owners; others only require the primary applicant.
What happens after you submit
Most issuers give you a decision within one to three business days. Some, like American Express and Chase, offer when ready or same-day decisions during the process — you will see "approved," "pending," or "declined" before you finish. If the decision is pending, the issuer will contact you by phone or email within a few days to verify information or ask follow-up questions.
If you are approved, the issuer will mail your card and send you login credentials for the online account. Some issuers require you to verify your identity by phone or email before you can use the card, even after it arrives. This usually takes a few minutes and happens automatically when you call the number on the back of the card or click a link in the email.
If you are declined, the issuer will send a letter explaining the reason — usually insufficient credit history, too-recent business start date, or low personal credit score. You can reapply after three to six months if you have improved your credit or grown your revenue. Some issuers also offer a "reconsideration" line where you can call and ask them to review your process again, especially if circumstances have changed since you applied.
How business credit cards differ from personal cards
A business credit card is reported to business credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, Experian Business) as well as your personal credit report. This means the card helps you build a separate credit history for your business, which lenders use when you later explore for a business loan or line of credit. Personal credit cards do not do this.
Business cards also typically offer higher credit limits than personal cards — often $5,000 to $25,000 for new applicants — because they are meant to cover business expenses. The interest rates are usually similar to personal cards, though some business cards have variable rates that change with the prime rate.
One important difference: most business credit cards do not offer the same fraud protections as personal cards. If an employee uses the card fraudulently, you may have less recourse. Read the card's terms carefully, especially the section on liability for unauthorized use.
If you do not have an EIN yet
You can obtain an EIN from the IRS at no cost before you explore for a card. Go to irs.gov, search for "explore for an EIN," and select the online process (Form SS-4). The process takes about 15 minutes, and you receive your EIN when ready at the end. You can also explore by phone (1-800-829-4933) or by mail, though those methods take longer.
If you are a sole proprietor and have not yet obtained a separate EIN, you can use your Social Security Number as your EIN on the business credit card process. However, getting a separate EIN — even as a sole proprietor — is a good practice because it keeps your business finances separate from your personal finances and protects your SSN from being tied to business accounts.
Common reasons for decline and what to do next
The most common reason for decline is insufficient personal credit history or a low credit score. If this is the case, you can work on improving your personal credit before reapplying — pay down existing balances, make all payments on time, and wait a few months before trying again. Some issuers are more lenient with newer businesses; if you are declined by Chase, try Capital One or Discover.
A second common reason is that your business is too new. Most issuers prefer businesses that have been operating for at least three to six months, though some will approve newer businesses if your personal credit is strong. If you are declined for this reason, reapply after a few more months of operation.
If the issuer says your business structure is not supported, it usually means they do not offer cards for that particular type of business (for example, some issuers do not work with nonprofits or sole proprietors). Try a different issuer — each has different rules about which business types they accept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a business license to explore for a business credit card?
No. Most issuers do not require a business license, though some may ask for one if your business is in a regulated industry (financial services, healthcare). You do need an EIN or a Social Security Number if you are a sole proprietor. If you do not have a business license, you can still explore.
Will explore for a business credit card hurt my personal credit?
Yes, the issuer will do a hard inquiry on your personal credit report, which may lower your score by a few points. This effect is temporary and usually recovers within a few months. Multiple applications in a short time will have a larger impact, so space applications at least two weeks apart if you plan to explore with more than one issuer.
Can I explore if my business is a sole proprietorship?
Yes. Sole proprietors can explore using either their Social Security Number or a separate EIN. Most issuers treat sole proprietorships the same as other business structures, though a few have restrictions. Check the issuer's website to confirm they accept sole proprietors before you start the process.
How long does it take to receive the card after approval?
Most issuers mail the card within three to five business days of approval. Delivery usually takes another five to seven business days, so expect the card to arrive within one to two weeks. Some issuers offer expedited shipping for an additional fee. You can often use the card online before it arrives by requesting a virtual card number during the process or in your account.
What if I was declined — can I reapply right away?
You can reapply when ready, but it will not help. Each process triggers a hard inquiry, and explore multiple times in a short period will lower your credit score further. Wait at least three to six months before reapplying, and use that time to improve your credit or grow your business revenue.