Corporate cards vs traditional business credit cards
- Corporate (charge) cards base your limit on the LLC’s bank balance, revenue or funding — not your personal credit — and usually require no personal guarantee. You pay the full balance each period.
- Traditional business credit cards are approved on credit, can carry a balance with interest, and often come with welcome bonuses. The person who applies is typically responsible for the account along with the business.
Cards compared
| Card | Type | Fee | Rewards | Personal guarantee | Approval based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramp | Corporate charge card | $0 (Free plan) | Cashback (rate not published) | No personal guarantee or personal credit check | Business bank balance and revenue; EIN + work email |
| Mercury IO card | Corporate charge card | No annual fee | 1.5% cashback | No personal guarantee; no credit check at sign-up | Needs a Mercury account; limit tracks your balance |
| Brex | Corporate charge card | $0/user (Essentials) | Points: 7x rideshare, 3x restaurants, 1x other | No personal guarantee | Revenue, funding or cash balance; geared to funded companies |
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited | Business credit card | $0 | 1.5% cash back + $750 bonus after $6,000 in 3 months | Subject to credit approval; the authorizing officer is responsible with the business | Credit approval |
Card details
Ramp
Free plan ($0/user)
- No personal credit check or personal guarantee
- Free plan with cashback on purchases
- Expense management built in
Watch out: Approval depends on your business bank balance and revenue — new LLCs with little cash may not qualify
Mercury IO card
No annual fee
- Unlimited 1.5% cashback
- No personal guarantee or credit check
- Payments reported to Experian, Equifax and D&B
Watch out: Only for Mercury account holders
Brex
Essentials $0/user/mo
- No personal guarantee
- Apply with an EIN
- Points on rideshare, travel, restaurants and software
Watch out: Built for funded companies — doesn’t say small, unfunded LLCs qualify
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
$0 annual fee
- $0 annual fee and 1.5% cash back
- $750 welcome bonus after $6,000 spend in 3 months
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases
Watch out: Credit approval — the authorizing officer is responsible for the account along with the business
Loan amounts, rates and requirements come from each lender’s site and change often. Approval isn’t guaranteed. Compare the total cost (APR or total payback), not just the payment. Verified October 19, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. How we’re funded.
How to choose
- Open the business bank account first. Corporate cards link to it to set your limit — see business bank accounts.
- Little cash in the bank? A corporate card may give you a small limit; a traditional card relies on your credit instead.
- Want to avoid a personal guarantee? Look at corporate cards and read the terms.
- Pay in full every month and keep business and personal spending separate — it protects your LLC’s liability shield and makes taxes simpler.
- Building credit? Pick a card that reports to business credit bureaus — see how to build business credit.
Frequently asked questions
Can a new LLC get a business credit card?
Yes, but the type matters. Traditional business credit cards usually look at the owner’s personal credit. Corporate cards such as Ramp, Mercury IO and Brex instead base the limit on the business’s cash balance or revenue — so a new LLC with little money in the bank may get a low limit or be declined.
What is a personal guarantee?
A promise that you’ll repay the card personally if the business can’t. Ramp, Mercury IO and Brex say they don’t require one; with traditional cards, the person who applies is typically responsible along with the business.
Do I need an EIN for a business credit card?
Corporate cards require one — Ramp asks for your EIN and formation details. See how to get an EIN for free.
Does a business card build business credit?
It can. Mercury says it reports IO card payments to Experian, Equifax and Dun & Bradstreet; Ramp reports on-time payments to Dun & Bradstreet. See how to build business credit.
Charge card or credit card?
A charge card must be paid in full each period (Ramp, Mercury IO, Brex). A credit card lets you carry a balance with interest — Chase Ink Business Unlimited has a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable rate.
Your LLC setup checklist
- Get a free EINFrom the IRS, in minutes online.
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.