You can get a business credit card as a sole proprietor without an LLC, an EIN or a business license. On the application, choose “sole proprietor,” use your legal name as the business name (unless you’ve registered a DBA), enter your Social Security number as the tax ID, and report your real business revenue, even if it’s $0. The issuer approves you mostly on your personal credit and income, and you personally guarantee the debt.
Freelancing, driving for a rideshare app, selling on Etsy, tutoring and renting out a property all count as running a business, as long as you’re doing it to make money.
What counts as a sole proprietorship? #
A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business owned by one person. You don’t file anything with the state to become one. If you’re earning money on your own from goods or services, you’re already operating as a sole proprietor.
The business has to be real, though. Card applications are credit applications, and misstating your income or inventing a business can be a federal crime, not just a denial. If your “business” is a side hustle that made $1,800 last year, say so. Issuers approve people with small or brand-new businesses all the time.
How do you fill out a business card application as a sole proprietor? #
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Business type | Sole proprietor (not LLC or corporation unless you’ve formed one) |
| Legal business name | Your first and last name, or your registered DBA |
| Tax ID | Your SSN, or your EIN if you have one |
| Business address and phone | Your home address and cell number are fine |
| Years in business | Your actual time operating; 0 is acceptable |
| Number of employees | Usually 1 (you) |
| Annual business revenue | Gross revenue before expenses; $0 if you’re just starting |
| Personal income | All income you can rely on, such as a W-2 job |
| Industry | The closest honest match for what you do |
The personal income field carries the most weight. The issuer is lending to you, backed by your personal guarantee, so your credit report and personal income drive the decision and the credit limit.
Which business credit cards suit sole proprietors? #
We checked these terms on the issuers’ sites in September 2026. Offers and caps change, so confirm before you apply.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ink Business Cash | $0 | 5% on the first $25,000 a year at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone; 2% on the first $25,000 at gas stations and restaurants; 1% after | Phone and internet bills, office supplies |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | $95 | 3x points on the first $150,000 a year in shipping, advertising, internet/cable/phone and travel; 1x after | Ad spend and shipping, points you can transfer |
| Capital One Venture Business | $95 | 2x miles on every purchase | Simple travel rewards |
| Capital One VentureOne Business | $0 | 1.5x miles on every purchase | No-fee flat rate |
Sources: Chase Ink Business Cash, Chase Ink Business Preferred, Capital One business travel cards.
American Express also offers flat-rate no-fee business cards such as the Blue Business Cash and Blue Business Plus. Check Amex’s current caps before comparing them.
Welcome bonuses on business cards are often large, and so are the spending requirements. When we checked, the Ink Business Cash asked for $8,000 in purchases in the first four months. Only apply if normal business spending will get you there.
Does a business card affect your personal credit? #
Applying almost always means a hard inquiry on your personal credit report, because the issuer is checking you, not the business. After that, it depends on the issuer. Chase and American Express generally don’t report routine business card activity to your personal credit reports unless the account goes seriously delinquent. Some other issuers do report business cards. We go through the details in do business credit cards show on personal credit.
That matters for Chase’s 5/24 rule. Chase generally declines applicants who’ve opened five or more personal cards in the past 24 months, and applicants report that Chase checks this for Ink cards too. A Chase business card that doesn’t appear on your personal report doesn’t add to your count afterward.
Credit Card Central has a live 5/24 counter that counts the cards you’ve added with an open date in the last 24 months, so you can see where you stand before you apply for an Ink. It counts every card you mark as yours, so if you add business cards that don’t report personally, keep that in mind when you read the number. Spacing out applications is its own topic, covered in how long to wait between credit card applications.
Why get a business card when your business is tiny? #
- Clean records. One card for business expenses gives you a ready-made list at tax time.
- Separate limits. Business spending doesn’t eat into your personal cards’ limits, and with issuers that don’t report business activity, it doesn’t show up in your personal utilization either.
- Category rewards that match business spending. Internet, phone, shipping and advertising rarely earn bonuses on personal cards.
- Welcome bonuses. A second pool of bonuses beyond personal cards.
Once you hold both personal and business cards, the dates multiply: two sets of annual fees, two bonus deadlines. Credit Card Central tracks each card’s minimum spend with a progress bar and the daily pace you need, and reminds you 30, 7 and 1 day before the deadline. See how to track minimum spend without stress for the method.
Frequently asked questions #
Do I need an EIN to get a business credit card? #
No. Sole proprietors can apply with their Social Security number. If you already have an EIN, you can use it, but the issuer will still ask for your SSN because you’re personally guaranteeing the account.
Do I need a business license? #
Not for the card. Issuers don’t usually ask for a license from a sole proprietor. Whether your city or state requires one for your line of work is a separate question.
Can I use a business card for personal purchases? #
Card agreements typically say business cards are for business purposes. Mixing personal spending in also makes your records harder to use at tax time, which removes one of the main reasons to have the card.
What credit score do I need? #
Rewards business cards generally go to applicants with good to excellent credit, because approval rests on your personal credit history. Issuers don’t publish a hard cutoff.