How to Get a Business Credit Card with EIN Only: Complete Guide
Can you get a business credit card with EIN only? Learn which cards approve without personal guarantees, requirements, and realistic approval expectations.

How to Get a Business Credit Card with EIN Only: Complete Guide
The dream: A business credit card approved solely on your EIN, with no personal credit check and no personal guarantee.
The reality: Possible, but limited.
Most business credit cards require your SSN and check your personal credit. But a growing number of cards—especially corporate cards and fintech options—approve based on business factors alone.
Here's what's actually available, who qualifies, and how to get approved.
The EIN-Only Reality
What "EIN Only" Actually Means
True EIN-only cards:
- No SSN required on application
- No personal credit check
- No personal guarantee
- Approval based on business revenue and bank data
Partial EIN-only cards:
- Soft personal credit check (no impact)
- No personal guarantee
- Approval primarily based on business factors
Not EIN-only:
- Requires SSN
- Hard personal credit check
- Personal guarantee required
Why Most Cards Require Personal Credit
Banks take on risk when issuing credit. For new or small businesses, the business itself may not have enough credit history or assets to evaluate.
Personal credit provides:
- Proven payment history
- Existing credit data
- Personal guarantee as backup
As your business grows, you gain access to products that rely less on personal credit.
True EIN-Only Options
These cards approve based on business factors without personal credit checks.
Brex
Type: Corporate charge card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Credit Check | None |
| Personal Guarantee | None |
| Approval Based On | Business revenue, bank balance |
| Rewards | Up to 8x on rideshare, 4x travel, 3x restaurants |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
Requirements:
- US-incorporated business
- Business bank account
- Some revenue or funding (amount varies)
Best for: Funded startups, established businesses with revenue
How to apply:
- Connect your business bank account
- Brex analyzes cash flow and revenue
- Credit limit based on business financials
Ramp
Type: Corporate charge card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Credit Check | None |
| Personal Guarantee | None |
| Approval Based On | Bank data, business revenue |
| Rewards | 1.5% cashback on everything |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
Requirements:
- US-incorporated business (C-Corp, LLC, etc.)
- Business bank account
- Transaction history
Best for: Businesses wanting expense management with no personal credit involvement
Divvy (Bill)
Type: Corporate card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Credit Check | Soft pull only |
| Personal Guarantee | None |
| Approval Based On | Bank data, soft credit check |
| Rewards | Up to 7x on select categories |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
Requirements:
- Business bank account
- Some revenue
- Soft credit check (doesn't affect score)
Best for: Businesses wanting corporate card with minimal personal credit involvement
Stripe Corporate Card
Type: Corporate charge card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Credit Check | None |
| Personal Guarantee | None |
| Approval Based On | Stripe processing volume |
| Rewards | 1.5% back on all purchases |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
Requirements:
- Active Stripe account
- Processing payments through Stripe
Best for: Businesses already using Stripe for payments
Cards with Soft Credit Check Only
These check personal credit but with soft pull (no impact on score).
Most Corporate Cards Listed Above
Divvy does a soft pull. Others may do soft pulls for identity verification.
Impact: Zero effect on personal credit score
Traditional Business Cards (Personal Credit Required)
For context, these popular cards DO require personal credit:
Chase Ink Business cards:
- SSN required
- Personal credit check
- Personal guarantee
American Express Business cards:
- SSN required
- Personal credit check
- Personal guarantee
Capital One Spark:
- SSN required
- Personal credit check
- Personal guarantee
These cards offer great rewards but aren't EIN-only.
Who Qualifies for EIN-Only Cards
Brex/Ramp Requirements
Ideal candidates:
- Venture-funded startups
- Businesses with $100K+ annual revenue
- Strong bank balance
- Incorporated entity (LLC, C-Corp)
May not qualify:
- Pre-revenue startups
- Very small businesses
- Sole proprietors
- Low bank balance
Minimum Thresholds (Approximate)
| Card | Typical Minimum |
|---|---|
| Brex | $100K+ revenue or funding |
| Ramp | $75K+ annual revenue |
| Divvy | $25K+ bank balance |
| Stripe Card | Active Stripe processing |
These are approximate—companies don't publish exact thresholds.
How to Improve Approval Odds
Strengthen Business Factors
Increase bank balance: More cash = more confidence for lenders.
Grow revenue: Higher revenue = larger credit lines.
Maintain transaction history: Regular business activity shows healthy business.
Use business bank account: Keep business and personal separate.
Application Tips
Connect primary bank account: The account with most activity and highest balance.
Apply during strong period: When bank balance is highest, revenue is strong.
Provide accurate information: Business name, EIN, revenue—must match records.
Alternative: Building to EIN-Only
If you don't qualify for EIN-only cards now, build toward them:
Step 1: Build Business Credit (90 days)
- Get D-U-N-S Number
- Open Net-30 vendor accounts
- Pay early, build Paydex
Step 2: Get Business Card with Personal Check (6 months)
- Apply for Chase Ink or similar
- Use for business expenses
- Pay in full monthly
Step 3: Build Revenue and Bank Balance (ongoing)
- Grow business
- Maintain healthy bank balance
- Keep financials strong
Step 4: Apply for EIN-Only Cards
- Apply for Brex or Ramp when revenue sufficient
- Use for growing credit access
- Phase out personal-guarantee cards if desired
Pros and Cons of EIN-Only Cards
Pros
No personal credit impact: Business activity stays separate from personal credit.
No personal liability: You're not personally guaranteeing the debt.
Privacy: Personal credit not shared with issuer.
Clean separation: Business and personal finances distinct.
Cons
Limited options: Fewer cards available.
Charge cards (not credit cards): Most require payment in full monthly—no carrying balance.
Business requirements: Need revenue or funding to qualify.
Lower limits sometimes: May start lower than personal-credit-backed cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sole proprietors get EIN-only cards?
Difficult. Most EIN-only cards require incorporated entities (LLC, Corporation). Sole proprietors typically need personal credit-based cards.
Will EIN-only cards build personal credit?
No. They report to business credit bureaus (if at all), not personal bureaus.
Can I get EIN-only with bad personal credit?
Possibly. Since these cards don't check personal credit, your personal score shouldn't matter. However, other factors (revenue, bank balance) must be strong.
Are EIN-only cards harder to get?
Yes and no. No personal credit check, but stricter business requirements. Someone with excellent personal credit but small business may find traditional cards easier.
What credit limit can I expect?
Varies widely based on business financials. Could be $5,000 or $500,000. Determined by revenue and bank balance.
Do EIN-only cards help build business credit?
Some do, some don't. Brex and Ramp report to Dun & Bradstreet for some users. Always confirm reporting policies before relying on a card for credit building. Cards that report can help establish your business credit profile independently of personal credit.
Can I have both EIN-only and traditional business cards?
Absolutely. Many businesses use EIN-only cards for certain expenses while maintaining traditional business cards for rewards or specific benefits. This hybrid approach gives you flexibility while still separating business and personal finances.
Your Path Forward
If You Qualify for EIN-Only Now
Apply for Brex or Ramp:
- Go to brex.com or ramp.com
- Start application
- Connect business bank account
- Receive decision (often instant)
If You Don't Qualify Yet
Build toward it:
- Focus on revenue growth
- Build bank balance
- Establish business credit through vendor accounts
- Get traditional business card in meantime
- Reapply for EIN-only when business stronger
Next Steps
EIN-only business credit cards exist, but they're not for everyone. Strong businesses with revenue can access corporate cards from Brex, Ramp, and similar providers.
If you're not there yet, use traditional business cards while building your business. EIN-only options become available as your business grows.
Need help accessing business credit? Freedom Consulting helps businesses at all stages access appropriate credit products. Book a free consultation to find your best path forward.
Related: Business Credit Complete Guide | Best Business Credit Cards for New Businesses
Disclaimer: Approval requirements change. Verify current terms before applying. Credit decisions are made by card issuers.
Continue Learning
This article is part of our Business Credit: The Complete 2025 Guide to Building Corporate Credit guide series.
Related articles in this series:
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