How to Get a Business Credit Card With an EIN Only (2026 Guide)

Getting a business credit card without putting your personal assets on the line sounds ideal. You keep business and personal finances separate while building business credit independent of your personal score. True EIN-only business credit cards that deliver on this promise do exist, but they come with a catch: cash requirements ranging from $20,000 to $100,000+ sitting in your business bank account.

This guide covers what EIN-only cards are, the best ones in 2026, the real qualification requirements, and how to build business credit when cash thresholds for true corporate cards remain out of reach.

What is an EIN-only business credit card?

An EIN-only business credit card is marketed as a card you can obtain using just your business's Employer Identification Number (EIN) without providing your Social Security Number or signing a personal guarantee. However, the reality is more complex: you'll still need to submit personal identification, and what determines your liability exposure is personal guarantee status, not whether you use an EIN.

True EIN-only cards without personal guarantees exist but are rare, primarily limited to fintech corporate cards that require substantial cash reserves in business bank accounts. For businesses that meet the cash requirements, these cards offer genuine personal asset protection that traditional business cards don't provide.

Why business owners choose EIN-only credit cards

Business owners seek cards without personal guarantees for two primary reasons, both rooted in protecting what they've built:

• Personal asset protection: You've likely built personal wealth that you don't want exposed to business risk, including your home, retirement savings, and emergency funds. Without a personal guarantee, those assets remain legally protected even if your business can't pay its credit card bills.
• Business credit separation: Building strong business credit independent of your personal profile eventually provides access to better financing terms and higher credit limits based on business performance rather than your personal financial history.

These protections explain why owners accept weaker rewards programs and steeper cash requirements to avoid personal guarantees.

Key features to look for in EIN-only business credit cards

Corporate cards without personal guarantees offer modest rewards compared to traditional business cards. The real barrier is qualification, as you'll often need $20,000-$25,000 sitting in business bank accounts for many providers, with some requiring $50,000 or more depending on your business profile. Understanding these trade-offs helps you decide whether EIN-only cards fit your business goals or whether traditional options make more sense.

Rewards and cashback programs

Most corporate cards prioritize expense management over traditional rewards. The best rewards in this category come from cards offering flat-rate cashback on all purchases rather than traditional points programs, with rates typically ranging from 1.5% to 2% on all spend.

Annual fees and payment terms

Many corporate cards charge $0 annual fees, eliminating costs you'd face with premium traditional business cards that charge $95-$595 annually. Corporate charge cards typically require you to pay your full balance monthly, though some fintech providers extend payment terms for qualified businesses with significant annual revenue.

Expense automation tools

Corporate cards offer superior expense management compared to traditional business credit cards. You can issue virtual cards to team members, set spending limits by employee or category, and see all spending in real-time. Employees can attach receipts directly to transactions through mobile apps, which eliminates the receipt-chasing that typically consumes hours each month.

Accounting software integrations

Cards like Ramp sync transaction data directly to QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, with transactions flowing automatically with vendor names, amounts, and categories pre-populated. This integration becomes valuable during month-end close when you're trying to reconcile hundreds of transactions across multiple team members.

Best business credit cards with EIN only in 2026

Ramp Corporate Card

Ramp requires no personal guarantee or personal credit check and approves qualified businesses quickly based on cash flow patterns. The platform isn't available to sole proprietors, so you need a formal business entity like an LLC or corporation.

Features:

• Real-time expense tracking and reporting across all team spending
• Virtual cards for team members with customizable spending limits
• Automated expense categorization and receipt matching
• Direct integration with QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite
• Dynamic credit limits that adjust based on cash flow patterns

Pros:

• No personal guarantee required, protecting personal assets
• Quick approval process for qualified businesses
• Strong expense management and automation tools
• Cashback on purchases
• No annual fee

Cons:

• Not available to sole proprietors
• Requires formal business entity
• Requires at least $25,000 in a U.S. business bank account to qualify

Pricing: $0 annual fee. Requires substantial business bank balances to qualify.

Brex Business Credit Card

Brex requires no personal guarantee and evaluates companies purely on business fundamentals rather than personal credit scores. The card is not available to sole proprietors unless venture-backed. Capital One is acquiring Brex with the deal expected to close mid-2026, creating uncertainty about future product requirements.

Features:

• Underwriting based on business cash flow and banking history
• Corporate card with no personal liability exposure
• Expense management platform with team controls
• Integration with major accounting software
• Higher credit limits for venture-backed companies

Pros:

• No personal guarantee required
• Venture-backed companies can qualify without meeting standard cash thresholds
• Business-only underwriting approach
• Strong platform for growing startups
• No annual fee

Cons:

• Substantial cash reserves typically required for non-funded companies
• Not available to sole proprietors (unless venture-backed)
• Uncertain future due to Capital One acquisition
• Rewards less competitive than traditional business cards

Pricing: $0 annual fee. Typically requires substantial cash reserves to qualify, though venture-backed companies can qualify without meeting standard cash thresholds.

BILL Divvy Corporate Card

BILL Divvy operates as an EIN-only product without requiring personal guarantees and is only available to Corporations, LLCs, and LPs with primary operations in the United States. This makes it one of the more accessible options for bootstrapped businesses that have outgrown basic bookkeeping but haven't yet raised significant venture capital.

Features:

• EIN-only application without personal credit checks
• Corporate card with budget controls and spending limits
• Real-time expense tracking and categorization
• Integration with accounting platforms
• Mobile app for receipt capture and expense submission

Pros:

• More accessible cash requirements than competitors
• No personal guarantee needed
• Good fit for bootstrapped, profitable businesses
• Available to LLCs, Corporations, and LPs
• No annual fee

Cons:

• Not available to sole proprietors
• Still requires substantial business bank balances
• Rewards program less robust than traditional cards
• Limited to U.S.-based businesses

Pricing: $0 annual fee.

Mercury IO Credit Card

The Mercury IO credit card doesn't require a personal guarantee and offers unlimited 1.5% cashback on all spend. Eligible companies can access the IO credit card the moment they open a Mercury account with no separate application required, making it particularly attractive for new businesses that need corporate cards quickly.

Features:

• Unlimited 1.5% cashback on all purchases
• Instant access upon opening Mercury business account
• Virtual and physical card options
• Integrated expense tracking within Mercury platform
• Mobile app for expense management

Pros:

• No separate application process
• Immediate availability for eligible Mercury customers
• No personal guarantee required
• No annual fee

Cons:

• Requires opening and maintaining Mercury business bank account
• Limited to Mercury customers only
• Still requires meeting Mercury's account requirements
• Cashback still lower than premium traditional business cards

Pricing: $0 annual fee. Available immediately to eligible Mercury account holders. Requirements to qualify for EIN-only business credit cards

Requirements to qualify for EIN-only business credit cards

You need a formal business entity to qualify for an EIN-only card as sole proprietors typically don't qualify for corporate cards. Cash requirements represent a major barrier, with different platforms setting thresholds that reflect their target customer profiles. Meeting these requirements takes time, and most businesses need profitable operations to build sufficient cash reserves.

Business entity requirements

Corporate card issuers require formal business entities: LLCs, Corporations, or Partnerships registered with your state. All applicants must have valid U.S. incorporation, U.S. operations, and a U.S. physical address. You must connect a business bank account to your corporate card application, which allows issuers to evaluate your business's financial health based on actual cash flow rather than personal credit.

Cash reserve requirements

The cash sitting in your business bank account is what replaces your personal credit score in the underwriting decision. Different platforms set different thresholds based on their target customer profiles and risk tolerance. These aren't credit limits but rather minimum cash balances the issuer wants to see before extending credit. For bootstrapped businesses, building these reserves typically takes profitable operations over time. Venture-backed companies can often skip this requirement if they've raised significant funding.

Business credit score requirements

Corporate cards don't check your personal FICO score, but they may review your business credit reports from Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business. Business credit scores matter less than your cash balances and revenue trends for approval, with most issuers focusing primarily on your banking history and cash flow patterns.

How to apply for a business credit card with EIN only

The application process for an EIN-only card requires foundational business infrastructure before you can qualify. Here's how to position your business for approval:

Step 1: Form your legal entity and obtain an EIN

Register your LLC or Corporation through your state's Secretary of State office. Apply for your EIN through IRS.gov, which issues it instantly. Open a business bank account using your EIN, keeping it separate from personal accounts. For more guidance on choosing where to bank, see our business bank selection guide.

Step 2: Build business credit infrastructure

Register for a free D-U-N-S number with Dun & Bradstreet and establish Net-30 vendor accounts that report to business credit bureaus. Monitor your business credit reports quarterly to track score progression.

Step 3: Meet cash reserve thresholds

Build cash reserves in your business bank accounts through profitable operations. Prioritize keeping gross profit in business accounts rather than distributing to owners. Venture-backed companies can often apply immediately after raising funding.

Step 4: Prepare documentation and apply

Gather your EIN confirmation letter, business formation documents, and recent bank statements. Connect your business bank account during application, as most issuers verify balances instantly. The application takes 10-15 minutes with decisions typically within a few business days.

Advantages of EIN-only cards

Avoiding personal guarantees provides three distinct benefits that justify the trade-offs in rewards and cash requirements:

• Personal asset protection: Your personal assets are generally better protected from business credit card debt when you avoid personal guarantees, though they can still be exposed under certain legal doctrines. If your business fails and can't pay its credit card balance, creditors can typically only pursue business assets, not your personal financial foundation.
• Business credit separation: Building business credit separate from your personal profile eventually leads to larger credit lines and better terms based on business performance rather than personal creditworthiness, which becomes increasingly valuable as your company scales.
• Expense management efficiency: The expense management tools included with these cards save several hours monthly on receipt tracking and reconciliation, time your finance team can redirect toward strategic analysis rather than administrative tasks.

These advantages make EIN-only cards worth considering if you have the cash reserves to qualify, though the trade-offs in rewards programs are significant compared to traditional business cards.

Limitations of EIN-only cards

The trade-offs of EIN-only cards come in weaker rewards programs, higher cash requirements, and restrictions for sole proprietors. Understanding these limitations helps you make the right decision for your business stage and goals:

• Weaker rewards programs: You'll miss out on substantial welcome bonuses and won't earn higher cashback rates in bonus categories like traditional cards offer. This represents real money left on the table if your business spends heavily on advertising, travel, or other categories where premium business cards offer 3-5x points.
• Sole proprietor restrictions: Fintech EIN-only cards typically exclude sole proprietors, though traditional banks still offer business credit cards that require personal guarantees.
• Substantial cash requirements: The requirement to maintain significant business bank balances represents opportunity costs, as that money could earn returns in high-yield savings or generate returns through business reinvestment.
• Limited availability: True EIN-only cards without personal guarantees remain rare, with only a handful of fintech providers offering these products.

You're trading potential earnings and convenience for liability protection and better expense management tools, which makes sense for some businesses, but not all.

Alternatives to EIN-only business credit cards

Traditional business cards from major banks require personal guarantees and SSN but offer superior rewards programs and welcome bonuses that can offset this trade-off. If you're building credit from scratch, secured business cards provide another path forward, helping establish business credit when you don't qualify for unsecured options and typically graduating to unsecured cards after consistent payment history.

If cards don't fit your needs, business lines of credit from banks or online lenders provide flexible access to capital, though most still require personal guarantees for small businesses. Building a network of Net-30 vendor accounts with suppliers that report to business credit bureaus provides short-term financing and helps build business credit over time. For more options and detailed comparisons, see our corporate card comparison guide.

Common mistakes to avoid when applying

Most applications fail because of misconceptions about what "EIN-only" actually means and insufficient preparation. Avoiding these common pitfalls positions you for approval when you meet the cash requirements:

• Believing "EIN-only" means zero personal involvement: Most small-business credit cards still require personal guarantees regardless of EIN usage. The "EIN-only" marketing refers to underwriting criteria, not complete separation from personal information.
• Applying before building business credit infrastructure: Establish vendor accounts with confirmed reporting before pursuing credit cards. You need a foundation of positive payment history to demonstrate creditworthiness.
• Ignoring personal credit impact: Late payments or defaults will damage both business and personal credit scores, even on cards that don't require personal guarantees for approval.
• Insufficient cash reserves: Applying before meeting minimum cash thresholds wastes time and creates unnecessary hard inquiries on your business credit report.
• Wrong business structure: Sole proprietors often apply to fintech corporate cards that exclusively serve formal entities, leading to automatic rejections.

Building your infrastructure while accumulating reserves makes the most sense, giving you time to establish vendor relationships and grow your cash position simultaneously.

Frequently asked questions about EIN-only business credit cards

Can I get a business credit card with just an EIN?

You'll need to provide personal identification even on cards marketed as "EIN-only." True EIN-only corporate cards don't require personal credit checks or personal guarantees, but you still provide personal information during the application process.

Do EIN-only business credit cards require a personal guarantee?

True EIN-only corporate cards from fintech providers don't require personal guarantees. Most traditional bank business credit cards require personal guarantees even when you apply with an EIN, though some secured business cards rely on refundable security deposits instead.

What credit score do I need for an EIN-only business credit card?

True EIN-only corporate cards don't check personal credit scores and evaluate your business based on cash flow, revenue, and banking history. You need substantial business bank balances to qualify, which varies by provider.

How long does it take to get approved?

Approval decisions typically come within a few business days once you submit your application. The real challenge is meeting the required cash reserves, revenue, and financial metrics to qualify in the first place.

Which EIN-only card has the best automation features?

Ramp stands out for automated expense management with features including automatic receipt matching, real-time categorization, and policy enforcement. These automation capabilities can save your finance team hours each month on manual reconciliation work compared to traditional business cards.