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Are you getting ready to form a new Limited Liability Company (LLC) or maybe have recently finished the process? Firstly, congrats. There are many advantages to being an LLC instead of a sole proprietor. One benefit is qualifying for the best small business credit cards that require an employer identification number (EIN). So what are the best credit cards for an LLC?
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The Best Credit Cards For An LLC
The best credit card for LLC options are versatile and can help optimize your business purchases. It’s also possible to redeem your purchase rewards for cash or award travel. Some cards may also provide a few fringe benefits like exclusive discounts on business purchases or travel credits.
Brex Corporate Card for Startups
Probably one of the most exciting business credit cards is the Brex Corporate Card for Startups. This card is only for incorporated businesses like LLCs, C-Corps, and S-Corps. Since Brex only pulls your business credit score, you need an EIN to apply. Also, note that sole proprietors aren’t eligible for the corporate card.
Read more about how you can check your business credit score if you are unsure. Unlike most small business credit cards, Brex doesn’t require a personal guarantee or report your card activity to the personal credit bureaus.
The Brex for Startups Credit Card also doesn’t have an annual fee or foreign transaction fee. Yet, it also offers a robust purchase rewards program:
- 7x points on rideshares
- 4x points on Brex Travel purchases (flights, hotels, and Airbnb)
- 3x points at restaurants
- 2x points on recurring software subscriptions
- 1x points on everything else
Your points are worth one cent each when redeemed for travel or cash rewards. You can also transfer at a 1:1 ratio to select airlines including Asia Miles, Avianca LifeMiles, JetBlue, and Singapore Airlines.
The current Brex for Startups Credit Card signup bonus is the ability to earn 50,000 Brex Rewards points when you sign up before January 31, 2020, and you spend $1,000 with Brex. However, you must have a minimum of $100,000 in your bank balance to qualify. You can also save at least $25,000 in business-related services. You will find exclusive offers from vendors like Amazon Web Services, Google Ads, and Twilio.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Another one of the most solid credit cards for LLC is the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to earn some of the most valuable credit card points. You earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 in combined annual purchases for:
- Travel
- Shipping purchases
- Internet, phone, and cable services
- Search engine and social media advertising
All non-bonus spending earns 1x point per $1.
Your points are worth 1.25 cents each for any travel booked on Chase Travel℠. Each point is worth 1 cent each for cash rewards and gift cards. If you have a personal Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you’re likely familiar with this process. The most valuable redemption option can be transferring your points at a 1:1 ratio to airline and hotel partners, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and World of Hyatt.
New Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card cardholders can earn 100k bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
This card has a budget-friendly $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. Also, it is one of the best Chase business credit cards.
American Express Business Gold Card
The American Express® Business Gold Card is a flexible way to earn purchase rewards, making it one of the best credit cards for an LLC. You can earn 4x Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle from the list below, up to $150,000 in annual spending, then 1x point.
Only the top two categories in each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap. Categories include:
- U.S. purchases at electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges that are made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshares, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, and radio)
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
Additionally, American Express Travel purchases through amextravel.com will now earn 3x points per $1.
All remaining purchases earn 1x point per $1 spent with the American Express Business Gold Card.
American Express Business Gold cardholders also have access to a Pay Over Time Option that lets cardholders decide whether they want to pay for their eligible purchases in full each month or pay over time with interest (terms apply).
New American Express® Business Gold Card cardholders can earn 70,000 points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $295 ($375 if the application is received on or after 2/1/24; See Rates & Fees).
Because of this and the other perks, the Business Gold is one of the best Amex business cards.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Do you fly often for your new LLC? If so, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the most luxurious card for business travel. This is one of the best credit cards for an LLC if you want a premium card.
Cardholders earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1x points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases.
Additionally, cardholders can get a 35% airline bonus when using their points to pay for all or part of a flight with a qualifying airline booked on amextravel.com, up to 500,000 bonus points annually.
Cardholders earn 1.5x points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Additionally, unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
Plus, get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
Cardholders can get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when they use their Business Platinum Card®.
With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, with The American Express Global Lounge Collection®. You have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023. Enrollment is required for some lounges.
Your points are most valuable when redeeming points for award flights. But the lavish air travel benefits can be quite handy as well. Plus, the many perks make this a worthy card for an LLC. And, if you’re looking for extra oomph, note that it’s one of the best metal cards you can have.
Welcome Bonus Offer
New The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders have the opportunity to earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees).
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
Need a business credit card with a $0 annual fee (See Rates & Fees)? The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express can be a good fit. You earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 in annual everyday business purchases. All remaining purchases earn 1x Membership Rewards® points per $1.
Cardholders can also enjoy more flexibility to use their card for more purchases and rewards when buying above their credit limit. The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.
New The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express cardholders can earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after they spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within their first 3 months of Card Membership.
Your points are most valuable when redeemed for award flights. You can pool them with your other Membership Rewards credit cards to book your next award trip sooner. This is also one of the best business credit cards with no annual fee.
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card
For cash rewards, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
It also comes with Expanded Buying Power which gives cardholders the ability to spend beyond their credit limit. Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express and other factors.
New The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card cardholders can earn a $250 statement credit after they make $3,000 in purchases on their Card in their first 3 months.
This card has a $0 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
The Plum Card from American Express
The Plum Card® from American Express offers up to 60 days to pay with no interest‡ when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.
Plus, paying early pays off. Get an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Please Pay By date.
The annual fee is $250 and there are $0 foreign transaction fees‡ (See Rates & Fees).
Capital One Spark Business Cards
For unlimited 2% back, check out the Capital One Spark business credit cards.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business gets unlimited 2x miles per $1 on all purchases. Hotels and car rental bookings made through Capital One Travel earn 5x miles per $1 spent. You can redeem your miles for travel statement credits, book upcoming travel, or transfer to participating airline partners. Another nice perk is a fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck for the primary cardmember.
Learn more: Business Credit Cards
Capital One Spark Cash for Business earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases. Your points are redeemable for statement credits, erasing recent purchases, and gift cards. There isn’t a foreign transaction fee either.
Also, note that you can use the Spark Business cards to redeem Capital One Venture miles.
The information for the Capital One Spark Cash for Business has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best Credit Cards for LLC
In conclusion, being a new LLC gives you access to more small business credit cards. This also makes it easier to earn rewards points you can redeem for cash or travel rewards. If you travel often, choosing a premium credit card can be your best bet. In the meantime, each on-time payment helps improve your business credit score.
FAQs
What is the best credit card for a new small business?
If you’re a new LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp, one of the first cards to consider is Brex for Startups Credit Card. This card doesn’t have an annual fee, earns up to 7x points per $1 on purchases, and can save you at least $25,000 in business partner offers. This card isn’t available to sole proprietors, even if you have an Employer Identification Number.
Also, another good card to consider is the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. It earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on purchases like travel, shipping, and online advertising. Your points can be redeemed for cash or travel rewards. You may also transfer them to airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio.
Finally, for cash rewards, consider The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card. It doesn’t have an annual fee yet gives you 2% back on up to $50,000 in annual spending. All remaining purchases above $50,000 earn 1% back. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
Can my LLC get a credit card?
Yes, LLCs can get a business credit card. In fact, some cards are only available to incorporated businesses like LLCs and S-Corps. One example is the Brex for Startups Credit Cards.
To get a credit card as an LLC, you will need to apply with your business tax identification number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN). The issuing bank may also require a personal guarantee and will check your personal credit report as well. These are the cards that are typically available to both sole proprietors and LLCs.
How do I build credit for my LLC?
There are several ways you can build your business credit score as a new LLC:
- Use a small business credit card you apply for with your LLCs tax id number
- Obtain a small business loan or line of credit
- Open a business bank account
- Apply for a DUNS number (to qualify for certain business credit products)
Also, the easiest and cheapest way to build your business credit score is getting a small business credit card that reports to the business credit bureaus. Making on-time payments with a no annual fee credit card means you can potentially increase your score every month at first. A good first business credit card can be the Brex for Startups which has no annual fee and a robust rewards program.
Also, as your credit matures, you can acquire business loans and lines of credit. Much like your personal credit score, timely payments and a low credit utilization ratio can help your score grow quickly.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please click here.
And for rates and fees of the Plum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
And For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
