Who Can Open a Business Credit Card?

The first hurdle is actually the easy one.

Many of the reasons folks get business credit cards are the same as why one might get a personal credit card:

• They can build credit
• They can earn rewards
• They're convenient
• They're safer than debit cards
• They can be paid off over time

Additionally, small business credit cards are a great way to streamline your finances, as they help you keep business expenses separate from personal ones. And since they're tailored to business-focused cardholders, you can find perks and rewards that aren't available with regular consumer cards.

That doesn't mean you need to be a besuited business mogul to appreciate -- or apply for -- a business credit card, though. In fact, they're available to basically anyone with a business.

If you own a business, you can apply

The main qualification that separates a business credit card from a personal one is that applicants need to own a business. That's it. In general, you won't need to meet any employee or revenue minimums for a small business credit card.

For example, if you're a freelancer or otherwise self-employed, you operate a business. Since you operate a business, you can apply for a business credit card.

Business credit cards don't require you to have an EIN (employer identification number); you can apply with your own Social Security number. Similarly, your business doesn't need a separate name -- though you should provide the DBA name if you're using one; if not, simply give your own name. (This can actually be amusing; you'll likely end up with a card that has your name on it twice!)

No minimum revenue, but credit checks required

Another common misconception is that only businesses with lots of revenue can qualify for a business credit card. This isn't accurate.

Issuers understand that new businesses -- and very small businesses -- simply don't have huge amounts of revenues That's why they look at many other factors.

One of those factors? Your personal credit history.

Just as with a personal card, you'll need to agree to a hard credit check when you apply for a business credit card. And it's not just your business's credit they'll check. Your personal credit history will be a big factor in their decision.

This comes down to the personal guarantee. Most small business credit cards require you to personal guarantee your credit line. So, if your business folds, you're still personally on the hook for any balance on the card. The only real way around this is to get a corporate card.

Business vs. corporate credit cards

One point of confusion for some folks is the distinction between business credit cards and corporate credit cards. While occasionally the terms are used interchangeably, they're actually very different products.

When we talk about "business credit cards," we almost always mean small business credit cards. Corporate credit cards are a distinct type of credit product designed for actual corporations. That means businesses with a legal classification of "corporation," such as a C corp or S corp.

This legal distinction is an important factor. Corporations are distinct legal and financial entities. As such, the legal and financial responsibility for corporate cards belongs to the business itself, so they don't require personal credit checks or personal guarantees.

Corporate credit cards typically have high minimum revenue requirements -- some cards start in the $3 million range -- and may require a high monthly or annual spend. They're also usually designed for companies with a large number of employees, so they focus more on managerial tools and accounting than things like rewards and cardholder perks.

Although it may seem like a lot of hoops to jump through, there's a reason -- corporate cards are overkill for most small businesses. That's what small business credit cards are for; they are available to most business owners and offer a reliable line of credit that can be valuable for any size of business.