Business credit cards for startups and new companies
A brand-new company with no trading history struggles to get an ordinary business credit card, because the lender has little to underwrite. The routes that work are a prepaid or spend-management card funded from your own balance, which needs no credit history, then a low-turnover credit card once you are trading with some revenue. This is a guide for UK limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4 or more.
Director, FundBiz
Oliver leads FundBiz's specialty finance comparison and matching engine. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees lender partnerships, eligibility logic and post-decline routing.
Last reviewed: 2 July 2026
Why new companies get declined
A credit card is a lending decision. An established company can be judged on filed accounts, turnover and a trading record; a company incorporated last month has none of that, so most card providers either decline or offer a token limit. It is not a reflection on the business, just an absence of the data a lender needs. The way through is to start with a product that does not depend on that history, then move up as your record builds.
Route 1, from day one: prepaid and spend-management cards
Spend-management platforms such as Pleo issue company cards funded from a balance you top up rather than a credit line. Because there is no borrowing, there is usually no hard credit search and no trading history requirement, so a brand-new company can use them immediately, with employee cards and expense controls built in. They are priced per user rather than by an APR. This is the most reliable card a day-one startup can actually get.
Route 2, once trading: low-turnover credit cards
Once you have some revenue, newer providers tend to have the most accessible criteria, accepting companies from a relatively low annual turnover where high-street cards want more history. Capital on Tap, for example, offers an uncapped-cashback business card aimed at smaller and younger companies; it publishes a turnover minimum rather than requiring years of accounts. Confirm the current turnover threshold and terms directly, as these are the numbers that decide acceptance.
Route 3, once established: the full market
After roughly a year of trading and filed figures, the wider market opens up: cashback cards, high-street bank cards and cards that ask for a year or more of accounts. Some cashback cards, for instance, require a minimum trading period and turnover that a very new company cannot meet, but a one-year-old company often can. See the cashback comparison and the full card list when you reach that stage.
A card is not always the right first funding
Cards suit smooth, short-term, revolving spend. For larger one-off setup costs, kit or a cash runway, a startup loan or asset finance is often cheaper and better structured than card debt. If you are not sure a card is the right tool, tell us what you need and we will point you to the finance that fits.
Frequently asked questions
Can a brand-new company get a business credit card?
It is hard on day one. A revolving credit card is a credit decision, and a company with no trading history and no turnover gives a lender little to underwrite, so most will decline or offer a very low limit. The realistic routes for a brand-new company are a prepaid or spend-management card funded from your own balance, which needs no credit history, and then a low-turnover credit card once you have some revenue.
What turnover do you need for a startup business credit card?
It varies by provider. Some newer providers accept companies from a relatively low annual turnover once you are trading, while high-street bank cards and cards that need a year or more of accounts are harder for a young company. Check each provider’s minimum, because it is often the single reason a startup is accepted or declined.
Will applying for a card hurt my new company’s credit?
A formal application can leave a footprint, and several declined applications in quick succession look worse to the next provider. Prepaid and spend-management platforms usually avoid a hard credit search because they are funded from a balance you top up rather than a credit line. Check the search type before you apply.
Is a business credit card the right first funding for a startup?
Sometimes, for smooth short-term spend and expense control. For larger setup costs it is often not the cheapest option, and a startup loan or asset finance may suit better. FundBiz can point you to the finance that fits rather than defaulting to a card.
Find the right route for your stage
FundBiz is an independent comparison and introducer service, not a lender and not authorised by the FCA. We may receive a commission from some providers if you open a product after following a link. This does not affect the price you pay or how we compare. General information, not financial advice; confirm each provider’s current terms and representative APR before applying.
Last reviewed: 2 July 2026.