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.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, FundBiz
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind FundBiz. His background runs through commercial finance, mortgages and fintech, including as managing director of an invoice finance business. He oversees FundBiz's specialty finance comparison and the logic behind how businesses are matched to lenders.
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.