Key takeaways

  • The faster your business gets approval for a new credit card, the faster you can put your new credit line to work for your company
  • Instant approval is an attractive perk when it comes to business credit cards, but it's not available with every card
  • The following business credit cards may be able to grant you immediate approval, but this will depend on your creditworthiness and your business's financial situation

As a business owner, you know that everything moves fast. It’s up to you to stay on top of business trends, inventory needs, customer needs, and about a dozen other things on any given day. So when you’re in the market for a new credit card, you need that process to go just as quickly.

Fortunately, there is a variety of instant approval business credit cards you may be able to access quickly and easily. These options range from travel rewards cards to co-branded hotel cards and general cash back cards, so there’s a little something for everyone.

Best business credit cards for instant approval in 2023

Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Straightforward rewards

Why we picked it: The Capital One Spark Miles for Business provides miles and more for businesses that need travel points. From its easy-to-remember 2X miles on all purchases, to its welcome bonus (50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within the first three months) and $0 intro annual fee the first year (then $95), there’s a lot that makes this card a strong contender.

Pros:

  • 2X points on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Can earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
  • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees
  • Free employee cards and expense tracking

Cons:

  • $0 intro annual fee, then $95
  • Some benefits apply only to the original cardholder, not employees

Who should apply?

For business owners looking for a strong, but straightforward rewards system, the Capital One Spark Miles holds a lot of value. You’ll earn 2X miles on every purchase you make with the card, and there are no limitations to how much you can earn. This makes it an especially good choice for high-spend businesses looking to earn tons of free travel.

Who should skip?

Businesses that see themselves carrying a balance on the card regularly should find one with a lower variable APR since this one comes with a 26.24 percent variable APR.

Capital One Spark 1% Classic: Best for building credit

Why we picked it: Not all businesses start off on the same foot, credit-wise. The Capital One Spark 1% Classic* is perfect for business leaders who don’t yet have good credit. Fair-credit borrowers may qualify and, while building credit, can earn a steady stream of rewards. Plus, Capital One tosses in some business features (like Quickbooks integration, for example) to sweeten the pot.

Pros:

  • Unlimited 1 percent cash back on all purchases
  • No annual fee
  • Built-in business tools like year-end summaries and integrations with Quickbooks and other business software
  • Fair credit borrowers may qualify

Cons:

  • No welcome offer

Who should apply?

Business owners who are just starting out and need to work on their credit will appreciate the Capital One Spark 1% Classic. The card was designed with fair-credit borrowers in mind. Additionally, anyone looking for a simple credit card with unlimited cash back earning potential may find what they’re looking for in this card.

Who should skip?

Since the card is intended for credit-building, business owners with good to excellent credit won’t find much value in this card, as they can likely qualify for a rewards card with much higher rewards rates and much lower interest rates.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Best for travel rewards

Why we picked it: While there may be better credit card picks for business owners who are loyal to a specific airline or hotel brand, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card from Chase offers flexibility to business owners who want to transfer points 1:1 to different Chase airline and hotel partners. Business owners with good to excellent credit scores may be able to qualify instantly, depending on whether Chase requires additional information to review your application.

Pros:

  • 3X points on the first $150,000 you spend on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year (then 1X points)
  • Welcome bonus of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months after account opening
  • A 25 percent points bonus when redeeming points toward Chase Travel
  • 1:1 points transfer to Chase airline and hotel partners

Cons:

  • An annual fee of $95
  • High spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus

Who should apply?

Business owners that travel frequently will appreciate the flexibility the Ink Business Preferred offers through its number of Chase airline and hotel partners.

Who should skip?

The welcome bonus may be challenging to earn for small businesses or new businesses that are just getting started. Business owners in these categories may want to look for an alternative that offers a compelling welcome bonus with a more modest upfront spend.

The American Express Blue Business Cash Card: Best for no annual fees

Why we picked it: Amex is well-known for its flashy credit cards, both personal and business. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card doesn’t disappoint, offering 2 percent cash back on all eligible purchases (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1 percent back). With no annual fee and an intro APR offer, this card can be a great choice for many different types of businesses.

Pros:

  • No annual fee
  • 2 percent cash back on all eligible purchases (up to $50,000 per year, then 1 percent back)
  • Expanded Buying Power feature
  • 0 percent intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then a variable APR of 18.49 percent to 26.49 percent)

Cons:

  • While Amex cards can be used almost everywhere, some businesses won’t accept them due to high processing fees
  • Both cash back categories have limitations

Who should apply?

The Amex Express Blue Business Cash Card is a good fit for businesses that want a no annual fee card paired with a decent rewards structure.

Who should skip?

High-spend businesses may want to opt for a different card, considering the cap on rewards earnings. While the cap is still quite high, businesses looking to earn the most cash back possible can likely find better offers.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card: Best for the large sign-up bonus

Why we picked it: Marriott Bonvoy is a hugely popular hotel chain, and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a great way to build loyalty with the brand. The card comes with a top-tier rewards structure, too: 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (up to 18.5X points through the Bonvoy loyalty program with Gold Elite status); 4X points on worldwide restaurant, U.S. gas station, U.S. shipping and U.S. wireless telephone service purchases; and 2X points on all other purchases.

Pros:

  • Welcome bonus Earn three Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each bonus Free Night Award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status through card ownership
  • One Free Night Award every year after your card’s renewal month

Cons:

  • The $125 annual fee may be steep for some businesses

Who should apply?

This one may be a bit obvious, but businesses that travel frequently and use Marriott Bonvoy hotels are the ideal fit for this card. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more rewarding card if you’re loyal to this specific travel chain.

Who should skip?

Businesses that switch up hotel chains when they travel or that don’t spend a whole lot on travel should find cards that better fit their spending. The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is meant to reward frequent travelers, rather than everyday business spending.

How long does it take to get a business credit card?

All of the business cards listed above may offer “instant approval.” This means that, under ideal conditions, you may receive approval for your new business credit card in as little as 30 to 60 seconds.

However, be aware that business credit card instant approval may not be extended to all applicants. If the issuer feels it needs more information about you or your business, the processing of your application may take longer. In some cases, seeing if you have business credit card pre-approval before applying can help to determine if you’ll be instantly approved or not.

Business credit cards with instant approval can be worthwhile for most business owners, but you need to make sure the handful of cards that offer this type of approval meet your needs.

Before officially deciding, ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Do you have the credit to qualify? Many instant approval credit cards require at least good credit to qualify since the issuer is making such a quick decision.
  2. Do you need a credit card quickly? If you don’t need a credit card within the next few days, consider expanding your search to include other credit cards that may have a longer approval timeline. This way you can be sure you find the best card for your needs.
  3. What rewards are you looking for? Plenty of instant approval credit cards offer rewards, but there are non-instant-approval cards that offer even better rewards. To offer the best rewards, the credit card issuer needs to run a more in-depth credit check to understand if you’re fully qualified.
  4. Can you handle a higher interest rate? Again, because issuers aren’t doing a full-fledged deep-dive into your finances, you may have to deal with higher interest rates than non-instant-approval cards.

How to choose a business card with instant approval

There are numerous credit cards that offer instant approval, all with different features, credit requirements and business-related perks. To choose the one that fits your business’s needs, make sure to:

  • Evaluate your business’s spending: Where do you and your employees spend the most? Stick to credit cards that offer the highest rewards in the categories you spend in most.
  • Get your credit up to par: Since you need good credit for most instant approval credit cards, make sure your personal and business credit is in good standing.
  • Take the time to research: Even if you’re looking to open a new card quickly, take some time to research multiple options to be sure you’re choosing between the best options for you on the market.
  • Consider business-specific features: Many instant approval credit cards offer business features like integrations with business software and free employee cards. Evaluate the different features of multiple cards to find one that fits your needs.
  • Unfreeze your credit: If you’ve frozen your personal credit, take the time to unfreeze it or schedule a thaw before applying for a new business credit card. If the issuer needs to pull your credit, having your files frozen will slow down the instant approval process.

Business credit cards with instant approval FAQs

  • Instant approvals aren’t always instantaneous because card issuers still need to evaluate your credit and some basics of your business’s financial health. The process is just faster than more traditional business credit card applications.
  • Not necessarily. Just like with any type of credit card, the credit limit you’re approved for depends on your credit score and financial profile. Businesses with higher credit scores and higher earnings qualify for higher credit limits, no matter the card they’re applying for.
  • To make the instant approval process as quick and painless as possible, make sure your credit score is in the good or excellent range and prepare any documentation that verifies your income and business credentials ahead of time.

The bottom line

Business credit cards with instant approval give you and your business quick access to a credit line, ongoing rewards and additional business-specific features. You can find cards that reward travel, everyday business expenses, hotel stays and much more. There are even a few instant approval cards for those with lower credit scores, although most of the options available today are reserved for consumers with good to excellent credit.

*The information about the Capital One Spark 1% Classic has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.