The startup card problem
You've just registered your company. You need a credit card for expenses, subscriptions, travel — the usual. You apply for a business card and get rejected.
Why? Most card issuers want to see trading history. They want 12 months of accounts, consistent revenue, and proof your business is real. A freshly incorporated company with zero turnover doesn't tick those boxes.
This doesn't mean you can't get a business card. It means you need to apply to the right issuers.
Cards that accept new businesses
Capital on Tap — the best option for startups
Capital on Tap is designed for small businesses and has the most accessible approval criteria. They'll consider businesses with no trading history, assessing based on directors' personal credit and projected revenue rather than filed accounts.
- No annual fee
- 1% back in rewards
- Credit limits from £1,000 to £250,000
- Visa — accepted everywhere
- Decision in minutes, card arrives in days
- Integrates with Xero and QuickBooks
The initial limit may be modest (£1,000-£5,000 for a brand new business), but they increase it as you build a track record of spending and repaying.
Amex Basic Business — the Amex entry point
Amex is more willing than high street banks to approve newer businesses, especially if the director has good personal credit. The Basic card has no annual fee and earns Membership Rewards points.
- No annual fee
- 1 MR point per £1
- Lower credit limits for new businesses
- Amex network (less widely accepted than Visa)
The advantage: once you have an Amex relationship, upgrading to the Gold or Platinum later is much easier.
Revolut Business — not a credit card, but useful
Revolut Business isn't a credit card — it's a prepaid/debit business card. But it's available immediately to any registered business with no credit check.
- No credit facility (you load funds first)
- Excellent FX rates for international payments
- Free basic plan available
- Instant setup
If you can't get approved for credit anywhere, Revolut gets you a business card for expenses and accounting purposes while you build trading history.
What issuers look for
When a startup applies for a business credit card, issuers typically assess:
- Director's personal credit score — this is the biggest factor for new businesses. A clean personal credit history (no defaults, low utilisation) significantly improves your chances.
- Time trading — some issuers require a minimum (6-12 months). Others like Capital on Tap don't.
- Annual revenue — can be projected for new businesses. Be realistic.
- Business type — limited companies are preferred over sole traders for most business cards.
- Industry — some high-risk industries (gambling, crypto, adult) face stricter scrutiny.
Cards to avoid applying for (yet)
Don't waste applications on cards that will almost certainly reject a new business:
- Amex Gold Business — wants established businesses with revenue history. Wait 12+ months.
- Amex Platinum Business — premium card, wants significant trading history and high revenue.
- Barclaycard Select Cashback — high street bank, conservative underwriting, wants filed accounts.
- BA Amex Accelerating — £250/year card, wants an established Amex relationship or strong trading record.
Every rejected application leaves a hard search on your credit file, which makes the next application harder. Be strategic — apply where you'll be approved.
The startup card roadmap
Think of business cards as a progression:
Month 0-6: Foundation
- Apply for Capital on Tap or Amex Basic Business
- Accept whatever limit you're given
- Put all business expenses on the card
- Pay in full every month — build a perfect repayment history
Month 6-12: Build
- Request a credit limit increase (Capital on Tap reviews these regularly)
- Your spending and repayment data is building your business credit profile
- Start using bill pay for larger expenses like rent and suppliers
Month 12-18: Upgrade
- File your first set of accounts (even abbreviated ones)
- Apply for Amex Gold Business — your Amex history (if you started with Basic) helps
- Or apply for Funding Circle for cashback
Month 18+: Optimise
- You now have trading history, filed accounts, and a card repayment track record
- Premium cards like Amex Platinum Business become realistic
- Consider multi-card strategies — Amex for rewards, Visa for universal acceptance
Improving your approval odds
A few practical steps:
- Register with Companies House — even if you're a sole trader, a limited company improves card approval rates
- Get on the electoral roll at your current address — this is one of the biggest factors in UK credit scoring
- Check your personal credit report — fix any errors before applying (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all offer free checks)
- Don't apply for multiple cards at once — space applications at least 3 months apart
- Start with the most likely approval — Capital on Tap first, then build from there
Using personal cards while you wait
If you can't get a business card yet, a personal card is perfectly fine for business expenses as a sole trader. See our freelancer and sole trader guide for how to manage this.
For limited company directors: you can use a personal card and claim back via director's expenses. It's not ideal (messy accounting), but it works in the short term.
Getting started
- Check your personal credit score (free via Experian, ClearScore, or Credit Karma)
- Apply for Capital on Tap — highest approval rate for new businesses
- If rejected, try Amex Basic Business
- If still rejected, use Revolut Business while you build history
- Put all business expenses on whatever card you get
- Pay the full balance every month
- Revisit in 12 months for an upgrade
Every established business was a startup once. The card you get today is a stepping stone to the card you'll have in a year.