How to get a business credit card without an SSN

Generally, you will need your Social Security number to apply. business credit cardApproval is based primarily on your credit history, so card issuers will use your Social Security number to check your personal credit score.

If you don't have an SSN or don't want to use one, you have a few options for getting a business credit card.

• For foreign nationals residing in the U.S.: Some business credit card issuers allow you to apply using your personal taxpayer ID number.

Otherwise, you'll need to provide your Social Security number to get a business credit card. If you're worried about personal eligibility, focus on cards that only do soft credit pulls, or Secured Credit Cards It helps build your credit.

Here are some options to consider and more information on how to get a business credit card without an SSN.

Best for: Fixed cashback

American Express Blue Business Cash™ CardThe cashback offer has two parts: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back thereafter. Earned cash back will be automatically credited to your statement. Terms and conditions apply. (look Fees and charges). Rewards are automatically deposited into your statement each month. For entrepreneurs with annual business expenses of less than $50,000, this card is a great fixed cash back option.0 Annual fee. You can use your SSN or ITIN to apply. More details and application.

Best for: Cashback in bonus categories

of Ink Business Cash® Credit Card It is the perfect choice for business owners who have expenses including purchasing a traditional office space. Benefits: Earn 5% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores, Internet, cable and phone services on your annual account anniversary. Earn 2% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants on your annual account anniversary. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases. There's no limit on the amount you can earn.Bonus benefits included: You'll earn $350 after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening, and an additional $400 after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. The application accepts either an SSN or ITIN. More details and application.

Best for: Business travel credit card

of Capital One SparkMiles for Business We offer great travel benefits: Earn unlimited 2x miles per dollar on every purchase, anywhere. There are no limits or category restrictions, and miles never expire for the life of your account. Earn unlimited 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent towards travel purchases with no blackout dates or other restrictions on branded hotel or airline cards. The card has an annual fee of $1.95However, they do offer a great sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles (worth $500 toward travel) after you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. (look Fees and charges) The application accepts either an SSN or ITIN. More details and application.

Best for: Business cards with no personal credit check

of Lamp Card No credit check or personal guarantee is required, but you must provide your EIN and, if you don't have an SSN, a copy of your passport. You also need a high income and a sizable bank balance (at least $75,000) to qualify. Because Ramp is a charge card, you must pay off the balance in full each month. More details and application.

Best for: Corporate cards for startups with professional investments

of Brex Card is a business card that doesn't require applicants to provide a Social Security number or a personal guarantee. Instead, a company's cash flow and spending patterns determine creditworthiness. However, to qualify, you must have a minimum bank balance of $50,000 and funding from professional investors. If you don't have investor backing, you'll need a bank balance of $1 million. More details and application.

Best for: Secured cards for building business credit.

This card has not been rated by NerdWallet.

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured Credit Card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There are no caps or expiration dates on rewards you can earn. This card requires a minimum security deposit of $1,000, equal to your credit limit and is subject to credit approval. Bank of America® periodically reviews secured cards and may upgrade to unsecured cards if you qualify. There is no annual fee for this card.

Best for: Corporate cards with soft credit pulls

of BILL Divvy Corporate Card There's a soft credit pull when you apply, which means your credit score matters (BILL says that to qualify, a personal FICO score typically needs to be at least 650), but your score isn't affected by applying. You also need to provide your SSN or passport number if you're a citizen of another country. BILL is a business card like Ramp, but it may be more accessible to more business owners. You typically only need a minimum bank balance of $20,000, which is much lower than Ramp's minimum. More details and application.

Best for: Credit cards for borrowers with fair credit scores.

of Capital on Tap Business Credit Card It's not available to sole proprietors, so it's not a good fit for the majority of business owners. However, according to Capital On Tap, applicants with a FICO score of 670 or higher are most likely to be approved, which includes borrowers with fair to good credit. Applying won't affect your credit score. However, you'll be required to provide a personal guarantee, EIN, and SSN to apply. More details and application.

A growing number of business software and financial technology companies are now offering business credit cards to entrepreneurs who use their products.

Generally, not just anyone can apply for these cards. You must already be a credit card user and usually be invited to apply for a credit card. Most cards don't do a hard credit check, but you may need to provide your Social Security number to verify your identity.

Companies that offer credit card options include:

• stripe and squareBoth of these payment processors offer invitation-only corporate cards to merchants on their platforms. These companies use data about your company's payment processing history to set your credit limit. A Stripe corporate card does not require a personal guarantee, and applying for a Square credit card does not affect your personal credit.

• Blue vine. Users of Bluevine Business Checking Account You may receive an invitation to apply for the Bluevine Business Cashback Mastercard®. Applying for the card won't affect your credit score, and if approved, the card will pay you 1.5% cash back on all spending.

• Shopify. This e-commerce platform is Business cards with no credit check For eligible Shopify sellers, but you'll need to provide your Social Security number for verification when applying for the card.

Business credit card issuers want to see that you can repay your debts, so they look for applicants with a good or excellent credit history — typically someone with a FICO score of 690 or above. Business credit cards for creditworthy borrowerstoo.

Furthermore, the majority Business credit cards require a personal guaranteeThis is an agreement that if the company cannot pay its debts, you will cover them. This guarantee reduces the risk to the credit card issuer.

Companies have their own credit scoresBut they are more important for other types of financing. The longer you've been running your business, the more likely you are to be able to access options like small business loans and business lines of credit at competitive interest rates by relying on business credit.

If you don't have a Social Security number, you may have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead. The IRS issues ITINs to non-U.S. citizens who need a taxpayer identification number but don't qualify for a Social Security number. You may be able to use an ITIN instead of an SSN on a business credit card application.

Once you have an ITIN or SSN: Obtain an Employer Identification NumberAn EIN is a tax identification number for businesses, just as an ITIN or SSN is for personal finances. Even sole proprietors without an established business entity can apply for an EIN for free on the IRS website. (However, you will need to provide your SSN or ITIN during the EIN application process.)

If you use Business Software Programs like Stripe, Square, Shopify, Online Business Bank Account See if a company like Bluevine offers a business credit card option. Eligibility for these cards is typically determined by spending or payment processing history, not personal credit. However, you may need to provide your SSN or EIN so the company can verify your identity.

Also, your Business Banking If you have already passed the pre-qualification for a credit card, you may not need to go through the full credit card application process.

Corporate Credit Cards are issued to businesses, not individuals, which means you won't necessarily be asked for your Social Security number.