New LLC. No long credit history. You can still get a business credit card. The secret is to package your application the right way and pick the right card for your stage. This guide shows you exactly what to do, step by step.
Step 1: Lock in the Basics
Lenders want to see that your business is real and organized.
- Form your LLC and keep your Articles of Organization handy.
- Get your EIN from the IRS. It is free and instant online.
- Open a business bank account. Move your income into it. Pay business bills from it.
- Create a simple operating agreement even if you are solo.
- Set a business address, phone number, and website. Keep the same NAP everywhere. Name. Address. Phone.
Goal: Look credible on paper. Clean, consistent details reduce friction.
Step 2: Prep Your Underwriting Packet
Treat this like a mini pitch. Put these in one folder you can attach or reference.
- Two to three most recent business bank statements. If new, include personal bank statements too.
- Proof of revenue. Screenshots from Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, Square, or invoices.
- Voided business check or your bank letter.
- Copy of EIN letter and LLC formation approval.
- Short one-page business overview. What you sell. Who you serve. How do you get customers?
Goal: Remove all reasons to say no. Make the reviewer’s job easy.
Step 3: Choose the Right Card Type
You have three common paths as a new LLC.
- Personal guarantee cards. Highest approval odds. Your personal credit backs the account. Business activity still reports to business bureaus for many issuers.
- No personal guarantee for fintech cards. Based on cash flow and balances. Good if your personal credit is thin. They often need strong deposits or revenue in your business account.
- Secured business cards. You post a deposit. Credit line matches your deposit. Great to start building limits and history.
Quick pick rule: Low revenue and thin credit, start with a PG card or a secured card. Strong cash flow but thin credit, try a fintech no PG card.
Step 4: Polish Your Personal Credit Profile
Even business cards often look at the owner’s profile.
- Pay all personal cards on time. Set autopay for at least the minimum.
- Keep utilization under 30 percent on each card. Under 10 percent is better.
- Remove old errors. Dispute clear mistakes with the bureaus.
- If new to credit, add a secured personal card and a small installment loan builder.
Goal: Show you are a responsible manager of credit and cash.
Step 5: Build Early Business Credit Signals
You do not need a long history, but a few signals help.
- Get a D-U-N-S number from Dun and Bradstreet.
- Open two or three vendor accounts that report. Examples include office supplies or software vendors.
- Pay early. Not on time. Early.
- Turn on Net 30 billing where helpful and pay in 7 to 10 days.
Goal: Create a track record that automated systems can read.
Step 6: Match Your Data on the Application
Underwriting bots check for mismatches.
- Business legal name must match state records.
- The address should match your bank and tax records.
- Revenue figures should match the bank statements you submit.
- Use the same industry description everywhere.
Goal: Zero red flags. Clean data equals faster approvals.
Step 7: Apply With a Smart Order
Do not shotgun ten applications in one day. Use this sequence instead.
- Your bank first. If your business account is with Bank A, apply for Bank A’s business card. Relationship helps.
- A friendly PG card next. Pick one that is known to approve new LLCs with clean personal credit.
- A fintech no PG card if your cash flow is good and you want a higher limit tied to balances.
- A secured business card to build more history if you have thin limits.
Space applications are a few days apart. Move deposits through the account you will use to apply. Show activity.
Step 8: Ask For The Right Limit
Do not ask for the moon on day one. You can grow into it.
- Request a limit that equals one to two months of average business spend.
- If the system gives a lower instant limit, accept it. Use the card. Pay on time.
- Ask for a credit line increase after 90 days of heavy use and early payments.
Goal: Earn trust fast. Then scale the limit.
Step 9: Use And Report Like A Pro
Day one to day ninety is the trust period.
- Put recurring bills on the card. Software. Ads. Inventory.
- Keep utilization under 30 percent mid-cycle. Pay early if balances spike.
- Never miss a payment. Set autopay.
- If the issuer supports business bureau reporting, confirm it is active.
Goal: Build a positive history that unlocks better terms.
Step 10: Stack Rewards That Fit Your Spend
Pick cards that pay you for what you already buy.
- Ads and software-heavy. Choose strong points on online advertising and SaaS.
- Inventory and shipping are heavy. Choose cards with higher earnings on shipping and wholesale categories.
- Travel and client meetings. Pick flexible travel points with transfer partners.
Do not chase points at the cost of cash flow. Rewards are a bonus. Approval and healthy limits come first.
Sample One-Page Business Overview
Use this template in your underwriting packet.
Business name: Acme Digital LLC
Industry: Marketing services for ecommerce brands
Founded: 2025
Products and services: Ad management, email flows, creative testing
Customers: Shopify brands between 10k and 100k a month in sales
Revenue model: Monthly retainers and performance fees
Acquisition channels: Referrals, LinkedIn outreach, YouTube tutorials
Why a card now: Consolidate ad spend, improve cash flow, earn rewards
Primary proof: Stripe screenshots for the last three months, business bank statements attached
Keep it to one page and plain English.
Common Reasons for Denial and How to Fix Them
- Thin personal credit. Add a secured personal card. Keep balances low for 60 to 90 days. Reapply.
- No revenue yet. Start with a secured or no-fee cash flow card. Add small contracts. Show deposits.
- Mismatched data. Fix your address and legal name across the bank, state, and IRS. Reapply with clean records.
- High utilization. Pay down balances to under 30 percent. Wait one statement cycle. Try again.
30 60 90 Day Approval Plan
Days 1 to 10
Form an LLC, get an EIN, open a business bank account, set up a website and phone, and collect first invoices or deposits.
Days 11 to 30
Set up two vendor accounts that report. Pay early. Prepare underwriting packet. Apply with your bank.
Days 31 to 60
Add one PG business card or a no PG fintech card. Put recurring spend on it. Pay early.
Days 61 to 90
Ask for a limit increase after two or three cycles of on-time payments. Consider a second card for category rewards.
Final Thoughts
New LLCs can get approved if you look prepared, start with the right card, and use it like a pro. Package your application, match all details, and show real activity in your business bank account. Start small, pay early, and grow limits over time. Do this for ninety days, and most lenders will treat you like a lower risk, even if your business is young. Approval is not about tricks. It is about clear records, steady cash flow, and clean habits.
