Quick answer: Can you get a business credit card with EIN only?

Yes, but almost always through corporate cards, not traditional bank-issued business credit cards. EIN-only business credit cards come from corporate card platforms like Aspire, Ramp, and Brex, to name a few. They underwrite the company, looking at cash balance, revenue, or processing history instead of your FICO score.

Any US-registered LLC or corporation with an EIN qualifies, and no SSN is needed if you can verify identity with a passport. However, most providers require a USD $25,000 or more bank balance or an upfront cash deposit, and you cannot carry a balance month-to-month.

Why most EIN-only business credit cards are actually corporate cards

Most EIN-only credit cards for businesses are actually corporate cards or corporate charge cards.

Traditional business credit cards — the ones Chase or Bank of America issues — almost always require a personal guarantee tied to your SSN. The bank is lending to the business, but it wants a human backstop.

For international founders, the stakes are higher. Without an SSN, traditional bank-issued business credit cards for startup companies are unavailable.

Corporate cards work differently. The best corporate credit card programs underwrite the company itself, looking at your bank balance, revenue, or funding history rather than your FICO score. The result: no personal guarantee, no SSN required (for most), and credit limits that scale with the business.

This is why if you’re searching for EIN-only cards, you’re not choosing between banks; you’re choosing between corporate card platforms.

Best business credit cards with EIN only (2026 comparison)

Each card below fits a different startup stage from pre-revenue to venture-backed. Use this to quickly narrow your options.

[Table:1]

*Ramp asks for the last 4 digits of an SSN for one corporate officer for identity verification. International founders can substitute a passport. *Brex note: Capital One announced a definitive agreement to acquire Brex in January 2026. Confirm requirements directly before applying.

If you're early-stage or don’t meet balance requirements, secured models like Aspire are often the only viable starting point.

Already have an SSN? Here's why US founders still choose corporate cards

• No personal guarantee means a failed startup doesn't wreck your personal credit.
  
• Chase Ink and Amex Business both report to personal credit bureaus; most corporate cards don't.
  
• Corporate cards integrate with payroll tools and accounting software, whereas traditional cards don't.
  
• If you're paying contractors, running ad spend, or managing a team, the spend controls on Aspire, Ramp, or Brex are meaningfully better than banks.
  

1. Aspire corporate credit card

Best EIN-only business credit card for early-stage and international founders

Most corporate cards will turn you down if you don't have cash in the bank. Ramp wants USD $25,000. Brex wants USD $50,000. If you're pre-revenue, those thresholds can be an obstacle.  

The Aspire corporate card² works differently.

How it works

Instead of evaluating your cash balance, Aspire operates on a secured collateral model. You fund a collateral account, and that deposit becomes your card's spending limit. No minimum bank balance. No personal credit check. Every dollar you spend is repaid automatically each day from your Aspire Checking Account, so your business stays debt-free from day one.

In practice, this means you can get a functional corporate card on day one of your US entity's life, even before you've built revenue or accumulated a cash cushion elsewhere.

What makes it stand out

• No SSN required. Passport verification is accepted for non-US founders
  
• Works from day one of your US entity, even before you have revenue
  
• Accepts Delaware C-corps and Wyoming LLCs with no additional requirements
  

When not to choose Aspire

Aspire works best for founders who are comfortable with a secured model. If you need an unsecured credit line or prefer to settle balances monthly, a card like Ramp or Brex may be a better fit at your stage.

Founder insight: The hardest part of launching a US startup without an SSN isn't the incorporation; it's the financial infrastructure that follows. A corporate card that accepts EIN-only applications and passport verification is often the first real piece of that stack.

2. Ramp corporate credit card

Best EIN-only business credit card for startups with strong cash reserves

Ramp has become the default corporate card for startups that have raised a seed round or crossed a meaningful cash threshold. The application is EIN-based, so there is no personal guarantee and no personal credit check. Ramp underwrites the company, not the founder.

How it works

Ramp connects to your business bank account to underwrite your application. You need at least USD $25,000 in available cash. The card works on a monthly charge model, so the full balance is due each cycle with no option to carry it forward.

What makes it stand out

• Automated receipt capture and real-time spend controls by employee or department
  
• Integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite
  
• Free for most users with no annual fee
  

When not to choose Ramp

Ramp works best for startups that have crossed the cash-reserve threshold and need serious expense controls for a growing team. If you are pre-revenue, under the $25,000 minimum, or need to finance purchases over time, you will likely find a better fit elsewhere at this stage.

One thing to know: Ramp's application asks for the last 4 digits of an SSN for one corporate officer for identity verification. International founders can substitute a passport, but verify current requirements directly with Ramp before you start.

3. Brex corporate credit card

Best EIN-only business credit card for venture-backed startups

Brex was the first corporate card to market itself openly as an SSN-free option for startups. It remains the most recognized name in this space for well-funded companies with high monthly spend.

How it works

Brex works best for venture-backed startups with significant monthly spend and $50,000 or more in the bank. Bootstrapped founders or sole proprietors will find the entry requirements difficult to meet, and those looking for premium travel perks may consider traditional corporate cards more rewarding on that front.

What makes it stand out

• Dynamic credit limits; limit scales as you raise funding
  
• Strong travel and software rewards program
  
• No personal guarantee and no SSN required
  

When not to choose Brex

If you are bootstrapped or under USD $50,000 in the bank, the threshold alone will disqualify you. That is double what Ramp requires. If you want elite travel perks like lounge access or status upgrades, Brex does not compete on that front. Sole proprietors and businesses with inconsistent revenue are explicitly not served by Brex.

Important 2026 update: Brex acquisition by Capital One

In January 2026, Capital One announced a definitive agreement to acquire Brex in a deal valued at approximately USD $5.15 billion. It's currently unclear how this will affect Brex's approval requirements, product roadmap, or EIN-only underwriting model. If you're evaluating Brex as part of your financial stack, check for the latest information before committing.

4. BILL Divvy corporate card

Best EIN-only business credit card for startups with moderate cash reserves

BILL Divvy sits between Aspire and Ramp in terms of accessibility. The minimum bank balance requirement is typically around USD $20,000, which puts BILL Divvy corporate card within reach for startups that have some runway but aren't yet sitting on a large cash reserve.

How it works

BILL Divvy underwrites based on your bank balance and bundles spend controls, virtual cards, and expense management into one interface. No dedicated finance team required.

What makes it stand out

• Up to 7x points on dining and 5x on hotels for weekly payers
  
• Virtual card controls for team spending
  
• No annual fees
  

When not to choose BILL Divvy

BILL Divvy works best for startups that pay weekly and want to maximize rewards on everyday business spend. If you prefer straightforward flat-rate cash back or spend heavily on international transactions, the rewards structure and foreign transaction fees (1% of the transaction amount) may not work in your favor.

5. Rho corporate credit card

Best EIN-only business credit card for B2B startups wanting a full financial platform

Rho positions itself as banking and corporate cards in one platform, designed for B2B startups that want to manage treasury, payroll, and card spending from a single dashboard.

How it works

Rho underwrites based on revenue or VC funding. Pre-revenue companies will not qualify. The card sits inside a broader platform that includes high-yield business accounts, same-day ACH, and AP automation in one dashboard.

What makes it stand out

• Banking, payroll, treasury, and corporate card in one place
  
• High-yield business accounts and same-day ACH included
  
• Built for B2B startups consolidating their financial stack
  

When not to choose Rho

Rho works best for B2B startups with steady, predictable revenue that want to consolidate their financial stack. If your cash flow is seasonal or you are pre-revenue, the platform may not be the right fit yet. Sole proprietors are also not eligible.

6. Stripe corporate credit card

Best EIN-only business credit card for active Stripe users

If Stripe is already processing your payments, the Stripe corporate card is the most straightforward card on this list.

How it works

Stripe looks at your payment processing history rather than your bank balance or personal credit. No deposit is required, but you need to be an active Stripe user with sufficient volume.

What makes it stand out

• No deposit or minimum cash balance required
  
• Underwritten by processing history rather than personal credit
  
• Built into the Stripe ecosystem with no additional setup
  

When NOT to choose Stripe

This is an invite-only card. It is better not to choose this option if you do not already process significant volume (businesses with annual revenues of at least USD $4 million) through Stripe.

EIN-only business credit cards for LLC startups

All of the corporate cards above are available to US-incorporated LLCs and not just C-corps. The requirements are consistent: a formal business entity (LLC, corporation, or limited partnership), a US EIN, and a business bank account.

Note: Sole proprietors generally don't qualify for corporate card programs. If you're operating as a sole proprietor and want to separate business and personal finances, a secured business credit card or a net-30 vendor account is a better starting point while you build credit history.

How to get business credit cards with EIN only: step by step

1.  Incorporate your US entity

Most EIN-only card providers require a formal business entity: LLC, corporation, or limited partnership.

2. Get your EIN from the IRS

The Employer Identification Number is free and can be obtained online at IRS.gov in minutes. This number is your company's tax ID and the anchor for your business credit profile.

3. Open a US business bank account

Corporate card issuers either require a connected bank account or ask you to fund a collateral account.

4. Prepare identity verification

KYC regulations require identity verification for all beneficial owners. If you have an SSN, you'll use it. If you don't, most corporate card providers accept a valid passport for international founders.

5. Choose the right card for your stage

No revenue yet? Start with Aspire's secured model. Have USD $20K+ in the bank? Choose BILL Divvy or Ramp. Venture-backed with USD $50K+? Brex might be the one for you. Already on Stripe? Explore the Stripe Corporate Card.

Pros and cons of EIN-only business credit cards

What works in your favor

• No personal guarantee; your personal assets are not on the line
  
• No hard pull on personal credit. Business and personal credit stay completely separate
  
• Credit limits scale with company finances, not personal credit history
  
• Built-in expense management: virtual cards, spend limits, receipt capture, accounting integrations
  
• Accessible to international founders operating US entities with passport verification
  

What to plan for

• Fewer providers than traditional business credit cards
  
• Most unsecured options require a meaningful cash balance to qualify
  
• Most operate as charge cards that require full repayment each cycle
  
• Some providers still ask for SSN digits for one corporate officer
  

Final thoughts

Getting the best EIN-only business credit cards is often framed as a workaround, a way to avoid the personal guarantee requirement. But the bigger opportunity comes after approval.

EIN business credit cards, used consistently and paid on time, build a business credit profile that compounds. That profile opens up higher card limits, business lines of credit, and eventually lending options that don't touch your personal finances at all.

Start with what you qualify for today. In the long run, the companies that scale most smoothly are often the ones that build this financial foundation from day one.

For pre-revenue startups or founders without an SSN, Aspire's secured model is the lowest-friction way to start with no minimum balance and no personal guarantee.