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How to get a business credit card with an EIN only

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    Quick insights

    • Using a business credit card allows business owners to access a line of credit and earn rewards on everyday business purchases.
    • Many business credit cards require individuals to use their Social Security Number (SSN) and sign a personal guarantee to apply.
    • While it's possible to find a credit card that only requires an Employer Identification Number (EIN), these cards tend to be rare finds for small business owners.

    When you apply for a business credit card, you'll likely need to provide your SSN. This results in a hard inquiry into your personal credit report.

    If you don't want to include as much personal information, you may choose to opt for an EIN-only business card. However, these cards are typically only available as corporate credit cards rather than small business credit cards. The good news is that it's still possible to separate your business and personal finances, regardless of what type of business credit card you have. 

    Read on to learn more about EIN-only business credit card options, what happens when you apply for a business credit card with your SSN, plus tips on establishing business credit for a new EIN.

    What is an EIN number?

    An EIN, also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, is a nine-digit number assigned to a business by the IRS. The IRS uses this number to identify your business for tax purposes.

    You may need to apply for an EIN for several reasons, including if your business:

    • Has employees
    • Operates as a partnership or corporation
    • Is involved in mortgage investments
    • Handles estates, trusts or IRAs
    • Withholds any income other than wages

    You don't necessarily need an EIN to apply for a business credit card, though. Individuals like freelancers or sole proprietors, for example, can use their SSNs to apply for a business credit card. This means the card issuer will run a hard inquiry into the applicant's credit report.

    For more information about whether you need to apply for an EIN, visit IRS.gov.

    Can small business owners apply for business credit cards with only EINs?

    In many cases, small business owners aren't eligible for EIN-only business credit cards and will need to apply with their SSNs. This is because many small business credit cards usually require a personal guarantee—or a legal agreement that the cardmember is personally liable for business debts or defaulted payments.

    Personal guarantees provide more security for the lender; if your business can't make payments, the person whose SSN is associated with the account will be responsible for repayment.

    It's more common to find corporate credit cards that allow you to apply with only an EIN. But corporate credit cards often require applicants to have:

    • An annual revenue in the millions
    • A minimum spending threshold
    • A minimum number of employee cardmembers (usually 15+)

    Because of this, corporate credit cards may not be the best fit for small business owners.

    Types of business credit cards you can get with an EIN only

    There aren't many small business credit cards that allow you to apply with an EIN only. Most business credit cards that allow this are charge cards rather than credit cards.

    Business charge cards allow individual employees to spend with credit (similar to a typical credit card), but must be paid off in full at the end of each cycle (unlike a typical credit card). Some examples of charge cards include corporate store credit cards or corporate gas cards.

    While there are a few traditional business credit cards that don't require personal guarantees, they tend to be few and far between. Note that Chase does not offer business credit cards that only require an EIN.

    How applying for a business credit card with an SSN affects your credit

    Applying for any type of credit card usually results in a hard inquiry into your credit—the same is true for business credit cards.

    Luckily, hard inquiries usually only have a small, temporary impact on your credit. And after this initial inquiry, most business credit card issuers don't report card activity to consumer credit bureaus. As long as you use your business card responsibly and make payments on time, it likely won't affect your personal credit score over time.

    How to build credit with an EIN

    Whether or not you use an EIN to apply for a business card, there are steps you can take to help build business credit:

    • Apply for an EIN: You can apply for an EIN for free through the IRS.
    • Apply for a business credit card: Even if you have to use your SSN to apply, your EIN may still be associated with your account. Card issuers typically report usage activity to business credit bureaus, which may help you build credit over time.
    • Make payments on time and in full: After you're approved for a business card, be sure to manage your expenses responsibly. Paying off balances on time (and in full if possible) may help build your business credit.
    • Track your business expenses: Accurate recordkeeping may help you catch errors that could impact your business credit. For example, you might not notice unauthorized purchases if you don't regularly review your account.

    In summary

    While it's possible to apply for a business credit card with just your EIN, it's less likely you'll be able to do so as a small business owner. Many of the top small business credit cards require your SSN and a personal guarantee.

    Ready to find the right credit card for your business? Compare our business credit card options.

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