Karl says: “For startup founders, the right card can support scaling and cash flow. The American Express® Business Gold Card earns 4X points on top spending categories with no preset limit, ideal for fluctuating expenses. The Plum Card® from American Express offers 1.5% cash back for early payments and up to 60 days to pay with no interest. The Ramp Corporate Card provides 1.5% cash back, zero fees, and AI-powered spend controls. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card gives 2% cash back on $50K in purchases per year, plus 0% intro APR for 12 months with no annual fee.”
Best Startup Founder Credit Cards 2025
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Key offer
This card is ideal for tech startups, high-growth companies, and venture-backed businesses because it supports dynamic business spending and provides powerful financial flexibility for rapidly scaling companies:
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• Automatically earn 4X Membership Rewards points in your two highest-spending categories each billing cycle (up to $150,000 per year), ideal for fluctuating startup expenses like online advertising, software subscriptions, or cloud computing.
• Offers flexible “Pay Over Time” options and no preset spending limit, allowing founders to better manage cash flow during rapid growth phases.
Welcome offer
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. + Get 0% on eligible purchases the first 6 months from date of account opening
Annual fee
• Primary card annual fee: $375
• Employee Gold Cards (1–5): $95 total annual fee (covers up to 5 cards)
• Each additional Employee Gold Card (6–99): $95 per card annually
• Business Expense Cards: $0 annual fee (up to 99 cards)
Disclosure: The Cards Guy partners with credit card issuers to provide information on their products. We may earn commissions from these issuers. The content on this page is independent and has not been provided, reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the companies mentioned. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. American Express is a The Cards Guy advertiser.
Card Rewards
– 4X Membership Rewards® Points – Top 2 categories each billing cycle (up to $150,000/year): U.S. advertising (online, TV, radio), software & cloud providers, wireless phone services, U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, transit (rideshare, tolls, parking, etc.)
– 3X Points – Flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
– 1X Points – All other eligible purchases.
Premium Benefits
Annual Credits:
• $240 annual flexible business credit ($20 per month) at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (eg. staples) (enrollment required).
• $155 annual Walmart+ credit for monthly membership costs (up to $12.95 monthly, enrollment required).
Card Benefits:
• No preset spending limit; adjusts based on your spending and payment history.
• Flexible “Pay Over Time” feature available for large purchases.
• Expense management integration with QuickBooks and Vendor Pay by Bill.com.
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• Year-end spending summary provided for simpler budgeting and tax preparation.
• Access to exclusive savings and special events through Amex Offers.
Travel and Shopping Protections:
• Trip delay insurance covering delays of 12 hours or more.
• Baggage insurance covering up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage.
• Baggage insurance covering up to $500 for checked luggage.
• Car rental loss and damage insurance included when declining rental agency coverage.
• Cell phone protection covering damage or theft (up to $800 per claim, maximum 2 claims per year, $50 deductible).
• Purchase protection covering accidental damage or theft (up to $1,000 per incident, within 90 days of purchase).
• Extended warranty extends original warranties of 5 years or less by up to one extra year.
• Global Assist Hotline providing emergency assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Special benefits through The Hotel Collection, including a $100 experience credit, room upgrades, and additional perks (requires minimum two-night stay, booked via Amex Travel).
Minimum Qualifications
• Typically requires a personal credit score of approximately 740 or higher.
• You must be a business owner, sole proprietor, or partner.
• American Express may request details about your business type and estimated annual revenue.
• You may need to demonstrate sufficient income (personal or business) to cover monthly balances.
• Additional documents such as bank statements or tax returns might be requested.
• American Express typically limits approvals to no more than 2 new cards within a 90-day period.
Key offer
This card is ideal for startup founders and high-growth companies because it gives you powerful cash flow tools and freedom to scale without limits.
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back when you pay early — no categories or caps, just automatic savings
• Get up to 60 days to pay with no interest, giving you breathing room when cash flow is tight
Welcome offer
• Earn a $500 statement credit after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
Annual fee
$250 Annual Fee
Card Rewards
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible charges when you pay within 10 days of your statement closing
• Pay up to 60 days later with no interest when you need more time — just pay the minimum due
• No preset spending limit — your limit adapts based on your business profile and card usage
Premium Benefits
• Free employee cards (up to 99) with spend tracking and alerts
• Assign account managers to help oversee payments and employee spending
• Choose your own billing cycle for easier budgeting
• Track and manage expenses with the American Express app or online portal
• Sync transactions with QuickBooks for automatic expense categorization
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• Vendor Pay by Bill.com integration helps you manage supplier payments
• Access to Amex Offers, Amex Experiences, and presale ticket perks
• Year-end summaries for simplified bookkeeping and tax reporting
Travel and Shopping Protections:
• Car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary coverage)
• Global Assist® Hotline for emergencies while traveling more than 100 miles from home
• Purchase protection covers damage or theft within 90 days (up to $1,000 per item)
• Extended warranty adds 1 extra year on eligible warranties of 5 years or less
• No foreign transaction fees — great for global startup expenses
Minimum Qualifications
• Typically requires a personal credit score of approximately 740 or higher.
• You must be a business owner, sole proprietor, or partner.
• American Express may request details about your business type and estimated annual revenue.
• You may need to demonstrate sufficient income (personal or business) to cover monthly balances.
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• Additional documents such as bank statements or tax returns might be requested.
• American Express typically limits approvals to no more than 2 new cards within a 90-day period.
Key offer
This card is perfect for startups because it’s a true corporate charge card — no personal liability, no interest, and powerful tools that help you grow fast.
• Get up to 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no categories or caps, plus zero fees and no personal credit checks
• Built-in spend controls, real-time tracking, and AI-powered savings tools make it easy to manage expenses at scale
Welcome offer
No welcome Offer
Annual fee
$0
Card Rewards
• Earn 1.5% cash back automatically on every purchase — no bonus categories or limits
• Cashback is credited to your account to reduce your balance
Premium Benefits
• Use Ramp’s insights and tools to maximize value from vendor spend.
• No interest charges — you must pay in full every 30 days
• No preset limit — Ramp offers credit lines up to 30x higher than traditional cards
• Unlimited physical and virtual employee cards with customizable limits
• Smart policy enforcement with built-in category and vendor restrictions
• Real-time spend tracking and alerts through Slack, SMS, or email
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• Automates receipt collection, expense categorization, and syncing with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and more
• AI tools that detect duplicate subscriptions, unclaimed rewards, and overspending
• $350K+ in partner rewards and savings across services, software, and vendors
• Travel integrations with built-in controls to prevent out-of-policy bookings
• Full procurement and AP automation built into the platform
• Works in 200+ countries and supports payments in 40 currencies
Travel and Shopping Protections:
• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver for business rentals
• Purchase protection covers theft or damage (up to $10,000 per claim) within 90 days
• Extended warranty adds 1 extra year to eligible manufacturer warranties
• Visa Signature Business travel assistance available 24/7 (includes medical/legal referral, lost luggage help, translation services, and more)
Minimum Qualifications
• No personal credit check required — no impact on your credit score
• Approval based on your company’s cash balance, revenue, and financial health
• No personal guarantee — you’re not personally liable for business charges
• Must operate a U.S.-based business with an EIN and connected business bank account
• Best for startups with at least $75K–$100K in cash on hand
Key offer
This card is ideal for startup founders and fast-growing businesses because it keeps your cash flow smooth and your rewards automatic — with no annual fee and smart tools built for scaling.
• Earn 2% cash back on your first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1%), automatically credited to your statement
• Get 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, perfect for managing big early investments or ramp-up expenses and there is no annual fee.
Welcome offer
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months
Annual fee
$0
Disclosure: The Cards Guy partners with credit card issuers to provide information on their products. We may earn commissions from these issuers. The content on this page is independent and has not been provided, reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the companies mentioned. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. American Express is a The Cards Guy advertiser.
Best for Funded Startups with Travel Needs
Card Rewards
• 2% Cashback: Up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
• 1% Cashback: On Other Eligible Purchases after the first $50k spent on your Card, automatically credited to your statement
Premium Benefits
Additional Benefits:
• Expanded Buying Power lets you spend above your credit limit based on payment history
• Add up to 99 employee cards with customizable limits and alerts
• Assign account managers to help manage payments and oversee expenses
• Track spending with online statements, reports, and the American Express® App
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• Sync transactions with QuickBooks® and other accounting tools
• Vendor Pay by Bill.com helps automate and manage supplier payments
• Access Amex Offers, exclusive experiences, and entertainment presales
• Get year-end summaries organized by category to simplify taxes and budgeting
Travel and Shopping Protections:
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance (secondary coverage in most cases)
• Purchase Protection covers damage or theft for up to 90 days (up to $1,000 per item)
• Extended Warranty adds up to 1 extra year on eligible warranties of 5 years or less
• Global Assist® Hotline for emergency support when traveling more than 100 miles from home
Minimum Qualifications
• A personal credit score of 700 or higher is generally needed for approval
• You must be a business owner, sole proprietor, or partner; Amex may ask for estimated revenue and business type
• You may be asked to show enough income (personal or business) to cover monthly payments
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• Additional documents like bank statements or tax returns may help support your application
• A credit pull is unlikely if you already have an Amex card in good standing
• You cannot open more than 2 American Express cards within a 90-day period
Pro Tips
Maximize Cash Flow Flexibility
Choose a card with a long 0% intro APR period or extended payment terms to help manage unpredictable startup expenses without accumulating high-interest debt.
Leverage Rewards for Growth
Use a card that earns bonus points or cash back in key startup categories like advertising, software, and travel to reinvest in business growth.
Separate Business & Personal Finances
Opt for a corporate or business credit card that doesn’t report to personal credit bureaus to protect your personal credit while building your company’s financial profile.