Credit Cards for the Self-Employed — What Works?

S

Samantha

Member
I’m self-employed and trying to figure out the best credit card setup for my situation. Most of the advice I’ve found online is either for regular W-2 employees or for people running bigger companies, and neither really applies to me.

What I’m looking for is something that doesn’t require years of business history to qualify, but still gives decent rewards for the stuff I actually spend money on things like software subscriptions, online ads, maybe the occasional office purchase. It would be great if it also had some sort of expense tracking or could at least make it easier to keep my business and personal expenses separate. I don’t mind paying an annual fee if the perks are worth it, but I’m not looking to spend hundreds just for a shiny piece of plastic.

Right now I’m torn between getting a small business credit card in my name or just using a personal rewards card for business purchases. I’ve read mixed opinions about how each one affects your credit score, taxes, and even your ability to get approved.

If you’re self-employed, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you. Did you go the business card route, or stick with personal cards?
 
I’m self-employed and went the business credit card route from day one. Chase Ink Business Unlimited was easy to get with just my SSN and EIN (no actual business history). Unlimited 1.5% cash back, plus their tracking tools help keep my expenses clean for tax time.
 
Honestly, if you’re not spending huge amounts, a personal rewards card might be simpler. Less paperwork, fewer hoops to jump through. I use my Amex Blue Cash Preferred for ads and subscriptions works just fine and the cash back adds up.
 
I started with a personal card because my business was tiny. Once my revenue became more predictable, I switched to a business card so I could keep expenses separate. I wish I had done it sooner because tax season is way easier now.
 
I’ve got the Capital One Spark Miles for Business. It’s straightforward, earns travel rewards, and I didn’t need years of business credit history. You can redeem for flights, hotels, or even statement credits.
 
My accountant told me the separation of business and personal is more important than the card perks when you’re self-employed. Even if it’s just a low-limit business card, it keeps things cleaner for deductions.
 
I got denied for a bunch of business cards until I tried the Amex Blue Business Cash. They approved me instantly with no revenue proof, just my SSN. Flat 2% cash back and no annual fee ..... perfect starter card.
 
I run ads on Facebook every month and I use my Citi Double Cash for it. Not technically a business card, but I’ve never had an issue. Cash back rate is solid and no category restrictions.
 
If you travel a lot for business, you might want to consider a card with lounge access and travel insurance. My Amex Business Platinum is overkill for some, but for me the perks outweigh the $695 fee.
 
I stuck with personal cards because business cards don’t always report to personal credit bureaus, so they don’t help your personal score. I wanted the best of both worlds ..... rewards and personal score growth.
 
I tried using a business debit card at first. Big mistake. No rewards, no fraud protection like credit cards, and harder to dispute charges.
 
One underrated perk of business cards ...... many don’t count toward your Chase 5/24 limit. So if you’re into credit card churning, you can keep your personal slots open.
 
Just watch the annual fees. Some cards have insane perks but you’ll barely use them if you’re not flying every month or spending big on specific categories.
 
I’m in the same boat as you and ended up with the Amazon Business Prime Amex. Great for office purchases and random supplies I get on Amazon.
 
Business cards can be a double-edged sword. They’re easy to get approved for with just your SSN, but they also usually don’t have the same consumer protections as personal cards.
 
Don’t sleep on the idea of having both. I use a personal card for certain categories with higher rewards and my business card for everything else.
 
I’m team personal card. I just label every business transaction in Mint and export it at tax time. Takes maybe 20 minutes to prep.
 
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