Why Entrepreneurs Prefer EIN-Only Business Credit Cards

For many U.S. entrepreneurs, one of the first steps in building a company is separating business and personal finances. While it may be tempting to use a personal credit card for early expenses, most business owners quickly realize that having a dedicated business card makes far more sense.

This is where cards to apply with EIN only come in. Unlike traditional business credit cards that often require both your EIN (Employer Identification Number) and SSN (Social Security Number), these cards are designed to tie directly to your business identity rather than your personal credit profile.

So why do entrepreneurs prefer cards to apply with EIN only over personal cards? Let’s break down the reasons, benefits, and the bigger picture of business credit in the U.S.

What Are “Cards to Apply With EIN Only”?

When applying for most business credit cards in the U.S., banks typically ask for both:

EIN: Identifies your business for tax and credit purposes.
SSN: Used to check your personal credit and establish a personal guarantee.

However, cards to apply with EIN only bypass the SSN requirement. These cards either don’t pull your personal credit or don’t tie your business debt to your personal liability. Instead, they rely on your business’s financial health, revenue, and credit history.

Why Entrepreneurs Want EIN-Only Options

1. Separating Business and Personal Finances

Using personal credit cards for business expenses creates unnecessary risks. If your business runs into debt, it impacts your personal credit score. EIN-only cards keep the line clear—business expenses remain on the business’s books.

2. Protecting Personal Credit Scores

With a personal guarantee card, high balances or missed payments could drag down your FICO score. EIN-only cards prevent business borrowing from hurting your personal financial standing, which is crucial if you need to apply for a mortgage, car loan, or personal credit.

3. Building Business Credit

One of the most important reasons entrepreneurs choose cards to apply with EIN only is to establish a strong business credit profile. Credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business use payment history tied to your EIN to generate scores. A solid business credit score opens doors to larger loans, lines of credit, and vendor accounts.

4. Limiting Personal Liability

When you use a business card that requires a personal guarantee, you’re legally responsible for repayment—even if your company fails. EIN-only cards reduce this liability, protecting your personal assets.

5. Professional Image

Having a card issued under your business EIN, not your personal SSN, reflects professionalism. Vendors, clients, and partners see that your business is financially independent, which can help boost credibility.

Real-World Examples of EIN-Only Business Card Options

While EIN-only cards are not as widely available as personal-guarantee business cards, some U.S. providers are making them more accessible:

Brex Card – Popular with venture-backed startups. No personal guarantee required, but you must show strong cash flow.
Ramp Card – Offers EIN-only approval for established businesses and startups with investor backing.
Stripe Corporate Card – Based on Stripe payment processing volume; no SSN required.
Divvy – Some businesses qualify for no personal guarantee depending on revenue.

Traditional banks like Chase, Capital One, or American Express almost always require SSNs, so fintech providers are leading the way with EIN-only options.

Challenges and Limitations of EIN-Only Cards

While they sound ideal, cards to apply with EIN only come with challenges:

Not Always Available – Most small businesses won’t qualify until they build revenue and history.
Strict Requirements – Issuers often require significant monthly revenue, venture funding, or large bank deposits.
Limited Rewards Programs – Some EIN-only cards lack the travel or cashback perks offered by personal or traditional business cards.
Technology Dependence – Many EIN-only providers are fintech startups, so approval often depends on linking your business bank accounts or payment platforms.

How to Qualify for EIN-Only Business Cards

If you’re an entrepreneur aiming for one of these cards, here’s how to improve your chances:

Register Your Business Properly – Incorporate or form an LLC, and get your EIN from the IRS.
Open a Business Bank Account – Keep finances separate from day one.
Establish Vendor Credit – Work with suppliers who report to credit bureaus.
Pay Bills on Time – Build a strong PAYDEX score with Dun & Bradstreet.
Show Solid Revenue Streams – Issuers want to see steady income before approving EIN-only cards.

Why Entrepreneurs Choose EIN-Only Over Personal Cards

At the end of the day, entrepreneurs prefer cards to apply with EIN only because they align with long-term business goals. Personal cards may work in the short term, but EIN-only cards:

Create financial independence between you and your business.
Protect your personal assets and credit score.
Establish a strong business credit foundation for future loans.
Enhance your professional credibility with banks, vendors, and investors.

For serious business owners, it’s about more than just convenience—it’s about protecting the future of both personal and business finances.

Conclusion

While not every entrepreneur will qualify for cards to apply with EIN only right away, the preference for them is clear. They represent financial separation, reduced liability, and the chance to build true business credit.

For U.S. business owners who want to grow beyond sole proprietorships and establish financial independence, these cards offer an invaluable advantage over using personal credit cards.

The bottom line? If you’re serious about scaling your business, an EIN-only card is worth aiming for—even if you need to start with personal-guarantee cards first and work your way up.

This post may contain affiliate links. Financial Panther has partnered with AwardWallet and CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Financial Panther, AwardWallet, and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:

Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
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Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.

More Recommended Investing App Bonuses

For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:

M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.

More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses

If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.

Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.

Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.

Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.

Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:

SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.

Feel free to send Kevin a message here.