Best Credit Card for the Bootstrapped Entrepreneur

As a bootstrapping Entreprenista, you’re likely laser-focused on growing your revenue and making every dollar count. So, how does a credit card fit into the picture? A good-fit card can help to bridge early cash flow gaps while providing valuable perks that benefit your bottom line. A bad fit, on the other hand, can quietly drain your budget without offering much back. To help you find a low-cost business credit card that leaves you ahead at the end of the year, here are the key features to look for as you shop around. Plus, find my top credit card picks for the bootstrapping phase and beyond!

What to Look for in a Credit Card as a Bootstrapped Entrepreneur

Once you start to shop around and compare business credit cards, the following features can help to point you in the right direction: 

• No annual fee: Consider a card with no annual fee, so you’re not committing to a recurring added expense. 
• 0% intro APR periods: Look for promotional interest-free introductory periods on purchases. These allow you time, often one to two years, to pay off purchases without interest. 
• Welcome offer: Check for a competitive welcome offer, which can jumpstart your rewards balance. 
• Good-fit rewards: Prioritize cards that offer competitive rewards in categories where you already spend frequently. 
• Helpful benefits: Don’t overlook benefits. Features like purchase protection, roadside assistance, and auto rental coverage can offer protection and savings. 

By combining these features, you can get a low-cost card that leaves you ahead.

Best Credit Card for Bootstrapped Entrepreneurs

After performing an in-depth review of a lineup of business credit cards, here’s my top credit card pick for bootstrapping Entreprenistas. 

Top Pick: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card from Chase

The Ink Business Cash Credit Card from Chase is a good pick all around if you’re an Entreprenista running a lean, self-funded operation. This is the card we first used when starting Entreprenista, and we actually still use it to this day! While the rewards could justify an annual fee, the card doesn’t have one. That means you can start earning right away and don’t have to worry about getting your money’s worth each year. Here’s how it works.

Competitive rewards

New cardmembers can earn a $900 cash back bonus after spending $6,000 in the first three months. From there, you can earn up to $1,250 in cash back per year thanks to the 5% rewards rate (applies to the first $25,000 spent on office supply store purchases and phone, internet, and cable TV services). Additionally, you can earn up to $500 per year through the 2% cash back rewards rate (applies to the first $25,000 you spend at gas stations and restaurants). Together, that adds up to $2,650 in potential cash back earnings in the first year, all without paying an annual fee. 

Other perks

The card also offers 1% cash back on all other purchases and a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months (followed by a variable APR of 17.24% to 25.24%). As a result, you’ll have a full year to pay off purchases without interest, which can be helpful as you get your business off the ground. Additionally, you’ll gain access to helpful benefits that can help you save, like roadside assistance, emergency travel assistance, auto rental coverage, and purchase protection. 

Bottom line

All in all, the Ink Business Cash is a value-packed, no-annual-fee business credit card, making it a great choice for bootstrapping Entreprenistas. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially if your business can max out the higher-tier rewards tied to purchases of office supplies, telecommunication and media services, gas, and restaurant tabs. 

Tip: If you find the higher-tier reward tiers won’t really benefit you, consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card instead. It’s pretty much identical but offers a higher 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases in place of the multiple reward tiers. 

Next Steps: When You’re Ready to Scale Up 

The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is hard to beat for new founders on a lean budget, but what about once you start scaling?

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a good next step up. The price of entry is a bit higher at $95 per year (waived the first year), but the card offers more in return. You’ll get a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles after you spend $4,500 within three months of opening the account. Additionally, the base rewards rate on all purchases is 2x miles, higher than the Ink Business Cash’s 1% cash back rate on all purchases.

You’ll also earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars when you book them through Capital One’s travel booking site. Then, there’s a solid lineup of travel benefits, which includes a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, Hertz Five Star Status, and hotel perks. If you're ready to invest a little each year to get more mileage out of a business credit card (literally), the Spark Miles for Business is a good option. This card is perfect is your run a business that requires a lot of travel, 

American Express® Business Gold Card*

[Rates and Fees]

Disclaimer: The American Express® Business Gold Card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. 

What if you’re comfortable investing a bit more for larger potential returns? The American Express Business Gold Card offers many of the perks common with a premium card, but for around half the price ($375 per year). You can earn 4x points on up to $150,000 in qualifying purchases per year from your top two spending categories each billing cycle (of six). Then, you can earn 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com and 1x points on all other purchases. 

Tip: The Gold Card is one of the best cards to have if your business relies on digital advertising because you can get 4x the points on those purchases. As a bootstrapped entrepreneur, maximizing credit card points can unlock a lot of perks that you can then reinvest in growing your business.

Beyond the competitive rewards, there’s up to $395 in available annual statement credits. They include up to $240 in credits per year for eligible purchases from U.S. FedEx, GrubHub, and Office Supply Stores, and up to $155 back if you buy a Walmart+ membership. Additionally, you’ll find a whole lineup of travel benefits, from hotel perks and up to $10,000 in baggage insurance, when you’re eligible and meet coverage requirements. Overall, this card can be a good choice once your revenue is steadily growing and your expenses are increasing. 

FAQs About Credit Cards And Bootstrapping

Still have questions? Here are some quick answers that may help. 

What’s the best type of credit card for a new business?
It depends on your business. If you’re bootstrapping, a no-annual-fee credit card with competitive rewards is often a great place to start. But if a higher-fee, premium card offers benefits that clearly outweigh the cost for your business, it can be worth the investment.

When should I upgrade from a no-annual-fee card to a premium business card?
A premium business card can make sense when it earns you more than it costs you on an ongoing basis. That often happens when you’re spending enough to rack up significant rewards, utilizing the benefits (like airport lounge access), and getting reimbursed for regular business expenses through statement credits.  

I always recommend reviewing your spend categories and travel frequency every quarter. If you find that you’re traveling often, consider whether cards with more travel perks will now be worth it. On the other hand, if you’re spending a lot in certain categories (like restaurants or ads), look for cards that offer competitive rewards in those areas.

What’s the difference between the Ink Business Cash and the Ink Business Unlimited?
Both credit cards have no annual fee and similar benefits. The key difference is the rewards structure. Ink Business Cash earns higher rewards in specific categories and 1% cash back on all other purchases, while Ink Business Unlimited offers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The Unlimited card can be better if your spending habits don’t align with the higher-tier reward categories of the Cash card.

That’s a wrap, fellow Entreprenistas! I hope these recommendations help you find the right-fit credit card in your bootstrapping phase and beyond! 

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*American Express Insurance Disclaimer: Eligibility and Benefit level vary by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

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