How to apply for business credit card with duns number

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

Using an Employer Identification Number (EIN) has benefits when applying for a business credit card. Business owners can keep personal and business finances separate and avoid negative activity from reflecting on a personal credit history. Small business owners, however, will likely have a hard time finding a small business credit card that accepts an EIN over a Social Security Number (SSN). Most small business cards require an SSN in order to protect lenders from extravagant risk.

What Is an EIN?

An EIN is a nine-digit tax ID number that sole proprietors, small business owners, corporations and other entities can apply for with and receive from the IRS. Any business owner can apply for an EIN online. Businesses must be located in the U.S. or in a U.S. territory. A SSN or another tax identifier is required to apply for an EIN, but once assigned, EINs can often be used on credit or loan applications in lieu of SSNs.

Benefits of Using an EIN When Applying For Business Credit Cards

One of the primary benefits of using an EIN instead of an SSN on a business card application is keeping business and personal finances separate. Not only does it separate tax details, but business owners can keep credit history separate as well. Most business cards report activity to commercial credit bureaus that keep a record of the cardholder’s business credit. But not all report to consumer credit bureaus meaning any issues on a cardholder’s business accounts will not necessarily affect personal credit. To find out if your business credit card payment history is reported to business or personal credit bureaus, contact your card issuer.

SSNs typically provide card issuers with a personal guarantee that the cardholder can be held accountable for any business card-related debt. Using an EIN instead will place the business itself as the liable entity, not the cardholder. Proper filing as a corporation, LLC or other entity with legal liability protections will help avoid personal liability with respect to debts incurred. Consult a lawyer concerning your specific liability in any case.

Applying for a business card with an EIN also prevents someone’s personal credit history from affecting eligibility. When business card applications require SSNs, they use them to analyze the applicant’s personal credit score and spending activity. This could affect the applicant’s credit limit or reward potential.

Featured Partner Offers

Can a Small Business Owner Apply For a Small Business Credit Card With Only Their EIN?

The short answer is no. In most cases, it’s not possible for a small business owner to skip the SSN field on an application and replace it with an EIN and see an approval.

Credit card issuers protect themselves by requiring the business owner to provide a personal guarantee for debts. If the business owner can’t pay off debts to the card issuer, the owner is personally responsible. Issuers also use SSNs to inquire about the applicant’s personal credit by performing a hard credit check.

While there are a few business credit cards that allow applicants to use an EIN instead of an SSN, small business owners typically don’t qualify for those because these businesses often lack sufficient creditworthiness and credit history.

Small businesses are generally seen as more likely to fail, which makes the liability protection more important to issuers. Established corporations usually have sufficient assets, history and revenue to console nervous lenders. Corporate cards are among the only types of business cards that allow applicants to use an EIN instead of an SSN.

Alternatives For Small Business Owners

If separating business and personal finances and credit is the goal, there are alternatives for small business owners.

Small business owners can apply for a business card that doesn’t report to consumer credit bureaus. For example, Bank of America’s business credit cards don’t report to consumer credit agencies unless you have a negative issue such as a late payment. Issuers will likely still require an SSN in the application in order to determine eligibility, which will trigger a hard credit inquiry. Lenders will also require a cardholder contract and a personal guarantee.

Small business owners with poor personal credit can skip the headache of will-I-or-won’t-I approval fear by applying for a secured business card. Secured business cards allow small business owners to get a head start by building business credit and earning rewards with little risk. There are even secured cards out there that don’t require SSNs. Secured cards require a deposit that the cardholder can eventually receive back in full after paying off the balance and closing the account.

Bottom Line

It will be difficult for small business owners and sole proprietors to find a credit card that doesn’t require a SSN during application. Card issuers want to protect themselves by having a cardholder provide a personal guarantee.

When shopping around for alternatives, always read a card’s terms and conditions before applying to understand the liability and credit reporting standards you’ll be signing up for. Call the issuer to ask questions if something is not clear, but request answers in writing.

If keeping business and personal expenses separate is important, find a card that doesn’t report to consumer credit agencies. If poor personal credit may affect eligibility for a small business card, consider applying for a secured card to build positive business credit.

What to do after you get a DUNS number?

Does Capital One business credit card report to Dun and Bradstreet?

Does Wells Fargo business credit Card report to Dun and Bradstreet?