Key takeaways
- Issuers ask about revenue and other features of your business to judge whether you will be able to consistently pay your debts.
- You should report your business’s gross income before taxes, expenses and more come out.
- If your business is new and doesn’t yet have revenue to report, that’s okay. You might be required to provide additional documentation with your application; however, you might get approved for a smaller credit limit at the beginning.
A small business credit card can help you manage the transactions and expenses necessary for making your business a success. The best small business cards offer higher credit limits than personal cards, valuable rewards, employee card options and other useful benefits. However, be prepared: you will need to report your annual business revenue on your credit card application, which may raise questions, especially if you’re just starting out.
Explore why business credit card applications ask about your revenue, what counts as business revenue, what not to report, what to do if you haven’t earned any revenue yet and other information needed to complete your application.
What is annual business revenue?
Annual business revenue is essentially the total amount of money earned by a business through its core operations over the span of a year. It is an important financial metric that reflects the business’s sales, services and other sources of income generated before accounting for expenses. Calculating annual revenue can help you assess your business’ financial performance, growth and overall profitability.
Why business credit card applications ask about your revenue
When applying for a small business credit card, issuers ask about your revenue to ensure you have the financial means to settle your debts.
Although issuers keep the precise approval criteria for credit cards private, their evaluations typically involve examining factors such as business revenue, business credit score, the length of time the business has been open and other variables to form an overall assessment of creditworthiness.
American Express, for example, typically asks for your “gross annual business revenue” and “estimated monthly spend” on business credit card applications, while Bank of America usually requests your “gross annual sales.”
This evaluation helps the issuer decide whether to approve the requested card. It can also help determine your likelihood of making timely payments and using the card responsibly.
How to calculate business revenue on a business card application
1. Find gross annual income
When a credit card application requests your revenue, it refers to the gross income generated by the business within a single year. Revenue encompasses the total amount of money acquired by the business. It differs from profit, which is revenue minus operating costs, taxes, and various expenses.
2. Gather verifiable documentation
Experts recommend reporting only income that you can back up with documentation. “A financial institution may request proof of revenue, so it’s important to have pay stubs, contracts, receipts, invoices or other paper trails to back up your figures,” says Jones.
3. Make sure revenue is accurate and from the correct timeframe
Accuracy is crucial when reporting annual business revenue on a credit card application. It requires combining income from all sources associated with your business. This often includes revenue from:
- Product sales
- Service sales
- The acquisition or appreciation of assets
- Property or equipment leases
To ensure precision, review your business financial records carefully and include all revenue streams from the past 12 months.
4. Exclude personal income or unverifiable information
Do not include any income that lacks verifiable documentation, as issuers may request proof of revenue. That can include things like:
- Paystubs
- Receipts
- Contracts
- Invoices
Also, exclude any income that is unrelated to the business. If you have a side hustle or second job unrelated to the business for which you are applying for a card, do not include this as business revenue on the card application. While you can acknowledge it as personal income, it should remain excluded from the business details section.
What if your business doesn’t have revenue yet?
If yours is a brand new or recently established business, you may find it challenging to report annual business revenue, especially if you have none. In this scenario, report zero dollars. This may not lead to an automatic application rejection; instead, the credit card issuer may consider your personal income to determine whether you get approved.
Or, perhaps you can report sales projections based on business plans, contracts and anticipated sales, assuming the issuer allows it (check with them first). Just remember to have supporting documentation in case the issuer requests verification.
“For businesses without revenue yet, it’s important to be transparent,” says Parker. “Applicants should disclose their business’ current financial status and any funding or capital they have. Some credit card companies might consider projected earnings or the personal credit history of the business owner in this situation.”
Other information you’ll need for a business card application
In addition to business revenue and personal income, be prepared to furnish the following details, if requested, when applying for a business credit card application:
- Legal business name
- Business address
- Business tax identification number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Type of business
- Number of employees
- Years in business
- Estimated monthly business spending
- Personal information (your name, Social Security number, birth date, email address, phone number, home address, etc.)
- Employment history
- Monthly mortgage or rent payment
- Banking information (for instance, checking and savings account balances)
- Personal credit score
What if you don’t have a business credit score yet?
Lacking a business credit score won’t typically affect the likelihood of you being approved for a small business credit card.
“In this case, the issuer might rely on your personal credit score,” says Parker. “However, this could affect the terms of the credit card, including the interest rates charged and credit limits.”
Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for Bankrate, notes that most small business credit cards require a personal guarantee.
“That means, if your business fails, they can pursue payment from you as an individual,” he says. “That’s why your personal income and personal credit score are often important parts of your application.”
If you want to avoid the personal guarantee requirement, consider applying for a true corporate card backed by your business that doesn’t require a personal guarantee.
Learn more: How to check your business credit report
Who can qualify for a small business card?
The good news is that small business credit cards are accessible to a broad range of applicants, including traditional shop owners and operators, sole proprietors, landlords, and online resellers.
Jones points out that younger applicants may also get turned down.
“A 16-year-old who babysits wouldn’t qualify for a business credit card,” says Jones. “But an individual who is at least 18 years of age who makes a substantial amount of income and/or is legally established as a business can qualify”.
The bottom line
If you want to get that business credit card, be prepared to report your annual business revenue accurately. These numbers can give a credit card issuer confidence in your creditworthiness. If your business is new and lacks revenue to declare, ask the issuer what you should report. And if you are turned down for that coveted card, don’t worry. Try applying to a different card issuer or wait until your business is more established with healthier revenue to show for your efforts.
The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on May 15, 2025.
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