Everyone wants business credit. Almost nobody builds it correctly. NMD's framework takes you from entity formation to a fully separated business credit profile — with real lines, not gimmicks.
Most major business credit cards require a personal guarantee. Chase Ink, Amex Business, Capital One Spark — all PG. This means your personal credit is on the line for approval. That's not failure mode — that's the game. Your personal credit is the launchpad. Business credit is what you build on top of it.
Most business cards do NOT report to your personal bureaus — unless you default. This is the core advantage. You can carry business balances, use business credit heavily, and it stays off your personal utilization calculation. The business profile is a parallel universe of credit — build it correctly and it amplifies everything.
Form the LLC. Get the EIN. Register with DUNS (now called Credibility Corp / D&B). These are the first three moves — no exceptions. Free. Takes a week. Non-negotiable foundation.
LLC + EIN + dedicated business bank account (minimum 3 months aged). DUNS number registration — free, takes 30 days. This is your business credit identity.
Uline, Quill, Grainger — apply as a business. Get approved with net-30 terms. These report to D&B and build your Paydex score. 3 trade lines minimum before moving to step 3.
American Express is the easiest entry point into business credit cards. Business Checking or Personal relationship helps. Amex Business Blue Plus or Business Green as starter cards. PG required.
Chase Ink (requires 750+ personal FICO typically), Capital One Spark, or Citi Business. Each requires personal guarantee but builds business credit separately. Chase 5/24 rule applies to business cards.
With 12+ months of clean business credit history: Brex, Ramp, or bill.com for no-PG corporate cards (revenue-based approval). Business lines of credit from banks. SBA products become accessible.
| Issuer | Min Personal FICO | Biz Report | 5/24 Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | 670+ | Rarely Reports | No Rule | Easiest entry. Best for thin personal files. Charge cards have no preset limit. |
| Chase (Ink) | 720+ preferred | Rarely Reports | 5/24 Applies | Best rewards ecosystem. 5/24 is hard rule — under 5 new personal cards in 24 months required. |
| Capital One (Spark) | 700+ | Sometimes | No Rule | Cap One pulls all 3 bureaus. May report to personal Equifax — verify before applying. |
| Citi Business | 680+ | Rarely Reports | No Rule | Less known but solid option. No 5/24 equivalent. Good for diversification. |
| Brex / Ramp | N/A (revenue-based) | Does Not Report | No PG | No personal guarantee. Revenue and bank balance drive approval. Fintech-first corporate cards. |
Entity. EIN. D&B. Net-30s. Amex. Bank card. Scale. Five stages, executed in sequence, with clean personal credit as the launchpad. NMD has run this playbook across hundreds of businesses. The blueprint doesn't change — only the speed of execution.