Does Capital On Tap publish a minimum trading-period requirement?

No. The published eligibility criteria require the business to be active on Companies House with £24,000+ annual turnover and no unsatisfied CCJs in the last 12 months — there is no fixed minimum number of months trading. In practice, however, very new companies with no Open Banking or filed-accounts evidence of turnover often struggle because the underwriter cannot verify the £24k threshold.

Does my personal credit score matter for a new company card?

Yes, especially. With limited business trading history to assess, lenders fall back on the director's personal credit. A score of 700+ (Experian) significantly improves approval odds across all options listed here.

Can I apply for Capital On Tap with a brand-new company and just be declined?

You can, but the hard credit search will hit your file regardless if you accept any offer. Better to wait until the company is consistently invoicing above £2,000/month so the £24,000/yr turnover threshold is verifiable, then apply.

What about sole traders?

Sole traders are not eligible for Capital On Tap at all — it's restricted to UK Ltd, LLP and PLC businesses. Realistic alternatives are American Express Business Gold, Barclaycard Select Cashback, or Tide Business Credit. To use Capital On Tap, incorporate as a Limited Company first and apply once turnover crosses £24,000/yr.

Will using code 2REFY893A52 work as soon as I'm eligible?

Yes. Code 2REFY893A52 is valid for any new Capital On Tap customer. The moment you meet the standard eligibility (UK Ltd/LLP/PLC active on Companies House, £24,000+ annual turnover, no unsatisfied CCJs in the last 12 months), you can apply with the code and claim the £75 bonus. Capital On Tap does not publish a minimum trading-period rule.

Eligibility

Best UK Business Credit Cards for New Limited Companies (Under 1 Year)

By Afshin · 16 May 2026 · 7 min read

If your UK limited company has been trading less than 12 months, you'll find most major business credit cards (Capital On Tap included) won't approve you yet. The good news: there are real options designed for new businesses, and a clear path to a proper rewards card once you cross the 12-month mark.

Why most cards require 12 months

UK lenders use trading history as a primary risk signal. A very new company has no filed accounts at Companies House, no VAT history (unless voluntarily registered), and limited Open Banking transaction data. This makes it hard for risk teams to assess — even where the published eligibility criteria don't specify a hard minimum trading period.

Barclaycard Select, NatWest Business and most mainstream issuers require 12+ months of trading. Capital On Tap is different — it does not publish a minimum trading-period rule, but it does require £24,000+ annual turnover (~£2,000/month), so very new companies still struggle in practice. American Express is the most lenient on company age — it leans heavily on personal credit and is often approved for newer companies.

Option 1: American Express Business Gold

Amex Business Gold has no minimum trading period and considers your personal credit score heavily. The annual fee is £195 (waived in year 1) and it offers 20,000 Membership Rewards as a welcome bonus when you spend £3,000 in 3 months.

It's a charge card, meaning you must pay the balance in full each month — there's no revolving credit facility. This makes it suitable for businesses with predictable cash flow but not for those needing to carry balances.

Option 2: Tide Business Credit

If you bank with Tide, Tide Business Credit can be available within months of opening your business account. Tide assesses creditworthiness based on transaction history through the Tide account rather than years of filed accounts.

It's a credit facility, not a credit card with rewards — useful for working capital but won't earn cashback or points.

Option 3: Personal credit card used for business

Many UK directors of new companies put business expenses on a personal cashback or rewards card temporarily. This is legal provided you reimburse yourself properly through your accounts and keep records for HMRC.

Drawbacks: it doesn't help build your business credit file, your personal utilisation rises which can harm your personal credit score, and rewards programs sometimes flag heavy business spending as unusual.

Option 4: Bank business cards bundled with new accounts

Some UK business banking providers (Starling, Allica, NatWest) offer a basic business charge or debit card immediately when you open a new account. These don't typically earn rewards but they let you separate business spending from personal from day one.

Bridging to Capital On Tap

Once your company is consistently generating £24,000+ annual turnover (~£2,000/month), Capital On Tap becomes the strongest option for most UK SMEs: no annual fee, 1% rewards on every transaction, fast 2-minute application, and a 7,500-point welcome bonus (£75) with referral code 2REFY893A52.

Track your monthly turnover and apply as soon as your trailing 12 months of revenue is consistently above £24,000 (~£2,000/month) — there is no fixed minimum trading-period rule.

Frequently asked questions

Does Capital On Tap publish a minimum trading-period requirement?: No. The published eligibility criteria require the business to be active on Companies House with £24,000+ annual turnover and no unsatisfied CCJs in the last 12 months — there is no fixed minimum number of months trading. In practice, however, very new companies with no Open Banking or filed-accounts evidence of turnover often struggle because the underwriter cannot verify the £24k threshold.
Does my personal credit score matter for a new company card?: Yes, especially. With limited business trading history to assess, lenders fall back on the director's personal credit. A score of 700+ (Experian) significantly improves approval odds across all options listed here.
Can I apply for Capital On Tap with a brand-new company and just be declined?: You can, but the hard credit search will hit your file regardless if you accept any offer. Better to wait until the company is consistently invoicing above £2,000/month so the £24,000/yr turnover threshold is verifiable, then apply.
What about sole traders?: Sole traders are not eligible for Capital On Tap at all — it's restricted to UK Ltd, LLP and PLC businesses. Realistic alternatives are American Express Business Gold, Barclaycard Select Cashback, or Tide Business Credit. To use Capital On Tap, incorporate as a Limited Company first and apply once turnover crosses £24,000/yr.
Will using code 2REFY893A52 work as soon as I'm eligible?: Yes. Code 2REFY893A52 is valid for any new Capital On Tap customer. The moment you meet the standard eligibility (UK Ltd/LLP/PLC active on Companies House, £24,000+ annual turnover, no unsatisfied CCJs in the last 12 months), you can apply with the code and claim the £75 bonus. Capital On Tap does not publish a minimum trading-period rule.

Ready to apply?

Get £75 free with code 2REFY893A52

Read the full Capital On Tap promo code guide for eligibility, fees and approval times.

Apply with referral link →