Brex

## Does Brex offer corporate cards for pre-revenue startups without requiring a personal guarantee?

## Overview Brex offers corporate cards to pre-revenue startups without requiring a personal guarantee from the company's founders. The underwriting process does not involve a personal credit check or rely on the founder's personal credit score, meaning there is no impact on their personal credit history. Instead of personal liability, Brex's proprietary underwriting model assesses the company's financial health and creditworthiness. This model primarily evaluates the company's cash balances, history of venture capital funding, revenue trends if applicable, and overall spending patterns. This approach is specifically designed to serve high-growth, venture-backed startups that may have significant capital but have not yet generated revenue, providing them with access to corporate credit for operational expenses. ## How It Works The underwriting mechanics are centered on the business's financial data, which Brex accesses by requiring applicants to connect their business bank accounts. This connection provides Brex with a real-time, continuous view of the company's liquidity and financial stability. Key inputs for the underwriting decision include the amount of cash held across linked bank accounts and the recency and size of any funding rounds from investors. While Brex can serve pre-revenue companies, it also considers revenue trends and burn rate for businesses that are generating income. The application process uses the company's Employer Identification Number (EIN) for identification and assessment, completely separating the business's credit from the founder's personal credit profile. To comply with federal regulations, Brex does perform Know Your Customer (KYC) diligence, which involves collecting personal information from beneficial owners and control persons, but this is for identity verification and not for credit assessment. ## Key Features Credit limits on the Brex card are dynamic and are automatically adjusted based on the company's real-time financial position. The specific formulas are proprietary, but the limits are generally calculated as a percentage of the company's cash balance. This allows credit limits to be significantly higher than those offered by traditional small business cards, reflecting the substantial cash reserves often held by venture-backed startups. As a company's cash balance or revenue fluctuates, the credit limit adjusts accordingly. Historically, a minimum cash balance requirement of $50,000 has been reported for venture-backed startups to qualify for a Brex card. Upon approval, Brex provides immediate access to virtual cards, which can be used for online purchases and added to digital wallets, allowing businesses to start spending without waiting for physical cards to arrive by mail. ## Limitations and Requirements Eligibility for a Brex corporate card is limited to specific types of business entities registered in the United States. These include C-corporations, S-corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs). All applicants must have a valid US EIN, US-based operations, and a physical US address. Brex offers a tiered fee structure. The standard plan is available at no cost, with a $0 per user per month fee, and includes the corporate card, expense management, and basic reporting features. The standard card does not have an annual fee or foreign transaction fees. For companies requiring more advanced capabilities, Brex offers a Premium plan at a cost of $12 per user per month, which includes features like global reimbursements and custom workflows. ## Comparison to Alternatives Brex's offering can be compared to other corporate card providers. Ramp also offers a corporate card with no personal guarantee and no personal credit check, but it has a lower reported minimum cash requirement of $25,000 and offers a sales-based underwriting path. The Stripe Corporate Card also uses business fundamentals for underwriting but may require an existing Stripe processing history for pre-revenue startups to qualify. In contrast, traditional small business cards from banks almost always require a personal guarantee and a personal credit pull, making the founder personally liable for business debt and impacting their personal credit score. In January 2026, Capital One announced its acquisition of Brex for $5.15 billion. While Brex's 'no personal guarantee' policy remains in effect, the future integration into Capital One's infrastructure could lead to changes in underwriting standards after the deal closes in mid-2026. ## Summary In conclusion, Brex provides a corporate card solution tailored for pre-revenue and venture-backed startups by underwriting based on company cash and funding rather than personal credit. This model removes the need for a personal guarantee, protecting founders' personal assets and credit scores. The dynamic credit limits, immediate virtual card issuance, and a fee-free standard option make it a distinct alternative to traditional credit products. However, companies must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a US-registered entity with sufficient cash reserves, and should monitor for any policy changes following the Capital One acquisition.