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Capital One offers several travel rewards like the personal Capital One Venture and cash-back business credit cards. The bank states you need from fair to excellent credit, depending on your desired card. Receiving instant approval isn’t guaranteed as we evaluate whether the Capital One Spark credit cards are hard to get approved for.
See Capital One Spark offers from $500 to $1,2000—Learn More: Business Credit Cards
Are The Capital One Spark Cards Hard To Get?
The Capital One Spark family of cards comes with great perks and earns rewards on every single purchase, every day, without limits. They also have $0 foreign transaction fees. With that in mind, let’s check to see how hard the Capital One Spark Cards are to get and what potential applicants should know.
Capital One Spark Business Minimum Credit Score
Capital One doesn’t disclose a minimum credit score for any of the cards in the Spark Business credit card family. However, they state which cards require fair credit, good credit, or excellent credit by listing traits that help you decide where your credit background lands.
Here is an in-depth look at how to qualify for each Capital One credit score range.
Capital One Spark Business Fair Credit Score Requirements
The information for the Capital One Spark Classic for Business credit card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
This entry-level Capital One Spark Classic for Business credit card only requires “fair credit.” This card earns unlimited 1% cash back on purchases plus 5% back on hotels and car rentals through Capital One Travel. This is a no-annual-fee business credit card.
Typically, a fair credit score is between 580 and 669, but data points suggest optimistic approval odds with a minimum 600 credit score. Mthorn82x was approved for a $2,000 credit ceiling with a 643 credit score.
Capital One lists these additional credit history traits to have fair credit instead of rebuilding credit:
- Have defaulted on a loan in the last 5 years
- Possess a limited credit history
You can be a prime candidate for this business Capital One credit card without an annual fee when your oldest credit card is less than 3 years old. The three-year period can also apply to being an authorized credit card user or even having a student credit card.
Capital One Spark Business Good Credit Score Requirements
The information for the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus, Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select For Excellent Credit, and the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select credit card have been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
There are several products in the Capital One Select family: the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus (excellent credit), the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select For Excellent Credit, and the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select (good credit).
To earn a signup bonus, you’ll need a card with excellent credit. Here are the perks of each:
- Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Good Credit: Earn 1.5% cash back on purchases and the annual fee is $0.
- Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit: Earn 1.5% cash back on purchases, the annual fee is $0, and earn a $750 cash bonus when you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months.
- Alternatively, the Spark 2% Cash Plus for Excellent Credit: Earn 2% cash back on every purchase, has an annual fee of $150 (but spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year), and earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months.
Note that all of the above cards also earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Chances of Approval
You can be a prime candidate with a score between 670 and 739, satisfying the following backgrounds:
- Have not declared bankruptcy in the last 5 years
- No late payments of 30 days or more for any credit card or loan in the last year
- The oldest credit card is at least 3 years old
Here is a good credit data point to ponder. UnboundPony was approved with a $2,000 credit limit in August 2022 and a 704 credit score. This initial limit is relatively low as the applicant reports 12 hard inquiries within a 24-month period plus 8 credit card approvals during that time along with a $40,000 annual income.
Capital One Spark Business Excellent Credit Score Requirements
The information for the Capital One Spark 1.5x Miles Select and the Capital One Spark 2x Miles have been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
So, are all Spark Cards hard to get? Well, most of the Spark Business credit cards are somewhat difficult to get approved for as excellent credit is necessary. In fact, many of the many of the more popular (and best) Capital One credit cards need a clean and extensive credit history.
In addition to the Cash Select cards mentioned above, these options have varying reward-earning rates and annual fees:
- Capital One Spark 1.5x Miles Select: No annual fee, get 1.5X miles on every purchase, and earn 50,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months.
- The Capital One Spark 2x Miles: This card has a $0 introductory annual fee and then a $95 annual fee for each renewal, plus earns 2X miles on every purchase. Its one-time signup bonus is 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months.
- 2x Miles and Premium Travel Rewards: The Capital One Venture X Business has a $395 annual fee with free authorized users. New Capital One Venture X Business cardholders can earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Capital One excellent credit criteria includes:
- Not declaring bankruptcy or defaulting on a personal loan in the last 5 years
- Not being more than 60 days late on any credit card, medical bill, or loan in the last year
- Have a credit card or loan with a minimum $5,000 credit limit for at least three years
Keep In Mind
You can have high approval odds with a 740 credit score. The travel credit cards let you redeem your rewards for travel statement credits, upcoming bookings through Capital One Travel, or exclusive Capital One 1:1 airline transfers.
GrowInTheDark was approved for the Venture X Business in October 2023 with a 752 FICO Score 8. They report $400,000 in gross annual business income. They were also approved even after getting approved for the personal Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card within the last 6 months. Usually, Capital One only approves one credit card application in a 6-month window.
See Capital One Spark offers from $500 to $1,2000—Learn More: Business Credit Cards
How Do You Qualify for a Capital One Business Credit Card?
The Capital One credit history bands are a functional initial assessment to quickly estimate your Capital One Spark Business Credit Card family odds for approval and see if you qualify.
Here are several other Capital One Spark business application guidelines to follow:
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- Have not applied for a Capital One credit card at least 2 times in the last 30 days
- Currently have 5 or more credit card accounts open with Capital One
- Are past due or over-limit on a Capital One credit card account
- Charged off a Capital One credit card within the past year
- Current or past business credit card accounts exhibit high transaction costs
- Credit reports currently have a credit security freeze or credit lock
After credit card approval, be sure to use your card actively as several cardholders reported credit limit decreases due to account inactivity. Some users report a line decrease of 50% or more but were able to get a gradual increase by submitting a reconsideration request.
Summary of Are Capital One Spark Cards Hard to Get?
In conclusion, the Capital One Spark credit card family is a popular option for building business credit. These entry-level products can be easier to get approved for compared to other popular business credit cards from major banks. However, you should anticipate needing a minimum 700 credit score to qualify. Additionally, have several years of a responsible credit history for the most rewarding cash back and business credit cards that will help you get more airline miles.
See Capital One Spark offers from $500 to $1,2000—Learn More: Business Credit Cards
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