Starling business credit card: what's available and alternatives

Starling offers two cards for business customers, though neither of them are credit cards. The Business Debit Mastercard comes with their business account account. In addition, expense cards, up to five of them free, let you hand controlled spending to employees or contractors. 

Starling doesn’t currently accept applications for business overdrafts or loans, so the Starling business account simply focuses on day-to-day banking and team spending.

This guide covers the available cards in detail, why the debit and credit distinction matters and what your options are if you want a business credit card now.

Starling card details below are taken from Starling's own website, correct as of September 2026. 

What you get with a Starling Business Account

The account itself is free for standard GBP business banking, with no monthly fee, and it comes with a Business Debit Mastercard.

The card controls let you freeze and unfreeze your card, adjust daily spending limits, see separate limits for transactions, cash withdrawals and mobile wallet payments, order a replacement, and add the card to Apple Pay, Google Pay and other wallets.

Everyone with access to the account can order their own debit card, issued in their own name alongside the company name.

Starling is a licensed UK bank, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA, and eligible deposits are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Starling expense cards

You can have up to five expense cards on a business or sole trader account. They're free to order and there's no monthly fee for using them.

Each card is linked to a Space, which sits separately from your main account balance, with one card per Space. You move money from your main balance into that Space, and the money in the Space is the money that can be spent. You can control spending by how much you add, up to a maximum of £5,000 per day.

Whoever holds the card can't see or access your main balance, or any other part of your account. You get a phone notification every time the card is used, and in the app you can lock and unlock the card, change its PIN, and restrict in-person or online spending.

Ordering is done entirely in the app, through the Spaces section. Starling states there's no complex credit check and no application form, and a physical card is posted out once the Space is created.

However, there are restrictions worth reading before you rely on them:

• No mobile wallet payments, so no Apple Pay or Google Pay on an expense card

• No cash machine withdrawals, and no cash deposits or withdrawals at the Post Office

• No payments to gambling businesses covered by Starling's gambling block

• The Space itself can't be used for Direct Debits or bank transfers

As the account holder, you're responsible for how someone uses an expense card on your account. Starling's guidance is to give one only to someone you trust to make card payments for your business, such as an employee or contractor.

Why the debit and credit distinction matters

A debit card and a business credit card do different jobs, and the difference isn't cosmetic.

A debit card spends money you already have. The payment leaves your account immediately, and if the balance isn't there, the payment fails.

A business credit card gives you a limit to spend against and an interest-free window before the balance is due. That gap between paying a supplier and settling up is the point of the product, particularly if your customers pay you on 30 or 60 day terms.

Business credit cards also often pay cashback or rewards on spending, which business debit cards almost never do. And credit card activity can help build a commercial credit profile, which debit card activity doesn't, because there's no borrowing involved.

We've covered the full comparison in our guide to business credit cards and debit cards.

What business finance does Starling offer?

Starling isn't currently accepting applications for business overdrafts or loans. 

So if you're a Starling business customer who wants access to credit, that currently means looking outside Starling, whether that's a card, a loan or a flexible credit line. 

Keeping your Starling account and borrowing elsewhere is straightforward, and many business credit card and loan providers don't require you to move your banking.

What to look for in a business credit card

If you've decided a business credit card is what you want, these are the things worth comparing rather than the headline offer.

• Eligibility: Most UK business credit cards are limited to incorporated businesses, and many set a minimum trading period and turnover. Sole traders have fewer options. Check you qualify before applying, since applications leave a record.

• Whether you have to switch banking: Some providers require an account with them. Many don't, so this is worth establishing early.

• The interest-free period: Most cards give you an interest-free window if you clear your balance in full. The length varies, and it only applies if you settle in full.

• Cashback and how it's paid: Some cards pay cashback straight to your balance, others run points systems with conversion rates and redemption choices. 

• Fees: Annual fees, foreign exchange fees, cash withdrawal charges and fees for additional cards vary between providers and change over time. Check the current terms directly rather than relying on a comparison written at a point in time.

• Cards for your team: If several people spend, look at how many cards you can have, whether they're free, and how you set limits. Starling caps expense cards at five and controls spending by what you preload into each Space. Some credit card providers, including Funding Circle, issue unlimited cards and set a spend limit per card instead, which is a different mechanism with different admin.

• The personal guarantee: Most UK business credit cards require a director to guarantee the debt personally. It's standard, but it's a binding commitment and worth taking independent legal advice on before signing.

How card spending and cashback are treated in your accounts depends on how your business is structured. Speak to your accountant about your own circumstances.

Go further with the Funding Circle cashback card

If you want a business credit card now, the Funding Circle Cashback business credit card gives you best-in-business cashback with none of the usual fees, and you keep your Starling account exactly as it is.

• 2% cashback on all card purchases for your first 6 months or up to £2,000, whichever comes first, then 1% uncapped cashback on everything after that

• Up to 42 days interest-free credit when you pay your balance in full, giving you room on your cash flow

• No monthly fee, no annual fee, no foreign exchange fees

• Free unlimited Company cards for your team, with individual spend limits you set

• Credit limits up to £250,000, depending on your circumstances

• Sync securely with Sage, Xero or FreeAgent

• Manage every card from the Funding Circle app, including real-time cashback, spending and card limits

There's no need to switch your business banking, so your Starling account and debit card stay where they are. Check your eligibility online in minutes and get an instant decision. Only limited companies can apply without affecting their credit score. To qualify, your business needs to be a UK limited company, trading for at least a year, with annual turnover of £30,000 or more. 

If you just need to settle a particular bill or payment, FlexiPay lets you handle virtually any business cost upfront, by card or by transferring funds straight to a supplier, then spread it over 1 to 12 months for a flat fee from 1.99% per use, with no interest and no foreign exchange fees. Note, 1 month repayment terms only available to those who took out the FlexiPay facility post July 2024. 

And with Starling's business lending currently paused, it's worth knowing that Funding Circle business loans run from £10,000 to £750,000 over 6 months to 6 years, with interest rates starting from 6.9% per year, for UK limited companies and LLPs trading for at least a year.

Starling business credit card FAQs

Does Starling offer a business credit card?

Not currently. The Starling Business Account comes with a Business Debit Mastercard, which spends money already in your account. Starling has indicated it intends to offer a business credit card, but there's no application available at present.

What are the requirements for a Starling business credit card?

There aren't any published requirements, because the product isn't available to apply for. Starling has indicated any future business credit card would be aimed at limited company business account holders, so a Starling Business Account would likely be a prerequisite.

Can I get a business loan or overdraft from Starling?

Starling's help centre states it isn't currently accepting applications for business overdrafts or loans, and that it will update its website if that changes.

What card comes with a Starling business account?

A Business Debit Mastercard, free with the account. Everyone with access to the account can order one in their own name. The app gives you card freezing, adjustable daily spending limits, and separate limits for transactions, cash withdrawals and wallet payments.

How many expense cards can I have with Starling?

Up to five on a business or sole trader account. They're free to order with no monthly fee, and each one is linked to its own Space, with one card per Space.

Disclaimer 

01/10/26 –  While we want to help as much as we can, the information found here is provided solely for informational purposes and should not be considered financial or legal advice. To the extent permitted by law, Funding Circle does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained here. If you have any questions, please speak to your professional adviser or seek independent legal advice.