For small businesses, the next credit story may not be about getting approved. It may be about finding a card that finally works the way the business does.
That is the takeaway from “SMB Growth Monitor: Small Businesses, Big Credit Needs,” a PYMNTS Intelligence collaboration with i2c. The report drew on a survey of 514 U.S. small- to medium-sized business (SMB) executives.
Its broad finding is that small businesses still rely heavily on credit, but their priorities are shifting. Access matters, of course. Yet many firms now seem more focused on practical features such as installment options, dynamic spending limits, flexible due dates and card controls that reflect how money actually moves through the business.
That shift gives issuers a new opening. In a market where many SMBs already feel they can secure credit, product design may matter more than simple approval.
The report’s fourth key finding stands out. SMBs are not spending much time worrying about whether they can get approved for a new business card. Instead, they are comparing options and looking for products that offer more value.
Nearly two-thirds of SMBs say they believe they would be approved for a new business credit card with their desired spending limit, and another 19% say they might be approved, though not for the full amount. Among high-revenue SMBs, that confidence rises even further, to 96.1%.
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That changes the competitive landscape for issuers. Once approval stops being the main concern, features, pricing and flexibility move to the center of the sales pitch.
- Eighty-three percent of SMBs think they would get approved for a new business credit card, underscoring that many firms see access to credit as attainable rather than out of reach.
- Fifty-six percent of SMBs say they are very or extremely interested in a card that lets them choose between rewards and a lower APR each statement period, showing strong demand for more adaptable credit models.
- Fifty-three percent of business credit card use is mostly or completely planned, suggesting that SMB card spending is often deliberate and tied to business operations rather than impulse purchases.
Other findings reinforce the same theme. SMBs are willing to pay for flexibility, with the average firm saying it would spend about $126 a year for card features such as installments or dynamic limits. More than half also express strong interest in flexible due dates, customizable limits and virtual card numbers for specific uses.
The report also shows that larger and more confident firms use credit more often, while smaller firms are more likely to lean on personal cards, especially for unexpected costs. Still, the mood running through the data is constructive. SMBs are using credit with purpose.
They know what they want. For issuers that can meet those needs with clearer value and smarter tools, that looks less like a challenge than an opening.
At PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you’ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.
