Business Credit Cards Sweden

A business credit card in Sweden helps companies manage expenses, maintain liquidity, and streamline accounting. Swedish SMEs use these cards to separate business and personal spending, improve cash flow, and earn rewards on everyday purchases.

What is a Business Credit Card in Sweden?

A business credit card in Sweden is a financial product issued to a company rather than an individual. The card provides a revolving credit line that can be used for business-related expenses such as travel, fuel, subscriptions, and supplies.

Swedish banks typically require that the business is registered with Bolagsverket, has stable finances, and holds a corporate bank account. Transactions show under the company name, and liability depends on the card type: some require a personal guarantee, others rely solely on the business’s credit profile.

Key Benefits for Swedish Companies

Business credit cards offer clear advantages for Swedish companies. They improve cash flow by allowing delayed payments, often with an interest-free period of up to 30–60 days. They simplify expense management, giving companies detailed monthly reports and digital receipts that integrate with accounting systems like Fortnox and Visma.

Many cards include rewards, such as cashback, airline points, or discounts on business services. They also help create separation of expenses, which supports cleaner bookkeeping and reduces auditing issues. Finally, they enable employee cards, allowing teams to make purchases with predefined spending limits for better control.

Eligibility Requirements for Swedish Businesses

Swedish banks apply clear criteria to determine whether a company qualifies for a business credit card. These requirements ensure the business is legitimate, financially stable, and able to manage ongoing credit obligations.

Key requirements:

• Swedish-registered business entity
• Active corporate bank account
• Stable financial history
• No unpaid debts or credit issues
• Minimum time in operation
• Verified owners and authorized representatives

Swedish-registered business entity means the company must be officially listed with Bolagsverket and have a valid organisational number. An active corporate bank account is required because issuers only provide business credit cards to companies with established financial handling through Swedish banking channels.

Stable financial history often includes positive cash flow, sufficient revenue, and clean accounting records from recent fiscal periods. No unpaid debts or credit issues refers to the company’s credit check, where banks look for payment remarks, collection cases, or prior defaults.

Minimum time in operation varies by bank, but most issuers prefer businesses that have operated for at least several months, sometimes a full financial year.

Verified owners and authorized representatives ensures compliance with Swedish AML regulations, requiring identification of beneficial owners and confirmation that the person applying is allowed to sign on behalf of the company.

Business Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

Business credit card costs in Sweden vary by issuer, but most cards include a mix of annual fees, interest rates, and optional service charges.

Understanding these costs helps companies compare options and choose a card that fits their spending patterns and liquidity needs.

Typical Fees and Rates Overview

Fee Type	Description	Typical Range in Sweden
Annual Fee	Fixed yearly cost for holding the card	250–1500 SEK per card
Interest Rate (APR)	Applied to unpaid balances after the grace period	10–20% APR
Foreign Transaction Fee	Fee on purchases made outside SEK	1–3% of transaction value
Cash Withdrawal Fee	Charged when withdrawing cash via ATM	2–4% per withdrawal
Late Payment Fee	Applied if the invoice is not settled on time	100–300 SEK
Additional Employee Cards	Cost for issuing extra cards to staff	0–300 SEK per card

Most Swedish business credit cards include an interest-free grace period of 30–60 days. If the company pays the invoice in full within this period, no interest is added.

The annual fee depends on the card tier; entry-level cards typically sit at the lower range, while premium cards with travel insurance or reward programs cost more.

Foreign transaction fees affect businesses with international suppliers, making no-FX-fee cards valuable for import-heavy companies.

Cash withdrawal fees apply because credit cards are not intended for cash-based transactions. Late payment fees are standard across Swedish banks and are intended to encourage timely settlement.

Extra employee cards allow controlled team spending but may carry a small additional cost depending on the issuer.

Popular Types of Business Credit Cards in Sweden

Swedish companies can choose from several card types, each tailored to different business needs, spending habits and management preferences.

1. Standard Business Credit Cards

These cards offer a revolving credit line, basic expense tracking and widespread merchant acceptance within Sweden. They are suited for many medium and small-sized enterprises. For example, Qred offers a card with 1 % cashback and no annual fee.

2. Rewards and Cashback Cards

These meet companies that prioritise saving or earning rewards on regular business spending. They may offer cashback on purchases, points for travel or services, and lower fees tied to usage. For example, Qred’s card gives 1 % cashback.

3. Travel & Corporate Cards

Suitable for businesses with frequent business travel or international operations. They include features such as travel insurance, airport lounge access, high acceptance abroad and special spend categories (hotels, flights).

4. Virtual/Digital & Employee-Cards

These types focus on digital issuance, integration with mobile wallets, and issuing multiple cards for employees with controlled limits and categories. For example, Revolut offers cards for teams and supports spend-controls in 130+ currencies.

5. Low-Fee or No-Annual-Fee Cards

For cost-conscious businesses, these cards minimise fixed fees and may trade off premium rewards for lower annual cost. For instance, Qred’s card has no monthly or yearly fee.

By mapping what the company spends most on, how often it travels, whether teams need cards, and how much management/control is needed, you can select the card type that best fits Swedish business operations.

How to Apply for a Business Credit Card in Sweden

Applying for a business credit card in Sweden follows a structured process. Banks and issuers require specific information to verify the company’s identity, financial stability and authorized representatives.

Application steps:

1. Compare card options
2. Check eligibility
3. Gather company documents
4. Submit online application
5. Identity verification (KYC)
6. Credit assessment
7. Approval and card issuance

Comparing card options is the first step. Companies should review annual fees, interest rates, reward structures and employee-card features. This ensures the chosen card aligns with the business’s spending pattern and liquidity needs.

Checking eligibility involves confirming that the company meets the issuer’s requirements, such as registration with Bolagsverket, a corporate bank account and a clean credit profile. Some banks also require a minimum time in operation.

Gathering company documents is essential before starting the application. Most Swedish issuers request organizational details, recent financial statements, ownership structure and identification for authorized signatories.

Submitting the online application is typically done through the issuer’s website. The form collects business information, estimated monthly spending and requested credit limit. This step must be completed by someone with signing authority.

Identity verification (KYC) follows immediately. Banks verify the identity of owners or representatives through BankID, passports or national ID cards. This step is required under Swedish AML regulations.

Credit assessment is performed internally by the bank. They review financial history, revenue, repayment ability and any prior credit remarks. Some cards may require a personal guarantee; others rely on the business’s credit standing alone.

Approval and card issuance complete the process. Once approved, the physical card is sent to the company’s registered address, and any digital cards become available in the issuer’s app. Employee cards and spending controls can be set up afterward.

Business Credit Cards vs Corporate Cards

Business credit cards and corporate cards serve different purposes in Sweden. The main distinction lies in how liability, spending controls and accounting integration are handled. SMEs typically use business credit cards, while larger companies prefer corporate solutions with centralized billing and advanced reporting.

Feature	Business Credit Card	Corporate Card
Target User	SMEs and small companies	Medium and large enterprises
Liability	Company or personal guarantee	Company liability only
Billing	Individual monthly statements	Centralized consolidated billing
Spending Controls	Basic limits per card	Advanced policy controls and category restrictions
Accounting Integration	Standard export files	Deep ERP integration (Fortnox, Visma, SAP)
Number of Cards	Limited	Scalable to large teams
Rewards	Often included	Varies by provider

Business credit cards are designed for smaller companies that need flexibility and simple expense handling. Corporate cards, on the other hand, give larger firms centralized control, detailed cost tracking and advanced management tools. Swedish banks often offer corporate programs only to companies with higher turnover and established creditworthiness.

Rewards, Cashback and Travel Benefits

Swedish business credit cards often include incentives that help companies save money or earn value on everyday spending. These reward structures vary by issuer, but most fall into cashback, points or travel-focused benefits.

Benefit Type	What It Offers	Typical Use Case in Sweden
Cashback	Fixed percentage returned on purchases	General expenses, fuel, subscriptions
Points/Rewards	Points redeemable for services or discounts	Frequent spending across categories
Travel Benefits	Insurance, lounge access, flight rewards	Companies with regular domestic or international travel
Partner Discounts	Deals with hotels, fuel chains, software tools	SMEs wanting cost reductions on services

Cashback is the most straightforward option and suits companies with predictable monthly expenses. Rewards programs usually provide better value for businesses with higher transaction volumes because points accumulate faster. Travel benefits are especially valuable for Swedish companies with staff who travel within Scandinavia or internationally, offering insurance coverage, priority services and loyalty points. Partner discounts vary by card but can include reduced prices on accounting software, cloud tools, or hotel stays.

Together, these benefits help Swedish companies reduce costs, earn value back on spending and support smoother travel and operational workflows.

Credit Limits and Spending Controls for Teams

Swedish business credit cards allow companies to tailor spending limits and permissions for each employee. This helps maintain oversight while giving teams the flexibility to handle daily expenses such as travel, subscriptions or supplies.

Credit limits are usually based on the company’s financial history, monthly turnover and credit assessment. Some issuers offer dynamic limits that adjust as the business grows. Employee cards can be issued with individual limits to prevent overspending and ensure compliance with internal policies.

Spending controls give businesses greater precision. Companies can restrict transactions by category, set daily or monthly caps and enable or disable online purchases. Many Swedish issuers also allow real-time notifications and instant freeze/unfreeze options through their mobile apps. These features reduce risk and make team spending more transparent.

Accounting Integration and Expense Management

Most Swedish business credit cards integrate with major accounting platforms such as Fortnox, Visma, Bokio and PE Accounting. This reduces manual work and ensures accurate bookkeeping.

Integration typically includes automated transaction syncing, digital receipt upload and smart categorisation. Expenses match directly with accounting entries, helping finance teams close books faster. Some issuers also support exporting files in formats like SIE, CSV or PDF for businesses that prefer manual imports.

Expense management becomes more efficient when employee cards are connected to the system. Staff can attach receipts directly through a mobile app, and managers can review, approve or flag transactions instantly. This improves compliance, reduces errors and simplifies audits.

Risks and Common Pitfalls for Swedish SMEs

While business credit cards are useful financial tools, Swedish SMEs may face certain risks if the cards are not used responsibly.

A common pitfall is over-reliance on credit, which can lead to cash-flow pressure if invoices are not paid within the interest-free period. Carrying balances month to month results in higher costs due to interest charges. Another risk is poor expense control, especially when multiple employee cards are issued without proper limits or oversight.

Swedish SMEs also face challenges with foreign transaction fees if they frequently purchase services from abroad, such as software subscriptions. These fees can accumulate quickly without companies realizing it. Additionally, failing to reconcile expenses properly can lead to accounting discrepancies and VAT reporting issues.

Finally, some businesses overlook security risks, such as unauthorized use or missing receipts, which can disrupt audits. Using mobile alerts, spending controls and strong internal approval workflows helps reduce these problems.

Best Practices for Using a Business Credit Card

Using a business credit card effectively requires structured routines and clear internal guidelines. Swedish SMEs benefit most when the card is treated as a financial tool rather than a short-term cash substitute.

One best practice is to pay the full balance each month to avoid interest. The interest-free period offered by Swedish issuers is only valuable if the invoice is settled on time. Late payments remove that benefit and add unnecessary fees.

Another recommendation is to implement strict spending policies. Assign clear rules for what employees may use the card for, require receipts and enable spending limits on each employee card. This reduces misuse and improves bookkeeping accuracy.

Companies should also review statements regularly. Monthly reconciliation catches irregularities early and ensures that expenses are categorized correctly for VAT reporting. Integrating the card with accounting software like Fortnox or Visma speeds up this process.

Finally, avoid mixing personal and business expenses. Keeping transactions clean makes accounting easier, especially during audits or year-end reports. It also strengthens the company’s financial documentation for future credit applications.