Credit Card Stacking: What Is It and Is It Worth It? (2024)

Credit card stacking is the strategy of applying for multiple credit cards in a specific order to access a larger unsecured line of credit than individual small business credit cards can offer. Here we’ll explain how it works, the costs and benefits, and when it might be a good option for small business owners.

How Credit Card Stacking Works

If a company advertises that they can get your small business an unsecured line of credit of up to $150,000 with low interest rates, it’s likely they are a credit card stacking company.

Just think about it for a moment: If you were a lender, would you loan a startup that kind of business financing without collateral? We looked into how credit card stacking companies get you an unsecured line of credit for such a large sum.

Here is how it works:

  1. The stacking company reviews your personal credit scores, income and other relevant qualifications to identify cards for which you are likely to qualify. Your personal credit scores typically need to be at least 680 or above to get qualify for most credit cards, and it’s worth noting that approval is not guaranteed.
  2. Credit card stackers will provide guidance or assistance as you apply for multiple credit cards; often 5—15 or more.
  3. They will often target business credit cards over personal credit cards because most business credit cards don’t show up on your personal credit reports as long as you make the payments on time. This can protect your personal credit scores from high utilization (a high balance compared to the credit limit.)
  4. For financing purposes, they may also focus on cards with the lowest APR including 0% intro APR credit cards for the first six to 18 months.
  5. Once you are approved and the credit cards are issued, you can use them as the business line of credit. If you need to get cash out of the credit line, they will also teach you how to do that without incurring a cash advance fees.

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Benefits of Credit Card Stacking

The stacker’s pitch is that it’s hard for entrepreneurs to find and secure the best credit cards, but they are experts in business and personal credit cards.

Minimize Personal Credit Impact

By strategically submitting applications, credit card stacking firms may be able to help avoid immediate negative impact to personal credit scores. For example, they may try to help you apply for multiple cards at one time so that the hard inquiries on your credit files don’t impact your personal credit history until after you approved. Their experience may help you decrease the chances of getting turned down because the process is tailored to your specific needs and qualifications.

Credit Card Stacking For Increased Rewards

Some business owners use multiple credit cards to get credit card welcome bonuses. Businesses with significant spending may be able to get sign up bonuses in the form of cash back and travel miles or points. These rewards can be lucrative, but interest costs can be significant if you carry a balance.

Better Budgeting

Some small business owners find multiple credit cards helpful in their entrepreneurial endeavors. For example, they may use different business credit cards for different types of purchases, or for certain projects to better track spending.

Increased Flexibility

When you have just one credit card or line of credit, there’s a risk that the lender could close it for any number of reasons. When you have multiple credit cards, you have more flexibility because you diversify your sources of financing.

Costs of Credit Card Stacking

The above all sounds great, but like all financing options, it comes with some downsides. Stackers charge a fee — often hefty — to help you get approved. We’ve seen that fee hover around 9% to 11% of the approved amount for the credit card stacking companies to apply for credit cards for you. In other words, if you are applying for a $50,000 line, you will likely have to pay $4,500 to the credit card stacking company.

You’re paying for expertise and for a quick fix to your cash flow problem, but it can come at a high price tag. For many business owners, cash flow issues are life and death for their business, so they’re willing to pay that servicing fee knowing there are other accounts receivable coming their way and they just need to ride out the short-term cash crunch.

Also there’s a real risk of running up credit card debt you can’t pay back if your business isn’t successful. Some cards may carry a low introductory rate, but after that expires the APR may be much higher.

All major card issuers require a personal guarantee when you get a personal or business credit card. If your business is not able to pay back your debt, the issuer may come after the personal guarantor for payment.

One impact of credit card stacking is that it will result in multiple inquiries on your personal credit reports. Even with good credit, you will likely experience a drop in your credit scores. While the effect can often be fairly short-lived (inquiries typically don’t affect credit scores after a year, and scores recover more quickly than that), it can still make it more difficult to get other loans for a while due to the impact of a large number of inquiries.

What Are Credit Card Stacking Companies?

Credit card stacking companies or stacking lenders can assist entrepreneurs with identifying the best credit cards for their business funding needs. For a fee, they will help your startup or existing business submit multiple credit card applications in an effort to get business financing.

When Is Credit Card Stacking a Good Idea?

Business owners that don’t qualify for traditional small business loans, SBA loans, business lines of credit, or working capital loans may benefit from credit stacking. Additionally, small companies or low-revenue businesses that have yet to accumulate assets and are unable to qualify for a traditional small business loan may want to consider this option.

It can be a good way to get money quickly — you can usually get approved and receive your cards within seven to 10 business days.

But if you’re using a credit card stacking company it’s important to find one that is reputable as there are scams and questionable practices in this industry. The Federal Trade Commission took action against one company, Seed Capital, in 2021. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you understand how this financing works, and if you choose to work with a credit stacking company, choose a trusted option.

How Nav Can Help

So is credit card stacking worth it? For business owners who are financially savvy and who know what they’re doing, this process can be very helpful as an alternative to other small business loans. It’s especially popular with startups and for business owners like real estate fix and flippers who may have trouble getting short-term financing.

But if you’re just starting out or have an excellent personal credit score (which will make it easier to apply confidently for any credit cards you like), paying several thousands of dollars in fees may not be a wise use of cash. We suggest doing your homework. Use Nav to help sort and rank business credit cards from major card issuers based on your credit profile to apply with confidence.

Credit Card Stacking: What Is It and Is It Worth It? (2)

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FAQs on Credit Card Stacking

  • Can you stack credit cards together?

    Yes. You can apply for multiple credit cards at the same time, or you can hire a credit card stacking company to help do it for you. This process can help you obtain quick financing if your business is considered too high risk to qualify for other small business funding. You’ll need good personal credit scores to qualify.

  • Is card stacking illegal?

    The act of card stacking is not illegal in and of itself. As a consumer, you’re allowed to apply for as many credit cards at one time as you want. However, some companies fail to disclose that the funding they offer their customers comes from credit card stacking, which can find the companies in legal trouble.

    Also some companies encourage applicants to lie about their income on an application which you should not do.

  • Is it better to max out a single card or spread debt over multiple cards?

    Typically, it’s better for your credit score to spread out credit card debt so your credit utilization ratio is not too high on any one card. Credit scores compare your balance to your limit when calculating utilization, and this factor can have a significant impact on your personal credit scores and even some business credit scores.

  • Is it better to pay down two cards or pay off one?

    This answer depends on your priorities. If your main goal is to save money, paying off your highest rate debt first will save you the most money. If you will be applying for credit, paying down high balances (regardless of interest rate) to lower your utilization ratio may make more sense.

  • Is the snowball or avalanche method better?

    There are two main debt payment strategies to choose from: the snowball method and the avalanche method. The snowball method prioritizes paying off the smallest debt first to feel a sense of accomplishment. The theory is that you will be inspired by paying off an entire credit card and that will push you to continue with your debt repayment plan. Meanwhile, the avalanche method tackles the card with the highest interest rate first, no matter the size of debt. You’ll likely pay less interest with the avalanche method, which is why some small business owners prefer it. The route you choose should depend on your circ*mstances and what will work best for you and your business.

  • Is it better to pay a credit card twice a month?

    Most credit card companies report balances to the credit bureaus once a month. Timing is everything here so paying twice a month may reduce the balance reported to the credit bureaus depending on when you make those payments and when the issuer shares information with the credit bureaus. Another benefit is that it may help you free up available credit more quickly to increase purchase power.

  • How do I combine credit cards?

    If you have multiple credit cards with the same issuer, you may want to call and ask whether they can transfer the credit line from one card to the other. You can then close one of the accounts. This can give you a higher credit limit on the card you want to keep, and you may be able to eliminate an annual fee on the card you close.

    If you have cards with different issuers, you may be able to use a balance transfer from one card to pay off another. Depending on how much credit you have available, and the amount you want to transfer, you may want to call the issuer that you’ll transfer the balance to and ask whether they can increase your credit limit so you don’t wind up with high utilization.

  • Can I transfer credit card points to another card?

    Some cards allow you to transfer points to another card or another person with a similar points program or (for example, Chase Ultimate Rewards). Another option may be to transfer points to another travel partner. For example, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou points and most hotel reward programs all have multiple airline and/or hotel partners to which you can transfer points. This may be helpful if you are planning on closing a credit card before you use the rewards you’ve accumulated, or if you don’t have enough points on a particular card to redeem for something you want.

This article was originally written on April 16, 2015 and updated on February 27, 2023.

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Credit Card Stacking: What Is It and Is It Worth It? (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to stack credit cards? ›

Can you stack credit cards together? Yes. You can apply for multiple credit cards at the same time, or you can hire a credit card stacking company to help do it for you. This process can help you obtain quick financing if your business is considered too high risk to qualify for other small business funding.

What is the card stacking strategy? ›

Credit card stacking is the practice of applying for multiple credit cards simultaneously to access a larger unsecured line of credit. It works as an alternative financing solution for startups and small business owners, especially those who cannot qualify for a small business loan.

Is it wise to have multiple credit cards? ›

There isn't a magic number of how many credit cards you should have. Two cards could be considered too many for someone who doesn't want to manage two separate payments. Keep in mind that signing up for numerous cards within a short time period is not generally a good idea.

Is it bad to have too many credit cards with zero balance? ›

It is not bad to have a lot of credit cards with zero balance because positive information will appear on your credit reports each month since all of the accounts are current. Having credit cards with zero balance also results in a low credit utilization ratio, which is good for your credit score, too.

Does having multiple cards increase credit score? ›

If your goal is to get or maintain a good credit score, two to three credit card accounts, in addition to other types of credit, are generally recommended. This combination may help you improve your credit mix. Lenders and creditors like to see a wide variety of credit types on your credit report.

What is the 2 90 credit card rule? ›

Application Rules

You're limited to 1 approved credit card every 5-day rolling period and 2 approved credit cards every 90 day rolling period. This rule only applies to credit cards and not their charge cards.

What is the disadvantage of card stacking? ›

Card stacking is the most difficult technique to detect because it does not provide all of the information necessary for the audience to make an informed decision. The audience must decide what is missing.

What is an example of card stacking technique? ›

Basically, Card-Stacking means stacking the cards in favor of the product; advertisers stress is positive qualities and ignore negative. For example, if a brand of snack food is loaded with sugar (and calories), the commercial may boast that the product is low in fat, which implies that it is also low in calories.

Is 20 credit cards too many? ›

There's no such thing as a bad number of credit cards to have, but having more cards than you can successfully manage may do more harm than good. On the positive side, having different cards can prevent you from overspending on a single card—and help you save money, earn rewards, and lower your credit utilization.

Is 5 credit cards too much? ›

How many credit cards is too many or too few? Credit scoring formulas don't punish you for having too many credit accounts, but you can have too few. Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward over time.

How many credit cards is too many at once? ›

There is no universal number of credit cards that is “too many.” Your credit score won't tank once you hit a certain number. In reality, the point of “too many” credit cards is when you're losing money on annual fees or having trouble keeping up with bills — and that varies from person to person.

What is the no 1 way to raise your credit score? ›

One of the best things you can do to improve your credit score is to pay your debts on time and in full whenever possible. Payment history makes up a significant chunk of your credit score, so it's important to avoid late payments.

How much should I spend if my credit limit is $1000? ›

A good guideline is the 30% rule: Use no more than 30% of your credit limit to keep your debt-to-credit ratio strong. Staying under 10% is even better. In a real-life budget, the 30% rule works like this: If you have a card with a $1,000 credit limit, it's best not to have more than a $300 balance at any time.

What is the average credit score for Americans? ›

The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores. It's a good idea to check your credit scores regularly.

What is a 5 24 rule? ›

The Chase 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy that applies to Chase credit card applications. Simply put, if you've opened five or more new credit card accounts with any bank in the past 24 months, you will not likely be approved for a new Chase card.

How many credit cards does the average person have? ›

How many credit cards does the average person have? According to the latest figures from Experian, the average American has 3.84 credit cards with an average credit limit of $30,365.

How many hard pulls is too many? ›

So, applying for credit sparingly can minimize credit damage. In general, having six or more hard inquiries is seen as too many. Having this many hard inquiries can significantly impact your score and make lenders more likely to deny you, even if your score is otherwise sufficient.

What is the golden rule of credit cards? ›

The golden rule of credit card use is to pay your balances in full each month.

What is the 15 3 credit card payment trick? ›

The Takeaway. The 15/3 credit card payment rule is a strategy that involves making two payments each month to your credit card company. You make one payment 15 days before your statement is due and another payment three days before the due date.

What is the 15 3 payment trick? ›

Subtract 15 days from your due date. Write down the date from step two and pay at least half of the balance due—not the minimum payment—on that date. Subtract three days from your due date. Write down the date from step four and pay the remaining balance (including any new charges made) on that date.

What is the advantage of stacking method? ›

The benefit of stacking is that it can harness the capabilities of a range of well-performing models on a classification or regression task and make predictions that have better performance than any single model in the ensemble.

Is card stacking a fallacy? ›

A one-sided argument (also known as card stacking, stacking the deck, ignoring the counterevidence, slanting, and suppressed evidence) is an informal fallacy that occurs when only the reasons supporting a proposition are supplied, while all reasons opposing it are omitted.

What are the effects of card stacking? ›

But card-stacking – also known as cherry picking, a one-sided argument or suppressing evidence – intentionally seeks to make people believe one side is the entire story. This can lead to false conclusions, misinformation or a complete misunderstanding of a situation.

What are card stacking messages? ›

Card stacking uses facts and figures to show one side as positive and the other side as negative. The message shows only positive information about the person, product, or idea being promoted, and it shows only damaging information about the opposition or competition.

What is glittering generalities technique? ›

Glittering Generalities:

This technique uses important-sounding "glad words" that have little or no real meaning. These words are used in general statements that cannot be proved or disproved (AKA: virtue words).

How many cards should be in a stack of cards? ›

Deck of Cards Questions - There are 52 cards in a standard deck of cards - There are 4 of each card (4 Aces, 4 Kings, 4 Queens, etc.)

What is the most effective way to mix cards? ›

Moving the fingers of both hands into rifling position, cascade the cards of both stacks down so that their tops overlap by about 3/8", alternating every few cards from each side as they fall. This effectively mixes or shuffles the cards.

How many credit cards should a rich person have? ›

The Motley Fool Ascent recommends that most consumers should have one or two credit cards, although wealthy Americans may have the finances to juggle more than two cards. Plus, their spending in certain categories may be sufficient to justify an extra card or two to maximize rewards.

Is 20k a high credit card limit? ›

Yes, a $20,000 credit limit is good, as it is above the national average. The average credit card limit overall is around $13,000, and people who have higher limits than that typically have good to excellent credit, a high income and little to no existing debt.

How many people have $20,000 in credit card debt? ›

Just as disturbing, 1 in 5 Americans have more than $20,000 in credit card debt. And 33% expect to spend at least two years paying it off, and 3% believe that they won't ever erase it.

Is it bad to have 7 credit cards? ›

Having too many open credit lines, even if you're not using them, can hurt your credit score by making you look more risky to lenders. Having multiple active accounts also makes it more challenging to control spending and keep track of payment due dates.

Does cancelling a card hurt credit? ›

Credit experts advise against closing credit cards, even when you're not using them, for good reason. “Canceling a credit card has the potential to reduce your score, not increase it,” says Beverly Harzog, credit card expert and consumer finance analyst for U.S. News & World Report.

Is it better to cancel a credit card or keep it? ›

Canceling a credit card can shorten the average age of all accounts, which can negatively affect your score. If your score has already dropped due to other negative items, such as late payments or large debt balances, it's probably best to keep the account open instead of closing it.

Is it better to close a credit card or leave it open with a zero balance? ›

In general, it's better to leave your credit cards open with a zero balance instead of canceling them. This is true even if they aren't being used as open credit cards allow you to maintain a lower overall credit utilization ratio and will allow your credit history to stay on your report for longer.

What's good credit score? ›

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

Should I leave a small balance on my credit card? ›

It's a good idea to pay off your credit card balance in full whenever you're able. Carrying a monthly credit card balance can cost you in interest and increase your credit utilization rate, which is one factor used to calculate your credit scores.

How to build a 900 credit score? ›

7 ways to achieve a perfect credit score
  1. Maintain a consistent payment history. ...
  2. Monitor your credit score regularly. ...
  3. Keep old accounts open and use them sporadically. ...
  4. Report your on-time rent and utility payments. ...
  5. Increase your credit limit when possible. ...
  6. Avoid maxing out your credit cards. ...
  7. Balance your credit utilization.
Feb 15, 2023

What brings your credit score down the most? ›

5 Things That May Hurt Your Credit Scores
  • Highlights: Even one late payment can cause credit scores to drop. ...
  • Making a late payment. ...
  • Having a high debt to credit utilization ratio. ...
  • Applying for a lot of credit at once. ...
  • Closing a credit card account. ...
  • Stopping your credit-related activities for an extended period.

How to get a 850 credit score? ›

I achieved a perfect 850 credit score, says finance coach: How I got there in 5 steps
  1. Pay all your bills on time. One of the easiest ways to boost your credit is to simply never miss a payment. ...
  2. Avoid excessive credit inquiries. ...
  3. Minimize how much debt you carry. ...
  4. Have a long credit history. ...
  5. Have a good mix of credit.
Oct 13, 2022

What is a respectable credit limit? ›

As such, if you have one of these cards, you might consider a $5,000 credit limit to be bad and a limit of $10,000 or more to be good. Overall, any credit limit of five figures or more is broadly accepted as a high credit limit. The main exception to the usual credit limit rules are secured credit cards.

What credit card has a $100000 limit? ›

On our list, the card with the highest reported limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which some say offers a $100,000 limit. We've also seen an advertised maximum credit limit of $100,000 on the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®, a credit union rewards card.

What credit limit can I get with a 750 credit score? ›

The credit limit you can get with a 750 credit score is likely in the $1,000-$15,000 range, but a higher limit is possible. The reason for the big range is that credit limits aren't solely determined by your credit score.

What's a good credit score to buy a car? ›

Here's a quick look at how a good credit score can benefit you when you're buying a car. Lower interest rates. A good credit score — typically a score of 680 or higher — can help you secure a low interest rate from the dealer. In fact, taking your score from 600 to 780 could halve your rate.

What percentage of population has over 800 credit score? ›

According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.

What is a good credit score to buy a house? ›

It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.

Is it safe to put 2 credit cards together? ›

Is it bad to have multiple credit cards? No, experts say, if you handle your credit wisely, keep your credit line utilization ratio below 30%, and keep track of payment due dates.

Is it OK to have 2 3 credit cards? ›

There is no ideal number of credit cards you can own. You can own as many credit cards as you want as long as you are eligible for it. If you do not maintain the right credit utilisation rate, your credit score may be reduced.

How much should I wait between credit cards? ›

Whenever you do decide it's time to open a new card account, it's a good idea to wait at least 90 days between new credit card applications—and it's even better if you can wait a full six months.

What is the 2 3 4 rule for credit cards? ›

2/3/4 Rule

Here's how the rule works: You can be approved for up to two new credit cards every rolling two-month period. You can be approved for up to three new credit cards every rolling 12-month period. You can be approved for up to four new credit cards every rolling 24-month period.

How to use two credit cards smartly? ›

In case you hold two or more credit cards, it is advisable to create a list of key points and benefits which each of those credit cards offer you. In that way, you go on a shopping spree or even plan a holiday, you can save money as well as earn rewards and benefits with the transactions you make.

What is the #1 rule of using credit cards? ›

The most important principle for using credit cards is to always pay your bill on time and in full. Following this simple rule can help you avoid interest charges, late fees and poor credit scores. By paying your bill in full, you'll avoid interest and build toward a high credit score.

What is the 2 30 rule for credit cards? ›

2/30 Rule. The 2/30 rule says that you can only have two applications every 30 days or else you'll automatically be rejected.

What is the 30 rule on credit cards? ›

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, experts recommend keeping your credit utilization below 30% of your available credit. So if your only line of credit is a credit card with a $2,000 limit, that would mean keeping your balance below $600.

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