Updated October 2026. In France, business cards are cartes professionnelles, and almost all are debit cards, not revolving credit. Shine Free costs €0 HT a month and Qonto Basic €9 HT, both with a French IBAN but no FGDR cover; BoursoBank Pro (€9 a month) is the bank option with it. American Express business cards are charge cards for rewards and travel. The TVA on card fees is generally recoverable through the DGFiP TVA return.
Key takeaways
- French business cards are cartes professionnelles / cartes affaires, usually débit rather than revolving credit.
- Shine Free costs €0 HT a month and Qonto Basic €9 HT (October 2026); both are payment institutions without FGDR cover.
- American Express business cards lead on rewards and travel, but acceptance is not universal in France.
- Revolut Business is strongest for multi-currency and international payments.
- The TVA on the cotisation and card fees is déductible / récupérable via the DGFiP TVA return.
What Is the Best Business Credit Card in France?
The best business card depends on whether you want an all-in-one spend platform with a French IBAN and accounting integration, premium rewards and travel perks, or the strongest multi-currency setup. Fintech platforms Qonto, Shine, Finom, and Blank lead for everyday pro banking, while American Express business cards suit rewards-focused spenders and Revolut Business covers international needs. In October 2026 a newly registered micro-entrepreneur should start with Shine Free (€0 HT a month), and a growing team with Qonto Basic (€9 HT a month on annual billing, €11 monthly). Every fintech card here is a debit card.
Qonto Business (Mastercard)
Qonto is the leading French spend platform, bundling a French IBAN, team and virtual debit cards, receipt OCR and Pennylane or Indy integrations in one app. Basic costs €9 HT a month on annual billing (€11 monthly) with 30 SEPA transfers, then €0.40-0.50 each. It is built for expense management, not credit.
Why we recommend it: The leading French spend platform from €9 HT a month: a French IBAN, team and virtual debit cards, 30 SEPA transfers and Pennylane or Indy integrations in one app.
Pros
- +French IBAN with team and virtual Mastercard business cards
- +Excellent expense management and accounting integrations
- +Granular spending controls for each team member
Cons
- −Debit cards, no overdraft (découvert) or credit
- −€0.40-0.50 per transfer above the 30 included; 1% FX
- −No cash deposits; no FGDR (funds safeguarded)
- Mastercard business debit cards on a French IBAN
- Accounting integrations and receipt capture
- French payment institution supervised by the ACPR
American Express Business Gold
American Express Business Gold is a deferred-payment business charge card with Membership Rewards points, expense management, purchase protection, and strong travel insurance, best where Amex is accepted.
Why we recommend it: A deferred-payment business charge card with Membership Rewards points, expense management, and strong travel insurance.
Pros
- +Membership Rewards points on business spending
- +Strong travel insurance and purchase protection
- +Expense management and deferred payment
Cons
- −Not accepted by every merchant in France
- −Annual fee applies, charge rather than revolving credit
- Deferred-payment business charge card
- Membership Rewards and travel benefits
- Supervised by the ACPR
American Express Business Platinum
American Express Business Platinum is a premium business charge card with airport lounge access, concierge services, hotel status, and premium insurance, aimed at frequent business travellers.
Why we recommend it: A premium business charge card with airport lounge access, concierge, and premium insurance for frequent travellers.
Pros
- +Airport lounge access and concierge services
- +Premium insurance and travel benefits
- +Hotel elite status and travel perks
Cons
- −High annual fee
- −Acceptance not universal in France, charge card not credit
- Premium business charge card
- Lounge access, concierge, and hotel status
- Supervised by the ACPR
Revolut Business (Visa / Mastercard)
Revolut Business offers multi-currency accounts, competitive FX, and international payments, with virtual cards and spend controls. It is strong for cross-border spending but less tailored to French accounting.
Why we recommend it: Best for multi-currency accounts, competitive FX, and international payments, with virtual cards and spend controls.
Pros
- +Multi-currency accounts with competitive FX rates
- +Virtual cards and granular spend controls
- +Efficient international payments
Cons
- −Cashback and features depend on plan level
- −Less suited to advanced French accounting, rewards are limited
- Visa or Mastercard business cards
- Multi-currency accounts and FX
- Deposit or safeguarding under its EU licence
Shine (Mastercard)
Shine is a simple pro-banking platform with a French IBAN, built-in invoicing and URSSAF cotisation calculation. Shine Free costs €0 HT a month with 5 SEPA transfers; Shine Start at €9 HT adds 30 transfers and cheque deposits. Shine belongs to the Société Générale group.
Why we recommend it: Best for freelancers: Shine Free costs €0 HT a month with a French IBAN, invoicing and URSSAF cotisation calculation; Start (€9 HT) adds cheque deposits.
Pros
- +Simple banking with a French IBAN
- +Built-in invoicing and bookkeeping tools
- +Lower-cost plans, easy setup
Cons
- −Free plan limited to 5 SEPA transfers a month
- −Fewer accounting integrations than Qonto
- Mastercard debit card on a French IBAN
- Invoicing and URSSAF cotisation calculation in-app
- Payment institution: funds safeguarded, no FGDR
Finom (Mastercard)
Finom is a modern platform offering cashback on business spending, integrated invoicing, expense tracking, and multi-currency. It is a newer option, less established in France than Qonto.
Why we recommend it: A modern platform with cashback on business spending, integrated invoicing, expense tracking, and multi-currency.
Pros
- +Cashback on business spending
- +Integrated invoicing and expense tracking
- +Multi-currency support, modern interface
Cons
- −Monthly subscription may apply
- −Less established in France and less mature than Qonto
- Mastercard business cards
- Invoicing, expense tracking, and multi-currency
- Supervised under an EU payment licence
Blank (Mastercard)
Blank is one of the lowest-cost pro-banking platforms, aimed at small businesses and the self-employed who want simple, affordable banking without paying for advanced features.
Why we recommend it: One of the lowest-cost options, aimed at small businesses and the self-employed who want simple, affordable pro banking.
Pros
- +Competitive, low-cost pricing
- +Simple banking for small businesses
- +Straightforward pro account and card
Cons
- −Fewer advanced tools than Qonto or Finom
- −Débit rather than revolving credit
- Mastercard business card
- Low-cost pro banking
- Supervised under an EU payment licence
Ranking and fee structures as of October 2026. Shine and Qonto prices were checked in October 2026; confirm Amex, Revolut, Finom and Blank fees on each provider's official site before applying.
How Do French Business Credit Cards Differ from Consumer Cards?
A French business card (carte professionnelle or carte affaires) is issued in the name of a company or self-employed person, not a private individual. Like consumer cartes bancaires, most are débit cards in immediate or deferred debit rather than American-style revolving credit. The key differences are who is liable, the expense-management tools attached, and the documents required to open the account.
Business cards add features consumer cards rarely have: team and virtual cards, per-card spending controls, accounting integration, and VAT-ready statements. American Express business cards are charge or deferred-payment cards, so the balance is settled in full rather than carried as revolving credit.
Débit, not revolving credit
When Should You Choose a Corporate Card or Spend Platform?
A fintech spend platform such as Qonto, Shine, Finom, or Blank fits when you want a French IBAN, débit cards, and accounting integration in a single app, with fast online onboarding. These platforms are distinct from a bank carte affaires: they typically offer no overdraft (découvert) and no cash deposits, but they excel at expense management and bookkeeping.
Choose a traditional bank business card from a provider like BNP Paribas when you need business loans, an overdraft, leasing, or a relationship manager with in-person banking. Choose American Express for rewards and travel, and Revolut Business for multi-currency and international payments.
- Step 1: Decide if you need a French IBAN and accounting integration in one app.
- Step 2: Check whether you need an overdraft or business lending (a bank, not a fintech).
- Step 3: Weigh rewards and travel (Amex) against multi-currency (Revolut Business).
- Step 4: Compare the monthly or annual cotisation and per-card limits.
- Step 5: Confirm the provider is supervised by the ACPR or an EU licence before applying.
Which Business Card Fits Your Use Case?
The right business card in France depends on your legal status and how you operate, not on a single winner. Five options map cleanly to the most common profiles, and each is a pro account with a business card rather than an American-style credit line.
- Freelancer / micro-entreprise → Shine Free: €0 HT a month, a French IBAN, invoicing and URSSAF cotisation calculation; Shine Start (€9 HT) adds cheque deposits.
- TPE / growing SME → Qonto: multi-user team and virtual cards, granular spending controls, a French IBAN, and deep accounting integrations for SAS, SARL, and PME.
- International / multi-currency → Revolut Business: native multi-currency accounts, competitive FX, and unlimited virtual cards on higher plans.
- Overdraft, adviser, pro credit → BNP Paribas / traditional bank: a découvert, a relationship manager, business loans, and a branch network.
- Modern all-rounder → Finom: cashback on business spending, integrated invoicing, and multi-currency in a modern interface.
- FGDR protection and tolls → BoursoBank Pro: €9 a month flat, a CB Visa Ultim Pro card with 0% FX that works at offline terminals, and FGDR cover up to €100,000.
One caveat cuts across the fintechs: their cards are usually débit, not revolving credit, and platforms such as Qonto offer no cash deposits and no overdraft (découvert). If you need to bank cash or draw an overdraft, a traditional bank supervised by the ACPR fits better than a spend platform.
How Much Do French Business Cards Cost?
Business cards are usually priced as a monthly pro-account subscription. In October 2026 Shine Free costs €0 HT, Shine Start and Qonto Basic €9 HT (Qonto €11 HT on monthly billing), BoursoBank Pro €9, Hello Business €10.90 HT, and a traditional bank pro account €17 to €20 a month. The table shows what each costs over two years.
| Pro account | Monthly price | 24-month cost | Deposit protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shine Free | €0 HT | €0 | Safeguarded, no FGDR |
| Shine Start | €9 HT | €216 HT | Safeguarded, no FGDR |
| Qonto Basic | €9 HT (annual) / €11 HT (monthly) | €216 HT / €264 HT | Safeguarded, no FGDR |
| BoursoBank Pro | €9 | €216 | FGDR up to €100,000 |
| Hello Business | €10.90 HT | €261.60 HT | FGDR up to €100,000 |
| Traditional bank pro account | €17-20 | €408-480 | FGDR up to €100,000 |
Our calculation: monthly price × 24, account fee only (excludes extra transfers and card options), prices as of October 2026.
- Monabanq pro cards: Visa Business free, Gold Business €36 a year, Platinum €108 a year (secondary source).
- Amex Business Gold and Platinum: annual fees not re-verified in October 2026; check Amex's business tariff.
- Revolut Business, Finom, Blank: tiered plans not re-priced in the October research.
- Extras: additional cards, transfers beyond the included quota, and FX outside included allowances.
What Documents Do You Need to Apply?
A French business account and card generally require proof the company exists, its statutes, the director's identity, and a registered-office address. Fintech platforms accept these fully online, while traditional banks may ask for more.
- Kbis extract or avis SIRENE proving the company is registered.
- The company statuts (articles of association).
- A pièce d'identité du dirigeant (director's ID).
- A justificatif de siège (proof of registered-office address).
- Sometimes a beneficial-owner declaration and recent bank statements.
Micro-entrepreneurs
How Does VAT Work on Card Fees and Statements?
In France, VAT is TVA. The TVA charged on the card cotisation and related card fees is generally déductible or récupérable for the business, meaning you can reclaim it through your standard TVA return filed with the DGFiP, provided the card is used for professional expenses and you hold a valid invoice showing the TVA.
On statements, individual purchases carry their own TVA at the applicable rate, which you record and reclaim per the normal rules. Spend platforms with accounting integration help by attaching receipts and exporting VAT-ready data, but the right to deduct still depends on the expense being professional and properly documented.
Sources: DGFiP and ACPR. TVA treatment depends on your situation; confirm with your accountant or the DGFiP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a French business card a credit card or a debit card?
Most French business cards (cartes professionnelles or cartes affaires) are debit cards, in immediate or deferred debit. Fintech spend platforms like Qonto, Shine, Finom, and Blank issue débit cards linked to a French IBAN. American Express business cards are charge or deferred-payment cards. True revolving credit is rare and separate.
What is the difference between a bank carte affaires and a fintech spend platform?
A bank carte affaires is a business card attached to a traditional business account, often with overdraft and lending. A fintech spend platform like Qonto, Shine, Finom, or Blank bundles a French IBAN, débit cards, and accounting integration in one app, but usually offers no overdraft and débit rather than revolving credit.
Can I reclaim VAT (TVA) on my business card fees?
Yes. The TVA on the card cotisation and related fees is generally déductible or récupérable for the business through the standard TVA return filed with the DGFiP, provided the card is used for professional expenses and you hold a valid invoice. Confirm treatment with your accountant.
What documents do I need to apply for a French business card?
You typically need a Kbis extract or avis SIRENE, the company statuts, a pièce d'identité du dirigeant, and a justificatif de siège (registered-office address). Fintech platforms accept these documents fully online, while banks may ask for more.
Who regulates business card providers in France?
Providers are supervised by the ACPR (Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution), part of the Banque de France. Fintech spend platforms often operate under an EU payment or e-money licence, so the deposit or safeguarding rules apply under that licence.
What is the best business card for a freelancer (auto-entrepreneur) versus an SME in France?
For a newly registered micro-entrepreneur, Shine Free is the usual pick at €0 HT a month in October 2026, with URSSAF cotisation calculation and 5 SEPA transfers a month. For a growing SME with a team, Qonto fits best from €9 HT a month, with multi-user cards and accounting integration. Revolut Business suits international businesses, while BNP Paribas or another traditional bank is best if you need an overdraft or business lending. These are pro accounts with débit cards, not revolving credit.
Do Qonto and Shine have FGDR deposit protection?
No. Qonto and Shine are payment institutions, so client money sits in segregated (safeguarded) accounts at partner banks rather than as FGDR-guaranteed deposits. Safeguarding protects your funds if the fintech fails, but the €100,000 FGDR guarantee only covers banks, such as BoursoBank Pro (€9 a month) or a traditional bank pro account.
Related Guides
Continue your move to France
Related guides from other parts of How to France that newcomers usually need next.