What to look for
- Reports to all three bureaus — if it does not report, it does not help.
- Low or no annual fee, and no monthly 'program' fees.
- A path to graduate to an unsecured card and get your deposit back.
- No processing or application fees taken from your credit line.
How to use it
Charge one small recurring bill, pay it before the statement cuts, and never carry a balance. One card used correctly for six months can add serious points.
The Bottom Line
Rebuilding personally is step one. Step two is EIN-based business credit that never touches your SSN.