A Reliable Income

• Show your creditor you have a reliable income source from an outside job or your own business. The Credit CARD Act now requires individual applicants to prove their ability to pay. You cannot include income from a spouse or parent unless that person is listed as a co-signer on your credit card. According to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a creditor may not discriminate on the basis of income type, but can determine if your debt-to-income ratio is too high to qualify for a card.
  
  

Assets You Own

• Show your creditor you have assets. Owning a savings or money market account, a 401k or a certificate of deposit demonstrates to creditors two things: You have the discipline to build an asset and you have collateral to seize in case they have to file a judgment against you for an unpaid debt. Your bank may approve you for a secured credit card on the condition that you deposit money in a savings account equal to the card's credit limit.
  
  

Low Debt Amount

• Lower your debt before you apply for a credit card. Creditors are likely to approve your application if you can show you owe only small amounts of debt. This is particularly helpful if your income is low. If you are income-rich but you owe large amounts of money on a car loan or a mortgage, your creditor may deny your application due to a high debt-to-income ratio, or the amount you owe compared to your income.
  
  

Account Payment History

• Pay every bill on time because many vendors you do business with report your payment history to the consumer credit bureaus. This includes utilities, cellphone companies, health club memberships and any other accounts established in your own name. Carrying balances on these bills or allowing them to go to collections can negatively impact your credit score by showing up as late or delinquent payments on your credit report. Potential creditors check your payment record with these companies before deciding to extend credit to you.
  
  

Job and Residence

• Avoid switching jobs and housing too often. Creditors look for stability in credit applicants. Changing job fields too many times or showing a pattern of short-term stints with different employers can cause a creditor to question your ability to maintain a steady income. Creditors also want to be able to locate you if you owe them money. Living at multiple places of residence within a short time period can raise a red flag with creditors and cause your application to be denied.