Chase Ink Business Preferred: The ultimate business rewards credit card
The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card stands as the gold standard for business rewards cards, combining an exceptional 90,000-point welcome bonus with 3X Ultimate Rewards points on essential business categories. Despite its $95 annual fee, this card delivers unmatched value through its premium transfer partners, comprehensive protections, and earning potential on business spending.
Why It Stands Out:
- 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points worth $900-$1,125+ in value
- 3X points on travel, shipping, advertising up to $150,000 annually
- Cell phone protection up to $600 per claim
- Primary rental car insurance for business travel
- 14 transfer partners for premium redemptions
The card excels for businesses with significant spending in bonus categories, especially those valuing travel rewards and comprehensive protections. The combination of high earning rates, valuable welcome bonus, and premium benefits makes this the top choice for established businesses seeking maximum reward value.
Card Overview and Business Focus
The Ink Business Preferred targets established businesses with substantial spending in key operational categories, offering premium rewards and protections typically reserved for high-fee cards.
Current Rates and Fees (2025)
| Fee Type | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | Easily offset by rewards |
| Employee Cards | $0 | Unlimited at no cost |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | $0 | None worldwide |
| Late Payment | Up to $40 | Cannot exceed minimum payment |
| Cash Advance | $10 or 5% | Whichever is greater |
| Balance Transfer | $5 or 5% | Whichever is greater |
| Purchase APR | 20.24% - 26.24% | Variable rate based on business credit |
Massive Welcome Bonus Opportunity
The Ink Business Preferred offers one of the highest welcome bonuses in the business card category, providing exceptional value for qualifying businesses.
Current Welcome Offer
Premium Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 in cash back or $1,125 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
This welcome bonus represents tremendous value:
- Cash redemption: $900 cash back
- Travel portal: $1,125 through Chase Travel
- Transfer partners: $1,350+ for premium airline redemptions
Bonus Earning Requirements
- Minimum spend $8,000 over 3 months ($2,667/month average)
- Time frame 3 months from account opening
- Targeted offers Some may see 100,000 points for same spend
- Business spending only Must be legitimate business purchases
Business-Focused Rewards Structure
The Ink Business Preferred's earning structure targets key business expense categories where companies typically spend the most money.
3X Ultimate Rewards Categories
| Category | Earning Rate | Annual Cap | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | 3X points | $150,000 combined | Airfare, hotels, rental cars, trains |
| Shipping | 3X points | $150,000 combined | UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL |
| Internet, Cable & Phone | 3X points | $150,000 combined | Business internet, landlines, mobile |
| Advertising | 3X points | $150,000 combined | Google Ads, Facebook, social media |
| All Other Purchases | 1X point | None | Office supplies, equipment, etc. |
Generous Cap: The $150,000 annual spending cap across all 3X categories allows for $4,500 in bonus points annually - equivalent to $67.50 in additional value over the 1X base rate.
Ultimate Rewards Value Proposition
Ultimate Rewards points offer exceptional flexibility and value:
| Redemption Method | Value per Point | Best Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Back | 1.0¢ | Statement credits, direct deposit |
| Chase Travel | 1.25¢ | 25% bonus on travel bookings |
| Transfer Partners | 1.5-3.0¢+ | Premium airline and hotel redemptions |
| Gift Cards | 1.0¢ | Popular retailers and restaurants |
| Apple/Amazon | 1.0¢ | Direct checkout redemption |
Comprehensive Business Benefits
The Ink Business Preferred includes an impressive suite of protections and benefits that add significant value beyond the rewards program.
Business Protection Benefits
| Protection | Coverage | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Phone Protection | Damage or theft | $600/claim, $25 deductible |
| Purchase Protection | 120 days from purchase | $10,000/claim, $50,000/year |
| Extended Warranty | Adds up to 1 year | Warranties 3 years or less |
| Primary Rental Car Insurance | Damage/theft coverage | Up to actual cash value |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | Non-refundable trip costs | $5,000/person, $10,000/trip |
Travel and Additional Benefits
- No foreign transaction fees Save 2-3% on international business purchases
- Trip delay reimbursement $500/person for 6+ hour delays
- Baggage delay insurance $100/day for essential items
- Emergency evacuation $100,000 coverage for medical transport
- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge Personal assistance for travel and dining
- Roadside assistance Emergency services for business vehicles
Ultimate Rewards Redemption Mastery
Ultimate Rewards provides unmatched flexibility in the business card space, with multiple high-value redemption options that can multiply your reward value.
Ways to Redeem Ultimate Rewards
| Method | Minimum | Processing | Business Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash/Statement Credit | Any amount | Immediate | Good for operational costs |
| Chase Travel Portal | Any amount | Immediate booking | 25% bonus value |
| Transfer Partners | 1,000 points | Instant transfer | Premium business travel |
| Pay Yourself Back | Any amount | Immediate | 1.5¢ value on select categories |
| Amazon/Apple | Any amount | At checkout | Business equipment purchases |
Premium Transfer Partners
The Ink Business Preferred offers access to 14 valuable transfer partners:
Airline Partners (1:1 transfers)
- United MileagePlus - Domestic and international business travel
- Southwest Rapid Rewards - Domestic business trips
- British Airways Executive Club - Oneworld alliance access
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue - SkyTeam alliance access
- Singapore KrisFlyer - Premium Asia-Pacific routes
- Iberia Plus - Europe and Latin America access
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - Unique partnership benefits
- JetBlue TrueBlue - East Coast business routes
Hotel Partners
- World of Hyatt (1:1) - Premium hotel stays
- IHG One Rewards (1:1) - Business hotel coverage
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) - Largest hotel network
Business Travel Strategy: Transfer partners can provide 50-100% more value than cash redemptions, especially for premium business class flights and luxury hotel stays.
Competitor Comparison
The Ink Business Preferred competes in the premium business card segment, offering superior earning rates and benefits compared to most alternatives.
Head-to-Head Analysis
| Feature | Ink Business Preferred | Amex Business Gold | Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Citi Business/AAdvantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $295 | $150 | $99 |
| Welcome Bonus | 90,000 points | 70,000 points | $500 cash | 65,000 miles |
| Top Earning Rate | 3X business categories | 4X top 2 categories | 2X everything | 2X AA purchases |
| Annual Cap | $150,000 | $150,000 | None | $95,000 |
| Transfer Partners | 14 partners | 20+ partners | None | AA only |
| Cell Phone Protection | Yes | No | No | No |
| Foreign Fees | None | None | None | None |
Annual Value Comparison
Based on $100,000 annual business spending optimized for categories:
| Card | Points/Cash Earned | Value (1.5¢/point) | Annual Fee | Net Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Preferred | 170,000 points | $2,550 | -$95 | $2,455 |
| Amex Business Gold | 220,000 points | $2,200* | -$295 | $1,905 |
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | $2,000 cash | $2,000 | -$150 | $1,850 |
| Citi Business/AAdvantage | 120,000 miles | $1,800* | -$99 | $1,701 |
*Estimated transfer partner values may vary
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Exceptional welcome bonus worth $900-$1,350+
- High 3X earning rates on key business categories
- Valuable Ultimate Rewards with 14 transfer partners
- Comprehensive protections including cell phone coverage
- Primary rental car insurance saves money on business travel
- No foreign transaction fees for international business
❌ Cons
- $95 annual fee though easily justified
- Subject to Chase 5/24 rule limiting availability
- High spending requirement for welcome bonus
- Limited to 4 specific categories for 3X earning
- Business documentation may be required
- No intro APR period for financing needs
Who Should Get This Card?
Ideal Candidates
- Established businesses With $8,000+ monthly spending in bonus categories
- Travel-heavy businesses Regular airfare and hotel bookings
- E-commerce businesses High shipping and advertising spend
- Service businesses Significant telecom and internet expenses
- Points maximizers Who understand transfer partner values
Poor Fit For
- New businesses unable to meet $8,000 spending requirement
- Simplicity seekers who prefer cash back over points
- Chase 5/24 violators with 5+ cards in 24 months
- Low spenders who won't offset the annual fee
- Sole proprietors with minimal business expenses
Business and Credit Requirements
Business Documentation
- Business structure Sole proprietorship acceptable using SSN
- Business age No minimum - side hustles qualify
- Revenue requirements No minimum stated income
- EIN/SSN Either acceptable for application
Credit and Approval Factors
- Credit score: 680+ FICO recommended
- Chase 5/24 rule: Must be under 5 new cards in 24 months
- Business relationship: Chase business banking helps
- Personal guarantee: Personal credit determines approval
- Income verification: May require tax documents
Application Strategy
- Check 5/24 status before applying
- Lower utilization on personal cards first
- Have business documents ready if requested
- Apply early in month to maximize spending period
Strategic Considerations for 2025
Maximizing Welcome Bonus
- Time large purchases for bonus period
- Prepay business expenses if cash flow allows
- Use for advertising campaigns to hit spending threshold
- Book business travel during qualification period
- Track progress through Chase mobile app
Ongoing Value Optimization
- Transfer to partners for business travel redemptions
- Use Chase Travel portal for 25% bonus
- Maximize 3X categories up to $150,000 cap
- Pay business bills to earn cell phone protection
Business Card Strategy
Consider pairing with complementary business cards:
- + Ink Business Cash: 5% on different categories
- + Ink Business Unlimited: 1.5% on all other spending
- + Amex Business Gold: 4X on top spending categories
Final Verdict
The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card represents the pinnacle of business credit cards, combining an industry-leading welcome bonus with exceptional ongoing rewards and comprehensive protections. For businesses that can meet the spending requirements and maximize the bonus categories, this card delivers unmatched value in the business segment.
The 90,000-point welcome bonus alone justifies the first year's fee many times over, while the 3X earning rates on essential business categories ensure continued value. The inclusion of cell phone protection, primary rental car insurance, and no foreign transaction fees adds practical benefits that save money beyond just rewards.
While the $95 annual fee and Chase 5/24 restrictions may limit accessibility, qualified businesses will find this card indispensable for maximizing their credit card rewards strategy. The Ultimate Rewards ecosystem provides unparalleled flexibility for both business and personal redemptions.
Key Takeaways
- 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points worth $900-$1,350+
- 3X points on travel, shipping, internet, and advertising
- $150,000 annual cap on bonus categories
- Cell phone protection and primary rental car insurance
- 14 transfer partners for premium redemptions
- Best for established businesses with high category spending