Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Here's my honest take on the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: this is one of the most universally useful cards in the Chase ecosystem, and the 100,000 point welcome offer makes right now a genuinely great time to apply.

The card earns 3x points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and social media and search engine advertising — up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year. For a business owner who spends on any of those categories, that's an exceptional return. And for a blogger, content creator, or anyone running ads on Facebook, Instagram, or Google? This card basically pays you to run your business.

But here's what I want to make sure you understand about this card's role in your points strategy: the Ink Business Preferred is what makes your other Chase points worth so much more. If you hold it alongside a no-annual-fee Chase business card like the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card or the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, those flat-rate points suddenly become transferable to airline and hotel partners — including World of Hyatt. Without a card like this one, your points can only be redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1 cent each. With it, they can be worth two to three times that when transferred strategically.

That said — if you already hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you don't necessarily need this card to unlock transfer partners since both Sapphire cards do the same thing. Where the Ink Business Preferred really shines is as a standalone business card for someone building their Chase points strategy from the business side, or as the card that powers a portfolio of no-annual-fee Ink cards.

One important note: this card now carries once-per-lifetime language on the welcome offer. If you have held this card before and earned the bonus, you may not be eligible again. Chase will show you a pop-up before a hard credit pull if you're ineligible, so there's no risk in checking.

The one exception to this rule is if you initially applied as a sole proprietor but have not yet applied using an LLC and a tax ID number. We have seen individuals approved for a second Ink Preferred despite the lifetime language when applying with a new LLC.

You don't need a traditional business to apply. A side hustle, freelance work, selling items online, or any self-employment income often qualifies. Most people are eligible and don't realize it.

The Ink Business Preferred has historically offered between 90,000 and 100,000 points as its standard welcome offer. We have seen it go as high as 120,000 points on rare occasions. The current 100,000 point offer is elevated above the long-term standard of 90,000 and represents an excellent time to apply if you are eligible.

Important: The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you have ever had this card before. Chase will notify you of your eligibility before performing a hard credit pull so there is no risk in checking.