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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR21.24% - 26.24% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.
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Sign Up Bonus
100,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $2,300 (100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)
Those with travel and advertising expenses will like the high earning rates in these categories, plus cardholders can eke out even more value with fully transferable rewards through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. One drawback is the modest annual fee, though many can offset this with the card’s earning potential.
Earn Valuable Chase Points for Small Business Spending, Plus Reasonable Minimum Spend
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent business credit card to consider if your business spends frequently in its practical bonus categories. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar on your first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each year on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, as well as advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. You’ll also get a 25% bonus on travel booked through Chase.
Better yet, the card offers a sizable sign-up bonus of 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first three months (one of the lowest limits seen on this card). The card also gets you access to Chase Ultimate Rewards®, which is among the best rewards programs anywhere.
Pros
- 3x points on 5 different categories (up to $150,000)
- Robust travel, purchase and cellphone protections
- Ability to earn transferable points to use on travel partners
- No additional charge for extra cards for additional authorized users
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit
Card Highlights
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 with the card during the first three months of account membership. When redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, that's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel.
- When you book travel through Chase's travel portal, your points are worth 25% more.
- Earn 3 points for every dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Every dollar you spend on anything else gets you 1 point.
- Points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel and more. As long as your account is active, your points don't expire.
- Free employee cards, allowing you to earn rewards faster.
What Our Credit Card Experts Are Saying
“The Ink Business Preferred made me feel like a legit freelance business owner. The card helps me keep my business expenses organized, and I put the bulk of work-related purchases on this card. I was able to earn the sweet introductory bonus through my normal business spending and by paying my self-employed taxes.
“I also love that I can get more points for stuff I already spend money on, like 3X on travel, cell phone bill, internet, advertising and shipping purchases, and 5X on Lyft rides. Plus, the cell phone protection is a great perk to have”
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn a whopping 100,000 points when you spend $8,000 within the first three months of opening your new account. If you take advantage of the free employee cards at no additional cost, their spending can count toward the bonus spend.
When redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, those points have a value of $1,250.
Earning Rewards
With the Chase Ink Business Preferred card, you'll earn 3x points on the first $150,000 of combined spending in a number of key business categories. These include:
- Travel (eligible airfare, hotel stays, rental cars and more)
- Shipping purchases
- Telecommunication (such as your cellphone, office phone, internet and/or cable bills)
- Marketing and advertising purchases (through social media sites and search engines)
Once you pass the $150,000 annual spending limit, you'll still earn rewards on these purchases—it'll just drop to a rate of 1 point per dollar spent.
Through March 2025, you can also earn a total of 5x total points on Lyft rides.
For all business spending outside of those categories listed above, you'll earn 1 point per dollar with no limit.
Redeeming Rewards
You have many options when it comes to redeeming rewards you earn from your Ink Business Preferred each year.
Points Are Worth 25% More When Redeemed for Travel
If you want to easily use your points balance, you can book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. There, your points are worth an additional 25% toward flights, hotel stays, cruises and more. You can also transfer your points directly to a number of Chase travel partner programs, like airlines and hotel chains.
Points Are Transferable to Airline and Hotel Loyalty Programs
Unlike some other Ink Business cards, you can use this card to transfer your rewards directly to airline miles and hotel points programs. The rewards you earn from the Ink Business Preferred card can be transferred to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, where many cardholders report redeeming for outsized point value. These partners include:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- IHG Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Redeem for Gift Cards, Statement Credits and More
If travel isn't your thing, your earned points can also be used toward statement credits, gift cards and more. The value of your points will vary depending on the redemption method chosen, and they never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
Card Benefits and Perks
Beyond the ample sign-up bonus, the 25% boost when booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and the ability to earn 3 points for every dollar spent in its bonus categories, the Chase Ink Business Preferred is a surprisingly well-rounded card. Here are some of the benefits that come with the card.
Free Employee Cards
Employee cards are provided at no additional cost, so you can give safe purchase power to employees through authorized user cards. When your employees spend, you can also earn points and rewards for your business.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you travel overseas for your business, you will pay no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the U.S. Not having to pay the customary fees that other cards charge is an excellent perk, especially because those fees can add up.
Purchase Benefits
The Ink Business Preferred card comes with a number of purchase protection benefits that can protect you and your business. These include:
- Purchase protection: For up to 120 days, your purchases are protected against damage or theft. Eligible claims are limited to $10,000 per event and $50,000 per account.
- Extended warranty protection: Eligible manufacturer warranties on items you purchase with your Ink Business Preferred card will be extended by an additional year.
- Cellphone protection: Pay your monthly cellphone bill with your Ink Business Preferred card and you (along with all employees listed on your statement) will be protected against cellphone theft or damage. Get up to $1,000 with each claim (a $100 deductible per claim may apply), for a maximum of three claims per year.
- Rental car collision damage waiver: When renting a car for business purposes, you'll get primary coverage against theft or damage in the U.S. and abroad.
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage: If your trip is canceled or has to be cut short for a covered reason, Chase will reimburse you up to $5,000 per person (with a $10,000 maximum per trip) for prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses.
Recommended Business Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Intro Bonus | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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1.5%Cashback
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business. The advertised rewards type is cash back, but it’s important to note that you’re technically earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points (which can then be converted to cash back). |
$0 |
$750Cash Bonus
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
Apply Now |
|
|
1% - 5%Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It also offers you 2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. |
$0 |
$750Cash Bonus
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening |
Apply Now |
|
|
1x - 3xPoints
Earn 3X pts on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X pts on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X pts on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 1X pts on all other purchases. |
$99 |
60,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $840 (60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base) |
Apply Now |
|
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1x - 3xPoints
Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 of combined spending in a number of key business categories |
$95
This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge. |
100,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $2,300 (100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base) |
Apply Now |
Drawbacks
The Ink Business Preferred gives business owners a number of benefits and rewards, but it also has some drawbacks that could make would-be cardholders think twice.
- It has an annual fee. The card charges an annual fee of $95, which may be a deterrent for small business owners or those looking for a no-annual-fee card option.
- The bonus categories might not fit your spending. The card offers 3x points on specific spending categories such as travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and advertising purchases. If your business doesn't spend much in these categories, the rewards potential might be limited.
- There’s a cap on bonus rewards rate spending. The 3x points earning rate is capped at $150,000 in combined purchases on bonus spending per account anniversary year. After reaching this limit, the earning rate drops to 1x point per dollar.
- No introductory APR offer. The card does not offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers, which may be disappointing for businesses looking for a card to finance large initial purchases or to consolidate existing debt.
Potential cardholders should weigh the pros and cons of any credit card to determine if it is the right choice for their business needs.
Annual Fee
The Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card comes with an annual fee of $95. This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.
Unlike some other business credit cards, the annual fee for the Ink Business Preferred card is not waived for the first year.
Other Fees
Most credit cards charge fees for specific account activities. The Ink Business Preferred is no different. In addition to the annual fee to carry the card, other fees you can expect include:
- Balance transfer fees when moving debt from one card to another
- Cash advance fees for withdrawing cash using the card
- Late payment fees for missing due dates
- Over-limit fees for exceeding your credit limit
- Returned payment fees for failed payments
However, it allows you to add employee cards at no additional cost, which is a nice perk for businesses with lots of team members.
Recommended Credit Score
You’ll likely need a good to excellent credit score for the Ink Business Preferred credit card, which corresponds to a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. Note that Chase doesn't actually provide minimum credit score requirements. That’s because issuers take into account a number of factors besides credit scores when evaluating a credit card application.
The approval process will also look at your income, debt-to-income ratio, payment history and overall credit profile. Keep in mind that the issuer, who evaluates each application individually, decides whether to approve a loan even if the credit score is within the recommended range.
Comparing Ink Business Credit Cards
You're in luck if you're still on the fence about Ink Business Preferred. Chase offers a suite of Ink Business credit cards tailored to specific business needs and spending habits. Each card includes additional benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranties and employee cards, making them valuable tools for businesses looking to maximize rewards while managing expenses. Here's how these cards stack up.
Compare Chase Ink Business Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Intro Bonus | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
$750Cash Bonus
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
$0 |
1.5%Cashback
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business. The advertised rewards type is cash back, but it’s important to note that you’re technically earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points (which can then be converted to cash back). |
Apply Now |
|
|
$750Cash Bonus
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening |
$0 |
1% - 5%Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It also offers you 2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. |
Apply Now |
|
|
100,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $2,300 (100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base) |
$95
This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge. |
1x - 3xPoints
Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 of combined spending in a number of key business categories |
Apply Now |
|
|
$1,000Cash Bonus
Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
$195 |
Up to 2.5%Cashback
Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases. |
Apply Now |
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card vs. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Check out the Ink Business Cash® credit card if your business doesn't spend much in many of the Ink Business Preferred's bonus categories. Each account anniversary year, the Ink Business Cash card earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services and 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants. All other purchases earn you 1% cash back.
Despite the absence of a 25% rewards boost for travel redemptions, the Ink Business Cash card has no annual fee, and its sign-up bonus is more accessible. You can get up to $750 in cash back: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, plus an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card vs. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card may be the best alternative for businesses that don't spend heavily in the Ink Business Preferred's bonus categories or for those who prefer a less complicated rewards system. It's a credit card with no annual fee and a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it a good choice for businesses whose spending doesn't fall neatly into any one bonus category.
On the other hand, the Ink Business Preferred charges an annual fee of $95 but offers 3x points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone and advertising purchases up to $150,000 per account anniversary year. Companies with higher spending in those categories and a preference for rewards in the form of transferable points to airline and hotel partners will get the most out of this card. In addition, the Ink Business Preferred provides more extensive protections for both travel and purchases than the Ink Business Unlimited.
Is the Ink Business Preferred Worth It?
The Ink Business Preferred can be great for businesses that are mostly online and spend a lot of money on tools like social media and search engines. In fact, with at least 59% of small businesses using social media channels as their primary marketing platform and an average monthly spend of $400, it's easy to see how quickly the rewards will add up. After all, the Ink Business Preferred offers 3 points on every dollar spent marketing your company with social media, in addition to 3 points per dollar for telecommunication expenses.
On the other hand, if your business' spending habits do not align with the bonus categories and you don't spend enough to offset the annual fee, then it may be worth exploring other business credit cards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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No, the Ink Business Preferred Card is not metal—it's made of plastic credit card.
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Chase Bank has not officially stated the minimum credit limit for the Ink Business Preferred credit card, as credit limits are decided on an individual basis, taking into account the applicant's creditworthiness, income and other financial criteria. However, the Ink Business Preferred typically has higher credit limits than other business credit cards, which can be useful for businesses with larger expenses. Note that each cardholder's credit limit is subject to change based on their credit history and usage trends.
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It’s not necessarily hard to get approved for the Chase Ink Business card, but whether you are approved will depend on a variety of factors. To qualify, applicants often need a good to excellent credit score, typically in the range of 690 to 850. Other factors, such as credit history, business revenue and existing debt, are also taken into account. As a result, it may be more difficult for those with limited credit histories or lower credit scores to get approved for the Chase Ink Business card.
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The Ink Business Preferred credit card is designed with small business owners in mind. While it’s possible to get approved for the card if you are not a business owner, the rewards are for spending categories common to businesses like shipping and advertising expenses, and spending on internet, cable and phone services.
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To maximize rewards with your Ink Business Preferred credit card, be sure to earn your sign-up bonus and spend the required minimum each year in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services, as well as advertising expenses with social media platforms and search engine marketing. Additionally, employee cards are free, and they will also earn rewards for your account.
Ready to apply for the Ink Business Preferred? Start here.
Ben Luthi
Ben Luthi is a personal finance and travel writer and credit card expert. He has a degree in finance from Brigham Young University and worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance before writing full-time for NerdWallet and Student Loan Hero. Ben is now a full-time freelance writer and enjoys traveling and spending time with his two kids. His work has appeared in several publications, including U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Money, Success and Slickdeals.
