Chase Business Credit Card
We analyzed the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to see if it remains the gold standard for business owners who want to turn company expenses into luxury travel. This review explores how its high-value transfer partners and robust insurance protections outweigh the annual fee for growing enterprises.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Chase
- Annual Fee
- $95
- APR Range
- 21.24% – 27.24% Variable
- Welcome Bonus
- 100,000 points after $8,000 spend in first 3 months
- Rewards Rate
- 3x points on travel and select business categories; 1x on all other purchases
- Massive welcome bonus with high redemption value through Chase Travel℠
- Points transfer 1:1 to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Primary rental car insurance when traveling for business purposes
- Cell phone protection up to $600 against theft or damage
- No foreign transaction fees for international business travel
- High spending requirement to trigger the welcome bonus
- 3x earning cap on the first $150,000 spent annually
- No introductory APR period for purchases or transfers
Annual Fee Explained
The Ink Business Preferred carries a $95 annual fee, which is relatively modest compared to premium business cards that can cost upwards of $695. For most business owners, the fee is easily offset by the card’s $600 cell phone protection and the 25% redemption bonus on travel. If you spend at least $3,200 annually in the 3x categories, the points earned cover the fee’s value.
When compared to the ‘no-fee’ Ink cards, the Preferred version justifies its cost by unlocking the ability to transfer points to Chase’s travel partners. Without this card (or a Sapphire card), your points are generally limited to cash back or lower-value redemptions. For businesses with travel needs, this $95 investment is one of the most efficient ways to access high-tier travel rewards.
APR Range Analysis
The APR for the Ink Business Preferred is a variable rate, typically ranging from 21.24% to 27.24% based on creditworthiness. Because this card is designed as a rewards vehicle, carrying a balance is not recommended, as the interest charges will quickly negate the value of any points earned.
Unlike some other business cards in the Chase portfolio, the Ink Business Preferred does not currently offer an introductory 0% APR period. If your business needs to finance a large purchase over several months, you might consider pairing this card with the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Unlimited, which often feature 0% intro APR windows for the first year.
Welcome Bonus Details
The current welcome offer provides 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This is one of the highest-valued bonuses in the industry, worth a guaranteed $1,250 toward travel via Chase, or potentially $2,000+ when transferred to airline partners.
To successfully hit this requirement, we recommend timing your application around major business acquisitions, tax payments, or quarterly inventory restocking. If you cannot comfortably meet the $8,000 threshold within 90 days, the ‘no-fee’ business cards may offer a more attainable, albeit smaller, entry point.
Rewards Program
This card earns 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined annual purchases across four key categories: shipping, advertising on social media and search engines, internet/cable/phone services, and travel. All other purchases earn a flat 1 point per $1. This makes it particularly lucrative for digital marketing agencies and e-commerce businesses.
The true power of the rewards program lies in the ‘Chase Travel’ portal, where points are worth 1.25 cents each. Alternatively, you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to partners like Southwest, British Airways, and Marriott. This flexibility allows savvy business owners to bridge the gap between business spending and personal vacations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 100,000 point bonus is worth $1,250 when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠, but can be worth even more if transferred to high-value partners like Hyatt or United Airlines.
Yes, points earned on this card can be combined with points from other ‘Chase Trifecta’ cards like the Ink Business Cash, Ink Business Unlimited, or personal Sapphire cards to maximize redemption value.
No, this card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for business owners who travel internationally or pay overseas vendors.
This card provides primary rental car insurance for business purposes, cell phone protection (up to $600 per claim), trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and purchase protection.
Chase typically follows the ‘5/24 rule,’ meaning you may be denied if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards from any issuer in the last 24 months. However, business cards usually do not add to your 5/24 count once you are approved.