Chase Ink Business Preferred

Here's a card that doesn't get enough credit (pun intended): the Chase Ink Business Preferred. For $95 a year — the same as the consumer Sapphire Preferred — you get 3x Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 in combined spending across travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone services, and social media/search engine advertising. Those are categories where businesses routinely drop thousands per month without thinking twice.

But here's the real kicker: the Ink Business Preferred gives you direct access to Chase's transfer partner network. Chase's Ink page lists 13 airline and hotel programs — Hyatt, United, Southwest, British Airways and more. One catch: starting October 1, 2026, Ink Preferred transfers to Hyatt drop to 4:3 (1,000 Chase points = 750 Hyatt points), and the Sapphire Reserve isn't part of that cut. Many points enthusiasts hold this card alongside a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, pooling all their Ultimate Rewards into one giant pile of travel potential.

For small business owners, freelancers, and anyone with a legitimate side hustle, this is one of the highest-value cards available at any annual fee. The 100,000-point welcome bonus alone can fund a week of hotel stays. And you're paying $95 for the privilege.

• 3x Points on Business Categories: Earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 in combined annual spending on travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone services, and social media and search engine advertising. That $150K cap is generous — most small businesses won't touch it.
• Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners: Chase lists 13 for the Ink — Hyatt, United, Southwest, British Airways, Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and more. Transfers are 1:1, except Hyatt, which drops to 4:3 on October 1, 2026.
• Points Boost in Chase Travel: Points are worth 1 cent each in Chase Travel, or up to 1.5 cents on select Points Boost flights and hotels (same as Sapphire Preferred). The old flat 1.25-cent rate is gone for new cardmembers; if you opened the card before June 23, 2025, only points earned before October 26, 2025 still get it, until October 26, 2027.
• Cell Phone Protection: Up to $1,000 per claim for damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card. Covers the phones listed on that bill. This benefit alone can replace phone insurance — and probably save you money doing it.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Up to $5,000 per person, $10,000 per trip.
• Purchase Protection: Up to $10,000 per item for damage or theft within 120 days of purchase.
• Extended Warranty: Extends manufacturer warranties by one year.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Primary coverage when you rent for business purposes. Skip the rental counter upsell.
• Free Employee Cards: Add employee cards at no extra cost with customizable spending limits, earning points on their purchases. Your employees spend, you earn the points. Everybody wins (mostly you).
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.

• Annual Fee: $95 — and honestly, it feels like a steal for what you get.
• Employee Card Fee: $0 per employee card
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• APR: Variable, based on creditworthiness (currently 17.74% - 26.74%)
• Balance Transfer: Chase's terms list a fee of $5 or 5% (whichever is greater), but also say this account may not be eligible for balance transfers — don't count on it
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40

The Chase Ink Business Preferred currently offers 100,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

In Chase Travel, the bonus is worth $1,000 at the standard 1 cent per point, or up to $1,500 on flights and hotels carrying a 1.5-cent Points Boost. Through transfer partners the value can reach $1,500-$2,000 or more — Hyatt is still on the list, but Ink Preferred transfers there drop to 4:3 on October 1, 2026. The 100,000-point offer is considered a strong public offer. If you're seeing 100K, that's a good time to apply.

The $8,000 spending requirement in 3 months is higher than most consumer cards, but come on — if you're running a business, you probably spend that on advertising and shipping in a slow month. Time your application around large planned purchases to hit the threshold naturally.

Eligibility note: Chase says the bonus may not be available to you if you have ever had this card, and it may also weigh factors about your business. Chase's 5/24 rule also applies to business card applications.

• 3x points: Travel (airlines, hotels, car rentals, trains, taxis, tolls, parking, travel agencies)
• 3x points: Shipping purchases
• 3x points: Internet, cable, and phone services
• 3x points: Social media and search engine advertising (Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, etc.)
• 5x points: Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027)
• 1x point: All other purchases

The 3x categories have a combined annual cap of $150,000 in spending per account anniversary year. After hitting $150,000 in combined bonus spending, those categories revert to 1x. For most small businesses, the $150,000 cap is more than generous — it means you can earn up to 450,000 points per year just from the 3x categories alone. That's $5,600+ in travel value at conservative transfer partner rates. From a $95 card.

The Ink Business Preferred gives you the Chase Ultimate Rewards arsenal — transfer partners, Chase Travel, and plenty of flexibility:

• Transfer Partners (Best Value): Transfer 1:1 (Hyatt drops to 4:3 on October 1, 2026) to the 13 airline and hotel partners Chase lists for the Ink: World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, British Airways Avios, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Air Canada Aeroplan, and others. Chase's Sapphire Preferred page also lists Wyndham Rewards, and the Reserve isn't part of the Hyatt 4:3 cut.
• Chase Travel Portal (Points Boost): Points are worth 1 cent each for travel, or up to 1.5 cents on select Points Boost flights and hotels. If you opened the card before June 23, 2025, points earned before October 26, 2025 still redeem at 1.25 cents until October 26, 2027. If you also hold a Sapphire Reserve, you can pool points and use the Reserve's Points Boost of up to 2 cents instead.
• Pay Yourself Back: Statement credits against eligible purchases in whatever categories Chase is currently offering. Check the rate in your account before you redeem — don't assume it beats 1 cent per point.
• Statement Credits: 1 cent per point against any purchase. Works, but you're leaving value on the table.
• Gift Cards: Generally 1 cent per point or less. Don't.

Pro tip: If you hold both the Ink Business Preferred and a Sapphire Reserve, move your Ink points to the Reserve account to unlock the Reserve's Points Boost of up to 2 cents per point in Chase Travel. This is one of the most popular Chase stacking strategies — and it works beautifully. The Reserve also isn't on Chase's list for the Hyatt 4:3 change that hits the Ink on October 1, 2026, but check the Hyatt rate Ultimate Rewards shows before you transfer points you've moved.

• Cell Phone Protection: Up to $1,000 per claim ($100 deductible) for damage or theft to cell phones listed on your wireless bill, when you pay the bill with this card. Covers up to 3 claims per 12-month period. Let's be real — this benefit alone can save you more than the $95 annual fee. Ditch the phone insurance.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Primary coverage when you rent a car for business purposes and decline the rental agency's CDW/LDW.
• Purchase Protection: Covers eligible purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account.
• Extended Warranty Protection: Extends U.S. manufacturer warranties by one additional year on eligible items.
• Roadside Dispatch: Access to roadside assistance services (towing, flat tire, lockout, etc.) for a per-service fee.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: No surcharge on purchases made abroad — useful for businesses with international suppliers or travel.
• Free Employee Cards: Issue cards to employees at no cost and set individual spending limits. You earn points on all employee card spending. It's like having a points-earning army.
• DoorDash DashPass: Complimentary DashPass for at least 12 months when you activate by December 31, 2027, plus up to $10 off one grocery or retail (non-restaurant) DoorDash order each month while you're enrolled.

The Ink Business Preferred is the clear winner on value. The Amex Business Gold earns a higher 4x in its top categories, but at nearly 4x the annual fee — you'd need to spend a lot more to justify that gap. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is the "I just want simple cash back" option, and that's fine, but you're giving up the massive upside of transfer partners. For businesses spending on ads, shipping, and internet services, the Ink Preferred's 3x on $150K is absurdly good value at $95.

The Ink Business Preferred is for small business owners, freelancers, and side-hustlers who spend meaningfully on advertising, shipping, internet services, phone bills, or travel — and want those routine expenses to generate transferable points instead of disappearing into the void. It's especially powerful when paired with a Sapphire Reserve: pool your points there to use the Reserve's Points Boost of up to 2 cents per point in Chase Travel. And honestly, the cell phone protection alone can justify the $95 fee. If you have any legitimate business expenses, this card should already be in your wallet.