Churning Chase Ink Business Cards
The Chase Ink lineup is the single best set of business cards for churning. Three separate products, each with its own sign-up bonus, none of them counting toward 5/24. The Ink Business Preferred alone delivers 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points. Here's how to get all three and maximize your points.
Why Chase Ink Cards Are the Best Business Cards for Churning
Chase Ink business cards occupy a unique position in the churning world. The Ink Business Preferred offers one of the highest sign-up bonuses available at 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months. That bonus alone is worth $1,250 or more when paired with a Sapphire card, and the $95 annual fee is a fraction of that value.
What makes the Ink cards truly special for churners is that all three can be held at the same time. The Ink Business Preferred, Ink Business Unlimited, and Ink Business Cash are treated as separate products by Chase, so you can earn each sign-up bonus independently. Combined, the three Ink cards can deliver well over 200,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
Perhaps most importantly, Chase business cards do not count toward your 5/24 status. They do not report to personal credit bureaus, which means opening an Ink card does not use up one of your five personal card slots. You still need to be under 5/24 when you apply, but the Ink card itself will not push you closer to the limit. This makes Ink cards the ideal way to earn massive bonuses while preserving your 5/24 slots for personal Chase cards.
The Three Chase Ink Cards
The flagship Ink card and the one you should get first. The 100,000 Ultimate Rewards point sign-up bonus requires $8,000 in spending within the first 3 months. You earn 3x points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, on the first $150,000 in combined annual spending in those categories. Everything else earns 1x.
The flat-rate earning Ink card with no annual fee. Earns 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase with no category restrictions and no spending cap. The sign-up bonus is typically 75,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. This is a keeper card — no annual fee means you can hold it forever and earn a solid return on all non-category spending.
The category bonus Ink card, also with no annual fee. Earns 5x points on office supply stores and internet, cable, and phone services (on the first $25,000 per year in combined purchases), 2x on gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 per year in combined purchases), and 1x on everything else. The sign-up bonus is typically 75,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months.
Optimal Application Order
The order in which you apply for Chase Ink cards matters. You want to secure the highest-value bonus first and save the no-fee keepers for later. Here is the recommended sequence:
Apply for the Ink Business Preferred first. The 100,000 point sign-up bonus is the largest among the three Ink cards and one of the best in the entire Chase lineup. The $95 annual fee is trivial compared to the bonus value. Make sure you are under 5/24 before applying.
Wait at least 3 months after your Preferred approval, then apply for the Ink Business Unlimited. The no annual fee and 1.5x flat rate on everything make this a permanent keeper card. It complements the Preferred by covering all the spending that does not fall into the 3x bonus categories.
Wait another 3 months and apply for the Ink Business Cash. Also no annual fee, and the 5x on office supplies and internet services is excellent for businesses that buy supplies regularly. Keep this card forever alongside the Unlimited.
By spacing applications at least 3 months apart, you reduce the risk of denial due to too many recent Chase applications. You also give yourself enough time to meet each card's minimum spending requirement without overextending your budget.
The Chase 2/30 Rule
Beyond the well-known 5/24 rule, Chase also enforces an unofficial 2/30 guideline: they generally will not approve more than 2 Chase card applications within a rolling 30-day period. This applies across both personal and business Chase applications combined.
What This Means for Ink Applications
If you applied for a Chase Sapphire Preferred and a Chase Freedom Unlimited in the same month, do not also apply for an Ink card during that 30-day window. Wait until at least 30 days have passed since your second-most-recent Chase application. Even though business cards are submitted through a separate application process, they still count toward the 2/30 limit.
Business vs. Personal Applications
Chase business card applications are processed separately from personal applications. You apply through the Chase business portal, and the card is issued under your business name (even if that is just your personal name as a sole proprietor). However, the 2/30 limit counts both types. The recommended approach is to apply for one card at a time and wait for approval before considering another Chase application.
Chase Ink Bonus Categories Deep Dive
The Ink Business Preferred earns 3x on several business-relevant categories, but knowing exactly what counts (and what does not) is critical to maximizing your points. These 3x categories have a combined annual cap of $150,000 in spending, after which purchases earn 1x.
Travel
Shipping
Advertising (Social Media & Search Engines)
Internet, Cable & Phone Services
Note: Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ do not qualify for the 3x internet/cable/phone category. They are coded as entertainment or digital goods, not as cable or internet providers.
$150,000 Annual Cap: The 3x earning rate applies to the first $150,000 in combined annual purchases across all bonus categories. After that, purchases in those categories earn 1x. For most small businesses, this cap is more than sufficient. If you spend heavily on advertising, the cap is worth monitoring.
Using Ink Points with a Sapphire Card
Chase Ink cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, but the value of those points depends heavily on whether you also hold a Chase Sapphire card. This is the single most important factor in getting maximum value from your Ink points.
Ink Alone
Without a Sapphire card, your UR points can only be redeemed for 1 cent per point as cash back or statement credits. You cannot transfer to airline or hotel partners. This is the minimum value.
+ Sapphire Preferred
With a Sapphire Preferred, your Ink points are worth 1.25 cents each in the Chase travel portal. You also unlock the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners like United, Hyatt, and Southwest, where value can exceed 2 cents per point.
+ Sapphire Reserve
With a Sapphire Reserve, your Ink points are worth 1.5 cents each in the Chase travel portal, plus you get the same transfer partner access. This is the highest guaranteed floor value for UR points.
Always pair Ink cards with a Sapphire card. You can combine UR points from all your Chase cards into one account. Move your Ink points to your Sapphire account to unlock transfer partners and higher portal redemption rates. Without a Sapphire card, you are leaving significant value on the table. See our Chase Sapphire churning guide for more on the Sapphire ecosystem.
Annual Fee Strategy
Of the three Ink cards, only the Ink Business Preferred carries an annual fee of $95 per year. The Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash are both free to keep indefinitely. Here is how to think about the Preferred's annual fee over time:
Year 1: Always Worth It
The math is straightforward. You pay $95 and receive 100,000 UR points worth $1,000 to $2,000+. Even at the most conservative 1 cent per point valuation, you are netting over $900 in value. The annual fee is a non-factor in year one.
Year 2+: Evaluate Your Spending
After the first year, decide whether the 3x bonus categories justify the $95 fee. Ask yourself:
- ✓Keep if: You spend heavily on shipping, advertising, travel, or internet/phone. At 3x vs 1x, you earn 2 extra points per dollar. At 1.25 cpp (with Sapphire Preferred), you need just $3,800 in 3x categories to break even on the $95 fee.
- →Downgrade if: Your bonus category spending is low. You can downgrade the Ink Preferred to an Ink Cash or Ink Unlimited (if you do not already hold that card) to avoid the fee while keeping the credit line open.
Call for Retention Offers First
Before canceling or downgrading, call Chase and mention you are considering closing due to the annual fee. Chase sometimes offers bonus points (5,000-15,000 UR) or statement credits to retain you. If the retention offer covers the annual fee, it makes sense to keep the card another year. If no offer is available, proceed with the downgrade.
Who Can Apply for Chase Ink Business Cards
You do not need a registered LLC, corporation, or established business to apply for a Chase Ink card. Sole proprietors using their Social Security Number (SSN) are fully eligible, and this is how the majority of churners apply.
What Counts as a Business
- ✓Freelancing or consulting of any kind
- ✓Selling items on eBay, Amazon, Etsy, or Poshmark
- ✓Tutoring, pet sitting, lawn care, or any side gig
- ✓Renting property (even a single room on Airbnb)
- ✓Driving for Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash
- ✓Any activity that generates (or intends to generate) income
How to Fill Out the Application
- →Business name: Your own legal name (first and last)
- →Business type: Sole Proprietorship
- →Tax ID: Your SSN
- →Years in business: How long you have been doing the activity (even 1 year is fine)
- →Revenue: Your actual revenue, even if small (report honestly)
Be honest on the application. Report your real revenue and business activity. You do not need to exaggerate. Chase approves sole proprietors with modest revenue regularly. If you are asked to verify your business during a reconsideration call, simply explain what you do. No LLC, EIN, or business license is required for a sole proprietorship. For a more detailed look at how credit card churning works in general, see our complete guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get all three Chase Ink cards?
Yes, you can hold all three Chase Ink business cards (Ink Business Preferred, Ink Business Unlimited, and Ink Business Cash) at the same time. Each is a separate product with its own sign-up bonus. Space your applications at least 3 months apart and make sure you are under 5/24 when you apply for each one.
Do Chase Ink cards count toward 5/24?
No. Chase Ink business cards do not count toward your 5/24 status because they do not report to your personal credit bureaus. However, you must still be under 5/24 at the time you apply — the 5/24 rule applies to your application eligibility, even though the Ink card itself will not add to your count.
What is the Chase Ink Preferred 100K bonus worth?
The 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points from the Ink Business Preferred are worth at least $1,000 at 1 cent per point for cash back. When paired with a Sapphire Preferred, they are worth $1,250 through the Chase travel portal. When paired with a Sapphire Reserve, they are worth $1,500 through the portal. Transferred to airline and hotel partners, the value can exceed $2,000 depending on redemption.
What are the Chase Ink Preferred bonus categories?
The Chase Ink Business Preferred earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 in combined annual purchases in these categories: travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, tolls, parking), shipping (UPS, FedEx, USPS), internet, cable, and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn, Instagram). Everything else earns 1x.
Should I get the Ink Preferred or Ink Unlimited first?
Get the Ink Business Preferred first. It has the highest sign-up bonus at 100,000 points (compared to the flat-rate bonuses on the Unlimited and Cash). The $95 annual fee is easily justified by the bonus value. After earning the Preferred bonus, apply for the Ink Unlimited and Ink Cash, which have no annual fee and can be kept indefinitely.
What is the annual fee for Chase Ink Business Preferred?
The Chase Ink Business Preferred has an annual fee of $95 per year. This fee is not waived for the first year. However, the 100,000 point sign-up bonus (worth $1,000 to $2,000+) far outweighs the fee. The Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash both have no annual fee.
Can I churn the Ink Preferred more than once?
Chase restricts Ink Preferred bonuses with a 24-month rule: you cannot earn the sign-up bonus if you received a bonus on the same card within the last 24 months. After 24 months, you can close the card and reapply for a new one with a fresh bonus. Some data points suggest waiting a full statement cycle after closing before reapplying.