Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card Review [2024]: How I Boosted My Business Travel Rewards

Card basics

Who should get the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a great fit for small business owners and side hustlers who typically have travel, shipping, advertising, and internet services expenses. As someone who runs a nature photography side hustle, I've found this card to be quite rewarding for my travel and advertising purchases.

Let’s take a closer look at how this card fits different business usages. It earns 3X points on first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year

• Frequent business travelers: If you're constantly on the move for client meetings or industry conferences, this card's rewards can really add up. Assuming you spend $1,000 a month on business travel expenses, you’d earn 36,000 points a year. That's $450 worth of travel when redeemed through Chase Travel.
• Businesses with an online presence: The points you earn on advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines can provide a great return on spending businesses with a digital presence. For example, if your business manages ad budgets for clients, you could see your point balance grow rapidly.
• E-commerce entrepreneurs: If you're in the e-commerce space, you can earn rewards on shipping purchases. A friend of mine who runs an online store earns thousands of points each month just from shipping products to her customers.

These aren’t the only business types that would benefit from the Ink Business Preferred. But you can see how this card fits a broad spectrum of business activities.

Who should skip?

While the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is great for many businesses, it might not be the best fit for everyone. If your business doesn't spend much in the bonus categories or if you prefer cash back over travel rewards, you might want to consider other options. For instance, if you're a freelancer with low overhead costs, a simpler cash back business card with $0 annual fee like the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card might be a better fit.

What should you know before applying?

As a small business owner, you might be hesitant to add to your expenses with the $95 annual fee for the Ink Business Preferred. However, when used strategically, the rewards and benefits of this card can easily outweigh the cost. Even for a modest e-commerce operation, the value of these rewards can be significant.

Let's consider an example of how a small e-commerce business owner might offset the fee in a year:

In this scenario, a small e-commerce business owner would earn over $225 in net value after accounting for the annual fee. This demonstrates how even a small business can benefit from the card's rewards structure.

Of course, your actual business needs and expenses may vary. But all businesses using this card can benefit from the 25% additional redemption value via Chase Travel, which boosts your progress toward offsetting the annual fee.

Here's a closer look at this card's top benefits

Generous welcome offer

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card starts off strong with an impressive welcome offer. You can earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

This is one of the most generous welcome offers I've seen for a business card with a sub-$100 annual fee. When I first got this card for my photography business, I easily met the spending requirement by timing my application with a few large purchases I had planned, including a new camera, lens, and more. Those bonus points funded several trips, giving my small side hustle a significant boost.

Flexible rewards structure

What I love about this card is its versatility. You can earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases.

For my nature photography business, I find myself earning bonus points on everything from booking flights to remote locations to advertising my services on social media. It's refreshing to have a card that rewards such a wide range of business activities.

Boosted redemption value through Chase Travel

One of my favorite perks of this card is the 25% bonus value when redeeming points through Chase Travel. This effectively turns the 3X points into 3.75 points on bonus categories when used for travel through Chase.

I've used this to stretch my points further on trips, getting more value out of every dollar I spend and point I redeem. It's a feature that really sets this card apart from other business cards I've used.

Valuable travel protections

As someone who travels for photoshoots, I appreciate the comprehensive travel protections this card offers. The trip cancellation/interruption insurance can be a lifesaver when unexpected events force me to change plans. Knowing I have primary rental car insurance also gives me peace of mind when I'm driving to remote locations for shoots.

Cell phone protection

In today's digital age, our phones are often our most important business tools. The cell phone protection offered by this card (up to $1,000 per claim) has been incredibly valuable for me. As a photographer who is always on the go, my phone is constantly at risk. I even use it inside an underwater housing for some of my photoshoots. Knowing I have this extra layer of protection allows me to use my phone without worry, whether I'm coordinating shoots or editing photos on the fly.

Drawbacks: Why you may want a different card

The annual fee may not be worth it for low spenders

While the $95 annual fee is modest compared to some premium business cards, it might still be a block for very small businesses or those just starting out.

If your business expenses are low, or if they don't align well with the bonus categories, you might struggle to earn enough rewards to offset the fee. In such cases, a $0-annual-fee card like the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card might be a better fit.

Bonus category spending cap

The 3X points earning is capped at $150,000 in combined purchases across the bonus categories each account anniversary year. For larger businesses with high expenses in these categories, this cap could be limiting.

Once you hit the cap, you'll only earn 1 point per dollar on these purchases. If your business consistently exceeds this limit, you could pair the Ink Business Preferred with the American Express^® Business Gold Card. This card earns 4X Membership Rewards Points on purchases in the two eligible categories with the most spend each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, after that 1X), 3X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases.

No introductory APR offer

Unlike some business cards, the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card doesn't offer an introductory APR period on purchases or balance transfers. If your business needs to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance, you might be better served by a card that offers an intro APR period. For instance, the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card offers 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases (then 17.99% - 25.99% Variable).

Earning and redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points

The Ink Business Preferred offers has a generous rewards earning structure, and cardholders can earn up to $150,000 spent each year on:

You’ll also earn one point per dollar on all other purchases, plus you can Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Best ways to earn

The card is best if you focus your spending on the Ink Business Preferred bonus categories. So if you have more than one business credit card, make sure you use this one on those select business categories to maximize the amount you earn.

Also, keep an eye on the bonus cap. If your business spends more than $150,000 on the card’s bonus categories, it may be a good idea to have a backup card that also offers bonus rewards on those purchases, so you’re not stuck earning one point per dollar on everything once you’ve reached that cap.

Maximizing your redemptions

Even if you’re earning one point per dollar on a lot of your expenses, the Ink Business Preferred rewards program is flexible enough that you can still squeeze a lot of value out of your rewards.

While you can get cash back and gift cards at a rate of one cent per point, those are still at the lower end of the value scale. In the middle is booking travel through Chase Travel, which will net you 1.25 cents per point.

Ink Business Preferred transfer partners

If you’re dedicated to maximizing your points, however, take some time to learn about Chase’s transfer partners and how you can transfer points to them to potentially get even more than 1.25 cents per point in value. With the right redemption, transferring points can be a great way to save on airfare. Those partners include:

Ink Business Preferred FAQ

Alternatives that might be better for you

While the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is an excellent choice for many businesses, it might not be the best fit for everyone. If your business doesn't spend much on travel, shipping, advertising, or internet services, you may struggle to maximize the card's bonus categories.

Similarly, if you prefer cash back to travel rewards, or if you're looking for a card with no annual fee or an introductory APR offer, you might want to consider a different option. In these cases, one of the following alternatives could be a better choice for your business needs.

American Express^® Business Gold Card

The American Express^® Business Gold Card could be a better choice if your business spending doesn't align perfectly with the Ink Business Preferred's bonus categories. It earns 4X Membership Rewards Points on purchases in the two eligible categories with the most spend each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, after that 1X), 3X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases.

While this card comes with a higher $375 annual fee, it enables you to earn up to $240 in flexible business credit every year, broken into up to $20 in statement credits each month on eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores. You can also earn up to $155 in Walmart+ credit a year in the form of up to $12.95 back in statement credits each month, plus applicable taxes.

While these credits alone help me offset most of this card’s annual fee, I also typically use it to fill up at U.S. gas stations and for my transactions at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Both of these categories are among its 6 eligible elevated rewards categories, which boosts how quickly I earn points.

Learn more in our American Express^® Business Gold Card review.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card is another Chase Ink business card that might be a better fit for some small business owners, especially those looking to avoid an annual fee. It has a $0 annual fee and earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

I've found this card particularly useful for my office supply purchases and internet bills, where it earns more than my Ink Preferred. If you're just starting out or want to avoid annual fees, this could be a great option.

However, I still use my Ink Business Preferred for travel expenses because of its higher earning rate and travel protections. In my experience, having both cards allows me to maximize rewards across a wider range of business expenses. Plus, I can transfer the cash back I earn (which is in the form of points) to my Ink Preferred to use its 25% bonus redemption value at Chase Travel.

Learn more in our Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card review.

Hot Welcome Bonus

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Apply Now

Why We Like It

Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

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See how these cards compare:

American Express® Business Gold Card

• Generous welcome offer
• Up to $240 in annual flexible business credit
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits
• Flexible rewards structure that adjusts to your top eligible categories
• No preset spending limit¹
• Elevated travel rewards and extensive travel protections
• See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

• Solid rewards on office supply, telecom spending, gas, and dining
• Generous welcome offer
• Intro APR on purchases
• $0 annual fee
• Valuable purchase and travel protections

Hot Welcome Bonus

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Apply Now

Current Offer

Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Rate

3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Generous welcome offer
• High rewards rate on common business expenses
• Flexible Ultimate Rewards points
• No foreign transaction fees
• Cell phone, purchase, and travel protections

Drawbacks

• Annual fee of $95
• $150,000 annual cap on bonus category spending
• No intro APR offer

Card Details

• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Member FDIC