Who is eligible for the Chase Ink Business Preferred sign-up bonus?

Who is eligible for the Chase Ink Business Preferred sign-up bonus?

Business owners who have opened fewer than 5 personal credit cards in the past 24 months are eligible for the Chase Ink Business Preferred sign-up bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $1,250 for travel) after spending $8,000 in the first three months. This eligibility extends to sole proprietors, small business owners, and authorized representatives of larger businesses with qualifying credit profiles and business credentials.

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Current Chase Ink Business Preferred cardholders and those who have received a sign-up bonus for this specific card in the past 24 months are typically ineligible for another bonus. Chase evaluates overall business finances, personal credit history, and relationship with the bank when determining both card approval and sign-up bonus eligibility.

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Beyond the published criteria, Chase may apply additional unpublished requirements for determining sign-up bonus eligibility, including factors like frequency of recent applications, credit utilization across accounts, and the perceived stability of your business.

Chase's 5/24 rule explained

Chase's "5/24 rule" is a guideline stating that if you've opened 5 or more personal credit cards from any issuer within the past 24 months, Chase will typically decline your application for a new card, including the Ink Business Preferred. This restriction was implemented to limit customers opening multiple cards in a short timeframe primarily to collect sign-up bonuses.

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Important details about the 5/24 rule include:

• The count includes personal cards from all issuers, not just Chase
• Most business credit cards from other issuers don't count toward your 5/24 total
• Authorized user accounts may count toward your total
• The 24-month period is calculated on a rolling basis

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To determine your 5/24 status, simply review your credit reports and count your personal credit card accounts opened in the past 24 months.

Chase Ink Business Preferred card details

Welcome bonus

The Chase Ink Business Preferred currently offers new cardholders 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. This bonus is valued at $1,250 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, representing one of the most valuable business credit card offers currently available in the market.

Earning rewards points

The Ink Business Preferred features a tiered rewards structure that particularly benefits businesses with significant spending in specific categories:

• 3x points on the first $150,000 spent annually in combined purchases on:
  • Travel (including airfare, hotels, rental cars, and train tickets)
  • Shipping purchases (including courier services and freight)
  • Internet, cable, and phone services (including cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services)
  • Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines (including Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Bing ads)
• 1x points on all other purchases with no limit

Redeeming rewards points

Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned with the Ink Business Preferred can be redeemed in multiple ways, with travel redemptions offering the best value. When booking travel through the Chase Travel portal, points are worth 25% more (1.25 cents per point), making the welcome bonus worth $1,250 instead of $1,000. For potentially even greater value, points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Chase's airline and hotel partners, including United, Southwest, Hyatt, and Marriott, where strategic redemptions can yield returns exceeding 2 cents per point.

Annual fee

The Chase Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee that is not waived for the first year. This recurring cost should be factored into the overall value proposition of the card, especially for businesses with moderate spending in the bonus categories.

Key benefits

The Ink Business Preferred includes several benefits beyond its rewards structure, including 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 1:1 point transfers to airline and hotel partners, no foreign transaction fees, and cell phone protection up to $1,000 per claim. The card also provides comprehensive travel insurance benefits, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and free employee cards.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Chase Ink Business Preferred cost?

The Chase Ink Business Preferred has an annual fee of $95, with no foreign transaction fees and no additional cost for employee cards. The fee is not waived for the first year and is charged on your first statement, but for businesses that can utilize the card's bonus categories and benefits, the value received typically outweighs this cost.

Does Chase Ink Business Preferred have lounge access?

No, the Chase Ink Business Preferred does not offer airport lounge access as part of its benefits package. Business owners seeking lounge access might consider premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or certain American Express business cards that include Priority Pass or specific airline lounge memberships.

What is the credit limit for the Chase Ink Business Preferred card?

Chase does not publish specific credit limit ranges for the Ink Business Preferred, with limits determined based on factors including business revenue, personal income, credit history, and existing relationship with Chase. Initial credit limits typically range from $5,000 to over $25,000 for qualified applicants, with the possibility of requesting increases after establishing a positive payment history.

Consider Ramp: A modern alternative for business spending

While the Chase Ink Business Preferred offers valuable rewards for certain business spending categories, many businesses are discovering significant advantages with Ramp's comprehensive spend management platform. Businesses using Ramp save an average of 5% on their total spending through a combination of automated expense policies, real-time spending controls, and AI-powered insights that identify savings opportunities.

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Unlike traditional business credit cards that primarily focus on rewards points, Ramp's integrated platform addresses the entire financial workflow—from corporate cards and bill payments to accounting automation and reporting. The platform's built-in spend management tools help businesses identify redundant subscriptions, negotiate better vendor terms, and implement smarter spending policies that directly impact the bottom line.

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For businesses prioritizing measurable cost reduction over rewards points, Ramp's 5% average savings represents a substantially higher return than traditional points-based systems. Furthermore, Ramp's cashback rewards on purchases provide straightforward value without the complexity of category restrictions or redemption options found in points-based systems.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article has not been officially confirmed by Chase and is subject to change.