Some of the top travel rewards cards recommended by ChooseFI in all of the travel rewards world are actually three Chase Business credit cards! All 3 of them offer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which we highly value for their flexibility.
While you might initially think you don’t qualify for these cards if you don't have a registered business, there's a broad definition of what qualifies as a business (see below), so don't count out this opportunity quite yet!
The trio of cards we're excited about:
It's no secret that we love Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. These 3 cards are some of the best ways to earn additional Ultimate Rewards® points if you already have and earned the bonus from one of the Sapphire personal cards.
Why We Love Chase Business Ink cards
Besides the generous bonuses and versatility and value of the Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, there are two other things we love about the Chase Business Ink cards:
Anyone With A Side Hustle Can Apply
Don’t let the “Business” in the cards’ name throw you off. These are great cards to have in your wallet, and most people in the FI community will qualify for it.
If you have any kind of side hustle you can apply for a business credit card. That means even if you have an Airbnb, drive for Uber or Lyft, rent your vehicle on Turo or Maven, deliver for InstarCart and Doordash, or do any freelance work at all, you can get one or more of these cards.
Naturally, everyone’s own situation may be different, but if you have a new-ish side hustle business, you probably should use your Social Security Number to apply for this card.
You can apply for more than one if you have more than one side hustle business.
Business Credit Cards Don't Count Against 5/24
One fantastic benefit of a business card that many people don't realize is that they don't count against your 5/24 with Chase. Chase has a general rule that only allows you to sign up for five cards every 24 months--commonly referred to as the 5/24 rule. But business cards don't count against your 5/24!
The Three Chase Business Ink Cards For Side Hustlers
- Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
Important Note: While Chase calls this total bonus offer "cash back," you actually earn points. If you have one of the "Premium" Chase UR cards then you can combine these points into that account and they all become the more valuable transferable UR points!
- Earn 5% cash back (each account anniversary) on purchases from office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services. Combined spend on the first $25,000 per year.
- Earn 2% cash back (each account anniversary) on purchases on dining and gas on the first $25,000 spent per year.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases. Unlimited.
- $0 Annual Fee.
Learn how to apply for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Benefits include:
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- For each $1 spent, earn 3 points for the first $150,000 (per year) when spent on travel and certain business categories (such as internet, cable & phone, shipping).
- For all other purchases, you earn one UR point per $1 spent.
- Can redeem for cash at 1 cent per point, or you can transfer to a travel partner for potentially more significant value.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $95 annual fee
Learn how to apply for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
Important Note: While Chase calls this bonus offer "cash back," you actually earn Ultimate Rewards® (UR) points. If you have one of the "Premium" Chase UR cards then you can combine these points into that account and they all become the more valuable transferable UR points!
- For every business purchase, earn 1.5% cash back. Unlimited.
- $0 Annual Fee.
Learn how to apply for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Ways to get the most value from your Ultimate Rewards® points
How to get GOOD value from your points
Redeem them for cash. That's a pretty good trade if you don't have the time or interest to get better value by using the point for travel rewards.
How to get GREAT value from your points
The most value you'll probably get is to transfer your points to a Chase premium travel card, then transfer those points to a partner program such as:
- Hyatt hotels
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- British Airways
How To Maximize The Odds Of Approval
If your side hustle business is pretty new, it will not have a seasoned credit history, which means the approval decision would depend on your personal credit history, so you'll want to apply for the card using your social security number.
If you have a more established business that has been running for a few years and has its own credit history, applying with your EIN might be helpful.
The Bottom Line
We love these cards because all three of the Chase Ink Business cards have great sign-up bonuses which will earn you points that can be transferred to your personal accounts.
The and the both have annual fees, while the has a annual fee.
And don't think you have to have a brick-and-mortar business in order to qualify for a business card. Anyone with a side hustle, no matter how small, can apply.