How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.If you’re a small business owner who’s looking to get rewarded for your company-related spending and occasional travel, you can squeeze a lot out of the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Along with offering valuable rewards on business expenses — including shipping, search engine and social media advertising, travel and internet, cable and phone services — you can earn a huge influx of rewards from the card’s sign-up bonus. Plus, rewards are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase’s travel portal.
On the downside, the card does have a $95 annual fee, and you’ll have to spend quite a bit to earn its sign-up bonus: $15,000 in the first three months of account opening. If you’re not confident you could hit that threshold, you may be better off with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, which comes with a $0 annual fee and easier-to-earn sign-up bonus.
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
21.24% – 26.24% Variable
Intro BT APR
N/A
Regular BT APR
21.24% – 26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Cash Advance Fee
Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Huge sign-up bonus
As a new cardholder, you’ll earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This sign-up bonus is generally valued at $1,000, but if you redeem those rewards for travel through Chase’s travel portal, it will be worth $1,250.
Rewards in popular business spending and travel
With the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 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. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.
The following purchases are eligible for the elevated rewards rates:
Valuable rewards redemption options
When you redeem your Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card points for cash or gift cards, they’re worth 1 cent each. But if you redeem them for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, activities or cruises through Chase Travel℠, they’ll be worth 25% more — boosting the value to $1.25 cents each.
This means, if you max out the annual $150,000 spend cap on eligible shipping and advertising purchases, you’ll get $4,500 in rewards value if you redeem those points for cash or gift cards. If you redeem those points for travel through Chase’s travel portal, they’ll be worth $5,625.
You can also transfer Ultimate Rewards points at a rate of 1:1 to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards®, JetBlue TrueBlue, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®, United MileagePlus®, Marriott Bonvoy™ and more.
Steep sign-up bonus spend requirement
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card requires you to spend $15,000 in the first three months to earn the sign-up bonus. While this may be easily doable for many businesses, it can be a very high threshold if you’re a freelancer or someone just starting out your business.
Annual fee
With the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you’ll be responsible for paying a $95 annual fee.
However, the value you can get from the card’s sign-up bonus more than covers that amount during the first year of card membership.
No introductory APR on purchases
If you’re hoping to finance a large business purchase, such as office furniture or travel, and pay it off over time, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card isn’t your best option.
Instead, you may want to consider a business credit card that offers an interest-free period on purchases for a year or longer, like the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.
If you’d prefer to earn cash back rewards from a business credit card that doesn’t charge an annual fee, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card may be a better fit.
The $0-annual-fee card lets you earn 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. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
You’ll also earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. While this is a less valuable sign-up bonus than that of the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, keep in mind that the spend requirement to earn the bonus is also lower.
In addition, if you plan to carry a balance from month to month, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card lets you do so without incurring interest charges for a year. The card comes with a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months. Once the promotional period ends, a regular APR of 18.49% to 24.49% variable will apply.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
$95 | Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn 3 points per $1 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. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
$0 | Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. | Earn 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. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
|
No annual fee | Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. | Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% | Good/Excellent | ||
American Express® Business Gold Card
|
$375 | Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.* | Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card. Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required. | Good/Excellent |
For a reasonable $95 annual fee, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent small business credit card. The card offers a hefty sign-up bonus and valuable rewards — which can help offset the cost of your business expenses.
But if you prefer a $0-annual-fee card that offers cash back at office supply stores, gas stations, restaurants and more, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card may be a better choice. Plus, since this card offers a long intro APR on purchases, it would be helpful if you plan to carry a balance on your card from month to month.
Apply Now
