Best Chase Business Credit Card Offers for January 2026 Best Chase Business Credit Card Offers for January 2026

Best Chase Business Credit Card Offers for January 2026

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Offers for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Premier® Credit Card and United Club℠ Business Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers

Whether you want to earn cash back, flexible points, hotel points, or airline miles, you'll likely find a Chase business credit card that meets your needs. In this post, we'll cover the costs and benefits for each small-business card and highlight the best welcome offers currently available to new cardmembers.

Wondering if you qualify for a Chase business card? We cover this at the end, including an overview of Chase's application rules, how to know if your side hustle qualifies as a business, and what information you'll need to open a new account.

Chase Business Card Offers & Key Benefits

Before we jump into our top picks among Chase business credit cards, here's a summary of the rewards, key benefits, and welcome offers available to new cardholders.

CardRewardsWelcome OfferAnnual FeeKey Benefits
Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
(Rates & Fees)
1X-8X Chase Ultimate Rewards pointsEarn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and access more than $6,500 in total business and travel value in your first year.$795
Variety of business, travel, and dining statement credits, airport lounge access, and 1:1 transfer to 13 travel partners
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card3x on $150,000 of spending in popular business categories plus 1x on other purchases.Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.$95

Points are worth up to 1.75¢ each (depending on your specific redemption) in travel or can be transferred to any of 13 airline and hotel partners
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card2%–2.5% cash backEarn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.$195
High cash-back rewards rate & excellent travel and purchase insurance coverage, plus no preset spending limit
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)1.5% cash backEarn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.$0
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back with no annual fee
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)5% and 2% cash back on $25,000 of yearly purchases in bonus categories, plus unlimited 1% cash back on other purchasesEarn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening$0
Earn 5% cash back in key business categories without an annual fee
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)1X–3X Rapid Rewards pointsEarn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.$149
6,000 annual bonus points & two free EarlyBird check-in each year
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)1X–4X Rapid Rewards pointsEarn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.$299
9,000 annual bonus points, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and upgraded boarding credits
United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees)1X–2X United milesEarn 75,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
Free first checked bag and priority boarding, plus ability to earn 5,000 annual bonus miles and a $125 United credit
United Club℠ Business Card1.5X-2X United miles80,000 bonus miles plus 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.$695
Complimentary United Club membership, two free checked bags, premier upgrades, and more
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)1X–4X World of Hyatt points60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.$199
Automatic Discoverist status & the ability to earn additional elite nights through spending, plus earn Hyatt spending credits and a point rebate through spending
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)3X–10X IHG One Rewards pointsEarn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.$99
Automatic Platinum elite status, 4th night free on award stays & annual free night certificate

Read on for a full breakdown, but here's a summary what we recommend among Chase's business card lineup:

Premium Chase Business Cards

Chase has one ultra-premium business credit card available for frequent business travelers. Here's what you need to know.

Sapphire Reserve Business — Best for Premium Benefits

The new (Rates & Fees) is one of the most exciting developments to happen to Chase's business card portfolio.

The card offers a plethora of benefits, including a $300 annual travel credit, a $500 credit for stays with The Edit, $420 in DoorDash value, a $200 Google Workspace credit, a $400 ZipRecruiter credit, $120 in Lyft credits, and a $100 curated gift card credit. If you maximize each credit and benefit, you can easily get double or triple what you pay in annual fees in value.

Plus, if your business tends to spend a lot (to the tune of $120,000 per year), you'll unlock even more benefits, like IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status, Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List status, Hyatt Explorist status, and more.

Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
Annual Fee$795
Welcome Bonus Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and access more than $6,500 in total business and travel value in your first year.
Chase’s flagship business travel card. Earn 8x on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, and 3x on eligible ad spend. Get $300 in travel credit, VIP lounge access, and premium travel protections to elevate every business trip.
  • Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
  • $6,500+ in value your first year. 200K points, valued at $4,000 for select flights and hotels through Chase Travel℠, plus $2,500+ in annual value through travel and business benefits.
  • Earn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ for airline tickets, hotels, including The Edit℠, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours.
  • Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • Earn 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct.
  • Earn 3x points on social media & search engine advertising.
  • Get the most flexible travel credit compared to any other card, with up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year on travel purchases.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club network and Priority Pass™ Select membership. Two guests may accompany the Primary Cardmember to the lounges free of charge.
  • Member FDIC
  • 8X points on all Chase Travel℠ purchases
  • 5X total points on eligible Lyft rides through 9/30/2027
  • 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
  • 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media platforms and search engines
  • 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Rewards structure

The Sapphire Reserve Business earns:

  • 8X points on all Chase Travel℠ purchases
  • 5X total points on eligible Lyft rides through 9/30/2027
  • 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
  • 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media platforms and search engines
  • 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

The Chase Ultimate Rewards points the card earns are worth approximately 1 cent each when redeemed for cash. If you use them to book travel through Chase Travel℠, you'll enjoy a bonus on their value, making them worth up to 2 cents each, depending on your specific redemption.

That said, our favorite way to redeem Ultimate Rewards points is by transferring them to travel partners. It's awesome to have this flexibility. Rather than being locked into a specific rewards currency like many other Chase business credit cards (e.g., United miles or World of Hyatt points), you have a plethora of options. Your rewards can be transferred to any of 13 Chase transfer partners.

AwardWallet users get an average value of 1.99¢ cents per Ultimate Rewards point, in large part due to transferring them to partner programs. If you're a heavy spender in any of the card's bonus categories, you can easily accumulate signficant value.

Welcome offer

The comes with the following welcome offer: Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.

There's no other way to put it — this is an absolutely phenomenal welcome offer. If you redeem your points for the average value AwardWallet users get from Ultimate Rewards points, this offer is worth roughly $3,960.

Annual fee

The $795 annual fee on the Sapphire Reserve Business is by far the highest among any other cards on this list.

Downsides

  • Very high annual fee.
  • Some statement credits might not be useful for all businesses.
  • Needs very high spending to unlock top-tier benefits.

Who is this card best for?

The is perfect for frequent business travelers. The earning potential, lucrative credits, and phenomenal welcome offer make it a huge win for the right business.

However, note that the welcome offer has one of the highest spending requirements we've ever seen on a travel business card. If you aren't sure you can meet this requirement, you should opt for a different card. You don't want to leave money on the table, especially an offer with a value of close to $4,000. On that note, the Sapphire Reserve Business is a pay-in-full card, so you can't carry a balance on it from month to month. In other words, your business should have high spending to take advantage of the benefits, but also high cash flow to pay off the card at the end of the month.

This likely isn't the card for an average freelancer, but instead a solid option for an established small business that spends heavily on travel and social media advertising.

Related: Sapphire Reserve Business Review

Chase Ink Business Cards

The Chase Ink Business card lineup includes four small business cards. Each card is different, so here's what you need to know about each card's earning rates, annual fee (or lack thereof), and current new-cardmember offer.

Chase Ink Business Preferred — Best Low-Annual-Fee Travel Card

If travel is essential to your business, it's hard to do better than the Chase Ink Preferred. This card earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points and is a great fit if your business spends significantly on travel, advertising, or shipping. It also offers a suite of travel insurance benefits.

One of the few downsides is that it doesn't offer airport lounge access. But that tradeoff is also reflected in the card's affordable annual fee.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Annual Fee$95
Welcome Offer Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The most valuable Ultimate Rewards signup bonus on offer and our top pick for small business rewards cards. Business owners earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn up to 450,000 points per year on a wide range of 3X bonus categories.
  • 3X 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
  • 1X point per $1 on all other purchases

Rewards structure

The Ink Preferred earns:

  • 3X 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
  • 1X point per $1 on all other purchases

For a limited time (through September 2027), you'll also earn 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on qualifying Lyft rides.

The Ink Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that are redeemable for travel, cash, merchandise, and gift cards, or transferred to travel partners. Similar to the Sapphire Reserve Business, you can take advantage of a Points Boost through Chase Travel to earn up to 1.75 cents per point on specific redemptions. However, your best bet will still be to transfer your rewards to travel partners for maximum value.

Welcome offer

Earn 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee

The $95 annual fee of the Ink Preferred is reasonable. It corresponds to the annual fee of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), a personal Chase card geared toward consumers who prefer to earn travel rewards.

Downsides

  • The bonus categories are not especially useful for many types of businesses
  • No airport or airline travel perks, such as lounge access

Who is this card best for?

The Ink Preferred is designed for the frequent business traveler who prefers flexibility when earning or redeeming points, rather than being locked into a specific airline or hotel chain. The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points redeemable directly for travel or through any of the three hotel and 10 airline transfer partners.

Transferring Ultimate Rewards to partner loyalty programs is how AwardWallet users get the greatest value from their points. The earning potential of the Ink Preferred is complemented by solid travel insurance protection benefits.

While the rewards redemption is geared toward travel, the Ink Preferred is also an excellent card if you spend a substantial amount on shipping or social media advertising each year.

Related: Ink Preferred Review

Ink Business Cash — Best Chase Business Card with No-Annual-Fee

Would you rather not pay an annual fee for a business credit card? The Chase Ink Cash (Rates & Fees) might fit the bill. It is one of two Chase business cards that do not have an annual fee and offers an excellent return on spending in some common business expense categories. Even better, it has an excellent welcome offer — one of the best for a no-annual-fee business credit card.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Annual Fee$0
Welcome Bonus Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
Features a $750 cash back signup bonus, and you earn 5% cash back on a select range of business expenses on the first $25,000 spent each year.
  • Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three 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 purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • Member FDIC
  • 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
  • 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn

Rewards structure

The Ink Cash has a tiered rewards structure:

  • 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
  • 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn

Plus, for a limited time (through September 2027), earn a total of 5% cash back on Lyft rides.

The key to getting the most out of the Ink Cash lies in maximizing the bonus categories. These are subject to an annual cap, however. After you reach the $25,000 spend threshold for both the 5% and 2% rewards rates, you'll only earn 1% cash back on all spending. These earning limits are based on your cardmember year, not the calendar year, so make sure you understand when this resets.

Rewards are redeemable for cash, gift cards, and travel, all at a rate of 1 cent per point. It's important to note that the card technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred between accounts, potentially opening up higher-value redemption opportunities.

Related: How to Combine Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Between Credit Cards

Welcome offer

Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.

This bonus is worth the stated cash value at a minimum. However, if you have a premium Chase card — such as the Ink Preferred, Sapphire Preferred, or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) — you can combine your points across accounts to redeem them for greater value.

Annual Fee

If you don't want to pay an annual fee, the Ink Cash is one of your best Chase business card options.

Downsides

  • Transactions outside the United States will incur foreign transaction fees of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
  • Bonus categories are subject to an annual cap.

​Who is this card best for?

Businesses that spend a lot in the bonus categories offered by the Ink Cash could earn significant rewards. The 5% cash back rate at office supply stores and on internet, phone, and cable services is hard to beat.

Some cards offer a better return on gas and at restaurants, but many of these are consumer cards. Based on our analysis, if a good chunk of your spending falls within the bonus categories, this card outperforms the Ink Cash in its overall earning potential.

However, if you can't take advantage of the bonus categories and are still looking for a no-annual-fee card, check out the Ink Business Unlimited.

Related: Ink Cash Review

Ink Business Unlimited — Best for a Simple Earning Strategy

The Chase Ink Unlimited (Rates & Fees) has a simple rewards structure that will appeal to business owners who want to earn solid rewards but don't want to track specific bonus categories. However, the real secret is pairing it with a premium Chase card to maximize your points.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Annual Fee$0
Welcome Bonus Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The best business card to earn Ultimate Rewards on non-bonus purchases, you receive a $750 cash back bonus after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 1.5% back on all business expenses.
  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • 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.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business

Rewards structure

The Ink Unlimited has a simple rewards structure:

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.
  • For a limited time through September 2027, earn a total of 5% cash back on Lyft rides.

There's no tracking of bonus categories here. Rewards are redeemable for cash, gift cards, and travel, all at a rate of 1 cent per point. The card technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, though, which can be transferred between accounts.

Welcome offer

Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

This bonus is worth the stated cash value at a minimum, but it also offers the ability to combine rewards with other cards to unlock more valuable redemption options.

Annual Fee

If you don't want to pay an annual fee for a card, the Ink Business Unlimited is one of your best Chase business card options.

Downsides

  • Transactions outside the United States will incur foreign transaction fees of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
  • No bonus categories, if that's what you prefer in a business credit card.

​Who is this card best for?

If you prefer simplicity when earning rewards with a business credit card, the Ink Unlimited should be a top choice. It's also one of only two Chase business cards that don't charge an annual fee. If fees are a turn-off, this may be the card for you.

For those interested in fielding a whole suite of Chase credit cards, the Ink Business Unlimited complements other cards very well. Consider the Ink Preferred for its travel benefits while also holding the Ink Business Unlimited to earn 1.5X points on everyday business purchases.

Related: Ink Business Unlimited Review

Chase Ink Business Premier — Best Card for Large Purchases

As one of the newer members of the Chase business credit card lineup, the Ink Business Premier is a bit different. It offers a high cash-back rate with additional earnings on purchases over $5,000.

The flip side is that you can only redeem your rewards as cash back, even if you have a premium Chase card offering points transfer to travel partners. The rewards can't be combined with other cards, making it somewhat of an outlier in the Chase business card lineup.

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
Annual Fee$195
Welcome Bonus Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card is tailored for businesses with significant spending, offering robust cash back and travel benefits. It features unlimited 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, and 2% back on all other business purchases. For travel, it provides 5% cash back on bookings through Chase Travel℠, with additional travel protections like trip cancellation/interruption insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver. The card includes purchase protection, extended warranty, and up to $1,000 cell phone protection per claim. Additionally, it offers employee cards at no extra cost, complete with spending controls and monitoring tools. Despite its $195 annual fee, the card's high cash back rates and suite of business-focused features make it a valuable tool for high-spending businesses.
  • 5% cash back on travel purchases through the Chase Travel℠ portal
  • 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more
  • 2% cash back on all other purchases

Rewards structure

The earning rates are geared toward businesses that make large purchases:

  • 5% cash back on travel purchases through the Chase Travel℠ portal
  • 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more
  • 2% cash back on all other purchases

The biggest downside is that the Ink Business Premier doesn't earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can redeem your rewards for cash, gift cards, travel, and more. But you can't combine your rewards with those from another card.

This means you can't get additional value by transferring your earnings to travel partners. Redeeming at face value (1¢ per rewards point) is the maximum value you'll get.

Welcome offer

Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

This offer has a high spending requirement. But if your business has large purchases that make this card an ideal choice, you shouldn't have much of a problem earning the bonus.

Annual fee

The Ink Business Premier‘s $195 annual fee is steep compared to many other choices on this list. Keep this in mind, as you'll need to ensure the additional earning rates make up for it.

Downsides

  • You must pay your account in full each month. You can get a Flex for Business limit that lets you pay off purchases over time, though this will incur interest charges.
  • Inability to combine rewards with other Chase cards.

Who is this card best for?

The Ink Premier is best suited for those with lots of large business expenses and no desire to earn travel rewards. It has a niche by offering 2.5% cash back on large purchases. Aside from that, it's not a strong contender when compared to other Ink cards.

Frequent travelers can do better with the Ink Preferred. Assuming you get the average value AwardWallet users get from their Ultimate Rewards points (1.99¢ each), the earning rates are nearly the same. Given the difference in annual fees, you need to make a number of purchases at higher earning rates (5% and 2.5% back) to justify the higher annual fee here.

If you get good value when using transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the Ink Business Premier likely won't hold any real value for you. However, if you prefer cash back, simplicity, and you make large purchases regularly, this card may be a good fit for you.

Related: Ink Business Premier Review

Chase Business Cards for Hotel & Airline Rewards

In addition to the Ink Business card family, Chase offers several co-branded rewards cards in partnership with United, Hyatt, and IHG. Right now, our top picks are the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card — which we cover in more detail below. For more about the other Chase hotel and airline business cards, check out our reviews:

Southwest Performance Business Card — Best Chase Airline Card

Among the airline business credit cards reviewed by our team, the Southwest Performance Business Card performs the best. We caveat that statement with the fact that you need to be a Southwest frequent flyer to maximize its value. If your loyalties lie elsewhere, or if you aren't loyal to a specific airline, you may do better with a different card or a more general credit card that earns flexible points.

With that out of the way, we'll show how the benefits offered by the Southwest Performance Business Card stack up so you get far more value from it year after year than the annual fee it levies.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Annual Fee$299
Welcome Bonus Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The latest card to join the Southwest lineup of rewards cards, the Southwest Performance Business Card offers the highest Rapid Rewards signup bonus, earns more points than its Southwest counterparts, receives a massive 9,000-point anniversary bonus, plus offers plenty of perks and benefits for Southwest fans. One of the best co-brand business cards on the market.
  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
  • Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
  • Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
  • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
  • Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.*
  • Member FDIC
  • 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
  • 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
  • 2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
  • 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
  • 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Rewards structure

The Southwest Performance Business Card earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points at the following rates:

  • 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
  • 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
  • 2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
  • 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
  • 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases

If you frequently book flights with Southwest for work travel, you can rack up a lot of Rapid Rewards points. AwardWallet users typically redeem Southwest points at 1.52¢ apiece, meaning the 4X earning provides over a 6% return for every $1 you spend with Southwest — not to mention the base points you earn as a Rapid Rewards member. The other bonus earning categories offered by this card pair nicely with the earnings on Southwest airfare. If your business involves frequent travel and you're a loyal Southwest flyer, this card is a powerhouse.

Welcome offer

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee

The Southwest Performance Business Card has a fairly high $299 annual fee. However, the annual bonus points, first checked bag free, complimentary preferred seat, and extra legroom seat upgrades easily make up for this. If you fly Southwest frequently for business, this card easily outperforms the Southwest Premier Business Card (Rates & Fees).

Downsides

  • You're locked into earning Southwest points instead of flexible points or cash back.
  • Card benefits are overwhelmingly geared toward Southwest travelers.
  • Southwest has recently announced many negative changes — things you used to get for free (a checked bag) are now labeled as lucrative cardholder benefits.

Who is this card best for?

If you fly Southwest as part of your business, even just once per month, this is the card for you. The annual bonus points offset the bulk of the annual fee, and the additional benefits will quickly get you the rest of the way there, without even taking into consideration the card's earning potential. It easily outperforms the Southwest Premier Business Card, even with a higher annual fee ($299 versus $149).

For travelers not loyal to a specific airline, check out the Ink Preferred above as an option instead.

Related: Southwest Performance Business Card Review

IHG One Rewards Business Card — Best Chase Hotel Card

Packed with additional benefits for frequent guests of IHG hotels, the IHG Business credit card offers amazing annual value. The card offers automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, an annual free night, and a solid earning structure. For all this, you pay a very reasonable annual fee.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Annual Fee$99
Welcome Bonus Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card earns up to 26x points at IHG Hotels & Resorts, plus 5x on travel, gas stations, dining, and social media advertising, and 3x on all other purchases. Cardholders enjoy an anniversary free night, automatic Platinum Elite status, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit, making it perfect for frequent travelers who favor IHG properties.
  • Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
  • Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
  • Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business cardmember
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
  • IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn up to 26X total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
  • 5X points per $1 spent on travel, dining, social media search engine advertising, and at office supply stores and gas stations
  • 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
  • Earn 10X points for charging your stay to your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
  • Earn up to 6X bonus points for having IHG®Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
  • Earn up to 10X base points for being an IHG® One Rewards Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)

Rewards structure

The card earns IHG One Rewards points at the following rates:

  • Earn up to 26X total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
  • 5X points per $1 spent on travel, dining, social media search engine advertising, and at office supply stores and gas stations
  • 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
  • Earn 10X points for charging your stay to your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
  • Earn up to 6X bonus points for having IHG®Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
  • Earn up to 10X base points for being an IHG® One Rewards Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)

Assuming you're on the road a lot for work, the return for spending at IHG hotels is fantastic. Even the return on everyday spending is solid. AwardWallet users get an average of 0.68¢ per IHG point, which means the 3X base earning provides a return of just over 2%.

Welcome offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee

For a card packed with as many benefits as it has, the $99 annual fee is very reasonable. The annual free night alone more than makes up for the card's yearly cost.

Downsides

  • You're locked into earning IHG points. This card won't be useful if you don't enjoy redeeming IHG points.
  • Travel protections are weaker than those offered by other travel-focused Chase business credit cards.

Who is this card best for?

The IHG One Rewards Business Card offers excellent value to the businessperson frequently on the road for work.

If you're already loyal to IHG — or could be — the card is packed with useful benefits. The annual IHG free night certificate, Platinum Elite status that provides bonus points (and other perks), and IHG fourth night free benefits are easily worth the $99 annual fee.

The card is comparatively weak, however, in travel insurance protections.

Related: IHG One Rewards Business Card Review

Other Benefits of Chase Business Credit Cards

Chase business cards offer several useful benefits, including the ability to add employee cards for free. Employees can be added as additional cardholders, and any charges they make will earn points or miles in the primary cardholder's account. Employees can have the same credit limit as you, or you can set individual spending limits.

Most Chase business credit cards come with purchase protection, extended warranty protection, or both. Some Chase business cards don't charge foreign transaction fees, which is extremely helpful if you have to travel abroad or make purchases from overseas suppliers.

Related: Comparing Chase Ink Business Cards — Which One Is Right for You?

How to Apply for a Chase Business Credit Card

Settled on which Chase business card you want? Now it's time to apply. You can apply for all Chase business credit cards online, which is the easiest method. Alternatively, you can apply in person at a Chase branch.

Applying for a business credit card follows a similar process to applying for a personal card. You'll need to provide basic information about yourself, including:

  • Your name, address, and date of birth
  • Your annual income, including but not limited to income from the business
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN)

You'll also need the following business information:

  • The name of your business and the date it was established
  • Your annual business revenue
  • The business structure (i.e., sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.)
  • The type of business
  • An estimate of your monthly spending on the card
  • The number of business employees
  • Your Employer Identification Number (EIN)

While you don't need an EIN to apply for a Chase business credit card, you should use it if you have one. If you're without an EIN, you can just use your SSN as the business owner/sole proprietor. With small business cards, you're held personally liable for the card balance either way.

Once you've entered all the required information, submit your application. Chase will evaluate it and give you one of three responses:

  1. Instant approval: If this is the outcome, congratulations on your new Chase business credit card!
  2. Immediate denial: This could be for a variety of reasons.
  3. A message saying Chase needs more time to review your application.

If you get the third response, I recommend waiting for the response from Chase, which may be either an email or a letter in the mail. Sometimes, the credit card issuer needs more time for an employee to manually review your application. In other cases, you may get a letter asking you to provide additional information.

If your application is denied, whether immediately or after additional review, consider calling the reconsideration line to ask a Chase representative for specifics and to discuss the reason(s) for denial. You may be able to provide additional details that change the credit card issuer's decision. Sometimes, changing a denial to an approval is as easy as reducing the credit line on another card so that Chase is willing to extend credit on a new one.

Here are some key items to keep in mind when applying for a Chase business credit card:

  • Check your credit score before you apply. All Chase business credit cards require good to excellent credit. Make sure you know your FICO score before you decide to apply. Otherwise, you may waste a hard pull on your credit.
  • Chase business credit cards are subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. This is an unwritten rule, but it has been reported by credit card applicants for years. If you have opened five or more new credit accounts within the past 24 months, it is unlikely Chase will approve you for a new card.
  • Be as accurate as possible on your application. If you're starting a new business and you don't know the annual revenue, you can estimate. But make sure you are providing as accurate an estimate as possible.
  • Note the specifics of the welcome offer of the card you're applying for. This is best done by a screenshot if you're applying online. If there are any discrepancies later, you have documentation for following up with Chase. The other upside is that you won't forget the minimum spending requirement.
  • The window for earning the welcome offer begins when your application is approved. Even if you don't receive your card in the mail for over a week, the date your new account was opened starts the clock for earning the sign-up bonus.

Related: How to Get a Business Credit Card

a customer pays by credit card at a small cafe
Credit: RDNE Stock project / Pexels

Why You Should Get a Chase Business Credit Card

The primary reason to get a Chase business credit card is to be able to separate business purchases from your personal expenditures. It can be difficult to track business versus personal charges if you use the same card for both. Having a business credit card helps you separate and organize your expenses. This will make your record-keeping much easier and help you immensely at tax time.

You'll also get access to annual reports and expense-tracking tools. Chase Ink cards can even integrate with bookkeeping software to aid your accounting.

With a business credit card, you can typically add employee cards at no additional cost, which can further aid in business expense tracking. Chase lets you set individual employee card spending limits.

Having a business credit card can also help with managing cash flow. Rather than paying by check or debit card, where the money is removed from your account immediately, you can charge your business purchases to a credit card, giving you additional time to receive income to cover them. That being said, we always recommend paying off your credit cards in full each month to avoid incurring interest charges. If you're being charged interest, it wipes out the value of the rewards you earn.

Many business credit cards also offer bonus-earning opportunities that are more tailored to businesses than to consumers. For example, most people don't spend thousands of dollars at office supply stores, but some businesses might. And that's especially true with social media advertising. Before deciding on a Chase business credit card, research which one will best fit your business in terms of bonus categories and ancillary perks.

Small Business Credit Card Tips

Regardless of which business credit cards you hold, there are a few best practices to bear in mind.

  • Always pay your statement balance in full each month and on time. If you don't pay your balance in full, you'll incur interest charges. This will negate the value of the rewards you earn. If you don't pay on time, you could negatively impact your credit score. Business credit cards already tend to have higher interest rates than consumer cards, so don't get hit with an additional penalty APR.
  • Don't put personal expenses on your business credit card. One of the primary purposes of a business credit card is to separate your personal and business expenses. Let it make expense tracking and financial management easier, not harder.
  • Set employee spending limits. All Chase business credit cards offer this feature. If you have employees who don't need to spend a lot on their cards, consider reducing their spending limit. This will prevent them from potentially abusing their spending privileges or from losing the card and someone else running up a large, fraudulent bill.
  • Take advantage of 0% introductory APR offers. Have a large purchase you need to make? Use a new credit card with a 0% APR offer on purchases to defer the cost. Just make sure to pay off your card before the intro APR period ends. This is another way to utilize your business credit card to support your cash flow management.
  • Make sure you earn the welcome offer on your new card. If part of the reason you're getting a new card is the one-time bonus it offers, make sure you meet the required spending to earn it.
  • Make sure you use all the benefits of the card to maximize its value. If you decide to get the IHG One Rewards Business Card, for example, ensure you use the annual free night. I wish I could say that I didn't know people who have forgotten about the various credits and certificates offered by their credit cards and let them expire without using them, but I can't.
  • Evaluate each business credit card when the annual fee comes due. How much value did you get from the card during the past year? Are you expecting to get the same from it during the coming year? Will it continue to be worth its annual fee? These are the questions you need to ask. If the annual fee isn't worth it for another year, consider closing or downgrading the card to avoid paying for something you don't need.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're looking for a general travel card, a cash-back card, or a card that lets you maximize benefits with a specific airline or hotel chain, there should be a Chase business credit card that fits your needs.

Consider your specific business needs and preferences when choosing a new card. There's a lot to consider. Ensure you understand the card's benefits, earning potential, and annual fees before applying.

FAQ

What credit score is needed for a Chase business card?

Chase business credit cards require a good to excellent credit score.

Do you need an EIN to apply for Chase business credit card?

No, you do not need an EIN to apply for a Chase business card. Business owners can use their SSN to apply.

Does Chase do a hard pull when applying for business credit card?

Yes, Chase will perform a hard pull on your personal credit report for a business credit card. The majority of business credit cards require them to be guaranteed by the primary cardholder. Thus, Chase must determine the applicant's personal creditworthiness.

Can an individual get a Chase business card?

You can get a business credit card as an individual / sole proprietor of a business.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)

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