As a family of 5, it takes a lot of points to go well, anywhere.  It goes without saying, but I’m always looking for more opportunities to earn points.  If there’s one set of cards you shouldn’t sleep on it’s business cards.  Yes, that’s right.  And it’s easier than you think to get qualified!  Most people look past them thinking they don’t qualify because they don’t have an official LLC or EIN.  But they are actually a great way to earn lots of points towards future travel.

Tell Me More – Why Business Cards?

Business cards come with higher welcome offers than personal credit cards, frankly put, and also don’t impact your personal credit long term.

For example, the Chase Ink Suite of Business Cards is my personal favorite, and have some with NO annual fees.  Here’s what’s included:

Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – Earn up to $750 bonus cash back; earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months + an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months.  No Annual Fee!

Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months.  No Annual Fee!

Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months.  Annual Fee is $95.

Bonuses can vary on these cards from 75,000 – 120,000 points (when there are elevated offers).  For reference, Chase Sapphire personal credit card bonuses generally linger around 60,000 points (standard offer).

This Is Where It Gets Better

You can earn the bonuses on these business credit cards every 24 months (from the last time you earned the bonus).  While there is an initial pull on your personal credit to be approved for a business credit card, it doesn’t touch your personal credit afterwards.  This means there is potential to earn lots of Chases points!

Note:

• You can hold all of these business cards at the same time.
• While they don’t count towards your 5/24 status, you do need to be under 5/24 to get approved.  (Have a 5/24 slot open if applying for one!
• Chase bank has gotten stricter since the fall of 2024 on business card approvals (this includes co-branded business credit cards as well).  That being said, I would go through what cards you have open first.  If it’s been a year, and you aren’t using a business credit card from this bank, close it out.  This way, you don’t have too many business cards open from this bank at the same time, and helps increase your approval odds for future business card applications.  Always keep a card open for the first year.

*When it comes to staying organized with all of mine and my husband’s credit cards, I use the TravelFreely App.  It reminds me of annual fee and minimum spend deadlines, and keeps track of all cards without needing any sensitive information.  This helps us minimize paying annual fees on cards that we just don’t find value from anymore.*

A Peek Into My Ink Cards Approval Strategy

To add to that last point, staying organized and keeping minimal (business) cards open from Chase bank seems to be the secret ingredient to getting those signup bonuses again, generally speaking.

My Timeline:

• Fall of 2022 – to the fall of 2023, my husband and I got all 3 Ink business credit cards, each.  That was 6 cards total.  (My husband travels for work so meeting minimum spends on cards is easier for us in some seasons.)
• Fall of 2024 – to the spring of 2025: I started closing out cards that had hit the 2-year mark.  I waited a little more than 2 years before closing each of them out, because remember, it’s 2 years from when you got the bonus, not from when you got approved.
• April 2025: My husband was approved for the Chase Ink Business Cash®, again!

As you can see, I waited over 2+ years to have one of us reapply for a Chase Ink business card.  I wanted to be extra cautious, especially since Chase bank seems to be stricter on business card approvals as of late.  Strategy and patience worked in our favor!

During Thanksgiving Break 2023, we spent 9 nights at Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay, in 2 rooms, for $0 out of pocket. 

This stay was made possible by (270K) points earned from Chase Ink business cards!

 

So Who’s Eligible For A Business Credit Card?

It’s easier to qualify for a business card than you think.  While you need a qualifying business, you don’t need :

• Employees
• A large business
• A formal business application

Don’t look over those side hustles!  No part-time gig is too small to qualify, and you do not need an official LLC or EIN to apply for business credit cards.  You can apply as a sole proprietor with your social security number.

Examples Of What Qualifies As A Business

• Selling on FB marketplace (I’ve done this so much over the years when my kids have outgrown stuff!)
• Consulting
• Freelancing
• Coaching
• Tutoring
• Any time you are paid as a 1099 contractor

By no means is this list conclusive, but rather it’s there to help you get an idea of what can easily qualify you for a business card.

My personal data point:  My husband and I each have small businesses (meaning, we have EINs).  We’ve only ever used those on business card applications, and never gotten denied.

How To Apply

Sole Proprietor:

• If you’re applying as sole proprietor, put “Owner” when the application ask for “Authorizing officer title.”
• For Tax  ID, you will use your social security number – unless you have an EIN.
• For the legal name of the business, you will use your name.
• For total household income, put the total income your houshold brings in as a whole – not just your business income.  This is key.
• “Legal business structure” is Sole Proprietor.
• For annual business revenue, estimate how much you make in a year.  Be honest, and don’t inflate it thinking it will help in approvals!  State your actual revenue or projected, if your business isn’t up and running yet.

My Application Went Into Review – Now What?

This is not unheard of, and actually very common.  The bank will most likely ask you to submit additional documentation to support your application.  You may recieve an email, or a letter in the mail, requesting what they need from you.

If you applied as a sole proprietor, and they are asking for “proof of your business identity,” you can send in something like your driver’s license, social security, or a utility bill that will help satisfy that requirement.

Generally speaking, people get approved once these documents are sent in.  If it’s been a couple days, and you haven’t heard anything – you can always call the bank to get a status update (if your application went into review or pending).

Chase Sapphire Products

Depending on what business card you get, you may or may not need a Sapphire product if you want to transfer points to airline and travel partners (the best way to really maximize those points earned and get the most value!).

The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card will require you to hold a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards®.  You will need a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® to combine your points into, and then be able to transfer them out to travel partners.

The Chase Ink Business Preferred® allows you to transfer points directly to airline and hotel partners, without the need for another card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card is one I recommend to anyone starting out in points and miles, and for a $95 annual fee, it’s a great keeper card!  This is the Sapphire product I’d consider having if you’re looking into the no annual fee Ink business cards.  And it’s one you may already have in your wallet.  So adding this suite of business cards = a no-brainer for earning a lot of Chase points!

Business Card FAQs

• What If I Am Denied?  This can and does happen.  If you call the reconsideration line, just be prepared to answer all questions.  Make sure your answers match your application.  Often times banks will only extend you so much credit.  This is where being honest, limiting the business cards you have open from this bank, and waiting to re-apply comes in handy.
• Can I Put Personal Expenses On A Business Credit Card?  This is a very common, and a widely-accepted practice.  It is not illegal by any means.  We each personally have minimal business expenses, and use our family’s monthly expenses to meet minimum spends on business cards.  That being said, it’s important to keep business and personal expenses separate for tax and accounting purposes.
• Ink Cards Earn Cash Back, But I Want Points?  While advertised as cash back, you can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® if you choose.  You can pair the no annual fee Ink cards with a Chase Sapphire product, and then transfer your points out to travel partners (as stated above).
• Do I Need To Get These Cards In Any Specific Order?  Nope, you don’t.  You can open a business card, and not have a Sapphire product.  Just remember that at some point, if you have the no annual fee Ink cards, you will need a Sapphire product in order to transfer your points out.  (Follow the elevated offers, if any at that time, is what I always advise!)
• What If Only One Of Us Has A Sapphire Card?  This is perfectly fine as Chase allows you to combine points – across any and all cards – with anyone in your household.  You may need to call the bank initially to link your accounts.  Once done, you can easily transer your Chase points between all personal and business credit cards your family holds.
• Can I Have More Than One Ink Card?  Yes, you can.  We have personally gotten each Ink card (so 6 total) – and plan on doing the same this year and next to earn more Chase points.  You can technically apply for reach card with an EIN, along with your SSN as a sole proprietor.  My biggest tips: Space out applications, and minimize how many business cards you currently have open with the bank to help increase your approval odds.
• How Often Can I Get An Ink Bonus?  According to Chase’s Terms & Conditions, you can earn the bonus on an Ink Card every 24 months.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® are my personal favorite bank points to earn.  I love transferring them to World of Hyatt for $0 stays!  (No taxes/fees on award stays.)  And this suite of Ink Business Cards allows me to easily continue earning lots of Chase points for future travel.