Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – In-Depth 2025 Review

Quick Stats at a Glance

Card Overview & Positioning

The Ink Business Preferred® is Chase’s flagship small business card focusing heavily on business travel and expenses. You earn 3x points on broad categories relevant to entrepreneurs—like shipping, online advertising (Facebook, Google, etc.), phone/internet/cable services, and travel. If your business invests significantly in these areas, you can quickly rack up valuable Ultimate Rewards® points. With a typical sign-up bonus of 80k–100k points—worth $1,000+ in travel— it’s a prime contender for business owners seeking high-value business travel. The $95 annual fee is easily offset if you frequently redeem for flights, hotels, or transfer to airline partners. No foreign transaction fee cements its global usability. In 2025, with many businesses returning to more frequent travel, the Ink Preferred stands tall as a top choice in the segment.

Earning 3x Points & Business Travel Emphasis

The card’s 3x categories revolve around typical small-business needs:

• Travel:Flights, hotels, car rentals, taxis, tolls, parking—nearly all travel-coded expenses. Perfect for business trips, conferences, or site visits.
• Shipping:UPS, FedEx, USPS shipping costs—fantastic for e-commerce or product-based ventures shipping frequently.
• Internet, Cable, Phone Services:A standard monthly overhead for many businesses, from broadband to phone lines or corporate cell phone bills.
• Online Advertising:Facebook ads, Google Ads, LinkedIn, and more—3x is a boon if you run digital marketing campaigns.

You earn 3x on these up to a combined $150,000 annually, then 1x after that. Everything else is 1x. If your business invests heavily in travel or online ads, the points can accumulate rapidly. This synergy suits frequent travelers who want to offset flight/hotel costs or leverage transfer partners for premium cabin flights. Essentially, you turn your business expenses into robust business travel opportunities.

Redeeming Your Ultimate Rewards for Travel

Points earned with Ink Business Preferred feed into Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can redeem them in various ways, but for business travel, the top options are:

1. Chase Travel Portal:Points are worth 1.25 cents each when booking flights, hotels, car rentals, or experiences via Chase’s portal. That means 100k points = $1,250 in travel. It's straightforward—like an online travel agency powered by Chase.
2. Transfer to Airline/Hotel Partners: Major partners include United, Southwest, JetBlue, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, etc. Typically 1:1 transfers. This can unlock higher value if you find sweet-spot award flights or certain Hyatt redemptions. Skilled travelers might fetch 2 cents+ per point in business/first-class flights or top-tier hotels.
3. Statement Credits or Cash Back:Only 1 cent each in value, so it’s less ideal for maximizing your business travel returns. Still an option if you need straightforward reimbursements.

Most business owners prefer the travel portal or transfer approach for bigger potential returns. This is especially beneficial for international business trips or premium cabins— you can drastically reduce out-of-pocket travel costs. If your business regularly invests in travel, the Ink Preferred’s synergy with Ultimate Rewards is a top highlight in 2025.

Sign-Up Bonus & Massive Value

Historically, the Ink Business Preferred® sign-up bonus runs around 80k–100k points after $15k in purchases within the first 3 months. That can be big, but you must confirm the current offer. While $15k is substantial, many small businesses easily reach that with rent, supplies, ad budgets, etc. Then you hold a chunk of Ultimate Rewards that can be worth $1,250+ in travel via the portal or even more if you transfer to airline/hotel partners for premium cabins. For established businesses, this can jumpstart your business travel budget. Just ensure your business can handle that spend threshold responsibly.

No Foreign Transaction Fee: Perfect for Global Travel

The Ink Business Preferred® has no foreign transaction fees, making it a dependable companion if you or your employees travel abroad. You can charge overseas hotels, dining, or taxis at 3x if coded as “travel,” or at least 1x if not, without the typical 3% fee many cards levy. This is essential for entrepreneurs with global expansions, international conferences, or supply chain visits. Considering that many business trips cross borders in 2025, the no-FTF feature is a significant cost saver.

2025 Updates & Potential Tweaks

1. Adjustments to 3x Categories:Chase might expand categories or raise the $150k cap if competition intensifies. Keep an eye on official announcements if you’re close to that spend ceiling.
2. New Transfer Partners or Partnerships: Chase occasionally adds (or removes) airline/hotel partners. Additional direct partners could further boost redemption potential. Stay tuned for changes in the UR ecosystem.
3. Possible Sign-Up Bonus Fluctuations: Chase has run limited-time 100k, 120k, or even targeted offers. If you see a bigger bonus, it could be a prime time to apply.
4. Mobile Payment Bonuses:Some speculate about special promotions for digital wallets or contactless. Not guaranteed, but short-term bonuses are sometimes introduced.

Always verify with Chase’s official site or your business banking rep for any real-time changes, especially around sign-up bonus or the UR partner list. In 2025, competition among business travel cards is fierce— so watch for incremental improvements.

Real-Life Example: Annual Spend & Points Earned

Suppose your business invests yearly in:

• $8,000 in travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.)
• $6,000 in shipping costs
• $10,000 in online ads (Facebook, Google Ads, etc.)
• $2,000 phone/internet/cable services
• $24,000 in other business expenses outside 3x categories

That sums to $50,000 total, $26,000 of which is in 3x categories. Let’s break it down:

That’s 102,000 UR points from everyday spend. If you also got the sign-up bonus—say 100k for meeting the threshold— that’s 202,000 points total. Redeemed via the portal at 1.25¢ each = $2,525 in travel. Or possibly more if transferred to a 1:1 airline/hotel partner. The $95 annual fee is trivial compared to the potential value for business travel.

Competitor Analysis

If you’re eyeing the Ink Preferred, compare it to these top business travel cards:

The Ink Preferred excels if you spend heavily in those 3x categories, want Ultimate Rewards for business travel, and appreciate a large sign-up bonus at a moderate $95 fee. If your spend is widely varied, something like a 2x Spark Miles might be simpler. If you want 4x or advanced Amex perks, Business Gold might do better (but costs more). In short, the Ink Preferred remains a leading business travel pick for 2025.

Synergy with Other Chase Cards

You can pair Ink Business Preferred with other Chase cards:

• Ink Business Cash® / Ink Business Unlimited®: They have no annual fee, earning 5x or 1.5x on certain categories. You can pool points into the Ink Preferred account and redeem at 1.25¢ or transfer to partners. This strategy effectively turns your smaller Ink cards into more valuable UR points when combined with the Preferred.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® / Preferred® (Personal): If you want personal travel coverage or different category bonuses, you can also combine your business UR points with personal UR points. If you have the Reserve, that personal account offers 1.5 cents each in the travel portal vs. the Ink’s 1.25. So you could earn business points on Ink, transfer them to your personal Reserve, and redeem for 1.5¢ each on personal or bleisure travel. Alternatively, you can keep them separate if you want to track business vs. personal travel distinctly.

Combining multiple Chase business or personal cards is a hallmark strategy for entrepreneurs wanting to maximize UR points. If you run a business, the Ink Preferred is your big anchor card for business travel. Meanwhile, a personal Sapphire Reserve might give you an even higher redemption rate (1.5¢) in the portal. Or at any rate, you can unify your UR stash in one place, ensuring maximum travel redemption flexibility.

Additional Benefits & Travel Protections

Ink Preferred is known for strong travel and purchase protections:

• Cell Phone Protection:Pay your business phone bill with this card and get coverage for damage or theft up to $600 per claim (with a small deductible, limit 3 claims/year). A big perk for small businesses with multiple employee phones.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Up to $5,000 per covered trip if it’s canceled or interrupted for covered reasons when booked with the card.
• Primary Rental Car Insurance (Business rentals): When renting for business use, coverage can be primary for collision damage. Great for road warriors or frequent travel.
• Extended Warranty & Purchase Protection: Standard but valuable coverage on eligible new purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fee: As stated, crucial for overseas business trips or purchases.

These robust protections are a key reason many business owners keep the Ink Preferred in their wallet. The cell phone insurance is especially useful if your staff phones are all on one plan. Combined with 3x categories, it fosters a comprehensive business travel solution.

APR & Carrying a Balance

The standard APR stands around 19.99%–27.99% variable. Typically, Ink Business Preferred doesn’t feature an intro 0% APR for purchases or balance transfers, focusing instead on the massive sign-up bonus and 3x categories. If you revolve a balance, interest charges can overshadow your points. Best practice: keep the card paid in full monthly—especially with business finances. If you need a 0% period, you might pair it with a different business card (like Ink Business Cash®) that occasionally offers an intro 0%. But the real power of Ink Preferred is in the travel rewards, not interest promotions.

Potential Downsides

• $95 Annual Fee:Not huge, but some business owners prefer a no-fee card if they can’t leverage the sign-up bonus or 3x categories sufficiently.
• $150k Cap on 3x Categories: Big spenders might exceed this limit quickly. After that, it’s just 1x. However, $150k is fairly generous for small/medium businesses.
• No 0% Intro APR: If you want to finance a large purchase, this card won’t help you avoid interest. You’d rely on other lines of credit or a different card with an intro offer.
• Strictness with 5/24 Rule: If you’ve opened 5 or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months, you might be denied. This standard applies to most Chase cards. Business owners must watch personal inquiries too.
• Limited Bonus Categories: If your business doesn’t do shipping or online ads, or invests less in travel/telecom, you might not see the full 3x advantage. Another card might be more flexible if your expenses differ.

Advanced Tips & Strategies

1. Leverage Business Travel in 3x:All airfare, hotels, rental cars, ride-shares, train tickets— ensure you book them on this card to maximize 3x. If employees travel, consider giving them employee cards (no additional cost) so every business trip expense piles up points in your account.
2. Combine with Ink Cash® or Unlimited®: If you have the Ink Business Cash (5x office supply/telecom but at no annual fee) or Ink Business Unlimited (1.5x on everything), funnel all points into the Ink Preferred for high-value travel redemption. This is called the “Chase trifecta/quadrifecta” method on the business side.
3. Utilize Transfer Partners for Premium Flights:If you want business class or first class for long-haul business flights, transferring points to, say, United or Air Canada or Hyatt might yield outsized value instead of using the portal at 1.25¢. Do some research on sweet-spot awards.
4. Monitor Category Coding:Make sure shipping services or online ad platforms code properly. If you notice lower points, contact Chase or verify the merchant category. Also confirm your phone/internet bills are coded under telecom.
5. Max Out the $150k if Possible: If you can route or shift relevant expenses to the Ink Preferred up to $150k, you’ll maximize 3x. Once you surpass that, consider your other business cards (like Ink Unlimited) if needed.

Another Example: Marketing-Heavy Business

Suppose your marketing agency invests heavily in online ads plus shipping. E.g.:

• $20,000 on Facebook/Google Ads
• $10,000 in shipping expenses
• $7,000 in travel for conferences, flights, hotels
• $3,000 phone/internet
• $15,000 everything else

That’s $55,000 total, with $40,000 in 3x categories, generating:

• 3x * 40k = 120,000 points
• 1x * 15k = 15,000 points
• Total = 135,000 points from normal spend

If you also meet the sign-up bonus, say 100k points after $15k in 3 months, you could be near 235,000 points. That’s huge for business travel— you might book multiple domestic flights for your staff or snag business class seats for overseas deals. The $95 fee is overshadowed by the potential thousands in travel savings.

Pairing with a Personal Chase Sapphire?

Some business owners also hold a personal Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Preferred®. You can combine your Ink Preferred points with those personal UR points. If you have the Reserve, that personal account offers 1.5 cents each in the travel portal vs. the Ink’s 1.25. So you could earn business points on Ink, transfer them to your personal Reserve, and redeem for 1.5¢ each on personal or bleisure travel. Alternatively, you can keep them separate if you want to track business vs. personal travel distinctly. The synergy is robust if you want maximum redemption flexibility. Just keep accounting clean if you’re mixing business and personal usage.

Competitor & Alternative Cards

If you’re uncertain about the Ink Preferred, consider these popular business travel alternatives:

• Amex Business Gold®: 4x in your top 2 categories (from 6 possible, e.g., airfare, U.S. ads, U.S. restaurants, etc.), but $295–$375 annual fee. Great if your spend matches those categories heavily. Points are in Membership Rewards—also strong for airline transfers.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business®: 2x miles on everything, 5x on hotels/cars via Capital One Travel, $95 fee. Simpler if your spend doesn’t align to the Ink categories, but fewer direct airline transfer partners than Chase.
• Ink Business Cash®: No annual fee, 5x on office supplies, phone, internet (up to $25k), 2x on gas/dining. Great companion or alternative if you want no fee but smaller bonus. Pairing with Ink Preferred is unstoppable for certain setups.
• U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature®: 2x on the top two categories you spend most in each month, complicated but can be valuable. Typically less flexible in redemption than UR points though.

For business travel specifically, the Ink Business Preferred is top-tier due to the combination of 3x travel, easy airline/hotel transfer, and a formidable sign-up bonus. If your business expense aligns well with shipping/ads/telecom, it’s truly a powerhouse. Alternatively, if your categories differ or you want 2x on everything, competitor cards might suffice.

Who Should Get the Ink Business Preferred®?

Final Thoughts & Disclaimer

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card ranks among the best for business travel in 2025, boasting a large sign-up bonus, 3x on key categories up to $150k, plus flexible redemption via Ultimate Rewards®. Its $95 annual fee is modest compared to the potential thousands you can save if you frequently book flights/hotels for business. The synergy with other Ink cards or personal Chase cards broadens your redemption potential. If your company invests significantly in shipping, online advertising, or traveling often, the Ink Preferred is a powerful tool to turn your overhead into free or discounted corporate travel. Just mind the $15k spend requirement for the sign-up bonus and watch out for the 5/24 rule. Overall, it’s a top contender for entrepreneurs seeking big travel returns on their business expenses.

Disclaimer: Terms, sign-up bonuses, and redemption policies can change. Always verify with Chase for the latest. We may earn affiliate commissions from select links, but editorial opinions remain our own. Examples of potential redemption reflect typical usage but subject to availability and dynamic pricing. If you carry a balance beyond statement cycles, interest can erode reward gains. Check official T&Cs for full usage details and coverage guidelines.