
1. Introduction & Purpose of the Card
Launched by Chase as their first high-tier flat-rate business card, the Ink Business Premier® is designed for entrepreneurs and companies with significant monthly expenses. With a sleek metal finish, a $195 annual fee, and a hybrid charge/pay-over-time Flex feature, this card aims to deliver generous, straightforward cash-back rewards alongside built-in spending flexibility.
Unlike many Ultimate Rewards–earning business cards, the Ink Business Premier does not allow point transfers to other Chase UR accounts or external partners, limiting redemptions to flat-value options like cash back, travel bookings, and gift cards
2. Who’s Eligible?
To qualify, applicants typically need a good-to-excellent personal credit profile—a FICO score of at least around 670—along with compliance with Chase’s 5/24 rule (meaning fewer than five new credit card opened in the previous 24 months)
Also, while you’ll primarily apply via your business (using an EIN), Chase often reviews your personal credit during approval decisions
3. Reward Structure
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5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal.
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2.5% cash back on every business purchase totaling $5,000 or more.
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2% cash back on all other qualifying business spending
This tiered system offers an appealing middle ground: an elevated rate (2.5%) for significant outlays and a solid baseline (2%) on routine costs—unlimited and uncapped
4. Attractive Sign-Up Bonus
New cardholders can earn $1,000 cash back (equivalent to 100,000 UR points) after spending $10,000 within the first three months of account opening
While the bonus requirement is lofty, it’s well-suited for businesses with steady cash flow. Considering the upfront fee, this welcome offer can easily justify the first year’s cost
5. Why These Rates Matter
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Flexible Travel Rewards – The 5% rate via Chase Travel is competitive if you frequently make business bookings through that portal.
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Large Purchase Bump – The 2.5% return on purchases $5K+ is powerful for high-ticket expenses such as equipment or office upgrades—currently unmatched in most business flat-rate card offerings
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Reliable Flat Return – A straight 2% on everything else is both simple and better than many 1.5%-flat alternatives
6. Limitations & Trade-Offs
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No point transfers: UR points earned with this card are stuck inside this account and can’t be moved to Sapphire, Chase travel partners, or transferred to airline/hotel loyalty programs
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Comparatively high annual fee: With a $195 annual charge, it’s pricier than competing flat-rate options like Capital One Spark Cash Plus (2% flat with $150 fee) or non-fee options such as Ink Business Cash/Unlimited
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Few premium perks: While the card includes purchase protection, cellphone coverage, extended warranty, trip cancellation, and auto rental insurance, it lacks premium perks such as lounge access or statement credits
7. Card Perks Breakdown
Even without headline-grabbing perks, the Ink Business Premier delivers practical protections often taken for granted in this fee category
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Employee cards at no extra cost, complete with spending controls.
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Cellphone protection: Up to $1,000 per claim (3 claims annually) with a $100 deductible.
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Purchase protection: Covers damage/theft for 120 days (up to $10,000 per item, $50,000 per account).
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Extended warranties: One extra year on U.S. warranties ≤3 years.
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Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to $5,000 per person.
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Auto rental collision damage waiver: Primary coverage for vehicles under MSRP $125K
8. Ideal Users & Scenarios
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High spenders with large one-off purchases: With 2.5% on charges ≥$5,000, this card is ideal for firms needing big-ticket buys—from tech hardware to machinery
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Businesses booking through Chase Travel: The 5% travel rate is a bonus if you regularly reserve flights, hotels, or event travel via their portal.
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Entrepreneurs seeking simplicity: Easy-to-track rates without rotating categories are ideal for straightforward spenders where maximizing category bonuses isn’t necessary.
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Not great for: Low-spend operations, travel-reward optimizers seeking point transfers, or those seeking luxury perks commensurate with the $195 fee
9. How It Compares
Feature | Ink Business Premier | Ink Business Preferred | Spark Cash Plus |
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Annual Fee | $195 | $95 | $150 |
5% Travel (Chase Portal) | ✅ | ✅ (1–1.25× with Boost) | ❌ |
2.5% on ≥$ 5K Purchases | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
2–3% Bonus Fast Categories | ❌ | 3% on travel/cable/shipping/ads | ❌ |
2% Flat-Rate General Spend | ✅ | 1× points (1¢–1.25¢ each with UR Boost) | ✅ 2% unlimited |
Point Transfers to Partners | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ (except via external travel card) |
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Ink Business Preferred ($95 fee): Charges 3× on select business categories, points are transferable, and redemptions via travel portal or partners can be up to 1.25¢ or more per point—better for travel-centric spenders
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Capital One Spark Cash Plus ($150 fee): Offers 2% across all purchases with a modest annual spend bonus. No foreign fees, and cash is redeemable at any time
10. Example Annual Spend Analysis
Scenario: You spend $15,000 monthly—$5K on travel, $10K on other business purchases (including two $5K items).
Ink Business Premier returns:
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Travel (5% of $5K): $250
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Each $5K large purchase at 2.5%: $125 × 2 = $250
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Remaining $5K at 2%: $100
Total monthly rewards: $600
Annual total: $7,200 back, minus $195 fee = $7,005 net (~8.3% effective return).
Under the same spend, Spark Cash Plus offering 2% flat would return $3,600 annually—half as much.
11. Drawbacks Worth Noting
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Rewards can’t be transferred—UR points in this card are cash-only, cementing their 1¢ value
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Premium travel cards offer more—A card like Ink Business Preferred gives you both specialized category returns and the ability to boost value through UR transfers
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Annual fee is on the high side—Expect to spend consistently and strategically to justify the $195 price tag.
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Perks are functional, not luxurious—No lounge access or recurring statement credits, only solid baseline protections.
12. Final Verdict
The Chase Ink Business Premier® is a compelling choice for businesses that:
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Regularly make large purchases (≥$5K),
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Book business travel via Chase Travel,
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Prefer consistency over complexity,
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And are okay with cash-back-only redemption.
It delivers one of the highest flat-rate returns you’ll find: 2.5% on major expenses, 2% on all else, and 5% travel—a package hard to beat if your spending is high and consistent.
But if you’re seeking travel flexibility via point transfers, premium perks, or lower fees for smaller spend, competing cards may offer better value per dollar
13. Quick Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
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5% travel cash-back via Chase Travel
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2.5% cashback on big purchases (≥$5K)
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2% cashback on all other business expenses
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$1K bonus with $10K spend in 3 months
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Complimentary employee cards + spending controls
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Strong purchase/travel protections
👎 Cons
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No UR point transfers = no value uplift
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$195 annual fee with limited luxury perks
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High bonus threshold
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Lacks lounge access, statement credits, premium perks
14. Final Recommendation
If your business routinely spends at least $5K per month—especially on large one-time purchases—the Ink Business Premier could deliver outstanding value through its rewards structure. Its generous return on these expenses and simple redemption model are compelling.
However, if your spending is moderate, travel-focused, or centered on maximizing travel points, consider alternatives like Ink Business Preferred ($95 fee, transferable rewards) or Capital One Spark Cash Plus ($150 fee, flat 2%).
Ultimately, this card excels in its niche—consistent high-value cashback without complexity. If that aligns with your business habits, it could become a valuable tool in your wallet.