Which purchases qualify for 3 points per dollar with the Ink Business Preferred?
Editor's Note
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is popular for small-business owners because it earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points in multiple common business spending categories.
It's currently offering new applicants a welcome bonus of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Let's examine the types of purchases that earn bonus points on the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card and the details of the sign-up bonus.
Bonus categories
With the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, you'll earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on the first $150,000 you spend in combined purchases each account anniversary year in the following categories:
- Travel
- Shipping purchases
- Internet, cable and phone services
- Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines
If you spend $150,000 in these categories during an account anniversary year, you'll earn 450,000 Ultimate Rewards points on your purchases.
Based on TPG's January 2025 valuation of Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each, these points would be worth a whopping $9,225.
Related: How to choose the right credit card for your business expenses
Qualifying merchants
You may wonder exactly which merchants are covered by the Ink Business Preferred's 3-points-per-dollar bonus categories. Luckily, Chase provides more guidance on its website. Here are the definitions:
Travel
Merchants in this category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.
Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category, such as real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category.
Related: Which purchases count as travel with Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Shipping purchases
Merchants in this category specialize in mailing packages, hauling freight, and transporting goods or documents. Shipping merchants include couriers, postal and freight shipping companies, express shipping services and mailbox stores.
Merchants who sell a wide variety of general goods but also ship items, including office supply stores that also mail packages will not be included in this category. The additional cost to ship something you buy, or using a third party (such as Amazon) for bulk warehousing and shipping will not qualify. Merchants that primarily sell boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap or other shipping supplies are also not included in this category.
Internet, cable and phone services
Only purchases for internet, cable, satellite television and radio, cellular, wireless data, and landline services will qualify.
Purchases of equipment are not included. If you purchase or pay for your internet, cable and satellite television, phone or related services in a merchant's store that is not classified by the merchant in the applicable services category, the purchase or payment will not qualify; for example, phone bill payments in a merchant's store that is classified as a telephone equipment store.
Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines
Merchants in this category include social media websites and online search engines that advertise a business, brand, products or services.
Advertising purchases that are not made directly from a social media website or online search engine merchant may not qualify; for example, advertising purchases made through a third party such as an ad agency or web designer offering related services. Also, purchases from social media websites or online search engines that are not for advertising will not qualify; for example, subscription or app purchases.
Related: 5 reasons to get the Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Welcome bonus
Currently, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card offers new applicants a sign-up bonus of 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. These 100,000 points are worth $2,050, according to TPG's January 2025 valuations, if you transfer them to airline and hotel program partners.
There are 11 airline and three hotel Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, so you can snag many sweet spots when you utilize this redemption option.
One valuable transfer partner is World of Hyatt for redemptions at low-category or high-category properties. Another popular option is to transfer to Iberia to redeem for distance-based, nonstop flights between the U.S. and Madrid.
Finally, Air Canada Aeroplan is a solid transfer choice thanks to its region—and distance-based award chart and a plethora of partner airliners for which you can redeem miles.
Bottom line
The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card has a $95 annual fee and allows for accelerated earning in the Chase Ultimate Rewards landscape.
Now that you better understand the 3-points-per-dollar earning categories, you can use the Ink Business Preferred alone or add other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards, like the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) to the mix to further maximize the points you earn.
To learn more about the card, read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.
Learn more: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Related reading:
TPG featured card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.