I entered the world of credit card points relatively late to the game.
However, I immediately dove in, picking up premium offerings such as The Platinum Card® from American Express near the beginning of my credit card journey several years ago. It may come as a surprise, though, that there’s one standout card I don’t have to this day: the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Before the pandemic, I was deciding between it and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to help increase my balance of Ultimate Rewards points. In the end, the Ink Business Preferred won out.
Here are six reasons I chose this popular business card instead of the high-end Sapphire Reserve — and why I continue to have no regrets.
You can’t have two Sapphire cards
First, you should know you can’t hold more than one Sapphire card.
This Chase policy affects both the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, so you won’t be able to get the bonus — nor be approved — for one if you currently have the other. Additionally, the waiting period is double the normal length for Chase cards, as you can’t get the bonus for one if you earned a bonus for the other within the last 48 months.
Why is that important?
I already had the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and was coming up on my 48 months. Therefore, I was deciding between three options:
- Product change to the Chase Sapphire Reserve to preserve my credit history (and forgo the bonus).
- Cancel my Chase Sapphire Preferred, take the hit on my credit history, apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (and earn the bonus).
- Keep my Chase Sapphire Preferred, preserve my credit history and apply for the Ink Business Preferred instead (and earn the bonus).
I chose the final option — keeping my Sapphire Preferred card open while applying for the Ink Business Preferred.
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Also, I was below Chase’s infamous 5/24 rule at that time. While business cards aren’t included in your personal credit report, if you’re over 5/24, you won’t be able to be approved for any card, even a business one.
Related: Review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve
A lucrative 100,000-point sign-up bonus
The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s sign-up bonus is 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s not a bad haul of points, but the Ink Business Preferred does even better.
You can earn a whopping 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $15,000 in the first three months on the Ink Business Preferred. Note that you’ll need to spend a significant amount more to reach that bonus, but for my purposes, I knew I could hit it.
Ultimate Rewards points are among the most valuable points currencies around, and the 100,000-point bonus is worth $2,000, according to TPG’s most recent valuations.
Related: Review of the Ink Business Preferred
The same earn rate on travel — without the high annual fee
The Ink Business Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve earn a respectable 3 points per dollar on the broad category of “travel.” However, the Sapphire Reserve has a much higher $550 annual fee, while the Ink Business Preferred has just a $95 fee.
The 3-point-per-dollar bonus on the Ink card also includes other business categories: shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines — on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year.
You’ll forgo 3 points per dollar on dining with the Sapphire Reserve and other higher-end travel perks. But that doesn’t matter as much to me, as I’ll explain below.
Related: Do I need a business in order to get a business credit card?
Cellphone protection coverage
Unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Ink Business Preferred is one of the few credit cards to offer cellphone protection.
You — and your employees if you so choose — are covered for up to $1,000 in theft or damages per claim, provided the number is listed on your monthly bill and you pay your bill with your card. There’s a limit of three claims per 12-month period, with a $100 deductible per claim.
Related: How to submit a cell phone insurance claim for the Ink Business Preferred
I use my Amex Platinum for luxury travel benefits
One of the selling points of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is its many premium travel benefits. However, it’s not something I miss since there is often an appropriate substitute — or perk that is even better — on my Amex Platinum card.
From Priority Pass lounge access to Global Entry and TSA PreCheck reimbursement, my Platinum card covers many of the same bases as the Reserve. Of course, there are still exceptions where the Reserve or Platinum might come out ahead for a certain benefit.
For instance, the Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit is still infinitely easier to use than Amex’s up to $200 annual airline fee credit. But the Platinum’s hotel and car rental elite status perks outshine the Reserve.
The Ink Business Preferred works better for my needs — and the perks on the Reserve often mirror that of the Platinum.
Related: Why I’m keeping my Amex Platinum even though I’m not traveling
I use my American Express® Gold Card for restaurants
Finally, I picked the Ink Business Preferred over the Chase Sapphire Reserve because I didn’t require the Reserve’s 3-point-per-dollar bonus on dining. I have a card that does even better — the American Express® Gold Card.
The Gold is my go-to card for dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, with its generous 4-point-per-dollar bonus.
If you’re looking only at Ultimate Rewards points, the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited also include 3% cash back (3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar) on dining, matching the bonus on the Sapphire Reserve.
Related: How the Amex Gold pays for my lunch twice per month
Bottom line
When it came down to it, the Ink Business Preferred just fit my needs better. While I miss out on the Sapphire Reserve’s elevated 1.5 cent-redemption rates through Pay Yourself Back and the Ultimate Rewards travel portal, I still have access to the same amazing transfer partners.
Remember, you may qualify for a business card even with a side hustle. The qualifications for having a business may be different than you might expect. If you can get approved, the 100,000-point bonus is a huge get for this stellar card.
Apply here: Ink Business Preferred
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox.
