In my opinion, Chase offers many of the best credit cards and the best signup offers. They have a fantastic lineup of cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points. Through these cards one can easily amass hundreds of thousands of transferable points through signup bonuses, and then continue to earn huge rewards by picking the right cards for the right type of spend (for example, pay your phone, cable, and internet bills with your no-fee Ink Business Cash card to get 5X rewards for these purchases). You can read more here: Chase Ultimate Rewards Deep Dive.
Another key component of Chase’s credit card dominance is that they issue Southwest Airlines credit cards. This is huge because Southwest has the best deal in travel: earn 110,000 qualifying points in a calendar year and you get a companion pass good for an unlimited number of flights booked with points or cash. That companion pass is good for the rest of the year in which it is earned and all of the next year. And, with Chase, it’s often possible to get that companion pass simply by signing up for a personal Southwest card and business Southwest card and meeting the minimum spend requirements for both.
Chase also has a few terrific hotel credit cards. If you want to earn top tier Hyatt status (which is, by far in my opinion, the best top tier hotel status), you can earn that status through spend with the World of Hyatt card. Chase also provides very good IHG and Marriott cards.
But 5/24!
The problem with Chase’s cornucopia of credit card goodness is that there comes a point in every point-hunters life when they’ll no longer get approved for new Chase credit cards. When Chase sees that you have opened 5 or more credit cards in the past 24 months, they won’t approve you for new cards (except when you are targeted for a “Just for You” offer). This obviously makes it very difficult to take advantage of all of the great Chase credit card opportunities.
| Chase's 5/24 Rule: With most Chase credit cards, Chase will not approve your application if you have opened 5 or more cards with any bank in the past 24 months. To determine your 5/24 status, see: 3 Easy Ways to Count Your 5/24 Status. The easiest option is to track all of your cards for free with Travel Freely. |
The business card solution
Chase uses your credit report to determine your 5/24 count, and it so happens that most business cards are not reported to the personal credit bureaus. Even Chase business cards are treated this way. That is, you won’t get approved for a Chase business card if you are over 5/24, but if you are under 5/24 and get approved, that new card won’t increase your 5/24 count. So, a great way to delay going over 5/24 is to sign up primarily for business cards, including Chase business cards. This is the strategy that we documented in the “informed newbie” series (see: Over 600,000 points and well under 5/24). And, it is the strategy that my son is following under my direction.
| Applying for Business Credit Cards Yes, you have a business: In order to sign up for a business credit card, you must have a business. That said, it's common for people to have businesses without realizing it. If you sell items at a yard sale, or on eBay, for example, then you have a business. Similar examples include: consulting, writing (e.g. blog authorship, planning your first novel, etc.), handyman services, owning rental property, renting on airbnb, driving for Uber or Lyft, etc. In any of these cases, your business is considered a Sole Proprietorship unless you form a corporation of some sort. When you apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor, you can use your own name as your business name, use your own address and phone as the business' address and phone, and your social security number as the business' Tax ID / EIN. Alternatively, you can get a proper Tax ID / EIN from the IRS for free, in about a minute, through this website. Is it OK to use business cards for personal expenses? Anecdotally, almost everyone I know uses business cards for personal expenses. That said, the terms in most business card applications state that you should use the card only for business use. Also, some consumer credit card protections do not apply to business cards. My advice: don't use the card for personal expenses if you're not comfortable doing so. |
Best business card offers that won’t add to 5/24
This table shows business cards that do not contribute to your 5/24 count. Cards are sorted by first year estimated value. We have weeded out business cards from issuers like Capital One and TD Bank since they do report business cards to personal credit bureaus. Please note that there are some situations where the banks listed here will report to the personal credit bureaus (such as when you miss payments).
If you’re interested in seeing more than the top 10 offers, simply click “Next” at the bottom of the page, or use the drop down selector at the top to show more than 10 items.
| Card Offer |
|---|
150K points ⓘ Affiliate 150K points after $20K spend in the first 3 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$695 Annual Fee Alternate Offer: Targeted online offer of 170K points after $15K spend in the first 3 months See this post for details. |
130K Points ⓘ Friend-Referral 130K points after $10K spend in 3 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$375 Annual Fee Alternate Offer: Some people can find a targeted offer for up to 150K points. See this for more details.. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: (Expired 2/1/24) 130K referral offer after $10K in spend |
100K points ⓘ Affiliate 100K after $8K spend in 3 months$95 Annual Fee Recent better offer: 80K after $5K spend. Many preferred the 80K offer due to the much lower spend requirement |
75K points ⓘ Affiliate 75K after $6K spend in 3 monthsNo Annual Fee Alternate Offer: You may be able to get an offer of 120,000 points after $6,000 in purchases via a Business Relationship Manager. Recent better offer: 90K after $6K spend in 6 monthd (expired 1/17/24) |
Up to 75K points ⓘ Affiliate 35K after $3K spend in 3 months and an additional 40K points after $6K spend in 6 months. In addition, 10% Business Relationship bonus if you have the Ink Business Cash and a Chase Business Checking account on your first anniversary.No Annual Fee Alternate Offer: If you have a household member with an Ink card, you may prefer the referral offer whereby the referrer can earn 40,000 points and the new account holder can earn 75,000 points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months since it will yield more total points. Recent better offer: 90K after $6K spend in 6 monthd (expired 1/17/24 |
60K points ⓘ Affiliate 60K after $5,000 spend in 3 months$199 Annual Fee This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule. |
Limited Time Offer: Up to 175K points ⓘ Affiliate Earn 140K points after $4K spend within the first 3 months and an additional 35K points after a total of $7K spend with in the first 6 months $99 Annual Fee This card is expected to be subject to Chase's 5/24 rule (click here for details). |
75K miles ⓘ Non-Affiliate 75K miles after $5K spend in first 5 months$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 Alternate Offer: There is an alternative offer of 30K + $400 credit that can be found when doing a dummy booking on aa.com. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
75K Miles ⓘ Affiliate 75K miles after $5K spend in first 3 months.$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 After clicking through, be sure to click the link at the top that says, "Are you a small business owner?" to see the business card offers that include this card. You are not eligible for the bonus if you have received the bonus on this card within the past 24 months. Please note that the United EXPLORER Business card (no longer available) is a different product and does not affect your ability to get the bonus on this card. |
80K points ⓘ Affiliate 80K after $5K spend in first 3 months$199 Annual Fee This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule (click here for details). |
75K miles + Companion Fare ⓘ Non-Affiliate 75K miles + Companion Fare ($99 fare + taxes) after $4K spend in 3 months (enter any random 6-digit number for referral code)$95 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 70K after $4K in 3 months [Expired 4/23] |
Earn 3 Free Night Awards - Valued at up to 50K points each, up to 150K points total. ⓘ Affiliate Earn three 50k free night certificates after $6K spend in the first 6 months. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) points for each bonus Free Night Award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R). Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$125 Annual Fee Recent better offer: 5x50K free night certificates after $8K in spend (expired 3/20/24) |
90K points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 90K after $7500 spend in first 4 months$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 |
$1,000 Cash Back ⓘ Affiliate $1K after $10K Spend in 3 Months$195 Annual Fee Alternate Offer: Some have been targeted for 150K after $10K spend via mailer or in the "Just for You" section of their online account. |
55k miles ⓘ Affiliate 55k after $4k spend in first 6 months. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 |
Up to 60K Miles ⓘ Non-Affiliate Up to 60K miles: 50K bonus miles after spending $4K in first 90 days + additional 10K miles after a purchase is made on an employee card in the first 90 days$99 Annual Fee |
75K points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 75K after $6K spend in 180 days$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 Note that only spend on the Account Owner's card (not including purchases made on employee cards) counts toward minimum spending requirements. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
50K points ⓘ Affiliate 50K points after $1K spend in first 3 months $99 Annual Fee This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule (click here for details). |
175K Points ⓘ Affiliate Limited-time offer: 175K after $8K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Offer Expires 6/5/2024)$195 Annual Fee |
$600 Cash Back ⓘ Non-Affiliate $600 cash back after $4500 spend on the account owner's card in first 150 daysNo Annual Fee Keep in mind that only spend on the Account Owner's card counts toward minimum spending requirements, spend on employee cards does not count. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
75K Miles + 1,000 PQP ⓘ Friend-Referral 75K miles + 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points after $5K spend in first 3 months.$450 Annual Fee This card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule (click here for details). Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
50K miles ⓘ Non-Affiliate 50K miles after $5K in 90 days$95 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
100K Points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 50K after after $4K spend in first 90 days, additional 50K after a total of $15K spend in first year$95 Annual Fee Recent better offer: None, this is best we've seen. |
75K points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 75K after $10K spend in 120 days$195 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
$500 statement credit ⓘ Non-Affiliate $500 statement credit after $5K spend in 90 daysNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
65k miles ⓘ Affiliate 65k after $6k spend in first 6 months. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)$350 Annual Fee |
Up to 70K miles ⓘ Non-Affiliate 60K Miles after $2K spend in 90 days plus 10K miles after adding and making one purchase on an employee card, both within 90 days$99 Annual Fee Recent better offer: Expired 9/11/22: 80K + $99 statement credit after $2K spend in first 90 days |
30K points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 30K after $3K spend in 90 daysNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
15K points + 0% APR for 12 months ⓘ Affiliate 15k points after $3k spend within the first 3 months + 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. (Rates & Fees)No Annual Fee |
$250 back + 0% APR for 12 months ⓘ Affiliate $250 statement credit after $3k spend within first 3 months and 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49% depending on creditworthiness. (Rates & Fees)No Annual Fee |
$300 Cash Back ⓘ Non-Affiliate $300 after $3000 spend in 90 daysNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
75K miles ⓘ Affiliate 75k after $10K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$650 Annual Fee |
$125 Amazon Gift Card ⓘ Affiliate Eligible Prime members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)No Annual Fee |
15K points ⓘ Friend-Referral 15K points after $3K spend in first 3 months. Terms & limitations apply. $95 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
No Welcome Bonus ⓘ Non-Affiliate No Annual Fee Requires Costco membership. Cash back provided annually with February billing statement as rewards coupon redeemable for cash or merchandise at Costco |
Up to $600 ⓘ Friend-Referral Earn a $200 statement credit after each $10,000 you spend on the card, up to $30,000, in the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)$250 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. |
![](http://cdn.nextinsure.com/imaging/opt/b1678909-a196-414a-8066-e401677d02c3.png?w=300" alt="American Express® Business Gold Card" />)
![](http://cdn.nextinsure.com/imaging/opt/a5e33401-8d6f-4ae8-b471-5da085075406.jpg?w=300" alt="The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card" />)
Calculations
First year values are calculated as: estimated first year value minus estimated first year costs. First year value includes signup bonus points and statement credits. First year costs include the first year annual fee and the opportunity cost of meeting minimum spend requirements.
Please note that valuable perks such as free checked bags, companion passes, airport lounge access, etc. are not included in these calculations.
Full details of how first year value is calculated can be found here: Credit card signup bonus estimation details.
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How many Chase business credit cards can you own as a sole proprietor? I already have Chase ink business preferred and Chase ink cash. I am under 4/24 right now.
I’m not aware of any hard limit. I’ve had at least 5 or 6 at times.
[…] You know, most of these are available with my links. You want to keep this blog alive, USE THEM! Best business card offers that don’t add to 5/24. […]
[…] How to get under 5/24 and what to do while waiting. It would be nice to have a dedicated page/post with best non-reporting biz offers for those in our category. [Note: we already answered this suggestion with a new post: Best business card offers that don’t add to 5/24] […]
Silly question maybe. The list you gave at the bottom of the article states “Best business card offers that won’t add to 5/24” but some of the individual cards listed right beneath that headline indicate they are known to count??? So which is it? I am confused. Thanks.
Also, if these cards show up in our Chase accounts under “Just for you” – does that mean they are pre-approved? Thanks
“This card is known to be subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.” Are you referring this sentence? It means to get this card, you are at the mercy of the Chase’s 5/24 Rule. However, it won’t increase your new card total within a 24-month period.
To your second question, I think so.
Found the article by Greg: https://frequentmiler.com/best-chase-cards-subject-5-24/
Chase 5/24 semantics (“Subject to” vs. “Count towards”): Most Chase cards are subject to the 5/24 rule. That means the rule is enforced in making approval decisions. In other words, you probably won’t get approved if your credit report shows that you opened 5 or more cards in the past 24 months. Meanwhile, most business cards (such as those from Chase, Amex, Barclaycard, BOA, Citi, US Bank, and Wells Fargo) are not reported on your personal credit report. These cards do not count towards 5/24.
Example: Chase Ink Business Preferred is subject to 5/24, so you likely won’t get approved if over 5/24. If you do get approved, it won’t count towards 5/24 since it won’t appear as an account on your credit report.
The Citi AA Business card showed up on my personal credit. I think it was a mistake as the 70,000 bonus miles didn’t show up either. I had to call and complain and it took some weeks but they finally gave me the 70,000 AA miles.
If I call them, do you think they will be able to remove it from my credit history?
I think it’s worth a try. I don’t have any idea of your chances though. Good luck!
AlexL gave you the right answers:
1) The cards in the list don’t increase your 5/24 count, but if you are over 5/24 and they say “This card is known to be subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.” then you won’t get approved (unless you have the offer in your “just for you”)
2) Yes, if a card shows up starred under “Just for you”, then you can get the card even if you are over 5/24.
Thank you both Alex and Greg. Interestingly enough, I found a “Just for you” offer in my Chase account and applied for it – the Business Ink Preferred. Completed the application and was denied! So they are denying a card for me that they already pre-approved? I can say that nothing has changed for me in my financial status, spending or use patterns, etc. so this seems odd?
Yeah, it’s more of a pre-qualification than a pre-approval. Still, you should call recon to see if you can get the decision reversed. https://frequentmiler.com/chase-denial-into-approval-recon/