Sapphire Reserve for Business vs Ink Business Preferred
NCnextcard team
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TLDR: The Ink Business Preferred card helps businesses earn travel rewards with 3x points on shipping, ads, and travel. It offers a big bonus and flexible point transfers for maximum value.
Advertiser Disclosure: nextcard may receive compensation from card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. For the most up-to-date terms & conditions, refer to the official credit card application on the issuer's website.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a top choice for small business owners who want to turn everyday business expenses into valuable travel rewards.
With impressive earning potential, flexible redemption options, and practical travel protections, this card is a smart asset for businesses that spend heavily across key operational categories. There's a reason why it's one of my favorite cards and why I choose it over the likes of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
One of the highlights of the Ink Business Preferred is its generous introductory offer: you’ll earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first 3 months from account opening.
For businesses that frequently spend on growth—like shipping, advertising, or travel—this welcome offer delivers immediate value. Plus, you can transfer points 1:1 to Chase’s travel partners, opening the door to even greater rewards.
I’ve typically used this card’s welcome offer toward World of Hyatt hotel bookings for work, earning several free nights even at high-end properties.
Unlike consumer cards that focus on dining and streaming, the Ink Business Preferred is optimized for common business expenses. You'll earn:
3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year:
Shipping
Advertising on social media and search engines
Internet, cable, and phone services
Travel
5x points on Lyft rides through 09/30/2027
1x points on all other purchases
This targeted structure is ideal for companies that run online marketing campaigns, ship products, or have frequent travel needs. After you hit the $150,000 cap, all purchases revert to 1x point.
The 3x on travel, even when booking directly with the airline, is particularly notable. It beats out a lot of other cards on the market with similar annual fees. When it comes to booking business travel, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is my card of choice.
One of the most powerful features of the Ink Business Preferred® Card is the ability to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to a variety of travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. This means that for every 1,000 Chase points you transfer, you’ll receive 1,000 points or miles in the partner’s loyalty program (assuming there’s no transfer bonus). This feature is ideal for travelers who want to maximize the value of their points by leveraging airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Chase has partnered with several leading airlines and hotel chains, giving cardholders access to a wide range of redemption options. Here’s a list of Chase’s current transfer partners:
Aer Lingus AerClub
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
British Airways Executive Club
Emirates Skywards
Iberia Plus
JetBlue TrueBlue
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
United MileagePlus
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
IHG One Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy
World of Hyatt
To get the most out of your points, it’s worth researching the best redemption options for your travel plans. For example:
Use award search tools to identify high-value redemptions
Look for promotions or bonus offers from Chase’s transfer partners, which can sometimes provide additional value (e.g. 30% bonus on transferred points)
In the past, I've been able to book several free nights at New York City hotels or get last minute work trips to Atlanta fully covered using my points. For example, I needed to fly to DC with only a few days notice. While cash fares for flights were well in the $400s for a one way, I was able to book a one-way United Airlines flight from San Francisco to DC for just 15,000 points + $5.60 in taxes. I transferred those 15,000 points from Chase to United and flew my merry way over.
The Ink Business Preferred is well-regarded for its robust travel insurance benefits, which provide cardholders with peace of mind when booking trips. These benefits include:
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for your pre-paid, nonrefundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
Auto Rental Coverage: Decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary when renting for business purposes and provides reimbursement up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less.
Cell Phone Protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cell phone protection against covered theft or damage for cell phones listed on your monthly cell phone bill when you pay it with your eligible credit card. Maximum of 3 claims in a 12-month period with a $100 deductible per claim.
As always, check your Guide to Benefits for the most up-to-date information.
The cell phone protection benefit here is particularly notable because not many lower annual fee business cards have this as a benefit. For example, the no annual fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card does not have cell phone protection as an insurance benefit. Likewise, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also does not have this as a benefit.
If your business regularly spends in categories like shipping, online advertising, tech services, or travel, the Ink Business Preferred offers excellent rewards and coverage for a modest $95 annual fee.
It’s especially compelling for companies aiming to reinvest in growth while earning points for future business or leisure travel. The strong intro bonus, flexible redemption options, and useful protections make it a powerful tool for any business rewards strategy.
