Supercharge Your Points Game with a Business Credit Card
When most people think of credit cards, they think of personal use. But if you’ve been building your credit card strategy and are serious about maximizing your rewards, there’s a whole other category just waiting to be unlocked: business credit cards.
No, you don’t need an LLC, office or employees to get one. In fact, many everyday side hustles qualify you for a business card - and they can open the door to huge earning potential and top-tier welcome bonuses.
How We Used a Business Card to Supercharge Our Strategy
We put this into action ourselves when we signed up for the Chase Business Ink Unlimited®.
At the time, the Ink Unlimited was offering a massive 90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting the minimum spend. That’s a huge haul - enough for a round trip flight to Europe or several free nights at a Hyatt hotel.
But it wasn’t just the welcome bonus that made it worth having. The card earns 1.5x points on every purchase, which is our catch-all card for business expenses. The Ink Business Unlimited is essentially the business version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited. We’ve talked about how we use the Freedom Unlimited in our foundation as part of the Chase Trifecta in our first blog post. Adding the business counterpart allows us to scale the same strategy on business spend, doubling down on easy 1.5x earning opportunities.
ven better? Since this is a business card, the new account didn’t affect our Chase 5/24 status, which keeps us eligible for more personal Chase cards down the line. That gave us more flexibility and less restriction in planning our next moves.
Why Business Cards are a Game Changer
Here’s what sets business cards apart from personal cards in your points and miles strategy:
💰 Larger Sign-Up Bonuses
Business credit cards often come with bigger welcome offers than their personal counterparts. It’s not uncommon to see bonuses worth 100,000+ points. The newly released Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business is currently offering a 200,000 point welcome bonus, which is worth $2,000 cash back or $4,000+ when used for travel.
📈 Extra Earning Categories
Many business cards offer unique bonus categories that personal cards don’t touch:
Office supply stores
Advertising spend (great if you run Facebook or Google Ads)
Shipping Services
Telecom/Internet services
This opens up the ability to stack categories across personal and business cards, optimizing every dollar.
💳 Separation of Business and Personal Spend
Keeping business expenses separate from personal isn’t just good for taxes - it can also help you manage credit utilization more strategically. Most business cards don’t show up on your personal credit report, so your personal credit score won’t be impacted by business spending or balances.
You Don’t Need a Registered Business to Qualify
Many people think business cards are only for people with formal companies. But credit card issuers consider side hustles businesses too - even if it’s just you, a laptop and a dream.
When applying, you can often apply as a sole proprietor using your own name as the business name and your Social Security number instead of an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Side Hustles that Count as a Business
If you’ve earned income in any of these ways (or plan to soon), you can likely qualify for a business card:
Reselling on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark or Mercari
Driving for Uber, Lyft or DoorDash
Freelance work such as writing, graphic design or social media management
Tutoring or coaching (online or in-person)
Selling crafts or digital products on Etsy
Photography gigs
Pet sitting or dog walking
Renting out property on Airbnb or Vrbo
Creating content on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram (yes, even with a small audience!)
If you’re not earning income yet, you can still apply by selecting “I’m just starting out” when asked for revenue.
Tips for Applying for a Business Credit Card
Start with banks you already have a relationship with. If you already have a Chase or AMEX personal card, you’re more likely to be approved for a business card with them.
Be honest on your application. Don’t inflate income or misrepresent your business. It’s okay to be new - many side hustlers start with $0 revenue (including yours truly).
Have a plan for the sign-up bonus. Make sure you can meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome bonus offer without overspending.
Keep track of business vs. personal spend. Even if you’re the only employee, keep you business purchases separate - it’ll make your life easier come tax time.
Final Thoughts
Adding a business card to your wallet can unlock a new level of rewards potential. Bigger bonuses, new bonus categories and a smarter points setup are all on the table. And the best part? You don’t need a full-time business or an LLC to get started.
So if you’ve got a side hustle - or you’re about to start one - this might be the perfect next move in your points journey.
Want help choosing your first business card?
Book a 1-on-1 consultation with us at The Point Pursuit. We’ll help you pick the right cards for your goals - personal and business.