The Ink Business Premier is built for high-spending businesses that regularly make large individual transactions. Its defining feature: 2.5% cash back on any single purchase of $5,000 or more — a rate unavailable on any other Chase business card. At 2% on everything else and 5% on Chase Travel, this is a compelling flat-rate card for businesses that routinely write large checks to vendors, contractors, or suppliers. The $195 annual fee is offset by the $1,000 welcome bonus in year one.
Important: Ink Premier Is a Cash-Back Card — No Transfer Partners
The Ink Business Premier earns cash back only — it does NOT earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points, cannot transfer to airline or hotel partners, and cannot pool points with other Chase cards including Sapphire or other Ink cards. If you want transfer partner access, the Ink Business Preferred ($95/yr) is the right card. The Premier is for businesses that want high-rate cash back and have no interest in travel point redemptions.
Earning Structure
| Category | Cash Back | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Travel (portal) | 5% | Hotels, rental cars booked through Chase Travel |
| Single Purchases of $5,000+ | 2.5% | Per transaction — not cumulative. Each individual charge of $5,000+ earns 2.5%. |
| All Other Purchases | 2% | Unlimited |
The 2.5% trigger applies per transaction, not per statement or cumulative spend. A $6,000 invoice paid in one transaction earns 2.5%. The same $6,000 paid as three $2,000 installments earns 2% each. For businesses that can structure payments as single large transactions, this card provides a meaningful premium over standard 2% flat-rate cards.
Pay in Full + Flex for Business Structure
The Ink Business Premier operates as a hybrid card with two balance types. The "Pay in Full" balance must be paid in its entirety each statement cycle — it functions like a charge card, with no interest charges as long as you pay in full. A separate "Flex for Business" balance (for qualifying purchases you opt into financing) can be carried over time with interest. This structure provides cash-flow flexibility for specific large purchases while maintaining discipline on routine spending.
Premier vs. Preferred: Which Ink Card?
| Feature | Ink Premier ($195) | Ink Preferred ($95) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $195 | $95 (lower) |
| Best Rate | 2.5% on $5K+ transactions ✓ | 3x on travel/ads/shipping/telecom ✓ |
| Base Rate | 2% unlimited ✓ | 1x |
| Transfer Partners | None ⚠️ | 14 at 1:1 ✓ |
| Welcome Bonus | $1,000 after $10K/3mo | 100K pts after $8K/3mo ✓ |
| Cell Phone Protection | $1,000/claim ✓ | $1,000/claim ✓ |
| Best For | High volume, large transactions, cash-back only | Mixed business spending, travel rewards |
Pros & Cons
What We Like
- 2.5% on large transactions ($5K+) — unique rate unavailable elsewhere at this tier
- 2% on everything else — strong base rate for a business card
- $1,000 welcome bonus ($10K/3mo spending requirement)
- $1,000/claim cell phone protection
- No foreign transaction fee
- Flex for Business provides selective financing on large purchases
What to Watch Out For
- No transfer partners — cash back only, no airline/hotel point redemptions
- Cannot pool points with Sapphire or other Ink cards
- $195 annual fee — higher than Ink Preferred at $95
- 2.5% only triggers per-transaction at $5K+ — smaller businesses rarely benefit
- Pay in Full balance requires full monthly payment — discipline required
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
2.5% on $5K+ purchases · 2% on everything else · $1,000 bonus · $195/yr
Apply Now →Bottom Line
The Ink Business Premier is the right card for businesses that routinely make single large purchases ($5,000+) and prefer cash back over transfer partners. The 2.5% rate on large transactions is genuinely unique, and the 2% base rate is competitive for a business card. The $195 annual fee is higher than the Preferred, but the $1,000 welcome bonus covers it in year one. The critical caveat: this is a cash-back-only card — if you want Ultimate Rewards transfer partners for travel redemptions, the Ink Business Preferred is the better choice at a lower annual fee.