You don’t need an LLC.
You need a side hustle.
Freelancers, gig workers, eBay sellers, Airbnb hosts — you already qualify for business credit cards. Here’s everything you need to know to apply as a sole proprietor and earn massive signup bonuses.
Why business cards?
Benefits personal cards can’t match
Business credit cards aren’t just for corporations. As a sole proprietor you get access to higher signup bonuses, better category rewards, and a crucial separation between personal and business spending.
Doesn’t hit personal credit
Chase Ink cards don’t report to personal credit bureaus as long as your account is in good standing — so approvals don’t add to your 5/24 count either.
Bigger signup bonuses
Business cards routinely offer $750–$1,000+ in cash back or 100,000+ points as welcome bonuses — far exceeding most personal card offers.
Separate your expenses
Keep business and personal spending on different cards. Makes tax time easier and gives you a clean record of deductible business expenses.
Stack multiple cards
You can hold all 4 Chase Ink cards simultaneously — each with its own credit line and its own signup bonus. That’s potentially 300K+ points across 12 months.
Higher credit limits
Business cards typically come with higher credit limits than personal cards, giving you more purchasing power for larger business expenses.
Business-specific rewards
Categories like office supplies, internet, phone services, and advertising earn 3–5x points — categories that don’t exist on personal cards.
You already qualify if you do any of these
Chase defines “business” broadly. The IRS treats you as a sole proprietor the moment you earn money outside a W-2 job. Chase accepts this.
Should you get an EIN?
You don’t need one — your SSN works as your tax ID for sole proprietors. But getting a free EIN from the IRS takes 5 minutes online and adds a layer of separation between your personal and business identity. Both have identical approval odds with Chase.
Chase Ink Business Cards
4 cards. Each with its own bonus.
You can hold all 4 simultaneously. Each has an independent credit line and welcome bonus — meaning a sole proprietor can earn 300,000+ Ultimate Rewards points across 12 months.
⚠ November 2025 rule change: Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited are now treated as one family for bonus purposes — earning a bonus on one may permanently block you from the other. Apply for only one of these two. The Preferred and Premier each have independent restrictions. Always verify current terms at chase.com before applying.
Ink Business Cash®
- 5% cash back at office supply stores & internet/cable/phone (first $25K/yr)
- 2% cash back at gas stations & restaurants (first $25K/yr)
- 1% cash back on everything else
- Convert to UR points when paired with Sapphire or Ink Preferred
- Employee cards at no extra cost
Best for: High office supply or telecom spend
Ink Business Unlimited®
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase — no categories to track
- No limit on cash back earned
- Convert to UR points with a premium Chase card
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases
- Employee cards at no extra cost
Best for: Simple flat-rate rewards on everything
Ink Business Preferred®
- 3x points on travel, shipping, internet, phone, advertising (first $150K/yr)
- 1x on everything else
- Points transfer 1:1 to United, Hyatt, Southwest & 11 more
- Cell phone protection up to $1,000
- Trip cancellation insurance
Best for: Travel & advertising spend, point transfers
Ink Business Premier®
- 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more
- 2% cash back on all other purchases
- No preset spending limit (pay in full each month)
- Travel & purchase protections
- Best for large one-time purchases
Best for: High-ticket purchases over $5,000
All 4 Ink cards at a glance
| Card | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Top Earn Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Cash | $0 | $750 after $6K/3mo | 5% office/telecom | Office spenders |
| Ink Unlimited | $0 | $750 after $6K/3mo | 1.5% flat rate | Simple rewards |
| Ink Preferred | $95 | 90K pts after $8K/3mo | 3x travel/ads/telecom | Travel & transfers |
| Ink Premier | $195 | $1,000 after $10K/3mo | 2.5% on $5K+ purchases | Large purchases |
Using this referral costs you nothing extra. Sunny may earn bonus Ultimate Rewards points if your application is approved. Same offer, same terms — just a way to support Naya Works. Applies to all 4 Chase Ink business cards.
💡 The stacking strategy — 300K+ points in 12 months
Start with Ink Cash or Unlimited (no fee, easy approval). After 3 months, apply for Ink Preferred. After another 3 months, apply for Ink Premier. Each is a separate product with its own bonus. None appear on your personal credit report. As long as you’re under 5/24, you can hold all four simultaneously — each with its own credit line and welcome bonus.
Amex Business Platinum
The premium business card for serious travelers
The Amex Business Platinum carries a $895 annual fee but comes loaded with credits that can easily return $3,000+ in value. Available to sole proprietors — no employees or revenue required.
Using this referral costs you nothing extra. Sunny may earn bonus Membership Rewards points if your application is approved — a simple way to support Naya Works while getting the same offer. Welcome offers vary; you may not be eligible based on prior card history.