What Earns 3X With Ink Business Preferred?

One of the best offers on the market is the Chase Ink Business Preferred. It has been at the magic triple digit 100,000 Ultimate Rewards level for a while now but with Chase slashing the spending requirement almost in half, it is now a much more obtainable offer for many. Something that goes overlooked with the Ink Preferred is its earning structure, especially the 3X earning structure. So what earns 3X with Ink Business Preferred? Let's take a deeper look!

RELATED: Which Streaming Services Earn 3x With The Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Current Welcome Offer

The Chase Ink Preferred has the following elevated welcome offer:

• Earn 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
• The $95 annual fee is NOT waived

This card earns full blown Ultimate Rewards since it is a premium UR earning card. It also unlocks the Ultimate Rewards points, once combined in your Ink Preferred account, of the sibling  Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.

Earning Structure

• 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards on the first $150,000 spent annually in combined purchases among these categories:
  • Travel (includes flights, hotels, taxis, rideshare services, public transportation, parking)
  • Shipping purchases
  • Cable, internet, and telephone services
  • Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
• 1X Ultimate Rewards points on all other eligible purchases.

What Earns 3X With Ink Business Preferred Deep Dive

We have the general idea of what earns 3X with Ink Business Preferred but lets look at it a little deeper at each option. The terms for each category can all be found on Chase's site.

Travel

Here is how travel is defined by Chase:

Merchants in this category include:

• Airlines
• Hotels
• Motels
• Timeshares
• Car rental agencies
• Cruise lines
• Travel agencies
• Discount travel sites
• Campgrounds
• Operators of
  • Passenger trains
  • Buses
  • Taxis
  • Limousines
  • Ferries
  • Toll bridges
  • Highways
• Parking lots
• Garages.

Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category.

My Note

It is annoying that gas is not included in this definition of travel but most of your travel needs are covered. The card also comes with some decent travel protections which you can see in more detail in our full review.

Shipping Purchases

Here is what Chase says about shipping purchases with the Chase Ink Business Preferred.

Merchants in this category specialize in mailing packages, hauling freight, and transporting goods or documents. Shipping merchants include couriers, postal and freight shipping companies, express shipping services and mailbox stores. Merchants who sell a wide variety of general goods but also ship items, including office supply stores that also mail packages will not be included in this category. The additional cost to ship something you buy, or using a third party (such as Amazon) for bulk warehousing and shipping will not qualify. Merchants that primarily sell boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap or other shipping supplies are also not included in this category. All trademarks are the property of their respective owner(s).

My Note

It may be worth checking your local Post Office, especially around the holidays, for gift card racks. I would imagine anything sold in the locations should code 3X Ultimate Rewards.

Cable, Internet, and Telephone Services

Here is what Chase has to say about the cable, internet and telephone service:

Only purchases for internet, cable, satellite television and radio, cellular, wireless data, and landline services will qualify. Purchases of equipment are not included. If you purchase or pay for your internet, cable and satellite television, phone or related services in a merchant's store that is not classified by the merchant in the applicable services category, the purchase or payment will not qualify; for example, phone bill payments in a merchant's store that is classified as a telephone equipment store.

Advertising With Social Media & Search Engines

Here is what Chase says about 3X earning with the Ink Preferred on select advertising:

Merchants in this category include social media websites and online search engines that advertise a business, brand, products or services. Advertising purchases that are not made directly from a social media website or online search engine merchant may not qualify; for example, advertising purchases made through a third party such as an ad agency or web designer offering related services. Also, purchases from social media websites or online search engines that are not for advertising will not qualify; for example, subscription or app purchases.

RELATED: What Earns 5X With The Chase Ink Cash, More Than You Think!

What Earns 3X With Ink Business Preferred: ToP Thoughts

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what earns 3X with Ink Business Preferred. This card is a lot more than just a sexy welcome offer. It can rack up lots of Ultimate Rewards in categories that your business may have a ton of spend in. If you can pair up your minimum spend with one of these categories then even better.

If you have an area that earns 3X with Ink Business Preferred that is a little unexpected, be sure to let us know in the ToP Facebook Group and we can add it to our list.