Chase Ink Business Preferred vs American Express Business Gold Card
Compare Chase Ink Business Preferred and Amex Business Gold: 3x vs 4x earning rates, $95 vs $375 annual fees, welcome bonuses, and which business credit card maximizes your company's spending.
Quick Answer
The Ink Business Preferred is better for businesses with predictable spending on shipping, advertising, and travel at $95/year. The Amex Business Gold is better for businesses with variable spending across multiple categories thanks to its flexible 4x category selection, but costs $375/year. Choose Ink Preferred for value; choose Business Gold for flexibility.
Chase Ink Business Preferred
The best business credit card for bonus category spend — 3x points on shipping, advertising, travel, and utilities up to $150K per year, with a 90,000-point welcome bonus.
Key Features
Regions
US
Pros
- +3x points on shipping, advertising, travel, and utilities up to $150K per year
- +90,000-point welcome bonus worth up to $1,125 in travel via Chase partners
- +Points transfer at 1:1 to United, Southwest, Hyatt, and Marriott
- +Employee cards at no cost with individual spending controls and expense reporting
Cons
- −$8,000 spend required for the welcome bonus is a high threshold for new businesses
- −3% foreign transaction fee limits international usability
- −$150,000 annual bonus cap may be restrictive for larger enterprises
American Express Business Gold Card
The business card that earns 4x points on your top two spending categories each billing cycle, with a 100,000-point welcome bonus for qualifying businesses.
Key Features
Regions
US
Pros
- +4x points on your top 2 of 6 eligible categories each billing cycle — adapts to your spending
- +100,000-point welcome bonus with $10,000 spend in first 3 months
- +Up to $200 in annual shipping credits and $155 in hiring credits
- +Employee cards with custom spending limits and consolidated expense tracking
Cons
- −$375 annual fee is high compared to competing business cards
- −Charge card requires full balance payment each month — no revolving credit option
- −Amex international acceptance gaps require a Visa backup for overseas business travel
Real-World Scenarios
You want the best value business card under $100
Your business spends consistently on shipping, online advertising, and travel. You want a low annual fee with strong bonus categories.
Your business has variable spending patterns
Your business spending shifts between categories each month. You want a card that adapts to wherever you spend the most.
You want the highest welcome bonus
You have significant business spending in the first few months and want to maximize your sign-up bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card has a lower annual fee?
Chase Ink Business Preferred costs $95/year. Amex Business Gold costs $375/year. Ink Preferred is significantly more affordable for small businesses watching their overhead.
Which card is better for shipping and advertising?
Ink Preferred earns 3x on shipping and advertising up to $150K/year. Amex Business Gold can earn 4x on these categories if they're your top 2 each cycle, but only up to $150K combined. Ink Preferred's 3x is more predictable; Amex's 4x is higher but conditional.