You do not need an LLC, employees or a storefront. If you earn money on your own, a business card may fit, and it can keep your personal credit slots free. Here is my short list, starting with Chase Ink.
Reviewed October 2026 · Justin RasmussenOften yes. A sole proprietor, a freelancer, a contractor, a farmer, a rental owner or someone with a side business can apply as a small business, usually using their own name and Social Security number. You do not need an LLC. The application will ask about your business and revenue, so use your real numbers, and ask me if you are not sure what counts.
Why bother? Three reasons I come back to:
One caution before the list: a card is only worth getting if you can pay the balance in full and the spending you need to hit the bonus is spending you would do anyway. Never spend extra just to chase a bonus.
Offers below are shown as of October 30, 2026, per Chase’s public card page and can change. A referral link may show a different offer, so confirm the current offer on the page you apply on.
| Card | Fee | Best fit | What it earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Unlimited | $0 | Owners who want simple and no tracking | 1.5% cash back on every purchase |
| Ink Business Cash | $0 | Home-office and online-heavy owners | 5% on office supplies and internet, cable and phone (up to $25K a year); 2% gas and dining |
| Ink Business Preferred | $95 | Ad, shipping and travel spenders who want points | 3 points on travel, shipping, ads and internet/cable/phone (up to $150K a year) |
| Ink Business Premier | $195 | Owners with large, occasional purchases | 2.5% on purchases of $5,000+, 2% on the rest |
Source: Chase’s public Ink Business pages, as of October 30, 2026. Welcome bonuses, rates and fees can change, so check the current offer.
These are the four I would look at first. Tap through to see the current offer and the terms.
A flat 1.5% on everything and no annual fee. If you do not want to think about categories, this is the easiest card to use well. It is also a good place to park spending that does not fit any bonus category. Chase’s page lists a 0% intro APR period on purchases, but I would still treat it as a pay-in-full card.
If your business runs on a phone plan, home internet and office or supply purchases, the 5% category adds up, up to the $25,000 yearly cap. Gas and restaurants get a lower bonus rate. Everything else is 1%.
It has a $95 fee, and a points-based welcome offer that is typically larger than the cash cards. It earns 3 points per dollar on travel, shipping, social and search advertising, and internet, cable and phone. If you spend on ads or shipping, those points add up, and they can be moved to travel partners, which is how I turn them into hotels and airfare. Check the fee against what you spend. For how the points work, see what Ultimate Rewards points are worth.
A $195 fee, and the strongest rate kicks in on purchases of $5,000 or more. It makes sense if you regularly make big purchases. Otherwise, one of the first three is probably better.
If you want an easy setup, a card that pays the most on your biggest category plus a flat-rate card for everything else works for most people. If you are a contractor, I wrote out the full pairing in the two-card setup for contractors. If you want to pool points for travel, the Preferred is the card I pair with a personal Sapphire card.
Chase is where I help most, but it is not the only option. If you do not want a Chase card, or you already have one, these two are worth comparing. I have no referral link for these, so the buttons go straight to the issuer and say so, and I earn nothing on them.
Check the current offer and fee on each page before you apply.
A $750 bonus is not a win if you spent $1,500 extra to get it.
Use the card for business expenses only. It keeps taxes and bookkeeping clean.
Space applications out. I suggest a plan before the first one. See my sign-up bonus math.
Chase’s page notes the bonus may not be available if you have held certain cards before. Read the details before you apply.
I am not a tax or legal adviser, so check with your accountant on how to handle business expenses. If you want a second set of eyes on which cards fit your spending, that is what the $500 Card Strategy Session is for, and I can also point you to the cards page to browse on your own.
Often yes. Sole proprietors and self-employed people can usually apply as a small business with their own name and Social Security number. Use accurate revenue and expense figures on the application.
Chase business cards generally do not add to your personal 5/24 count. The rules can change, so confirm before you apply. My Ultimate Rewards guide explains how 5/24 works.
It depends on your spending. Ink Business Unlimited is the simple $0-fee choice, Ink Business Cash is better for internet, phone and office supply spending, and Ink Business Preferred is better for ads, shipping and travel if you want points.
Only if you earn more than the fee in rewards and perks on spending you would do anyway. That is why the $0-fee Ink cards are a good starting point.
You can apply directly on the issuer’s page or through a referral link. If a referral link is used and you are approved, I earn points at no cost to you. The label under each button says which kind it is, and the offer on a referral link may differ from the public page, so read it before you apply.
Disclosure. Card buttons on this page may be my personal referral links — if you’re approved I earn points, at no cost to you and with no change to your bonus. The label under each button says which kind it is. I’d give you the same advice either way. I also earn commission on cruises booked as an independent travel advisor through Fora Travel; it never costs you extra. Full disclosure
One practical cruise or points tip a week, from someone who books both. Free.
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