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The secret sauce to traveling on points and miles is BUSINESS CARDS.

No question.

I always get asked – do you actually NEED a business to receive a business card?

I answer with a resounding “YES!” …and if you don’t think you have one, you probably do.

Step 1: Create Your Side Hustle

If you don’t have an LLC, you may qualify as a business owner if you – own a rental property, are a contract employee, sell things online (Etsy, Marketplace), tutor, teach piano, babysit, sell a good (cakes, shirts, etc.), drive Uber or DoorDash.

Step 2: Fill out your application

Let’s go through a typical business card application line by line.

Legal Name of Business: Use your full name as your business name (Jane Doe)

Business Name on Card: Your Full Name (Jane Doe)

Business Mailing Address: Your home address (unless you have a formal office/location)

Type of Business: Sole Proprietor

Tax ID: EIN # OR if you don’t have one use your Social Security Number

Business Category: Choose the one that best explains your business

# of Employees: 0

Annual Business Revenue: Project amount based on what you’ve done or could do in the future. I typically estimate based on a month and multiply it by 12.

Years in Business: # of years you’ve conducted business. This may include without revenue (the years you didn’t make money)

Authorizing Officer: Owner

Gross Annual Income: Put in the amount you earn yearly, or your projected income.

Why a business card?

Business cards give you more options of cards you can qualify for. They also don’t impact your personal credit (except the hard pull when you apply) when you cancel a card. Business cards won’t impact your long-term credit history.

Business cards are so essential because they don’t count towards 5/24 (the unofficial number of personal credit cards that Chase bank will allow you to open in 24 months).

Here are my favorites!

Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Perfect if you want a straightforward 1.5x rewards card with no annual fee and flexible cash back. I recommend using it hand in hand with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card for access to Chase’s fantastic travel partners.

Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Great for those who want high cash back rates in specific categories without an annual fee. I recommend using it hand in hand with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred for access to Chase’s fantastic travel partners.

Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Ideal for travelers who want to maximize points with higher earnings on travel and business expenses and enjoy robust travel protections. You can access Chase’s travel partners with this card, which I highly recommend!

Capital One Venture X Business: This gives all the benefits of one of my FAVORITE cards, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, but in business form. You’ll love the Priority Pass lounge access and guaranteed 2x points on all purchases. I wouldn’t recommend this card unless you have HUGE spending coming up – think home renovation, property taxes, medical expenses, etc.

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