The Chase Ink Trifecta: How I Racked Up $3K in Free Travel Without Ever Owning a “Real” Business

Not a Business Owner, Just a Regular Guy with a Credit Card Strategy

Let’s get one thing straight — I’m not some startup bro or tax-sheltering e-commerce guru. I’m just a guy who figured out that Chase lets you play the “business credit card” game without needing to actually own a business. And yeah, it’s kind of ridiculous.

You ever feel like the whole points game is for people living a totally different life? Booking $1,200 hotel nights in the Maldives like it’s nothing? Nah, not me. I got bills. A regular job. And a girlfriend who thinks I’m nuts for reading Reddit threads about signup bonuses at 1am. But I found a way in — and I ran with it.

So here’s the honest truth about how I grabbed $3,000+ worth of free travel using Chase Ink cards — no LLC, no storefront, no BS. Just a little planning and some good ol’ side hustle energy.

What Even Counts as a Business?

Let’s talk about what even counts as a business. Because the bar is laughably low. I mean, if you’ve ever sold something online, or even thought about selling something online, you basically qualify. Chase isn’t looking for tax returns and board meetings — they just want to see that you have, or plan to have, a business-like activity. And I use that term loosely. For me, it started with selling some used golf clubs and an old PS4 on eBay. That was enough. I didn’t file for an LLC, didn’t get an EIN. Just typed my own name in as the business, put my Social Security number where it asked, guessed $1,000 in revenue for the year, and kept it moving. I wasn’t scamming anyone — it’s literally how the application is set up. Chase knows what they’re doing.

The Three Cards That Changed the Game

So the cards. I ended up getting three: the Chase Ink Business Unlimited, the Chase Ink Business Cash, and the Chase Ink Business Preferred. Each had a beefy signup bonus, something like 75,000 to 100,000 points after hitting a $6,000 spend in 3 months. It’s not chump change — you’re looking at 225K to 300K points total if you time it right. Two of them have no annual fee, and the Preferred is just $95, which is nothing when you look at the upside. I applied for them a few months apart because of the Chase 5/24 rule. Quick rundown if you’re new: if you’ve opened 5 or more personal credit cards in the last 24 months, Chase won’t approve you for most new cards. But here’s the clutch part — business cards don’t count toward that total. So I was able to snag all three without blowing up my 5/24 status. Sneaky, but totally legit.

Chase Ink Business Preferred

How I Hit the Spending Requirements Without Going Broke

Now let’s get into how I actually hit those minimum spends. Because let’s be honest — I don’t casually spend $6,000 every few weeks. I’m not balling like that. But I got strategic. I used the cards for all my day-to-day spending — groceries, gas, takeout, the usual stuff. Then I moved all my recurring bills over — Netflix, phone bill, internet, insurance. Paid my car insurance for 6 months up front instead of monthly. That alone was like $500. I even paid my rent through Plastiq, which charges a fee, but it was worth it to meet the spending threshold and unlock those points. Bought gift cards for places I was gonna spend at anyway, like Amazon and Wawa. Even had my girlfriend use my card for our shared expenses and just Venmo me back. Felt like a game, honestly.

Where the Points Went — And Why It Was So Worth It

Once the points hit, that’s when things got fun. I transferred everything from the Unlimited and Cash cards into the Ink Preferred account. Why? Because the Preferred gives you a 25% points boost when you book travel through Chase’s portal. That means 80,000 points becomes $1,000 worth of travel, just like that. I booked JetBlue Mint flights from JFK to LA — lie-flat seats, fancy meals, the whole experience — and paid zero cash. Then I used points to stay four nights at the Andaz in Scottsdale. It’s a beautiful property, would’ve cost over $2,000 out of pocket. Didn’t spend a dime. Later, I needed a hotel in Chicago for a wedding. Covered that too. Hyatt transfer partners are elite. No joke.

This Is Real Travel — Not Fantasy Trips for Instagram

This wasn’t some “aspirational travel” nonsense either. I didn’t book an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora or fly Etihad Apartments. I just made my life better. I used points for stuff I was already planning to spend on: weddings, trips with friends, weekend getaways, Airbnb gift cards when we rented houses with the crew. And Chase’s system is so clean. Points transfer fast. Redemption is simple. It just works.

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting

I do wish someone had clued me in on a few things earlier. Like the fact that business cards don’t show up on your personal credit report, so your utilization ratio doesn’t get wrecked. That’s a big deal if you’re trying to keep your credit score clean. Also, if your app goes to “pending,” don’t freak out. Call Chase’s reconsideration line. Be honest. Tell them what you’re doing. It’s not a scam. You’ve got a real side hustle or at least an intention to start one, which is literally enough under their rules. And don’t go applying for all three cards in one day. That’s how you get flagged. Slow and steady.

Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Actually Do This

Would I do this again? No question. I’ve already told multiple friends about it and they’re all knee-deep in the same game now. The value is real. It’s not just blog fluff. I got over $3,000 in travel — legit travel — and didn’t have to twist myself into a pretzel to do it. I didn’t need to launch a business, raise capital, or even have a business plan. I just saw an opportunity and went for it. And I promise you, if I can do this, you can too.

This is the kind of thing people don’t talk about enough. But maybe that’s the point — once you know, you know. And now you do.

Check out the rest of my posts if you want to go deeper into this credit card rabbit hole. I’m not gonna sell you a course. Just sharing what works.

Check out some of my other work:

How a Middle-Class Family Can Use Credit Cards to Travel the World Without Going Broke (or Getting Into Debt)