AMEX Business Platinum US vs Chase Ink Business Preferred (2026)
Which US business card is the better fit for German LLC owners? Direct comparison AMEX Business Platinum US ($895, up to 300k MR welcome) vs Chase Ink Business Preferred ($95, 90k UR). Earn rates, travel credits, lounge access, 5/24 impact. May 2026.
Quick answer: Both US business cards are top picks for German LLC owners in 2026, but for different profiles. AMEX Business Platinum US ($895/year): welcome bonus up to 300,000 MR ($20,000 spend in 3 months), 5x on travel via AMEX Travel, Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club, $400 Dell + $200 Hilton + $200 Adobe + $100 Indeed credits. Chase Ink Business Preferred ($95/year): welcome bonus typically 90,000 UR ($8,000 spend in 3 months), 3x on $150k travel/shipping/online ads/telecoms, Hyatt 4:3 (from Oct 2026, previously 1:1), doesn’t count toward 5/24 (business card). Recommendation: get both! Inks do NOT add to the 5/24 counter, the AMEX Biz Plat is the welcome-bonus bomb. If you want to maximize: AMEX Biz Plat first, then 1-2 Inks staggered. Requirement: US LLC with EIN.
US business cards are the welcome-bonus gold standard of the points world — higher bonuses, better earn rates, and they typically don’t count toward Chase 5/24. If you have a US LLC with an EIN, this is home turf.
The two cards compared
Disclaimer: As of May 2026, sources: americanexpress.com/us/business/ and chase.com/business. Terms change, verify before applying.
Direct comparison
| Feature | AMEX Business Platinum US | Chase Ink Business Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $895 | $95 |
| Welcome bonus | up to 300,000 MR / $20,000 in 3 months | typ. 90k UR / $8,000 in 3 months (occasionally 120k targeted) |
| Earn rate premium | 5x flights/hotels (AMEX Travel) | 3x on $150k/year in travel + shipping + online ads + telecoms |
| Earn rate standard | 1x | 1x |
| Lounge access | Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club | no |
| Hotel status | Marriott Gold + Hilton Gold | no |
| Travel credits | $200 airline + $200 hotel | no |
| Tech credits | $400 Dell + $200 Adobe + $100 Indeed | no |
| Hilton credit | $200/year | no |
| Points value (program) | AMEX MR (12-15 cents on Avianca-LH First) | Chase UR (Hyatt 4:3 from Oct 2026) |
| Transfer partners | 19 airlines + 3 hotels (most 1:1) | 11 partners (all 1:1) |
| 5/24 counter | doesn’t count (business) | doesn’t count (business) |
Welcome-bonus math
| Element | AMEX Biz Plat | Chase Ink BP |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus (top value) | up to 300,000 MR | 90,000 UR (occ. 120k) |
| Spend requirement | $20,000 / 3 months | $8,000 / 3 months |
| Per month spend | $6,667 | $2,667 |
| Welcome value via travel portal (1 cent) | $3,000 | $1,125 (1.25 cents CSP tier) |
| Welcome value via premium-cabin sweet spot | $36,000+ (LH First 12-15c/MR) | $5,000+ (Hyatt Park Hyatt Tokyo, via Reserve 1:1; via Ink from Oct 2026 4:3 → ~25% more UR needed) |
→ The AMEX Biz Plat has the highest welcome bonus of all (up to 300k MR), but also the highest spend requirement.
Who benefits from what?
✅ AMEX Business Platinum US
Profile: You have a US LLC with real business expenses (Stripe services, online advertising, travel) and can hit $20k in 3 months. You want premium-cabin sweet spots (LH First via Avianca, ANA, Cathay).
Sweet spots from 300k MR:
- 2× Lufthansa First Class round-trip (174k MR via Avianca + a big remaining balance)
- 3× ANA round-trip business (240k MR + remaining balance)
- 2× Cathay First Class one-way (Cathay = 5:4, check the current rate before transferring)
✅ Chase Ink Business Preferred
Profile: You want to use Hyatt hotels, run online advertising ($150k spend cap on 3x is large), and want a low card-fee entry point.
Sweet spots from 90k UR:
- 18 Hyatt Cat 1 nights off-peak ($1,800-3,600 cash value)
- 1× Lufthansa Business via Aeroplan (75k + remaining balance)
- 1× ANA Business RT (90k = low season ANA Business)
Strategy: get both?
Maximizer path: both cards in parallel.
| Step | Timing | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. AMEX Business Platinum US | Month 1 | up to 300,000 MR welcome |
| 2. Chase Ink Business Preferred | Month 4 (after AMEX spend) | 90,000 UR welcome |
| 3. Optional: Chase Ink Business Cash | Month 10 | $750 cashback |
| Total bonus over 10 months | up to 300k MR + 90k UR + $750 |
Since business cards don’t count toward 5/24, you can also apply for personal cards in parallel (e.g. AMEX Plat US Personal with up to 175k MR, Chase Sapphire Reserve with 150k UR LTO).
The 5/24 advantage of business cards
The Chase 5/24 rule only counts personal credit cards. Business cards from Chase, AMEX, Citi, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Cap One don’t appear on your personal credit report — so they’re 5/24-neutral.
→ If you’ve maxed out 5/24 (4-5 new personal cards in 24 months), you can still get business cards without raising the counter.
More on this: Chase 5/24 rule for Germans
Spend strategies (premium content: concept only)
The welcome bonus requires $20,000 (AMEX) or $8,000 (Chase Ink) in the first 3 months. Pure personal spending usually isn’t enough. Concepts for business spend:
- US rental cars / hotels for trips
- Stripe account fees (online sales)
- Online advertising (Google Ads, Facebook Ads via business account)
- Software subscriptions (Adobe, Microsoft 365 Business)
- Hosting + domain costs
Important: Exactly how you, as a German LLC owner, generate legal business spend in the US is described in detail in the US Empire handbook (€597). Here on the blog we only describe the concept.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do I need a US LLC for both cards?
Yes. Both cards require an EIN. A sole proprietorship is theoretically enough for AMEX, but in practice you’ll have more success with an LLC.
Which card should I apply for first?
AMEX Business Platinum first (higher welcome bonus, $20k spend takes time). Chase Ink Business Preferred 6 months later.
What if I don’t hit the $20k AMEX spend?
If you don’t complete the full spend on time, you won’t get the welcome bonus (AMEX doesn’t pay out pro rata — the spend must be fully completed within the 3-month window). If you’re unsure: pick a lower tier (e.g. Business Gold with up to 200,000 MR welcome / $15,000 spend in 3 months — lower spend requirement).
Are the AMEX Biz Plat lounge perks worth the fee?
It depends. If you fly through the US, you get $400-800 of value from Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club. If you mostly fly out of Germany: marginal — the German Platinum already has Centurion + Priority Pass.
What earn-rate categories does the Chase Ink Business Preferred have?
3x on: travel, shipping, online advertising (search, display, social media), telecoms (internet, mobile, cable). Cap: $150,000 combined spend per year in these categories. If you run online advertising: $150k × 3x = 450k UR/year on top of the welcome bonus.
Do points expire when you cancel the card?
AMEX MR: expire immediately when you cancel your last AMEX MR card. Before canceling, always transfer to a transfer partner or another AMEX MR card.
Chase UR: expire immediately when you cancel your last UR card. Keep at least one UR card active (e.g. Sapphire Preferred $95 as a backup).
What about Business Gold US in comparison?
The AMEX Business Gold US ($375/year) is the middle business card: welcome up to 200k MR, 4x on 2 top spend categories per month (travel, restaurants, online advertising etc.). Cheaper than the Biz Plat, but no lounge access.
Can I hold these cards as a pure points-collector LLC?
Yes, theoretically. But: AMEX and Chase check whether your LLC has real business activity. Pure card-holder LLCs with no spend pattern occasionally get declined or are asked for documentation after applying.
Conclusion: get both, use both
If you have a US LLC with an EIN, you should aim for both cards — they complement each other:
- AMEX Business Platinum = welcome-bonus bomb + premium-cabin sweet spots (Avianca/ANA path)
- Chase Ink Business Preferred = Hyatt path (4:3 from Oct 2026, previously 1:1) + low fee + 3x spend categories
Both cards as business = 0 load on the Chase 5/24 counter.
With the welcome-bonus stack (up to 300k MR + 90k UR), you grab $15,000-40,000 in cash value within 6 months depending on redemption — for a combined annual fee of $990. ROI: 15-40×.
Note: Transfer ratios are snapshots and change constantly (most recently Chase→Hyatt in June 2026). Always check the current rate directly with the program before you transfer points. As of this article: June 2026.
Further reading:
- US LLC for German points collectors
- Chase Ultimate Rewards Guide 2026
- AMEX Plat US vs DE comparison
- 5/24 rule for Germans
You don’t just want to know that these business cards are awesome — but actually have a US LLC with an EIN as a German? The Empire path (€597) of the MEILENKÖNIG US card handbooks explains the complete LLC setup path including a taxes disclaimer and spend-pattern strategies.
Your path to US credit cards — step by step
Welcome bonuses up to 175,000 MR, 1:1 transfer ratios, Chase & Capital One: the US handbooks show you the complete roadmap — from the US address to your first card. Without US residency, as a German.
To the US card handbooks
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