The newest premium business card on the block, the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠, is turning heads with a massive welcome offer — Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and with more than $2,500 in annual value, there's no competition. — and big $795 annual fee.
I last opened up a few new credit cards a little over three months ago and completed the spending requirements to earn the welcome offers, so I was looking for my next card with a great bonus. But since I’ve opened more than five personal cards in the past 24 months, I wasn’t sure if Chase would approve me for the new business card. Spoiler: It did.
Let’s discuss why I felt this card deserved a spot in my (crowded) wallet and whether my recent credit inquiries made any difference in my application.
Why the Sapphire Reserve Business Is Worth Getting
Sapphire Reserve Business is offering one of Chase’s most generous welcome bonuses: Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and with more than $2,500 in annual value, there's no competition. The card also has more than $2,500 in annual value from its statement credits and airport lounge access benefits.
There’s no getting around the fact that the spending requirement is huge. Before applying, assess whether you can meet that spend within the specified time period. However, you do get six months to complete it. Typically, Chase welcome offers require spending in three months, so the spending period is doubled for this card.
The card’s $795 annual fee will be painful for me. It’s my highest annual fee yet, but right off the bat, I look at the $300 annual travel credit as offsetting that fee.
Admittedly, I likely won’t use all of the card’s credits. I also don’t need airport lounge access through this card because I have another card with the same airport lounge benefits. I believe I’ll still come ahead despite not using all the perks.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are generally worth around 2 cents per point when transferred to travel partners, so the 200,000 bonus points will be worth at least $4,000 toward travel. And for me, that makes it worth paying the high annual fee, at least for the first year. After that, I’ll reevaluate whether or not the card’s ongoing benefits make it worthwhile to keep the card.
Sapphire Reserve Business Application Restrictions
Simply put, the Sapphire Reserve Business seemingly has no major application restrictions.
Chase is known for its strict eligibility rules on the Sapphire credit cards, such as not approving applicants who have opened more than five new personal credit cards in 24 months (5/24 rule) and a 48-month rule that prevents you from getting a new Sapphire if you previously received a Sapphire bonus in the past 48 months.
The 5/24 rule has never been officially outlined in application details, but it’s been included as a reason for denial letters that applicants typically receive with language like “too many accounts opened recently.”
The 48-month rule was included in Sapphire card applications, but as of June 23, 2025, Chase has moved away from that restriction, instead opting for new language in the personal Sapphire applications that says:
This credit card is unavailable to you if you currently have one open. The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you currently have any other personal Sapphire cards open, previously held this card or received a new cardmember bonus for this card. We may also consider the number of cards you have opened and closed, as well as other factors in determining your bonus eligibility.
But unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Sapphire Reserve Business does not have any eligibility requirements listed in the application at this time.
My Application Experience
As someone who regularly opens new credit cards when there are great welcome offers, I was at 6/24 when the Sapphire Reserve Business was announced. My first thought was that I’d be denied because I was over 5/24. While business cards don’t add to your 5/24 count, you typically have to be under 5/24 to get approved for personal or business Chase cards.
However, Chase is sometimes more lenient with approvals for newly released cards. I have an extensive credit card history with Chase, including five currently open business cards and six open personal cards — one of those personal cards being the Sapphire Preferred. Whether this would be an advantage or disadvantage, I did not know. My credit score generally stays above 800, so I knew that would not be an issue.
For many years, I only applied for business cards under my sole proprietor business as a freelance writer using my social security number, but a couple of years ago, I started a separate business as an LLC and filed for an EIN. This enabled me to also apply for business cards with my EIN. I decided to try my luck and apply.
For the Sapphire Reserve Business, I used my EIN and filled out the application with all of my usual business information before hitting “submit.” To my surprise, I was immediately approved. What a happy feeling knowing 200,000 bonus points would be coming my way — after I complete that massive spend, of course.
Bottom Line
If you’re a business owner who can meet a big spending requirement, the Sapphire Reserve Business is worth a serious look. Between the welcome offer, premium perks, and absence of 5/24-like restrictions, this card could be a great addition to your business wallet.
Just be sure to do the math for yourself and apply when the timing feels right.
