Chase 5/24 rule workaround: These business cards keep your personal card eligibility intact
Chase's 5/24 rule limits applicants who have opened five or more credit card accounts in 24 months. However, many business cards, including some from Chase, do not count toward this limit. This article highlights six business cards that can help you earn rewards without jeopardizing your eligibility for Chase personal cards.
The 5/24 rule applies only to personal credit card accounts, including charge cards and select store cards, while business cards generally remain exempt. This distinction allows frequent card applicants to continue earning rewards through business products without exhausting their Chase eligibility. The featured cards span various needs, from the no-annual-fee Blue Business Plus and Ink Business Unlimited to premium options like the $795 Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, which offers 200,000 points after a $30,000 spend threshold. Welcome bonuses vary widely, with some requiring substantial spending within three to six months.
Because Chase has never officially confirmed the rule's existence, cardholders rely on crowdsourced data to navigate application strategies. Business cards from other issuers, such as American Express and Citi, also avoid triggering the limit, giving consumers flexibility beyond Chase's own portfolio.
This guidance could significantly influence how credit-conscious consumers plan their application strategies, particularly frequent travelers and small business owners seeking to maximize rewards. By using business cards to build points balances without affecting 5/24 standing, individuals may preserve future access to Chase's premium personal cards. However, this approach could also encourage higher spending to meet large welcome-bonus thresholds, potentially leading to increased debt for less disciplined cardholders. The strategy may disproportionately benefit those with genuine business income, while others might stretch eligibility definitions.