Picture a freelancer with three new cards in two years, comfortably below Chase’s old limit, who applies for an Ink card and still gets a denial letter. That is the situation behind the chase 3/24 rule, an unofficial approval filter that appears to target business card applicants who apply as sole proprietors.
According to Miles to Memories, which updated its reporting on October 12, 2026, Chase representatives on reconsideration calls have named 3/24 when turning down some applicants sitting at 3/24 or 4/24. Chase has not published anything about it, so treat every detail below as reported, not confirmed.
What the chase 3/24 rule appears to be
The reports describe a second counter running alongside the familiar 5/24 limit, one that seems to tally only business cards opened in the past 24 months. Reach three, and a sole proprietor application may be declined.
The reported scope is the Ink lineup plus the co-branded business cards Chase issues.
How the business card count differs from 5/24
| Rule | What gets counted | Who it seems to apply to | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/24 | New cards on your personal credit report in the last 24 months (business cards that skip your personal report usually do not count) | Every Chase card applicant, including business applicants | Long-standing and well documented |
| 3/24 (reported) | New business cards only, over the same 24 months | Sole proprietor applications; LLCs appear to face only 5/24 | Unconfirmed, with mixed data points |
Two counters would explain results that otherwise look random. Someone at 4/24 on the personal side can still be approved if only one or two of those accounts are business cards, which fits several 4/24 approvals after reconsideration.
None of this suggests the standard Chase business card 5/24 rule has gone away. You still need to be under 5/24 for any Chase card; the newer filter would simply be one more gate on top. For a refresher on how the personal count works, see our guide to mastering the Chase 5/24 rule.
Sole proprietors are the ones getting flagged
The clearest pattern is the business structure listed on the application. Sole proprietor applications are drawing the 3/24 denials, while applicants applying through an LLC appear to be judged on the usual 5/24 test alone.
Many first Ink cards go to freelancers, resellers and side-gig earners who never formed a company, and those are the applicants the chase 3/24 rule would hit hardest. If you are unsure how to describe a small operation on an application, our explainer on what business name to use on a credit card application walks through the basics.
An LLC might sidestep the filter, but formation costs vary by state and there can be tax obligations, so speak with a tax professional first. A welcome bonus is a weak reason to restructure a business.
What the reported approvals and denials show
- Some applicants at 4/24 were approved after calling reconsideration.
- At least one applicant at 3/24 was approved.
- Other applicants at both 3/24 and 4/24 were denied, with Chase agents pointing to 3/24 as the reason.
That mix is why nobody can draw a hard line yet on the chase 3/24 rule. It looks clearer than it did a few weeks ago, but far less settled than 5/24, which has years of consistent results behind it.
Planning an Ink application around the chase 3/24 rule
Run both tallies. Count every new card on your personal credit report from the last 24 months, then how many were business cards. Chase may review a business credit report as well as your personal file.
Know where you stand. With zero, one or two new business cards, the chase 3/24 rule as described should not be what stops you. At three or more, a sole proprietor application carries noticeably more risk.
Call if you are denied. Several 4/24 applicants were approved on a second look, and the agent may tell you which count caused the problem.
Check bonus eligibility separately. Approval and the bonus are two different questions. Chase’s Ink Business Preferred offer page says the new cardmember bonus “may not be available to you if you have ever had this card.” That card currently advertises 100,000 bonus points after $8,000 in purchases within 3 months of opening, with a $95 annual fee.
What Chase has not confirmed
Chase has not published a 3/24 policy. It has not said whether business cards from other banks count toward the business tally, whether closed accounts matter, or whether every co-branded business card is covered. Until something official appears, the chase 3/24 rule is best treated as a strong pattern, not a written policy.
Frequently asked questions about Chase business card approvals
Does Chase still have the 5/24 rule?
Yes. The new business card count is reported as an extra filter, and you still need to be under 5/24 on your personal credit report to be approved for a Chase card.
Do Chase business cards count toward 5/24?
Usually not. Business cards that do not appear on your personal credit report typically stay out of the 5/24 count, though they appear to count toward the newer business card tally.
Can you get a Chase Ink card if you are over 5/24?
Not under the long-standing rule. Five or more new accounts showing on your personal credit file within 24 months generally rules you out, and Ink cards are no exception.
Should sole proprietors still apply for a Chase Ink card?
If you have opened fewer than three business cards in the last two years, apply the way you normally would; the chase 3/24 rule as reported should not touch you. Sole proprietors already at three or more should expect a tougher review and have a reconsideration call ready, or wait for an older account to age past 24 months. Patience beats a hard inquiry that ends in a denial.
