Cards

Your first 10 cards

This is the order I'd hand a friend who asked me where to start. The odd numbers are personal cards and the even ones are business cards, and I'd spread those five personal cards over about two years — so alternating personal, business, personal, business works nicely. If there's an elevated offer running somewhere, though, I'd happily shuffle the order to grab it.

One caveat

The Sapphire Reserve isn't on the list, but it's my favorite card

I left it out because the annual fee is high and it's a lot to take on as one of your first cards. Honestly though, if you only ever asked me for one recommendation, this is the card I'd name.

Right off the bat there's a $300 travel credit, which comes off the top and makes this feel like closer to a $500 fee. Then the rest stack on: $500 a year toward hotels through The Edit, $300 for StubHub, and $300 at a list of nicer restaurants — hello, date night! Add lounge access and the fee looks a lot smaller.

It's also the strongest home for Chase points once you're moving them to partners like Hyatt. If the fee fits your budget, take the Reserve over the Preferred.

Here's my referral link for the Sapphire cards (opens in a new tab)

Personal
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual fee
$95
For the bonus
$5,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Chase Sapphire Preferred My referral link for Chase Sapphire Preferred (opens in a new tab)
Business
Chase Ink Business Preferred
Annual fee
$95
For the bonus
$8,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Chase Ink Business Preferred My referral link for Chase Ink Business Preferred (opens in a new tab)
Personal
Capital One Venture
Annual fee
$95
For the bonus
$4,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Capital One Venture My referral link for Capital One Venture (opens in a new tab)
Business
Amex Business Gold
Annual fee
$375
For the bonus
$15,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Amex Business Gold
Personal
Citi Strata
Annual fee
$95
For the bonus
$4,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Citi Strata
Business
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business
Annual fee
$795
For the bonus
$15,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business My referral link for Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business (opens in a new tab)
Personal
American Express Gold
Annual fee
$325
For the bonus
$8,000 in the first 6 months
More about this card — American Express Gold
Business
A co-branded business card- go for one with an elevated offer
Annual fee
Usually $0–$150
For the bonus
Usually $1,000–$5,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — A co-branded business card- go for one with an elevated offer
Personal
Capital One Venture X
Annual fee
$395
For the bonus
$4,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Capital One Venture X My referral link for Capital One Venture X (opens in a new tab)
Business
Another co-branded business card-always go for an elevated offer when you can
Annual fee
Usually $0–$150
For the bonus
Usually $3,000–$5,000 in the first 3 months
More about this card — Another co-branded business card-always go for an elevated offer when you can

This is a suggestion, not a rulebook — swap the order around based on your own goals or whatever offers happen to be elevated. And if you decide to open any of these, I'm always happy to share my links.

A closer look at each one

1. Personal
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual fee: $95
To earn the bonus: $5,000 in the first 3 months
Apply with my referral link for Chase Sapphire Preferred (opens in a new tab)Back to the list
- 75k points to start
- So many transfer partners — Hyatt is the one I use most
- 3x on dining
What you get back
- $100 hotel credit each year through Chase Travel
- 10% bonus points on your anniversary
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip delay and rental car coverage
2. Business
Chase Ink Business Preferred
Annual fee: $95
To earn the bonus: $8,000 in the first 3 months
Apply with my referral link for Chase Ink Business Preferred (opens in a new tab)Back to the list
- 90k points to start
- Same great transfer partners, especially Hyatt
- The fastest way I know to pile up Chase points
What you get back
- Cell phone protection on your monthly bill
- Free employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip cancellation and rental car coverage
3. Personal
Capital One Venture
Annual fee: $95
To earn the bonus: $4,000 in the first 3 months
Apply with my referral link for Capital One Venture (opens in a new tab)Back to the list
- 75k miles to start
- Lots of transfer partners
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- 2x on everything you buy
What you get back
- $120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
- 5x on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
4. Business
Amex Business Gold
Annual fee: $375
To earn the bonus: $15,000 in the first 3 months
Back to the list
- Up to 200k points to start
- The spend requirement is high — if it's out of reach, skip ahead to a co-branded business card
What you get back
- $240 a year in flexible business credits ($20 a month)
- $155 a year in Walmart+ credits
- Free employee cards
5. Personal
Citi Strata
Annual fee: $95
To earn the bonus: $4,000 in the first 3 months
Back to the list
- 60k points to start
- Really good transfer partners, American Airlines above all
What you get back
- $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more each year
- 10x on hotels, rental cars and attractions through Citi Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
6. Business
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business
Annual fee: $795
To earn the bonus: $15,000 in the first 3 months
Apply with my referral link for Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business (opens in a new tab)Back to the list
- A big Chase points bonus without using up your one elevated Ink offer
- Points sit right alongside your personal Chase points for transfers to partners like Hyatt
- High spend requirement — only worth it if you can hit it on spending you were already doing
What you get back
- $300 annual travel credit, which makes the fee feel closer to $500
- Lounge access, including Chase Sapphire Lounges
- Credits toward business software and advertising spend
- Free employee cards and no foreign transaction fees
7. Personal
American Express Gold
Annual fee: $325
To earn the bonus: $8,000 in the first 6 months
Back to the list
- Up to 100k points to start
- Lots of transfer partners
- 4x on groceries and dining
What you get back
- $120 a year in dining credits
- $120 a year in Uber Cash
- Resy and Dunkin' credits on top of that — more than the fee if you use them
8. Business
A co-branded business card- go for one with an elevated offer
Annual fee: Usually $0–$150
To earn the bonus: Usually $1,000–$5,000 in the first 3 months
Back to the list
- Here I'd pick whichever airline or hotel I actually want to fly or stay with
- Atmos and American Airlines are the ones worth collecting for us
What you get back
- Usually a free checked bag, which pays for itself in one round trip
- Priority boarding or hotel elite status
- Often a free night or companion certificate each year
9. Personal
Capital One Venture X
Annual fee: $395
To earn the bonus: $4,000 in the first 3 months
Apply with my referral link for Capital One Venture X (opens in a new tab)Back to the list
- 75k miles to start
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- Lounge access for you plus two guests at Capital One and Priority Pass lounges
- 2x on every dollar, and a $300 annual travel credit
What you get back
- $300 travel credit each year through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 anniversary miles every year
- Lounge access for you and two guests
- $120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
10. Business
Another co-branded business card-always go for an elevated offer when you can
Annual fee: Usually $0–$150
To earn the bonus: Usually $3,000–$5,000 in the first 3 months
Back to the list
- Same idea — an airline or hotel you'd genuinely use
- Capital One has some great business options, though the spend is higher
What you get back
- Free checked bags or a yearly free night
- Elite status perks with the airline or hotel
- Free employee cards

Chase Ink Business Preferred

Amex Business Gold

Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business