How do M&A legal fees generate travel points?

By paying large legal and professional service fees during an acquisition with business credit cards that offer high multiplier categories (e.g., 3x points), you can earn significant rewards. These points can then be transferred to airline partners for valuable business class travel. One example is paying a $50,000 fee to earn 150,000 points, worth approximately $2,700 in travel.

What kind of credit cards are best for this strategy?

Cards like the Chase Ink Business Cash or American Express Business Green Rewards Card are mentioned as being effective, especially if they offer multipliers for professional services, software, or digital marketing spend. The key is to find cards that give bonus points for the specific merchant codes your service providers use.

When is it acceptable to pay a credit card convenience fee?

Generally, avoid convenience fees over 2.9% if the points earned don't outweigh the cost. However, it can be a smart move if you're meeting a large minimum spend requirement for a new card's sign-up bonus, as the bonus value often far exceeds the fee. For example, paying a $300 fee for a bonus worth $1,800 is a good trade.

How can I maximize the value of the earned points?

To get the highest value, such as $1,800 for 100,000 points, you must transfer points to airline or hotel partners for premium travel redemptions like business class flights. Redeeming for cash back or through a travel portal typically yields a much lower value.

What steps should I take to implement this strategy?

First, review past vendor payments to identify opportunities for credit card use. Second, contact professional service providers to confirm they accept credit cards without excessive surcharges. Finally, strategically time new credit card applications to coincide with large M&A-related invoices to maximize sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards.

📁 Points & Travel

Use M&A Legal Fees to Fund Business Class Travel

Learn how business acquisition costs like legal and diligence fees can generate millions of points for business class travel.

By MyBizNerd Team · Published October 5, 2026

Key Takeaways

Legal, accounting, and due diligence fees from a business acquisition often fall into the 3x multiplier categories on cards like the Chase Ink Business Cash, turning overhead into travel currency.
A $50,000 professional services spend during a closing window generates 150,000 points. Which we value at approximately $2,700 when transferred to airline partners for international business class.
Owners should verify that service providers accept credit cards without a convenience fee exceeding 2.9% to ensure the value of the earned points outweighs the transaction cost.

Codie Sanchez has said publicly that the massive spend associated with buying 'boring' businesses, specifically the professional service fees, acts as a primary engine for her travel rewards. While most owners view a $20,000 legal bill as a painful closing cost, the math changes when that spend moves through a specific rewards stack. You aren't just buying a business; you're pre-funding two weeks in Europe.

The Math of a Mid-Market Closing

Say you spend $12,000 on a quality-of-earnings report and another $8,000 on a specialized M&A attorney to draft your purchase agreement. If you cut a check or send a wire, that $20,000 is gone. If you put that $20,000 on an Ink Business Premier Credit Card, you earn a minimum of 2% cash back, or $400. However, if that spend hits a 3x travel category or a large-purchase bonus, the value can jump to $600 or more in travel credits.

Here's how that spend scales for different acquisition sizes:

Monthly Spend	Annual Points Earned	Plausible Redemption Value
$5,000 (Solo/Micro)	60,000 - 180,000	$1,000 (Domestic First Class)
$15,000 (Small Service)	180,000 - 540,000	$3,200 (International Business Class)
$40,000 (Multi-Unit/M&A)	480,000 - 1,440,000	$8,500+ (Luxury Suites/Global Travel)

*Assumptions: Mix of 1x and 3x categories; 1.8 cents per point valuation.

Where the Points Hide in Your Ledger

Most owners ignore the 'boring' categories that actually move the needle. During an acquisition or a major expansion, your spend shifts from inventory to professional services.

Legal and Professional Services: Many law firms now use platforms like Clio or LawPay. These often code as 'professional services' or 'business services.' Check if your card, such as the American Express Business Green Rewards Card, offers multipliers for these specific merchant codes.
Software and SaaS: Diligence tools and new CRM integrations for the acquired business usually earn 3x to 5x points. We see this frequently with the Chase Ink Business Cash on the first $25,000 of combined spend.
Digital Marketing Ad Spend: If the business you're buying requires a $10,000/month Google Ads budget to maintain lead flow, that spend should never come from a checking account.

The Transfer Partner Path

To get the value Codie Sanchez describes, you cannot redeem points for cash or through a travel portal at 1 cent per point. You must use transfer partners. For example, transferring 80,000 points to Virgin Atlantic can often book a one-way business class seat to London that would otherwise cost $3,500. This is the 'arbitrage' of M&A spend. You're turning a tax-deductible business expense into a high-value personal benefit.

For more on how to structure this, see our guide on Turning $25k Monthly Spend Into First Class Seats.

Is the 3% Fee Worth It?

Question: My attorney charges a 3% fee to use a credit card. Should I still do it?

Answer: Generally, no, unless you're meeting a 'Minimum Spend Requirement' for a new sign-up bonus. If a card earns 1.5% to 2% back, but the firm charges 3%, you're losing money. However, if you're earning a 100,000-point bonus by spending $10,000, that bonus is worth roughly $1,800. Paying a $300 fee (3% of $10,000) to get $1,800 in value is a smart trade. In most other cases, stick to vendors who don't surcharge.

What to Do This Quarter

Ask your accountant for a 'Vendor Spend Report' to see which professional service providers you paid via check last year.
Call those vendors and ask if they accept credit cards via an online portal without a surcharge.
If you have an acquisition or major project coming up, time your new card applications to coincide with those large legal or consulting invoices.
Ensure your business is registered correctly with the SBA and IRS so your business credit profile remains clean for higher limit cards.

One honest limit to this strategy is cash flow timing.

Putting a $50,000 legal bill on a card only works if you have the cash to pay it off when the statement hits. The interest rates on business cards will instantly wipe out any travel benefit if you carry a balance. Make your vocation your vacation, but don't fund it with 24% APR debt.

📋 Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Laws and regulations change frequently, and the information presented may not reflect the most current legal developments. Always consult with a qualified professional (CPA, attorney, financial advisor) before making business decisions based on this content. MyBizNerd may receive compensation through affiliate links, but this never influences our recommendations.

Frequently asked questions

How do M&A legal fees generate travel points?: By paying large legal and professional service fees during an acquisition with business credit cards that offer high multiplier categories (e.g., 3x points), you can earn significant rewards. These points can then be transferred to airline partners for valuable business class travel. One example is paying a $50,000 fee to earn 150,000 points, worth approximately $2,700 in travel.
What kind of credit cards are best for this strategy?: Cards like the Chase Ink Business Cash or American Express Business Green Rewards Card are mentioned as being effective, especially if they offer multipliers for professional services, software, or digital marketing spend. The key is to find cards that give bonus points for the specific merchant codes your service providers use.
When is it acceptable to pay a credit card convenience fee?: Generally, avoid convenience fees over 2.9% if the points earned don't outweigh the cost. However, it can be a smart move if you're meeting a large minimum spend requirement for a new card's sign-up bonus, as the bonus value often far exceeds the fee. For example, paying a $300 fee for a bonus worth $1,800 is a good trade.
How can I maximize the value of the earned points?: To get the highest value, such as $1,800 for 100,000 points, you must transfer points to airline or hotel partners for premium travel redemptions like business class flights. Redeeming for cash back or through a travel portal typically yields a much lower value.
What steps should I take to implement this strategy?: First, review past vendor payments to identify opportunities for credit card use. Second, contact professional service providers to confirm they accept credit cards without excessive surcharges. Finally, strategically time new credit card applications to coincide with large M&A-related invoices to maximize sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards.