The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card are two of the top no-annual-fee business credit cards. With either card, you can receive a valuable welcome bonus, earn cash back and take advantage of an intro-APR offer.
CNBC Select shares all of the benefits and features of these cards so that you can apply for the best card for your small business.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
On Chase's secure site
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%);2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%);1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases; N/A for balance transfers
Regular APR
18.49% - 24.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Free employee cards
- Cash back geared toward popular business expenses
- Special financing offer for purchases
Cons
- 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
On Chase's secure site
Rewards
Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Welcome bonus
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases; N/A for balance transfers
Regular APR
18.49% - 24.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Free employee cards
- Simple cash-back program
- Special financing offer for purchases
Cons
- 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Chase Business Ink Cash vs. Chase Business Ink Unlimited
- Annual fee
- Welcome bonus
- Rewards
- Redemption options
- Benefits
- Which card is right for you?
- FAQs
Annual fee
Neither the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has an annual fee.
Winner: Tie. Both annual fees are the same.
Welcome bonus
Once you're approved for an Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, you can earn $750 in bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
New Ink Business Cash® Credit Card cardmembers can earn up to $750 with a welcome bonus, but the spending requirement is tiered instead of all-or-nothing.
- After you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, you receive $350 in cash back.
- After you spend a total of $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening, you receive an additional $400 in cash back.
The amount you have to spend to earn $750 cash back is the same for both cards, but the Ink Business Cash gives you three extra months to meet that requirement, plus you have the opportunity to earn a bonus even if you fall short of the full $6,000 threshold.
With the Cash Credit, you can also earn a 10% relationship bonus with Ink Business Cash Card if you open the card between March 17 and Nov. 17, 2024, and have an eligible business checking account with Chase on your first card anniversary. So you could open a Chase Business Complete Banking account and earn its bonus, plus get an additional 10% bonus based on the cash back you earned from spending your Ink Business Cash card that year. The card's welcome bonus doesn't qualify for the 10% relationship bonus.
Chase Business Complete Banking®
Chase Bank is a Member FDIC.
Special offer
Earn $300 when you open a new Chase Business Complete Checking account. For new Chase business checking customers with qualifying activities.
Monthly maintenancefee
$15, with options to waive
Minimum deposit to open
None
Minimum balance
None required but maintaining a minimum daily balance of $2,000 in your account as of the beginning of each day of the statement period will waive the monthly maintenance fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Free ATM network
More than 16,000 Chase ATMs
ATM fee reimbursem*nt
None
Small business perks
Multiple owners get individual debit cards, PINs and online access to the account; debit cards for employees for which the owner can control daily limits
Overdraft fee
$34 with ways to waive
Mobile check deposit
Yes, using the ChaseMobile® app
Terms apply. Chase Bank is a Member FDIC.
How to avoid the monthly fee:
Meet one of these conditions during your monthly statement period.
- $2,000 minimum daily balance
- $2,000 in purchases on your Chase Ink®Business Card(s)
- $2,000 in deposits from QuickAccept℠ and/or other eligible Chase Merchant Services transactions
- Link a Chase Private Client Checking℠ account
Winner: Chase Ink Business Cash. Its bonus is easier to earn and you can qualify for a 10% Business Relationship Bonus.
Rewards
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card both earn cash back at good rates, but each card excels in different spending categories.
Chase Ink Business Cash vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited rewards
| Chase Ink Business Cash | Chase Ink Business Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Office supply stores and internet, cable and phone services | 5% cash back (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year, then 1% back) | 1.5% cash back |
| Gas stations and restaurants | 2% cash back (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account year, then 1% back) | 1.5% cash back |
| Lyft rides through March 2025 | 5% cash back | 5% cash back |
| All other purchases | 1% cash back | 1.5% cash back |
The Ink Business Cash is especially rewarding for office supply stores and internet, cable and phone services. It also earns a solid return at gas stations and restaurants. You can earn $1,750 cash back each year just from maxing out the bonus categories. However, these bonus categories are capped and after you hit the annual limit, your return drops to 1% cash back.
The Ink Business Unlimited doesn't offer elevated bonus categories and instead gives you 1.5% on all purchases with no cap. That's a 50% higher return than what you get spending with the Ink Business Cash Card in non-bonus categories. If your business expenses mostly fall outside of the Ink Business Cash's bonus categories (or exceed the categories' spending limits), the Ink Business Unlimited can provide a higher return.
Winner: Tie. Both cards are rewarding for different types of spending.
Redemption options
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card offer the same redemptions.
These are cash-back business cards — however, you earn the cash back as Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can redeem these points for gift cards, statement credits, travel (through Chase TravelSM) and more. The maximum value you'll receive is usually one cent per point.
You can increase that value with either card if you pair it with another Chase credit card. If you also have a card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can combine your points onto that card and they are instantly worth 25% more for travel booked through Chase TravelSM. You'll also be able to transfer your points to all of Chase's partner travel programs at a 1:1 ratio, including Emirates Skywards, World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and more.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer identical redemption options.
Benefits
The intro 0% APR these cards offer will put a smile on the face of any business owner. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card both provide new cardholders no interest on purchases for 12 months from account opening. Once the intro APR expires, a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49% applies.
You'll also have access to the same insurance perks with both cards, including:
- Rental car collision coverage
- Travel and emergency assistance services
- Roadside dispatch
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
You can add employee cards to your account for no additional cost with either card.
Winner: Tie. The main benefits are the same with both cards.
Which card is right for you?
Because these cards share so many features, the right choice will come down to where your business spends the most.
The Ink Business Cash could be a better fit if your business spends at office supply stores, gas stations, restaurants and on internet, cable and phone services. The Ink Business Unlimited is better for all other purchases because you'll earn at least 1.5% cash back on every transaction.
Chase Ink Business Cash vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited overview
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited | Chase Ink Business Cash | |
|---|---|---|
| Credit score requirements | Good to excellent | Good to excellent |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards | 1.5% back on all purchases | 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%); 2% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%); 1% cash back on all other purchases |
| Intro APR | 0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases, then 18.49% - 24.49% variable | 0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases, then 18.49% - 24.49% variable |
| Standout benefits | Travel and purchase protections | 10% Business Relationship Bonus; Travel and purchase protections |
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FAQs
How do you qualify for a Chase business credit card?
To qualify for the best Chase business credit cards, you'll typically need a good to excellent credit score. You also don't need to have a full-time venture or complicated legal structure to apply. If you're a freelancer or independent contractor, you can qualify for a business credit card.
Do you need an LLC to qualify a Chase Ink Business credit card?
You do not need a business registered as an LLC or other formal structure to be eligible for a Chase Ink Business credit card. You can typically still apply with your Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number.
What credit score do you need for an Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card?
Chase doesn't publish an official credit score requirement for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. However, you normally need a good to excellent credit score to qualify.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
