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The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is making a big splash at the moment, with a big cash-back bonus that has even staunch points aficionados considering a cash-back card. The bonus is valuable as a cash offer or when converted to points, but the card’s benefits go beyond that. Cardmembers enjoy bonus points on common business spending categories, rental car insurance, free employee cards, and an APR offer. All of this comes at zero annual cost, which is tremendous. 

Despite these benefits, the Ink Business Cash isn’t for everyone. If you’re considering whether to get a Chase Ink Business Cash card, here’s everything you need to know about whether this card might be a good fit for you:

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

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  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR18.49% - 24.49% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • Sign-Up Bonus $750Cash Bonus More Info

    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

Business owners looking to earn a high rate of cash back on common business expenses like office supplies and internet could get a lot of value from this card. The trade-off for the high cash-back rate, though, is a lower spend cap than you’ll find with other Ink Business cards.

Overview

The Ink Business Cash® is legendary for its offer of 5% cash back for purchases at office supply stores and on many telecommunications services, with no annual fee. And while 5% cash back sounds great, these rewards can be much more valuable when paired with another Chase credit card that allows transfers to airline miles or hotel points. In addition to earning excellent cash-back rewards, it also includes competitive introductory offers and provides cards for employees at no additional charge.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • 5x back on a broad array of business spending categories
  • Robust travel and purchase protections
  • Don't need a full-fledged business to apply

Cons

  • Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a valuable business cash-back card for entrepreneurs of all types. Earn an impressive rewards rate of 5% cash back on select business purchases. These include the first $25,000 you spend each account anniversary year at office supply stores and on phone, cable and internet services. Ink Business Cash also offers 2% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and gas stations each account anniversary year. You’ll earn 1% cash back on virtually all other purchases.

The sign-up bonus gets better because you can convert it to transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you have another card that earns points. Qualifying cards include:

This flexibility is incredibly valuable because Ultimate Rewards has 14 travel partners you can transfer rewards to for high-end redemptions like first-class seats and luxury hotels. In other words, you can get a lot more than value out of the welcome bonus by converting cash-back rewards to Ultimate Rewards points.

Credit Card Intro Bonus Annual Fee Rewards Rate Learn More

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

$750Cash Bonus More Info

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

$0 1% - 5%Cashback More Info

Earn 5% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It also offers you 2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

$95 1x- 5xPoints More Info

The card offers 5x points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining (including eligible takeout and delivery services), as well as 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). This card earns 2x points on all other travel spending and 1x point per dollar everywhere else. Chase broadly defines travel to include not just airfare, hotels and rental cars, but expenses like parking, tolls and public transit too.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

Earn 60,000 bonus points after using your card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

$550 1x - 10xPoints More Info

The card offers 10x points per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars as well as 5x points on air travel booked directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after you spend $300 on travel purchases annually. Additionally, earn 3x points per dollar spent on all other travel and dining purchases and 1x everywhere else.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

100,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $2,300 (100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

$95 More info

This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.

1x - 3xPoints More Info

Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 of combined spending in a number of key business categories

Benefits of the Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Despite having no annual fee, the Ink Business Cash Card has quite a few benefits, including a competitive benefit generally reserved for premium credit cards—primary auto rental collision damage waiver. With primary rental coverage, your vehicle is covered, up to the cash value, against theft and collision. You won’t have to buy supplemental insurance from the rental company or file a claim with your own insurance company in case of an accident. The entire claim is processed and paid out through Chase. 

Earning rewards is also easy since the card offers generous bonuses in common business spending categories. Cardmembers earn cash back in the following categories each card anniversary year:

  • 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services 
  • 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants
  • 1% cash back on all other spending
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Who Should Get the Ink Business Cash Credit Card?

Having reviewed the card’s benefits, you might wonder if the Ink Business Cash card is really for you. It all comes down to your personal needs, but if you can use the card’s benefits, it could be a great addition to your wallet. Here’s a breakdown of who specifically might benefit from having this card: 

  • Someone who wants a no-annual fee card: This card offers a generous welcome bonus and competitive earn rate on popular spending categories, with no annual fee. It also has primary rental coverage, which you usually don’t see on cards with no annual fee. Plus, unlike many no-annual-fee cards, you can convert cash to points for more valuable redemptions if you have another card that earns Ultimate Rewards.
  • Small business owners who want an intro APR: Sometimes small businesses need a loan to cover expenses, and a credit card with an intro APR is a good solution for short-term debt. Factoring in the high welcome bonus and no annual fee, the Ink Business Cash is an excellent option if you want an intro APR card.
  • Someone with an Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card: If you have a card that earns Ultimate Rewards, you can convert cash back from the Ink Business Cash Card into points. This card is an excellent supplement to the Ink Preferred or one of the Sapphire cards. You can top off your Ultimate Rewards balance with points and earn up to 5% cash back in categories the other cards (mostly) don’t offer.

Compare Chase Ink Business Credit Cards

Credit Card Intro Bonus Annual Fee Rewards Rate Learn More

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

$750Cash Bonus More Info

Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

$0 1.5%Cashback More Info

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business. The advertised rewards type is cash back, but it’s important to note that you’re technically earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points (which can then be converted to cash back).

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

$750Cash Bonus More Info

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

$0 1% - 5%Cashback More Info

Earn 5% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It also offers you 2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

100,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $2,300 (100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

$95 More info

This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.

1x - 3xPoints More Info

Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 of combined spending in a number of key business categories

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card

$1,000Cash Bonus More Info

Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

$195 Up to 2.5%Cashback More Info

Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases.

Who Shouldn’t Get the Ink Business Cash Credit Card?

If you want a card that earns elevated rewards in certain business-specific spending categories or you frequently travel abroad, you might want to consider a different card. Here’s a closer look at who shouldn’t get the Ink Business Cash card:

  • A shopper who can maximize category bonuses: The Ink Business Cash Card category bonuses are capped to the first $25,000 spent per anniversary year. If you spend significantly more than this in the respective categories, this may not be the best card for you—the bonus category earn rate defaults to 1% cash back after you max it out.
  • Someone who wants a card for international travel: This card doesn’t offer bonus rewards on travel purchases, which might be limiting if you travel a lot for business purposes. It also carries a 3% foreign transaction fee, which can add up if you use it abroad. 
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Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking for a card to serve you in the long or short term, the Chase Ink Business Cash is a great option. The lack of an annual fee, massive welcome bonus, category bonuses and intro APR offer alone are worth adding this card to your repertoire. But if you travel abroad or most of your business spending falls outside the card’s bonus categories, you might want to skip this in favor of a card that earns a flat rate on all spending and charges no foreign transaction fees.

AA

Ariana Arghandewal

Ariana Arghandewal is a rewards travel expert and founder of Pointchaser, an online publication dedicated to rewards travel topics. She brings over a decade of experience writing about travel, points, miles and credit cards. Her expertise includes her roles as an editor for distinguished travel and finance publications such as NerdWallet, The Points Guy and FlyerTalk. She has also authored many articles featured in major financial news & travel channels like Forbes, U.S. News Weekly, Business Insider & Fodor’s Travel.