Our Verdict
Business owners can score significant rewards by using the no annual fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to pay for expenses. The card’s high earn rates on typical areas of business spending can help earn cash back faster than many other small business credit cards.
The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® which aren’t limited to just cash back redemptions. Rewards can be used as statement credit, to book travel, buy merchant gift cards or in combination with another eligible Chase card. Overall, it’s a compelling option for business owners who want to earn generous and flexible rewards but can’t stomach an annual fee.
Pros
- No additional fee for employee cards
- High rewards rates in select bonus categories
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- High cash advances & balance transfer fees
- Spending cap on bonus categories
- Low rewards rates outside of bonus categories
Current Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Offer
- 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
- 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
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
- With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Alternatives to the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Table of Contents
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Introduction
- Chase Ink Business Cash Quick Facts
- Who Is the Ink Business Cash Best For?
- Ink Business Cash Credit Card Rewards
- Introductory Rates
- Other Ink Business Cash Credit Card Benefits
- How To Maximize the Chase Ink Business Cash
- Fine Print
- How the Ink Business Cash Credit Card Stacks Up
- Is the Ink Business Cash Credit Card for You?
- Methodology
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Introduction
Running a business is expensive. Wouldn’t it be nice to recoup some of those costs? Depending on the kinds of bills your business has, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card may be able to help you do just that. The card earns 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 and 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
On top of lucrative rewards, you also have access to some notable perks, including an auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, plus travel and emergency assistance. For no annual fee, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers a nice welcome bonus: $350 bonus cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
The card also offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a standard APR of 18.49% - 24.49% variable applies for purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies. This makes it a good option for a start-up business looking for a break in interest.
Chase Ink Business Cash Quick Facts
- 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 and 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a standard APR of 18.49% - 24.49% variable applies for purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies
- $0 annual fee
- Visa Signature benefits
Who Is the Ink Business Cash Best For?
With no annual fee and abundant rewards offered in popular business spending categories, the Ink Business Cash could prove to be valuable for a variety of business owners and sole proprietors. The card ranks high in these categories:
Ink Business Cash Credit Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
The Ink Business Cash earns 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 and 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The card comes with a welcome bonus, as well: $350 bonus cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Redeeming Rewards
The Ink Business Cash earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Rewards are issued in the form of cash back, which can be applied to your billing statement in any amount at any time. Each point is worth 1 cent.
The Ultimate Rewards you earn can be pooled into one account and redeemed for higher value (1.25 to 1.5 cents per point), if you have the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or one of the premium consumer cards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Those three cards also enable you to transfer your points to one of Chase’s hotel and airline travel partners.
Rewards Potential
By maxing out both bonus categories annually, you can earn up to $1,750 in rewards to put back into your business. However, let’s take a look at a more realistic return on your credit card spending.
Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies in order to determine both baseline income and spending averages across various categories. Households in the 70th percentile bring in $118,438 per year and can put $39,337 on a credit card. We estimate that a sole proprietorship will have similar business expenses. Based on spending from our sample, these are the numbers cardholders can expect to earn.
|
Category
|
Earning Rate
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Estimated Annual Spend
|
Estimated Annual Earnings
|
|
Office supply stores, internet, cable and phone services
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5%
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$4,835
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$241.75
|
|
Gas stations and restaurants
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2%
|
$8,184
|
$163.68
|
|
All other purchases
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1%
|
$26,318
|
$263.18
|
|
Total: $668.61
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Introductory Rates
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a standard APR of 18.49% - 24.49% variable applies for purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
This intro APR gives you an opportunity to make a large purchase when you start your business and then pay it off within one year without paying interest. Whether you need new furniture for the office or specialty equipment, the extended no-interest loan can help you get things going.
Keep in mind the offer applies to purchases only. There are no intro APR offers for balance transfers.
Other Ink Business Cash Credit Card Benefits
- Free employee cards. Pay nothing for employees to be added as authorized users on your business account.
- Travel and emergency assistance services. Contact the benefit administrator should you need emergency assistance while abroad.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver. If you decline the rental company’s insurance and your car is damaged or stolen, you can recoup your losses. Note that this insurance is primary when you are traveling for business but secondary when you are traveling for leisure.
- Purchase protection. Purchases made with the card are covered against theft and damage for the first 120 days (for up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account).
- Extended warranty coverage. Get an additional year of protection on eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less.
How To Maximize the Chase Ink Business Cash
One way to maximize the Ink Business Cash is to make sure the dollars you spend at office supply stores and on the internet, cable and phone bills are charged on the card to maximize the 5% earning potential. And if you don’t have another card that earns more than 2% on gas and restaurants, putting that spend on the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card could pad your Ultimate Rewards balance too.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is temporarily offering 5% back on Lyft purchases until March 2025. If this offer fits with your transportation plans, it’s a solid incentive to choose Lyft over other rideshare options.
The welcome bonus on the card is one of the highest offers for a card with no annual fee—that is, if you can reach the spending threshold. If you want to earn the most cash back possible, it might be best to open the card before making a large purchase.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 18.49% - 24.49% Variable
- Purchase intro APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
How the Ink Business Cash Credit Card Stacks Up
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
In terms of earning rewards, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is decent, particularly if you can come close to the spending cap on office supplies, internet, cable and phone services. When it comes to redemptions, however, it gets outstripped by its big sibling, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Those points earned on the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card are worth 1.25 cents when redeemed through Chase Travel℠ (as opposed to 1 cent with the Ink Business Cash).
Additionally, you may transfer rewards earned with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to a number of airline or hotel loyalty programs that partner with Chase. Doing so can increase the value of your rewards dramatically, especially if you transfer to an airline program and book a business-class flight.
The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card comes with a moderate $95 annual fee.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
If you don’t have the time or inclination to worry about spending categories, you might consider using the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. It has no annual fee and earns 1.5% cash back rewards on every business purchase. It temporarily earns 5% on Lyft rides through March 2025. The card also comes with a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases, then a 18.49% - 24.49% variable APR applies for purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
As you may guess from the card’s name, the rewards aren’t capped. This means you earn cash back as long as you continue using the card. The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card makes for an appealing no annual fee card with an easy rewards structure. It’s a solid option as a standalone card or in addition to a card that does offer category bonuses. However, unlike the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, this card doesn’t offer the opportunity to transfer rewards to travel partners or squeeze additional value out of redemptions through the Chase travel portal.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Business owners who are looking for a user-friendly card with an easy rewards structure might also consider The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (terms apply, see rates & fees). It has no annual fee and offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 18.49% - 26.49% variable APR applies. Additionally, it earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
Although the reward rates are higher on general spending, the downside is the annual limit on bonus earnings. If your business spends less than $50,000 per year, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card might be a better fit with a higher earning rate on all purchases. Make sure to run the numbers before selecting a rewards credit card.
Read more. Best Business Credit Cards
Evaluate Credit Cards Side By Side
Is the Ink Business Cash Credit Card for You?
Business owners and sole proprietors who spend in the aforementioned bonus categories should look into the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, as it offers competitive earning rates. However, because rewards in each category are capped, big spenders might want to consider other cash-back business credit cards that don’t limit bonus earnings.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points or miles
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors come together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates credit cards
To view rates and fees for The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please visit this page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Chase Ink Business Cash hard to get?
You’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Ink Business Cash. Other key approval factors include debt-to-income ratio and the number of cards an applicant has been approved for recently. If you’ve been approved for five or more consumer credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months, Chase will not approve you for this card or any of its other cards.
How do you redeem Chase Ink Business Cash points?
Points can be redeemed for cash back, statement credit, gift cards, travel and more through the Ultimate Rewards portal. You can also combine your Ink Business Cash points with premium Ultimate Rewards-earning cards like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which enable 1:1 point transfers to any of Chase’s travel partners.
What credit score do you need for the Chase Ink Cash?
While Chase doesn’t specify the credit score needed to be approved for one of its cards, it requires good credit or above, which is a credit score of at least 670, according to FICO.
What is the average credit limit for the Chase Ink Cash?
The credit limit you can expect will depend on several factors, like your credit history and gross income. However, approved applicants are guaranteed to receive a starting credit line of at least $3,000.
Can you have both the Chase Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited?
Yes! If you meet the requirements to get approved for the card, there are no rules saying you can’t have both cards. By owning both, you could use the Ink Cash for any purchases that fall within its bonus categories and use the Ink Unlimited for everything else.
