The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) 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.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a no-annual-fee cash-back business card that's especially rewarding at office supply stores and gas stations.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Intro APR for purchases
- No annual fee
- Bonus spending categories have annual limits
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 in combined spend
- Earn 2% cash back on dining and gas each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 spent in combined spend.
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- As a Chase cardmember, you'll be automatically checked for a credit line increase at least every 6 months.
- Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership.
- No Annual Fee
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a flat-rate cash-back card with a strong intro-APR offer for purchases.
- Intro APR for purchases
- Valuable welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- You can't transfer rewards to travel partners without pairing it with another Chase card
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Chase Business Ink Cash vs. Chase Business Ink Unlimited
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 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening.
New Ink Business Cash® Credit Card cardmembers can also earn $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening
Winner: Tie. Both welcome bonuses are the same.
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 anniversary year, then 1% back) | 1.5% cash back |
| Dining and gas | 2% cash back (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year, then 1% back) | 1.5% cash back |
| Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027 | 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 on dining and gas. 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 (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can combine your points onto that card and they are instantly worth more for travel booked through Chase TravelSM. You'll also be able to transfer your points to all of Chase's partner travel programs, 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 16.74% - 24.74% applies for the Ink Business Cash and 16.74% - 24.74% variable for the Ink Business Unlimited.
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 16.74% - 24.74% variable | 0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases, then 16.74% - 24.74% variable |
| Standout benefits | Travel and purchase protections | Account alerts, fraud protection, separation of business vs personal spending |
Compare checking accounts
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.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
