Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Review: Starter Cashback for Small Businesses

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a useful “starter” credit card for new and/or small businesses with modest expenses. 

But despite the card’s name, some business owners may find its features too limited once their business’s activity and budget grow. 

Quick Facts: Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

  • Rewards rate: Unlimited 1.5% cashback on every purchase made for your business
  • Welcome offer: Earn $750 bonus cashback after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months
  • Annual fee: $0

. . .

Overview of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The combined value of benefits and rewards with the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, anchored by a solid cashback rate on everything you buy, makes it a decent option for those looking to test the business credit card waters. 

But after the initial glow of bonus cashback fades, you may find that some of the card’s long-term features are just okay next to some competitors.

Pros

  • Simple cashback structure fits businesses with diverse but relatively low expenditures 
  • Rewards are more flexible and potentially more valuable when combined with Chase Ultimate Rewards® earned from other select Chase credit cards

Cons

  • Base rewards rate is lower than what you can get from business credit cards that charge annual fees 
  • Charges foreign transaction fees

LEARN MORE: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimited® Rewards 

As a “flat-rate” credit card — i.e., it earns a moderate amount of rewards on each eligible purchase — the Business Unlimited is suited to businesses with a diverse expense sheet rather than one or two big line items in the budget. 

It’s also good for new entrepreneurs who want to earn money back on business purchases but aren’t yet certain where most of their spending will go.

Rewards can be redeemed for:

  • Card statement credits 
  • Deposits into most checking or savings accounts
  • Business travel expenses (rental cars, hotel stays, and flights) booked through Chase Travel℠
  • Apple products via the Apple® Ultimate Rewards Store
  • Gift cards from over 150 brands, including hotel chains, electronics retailers, and office supply stores

If you also have one of the below Chase credit cards, the rewards you earn from the Ink Business Unlimited can be combined with the points from your other card account:

Ink Business Unlimited® Benefits 

As a no-annual-fee card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card doesn’t have a long list of goodies, but a few of its extra features might appeal to your business. 

Added protections

When you rent a car for business purposes and decline the rental company’s collision insurance, the card’s primary rental car insurance will cover theft of and collision damage to the car in most circumstances.

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If a new item you buy with the card sustains damage or is stolen within 120 days of purchase, the card’s purchase protection covers it for up to $10,000 per claim. 

And extended warranty protection adds an extra year of warranty to purchased items with an eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less.

Potential conversion to Chase Ultimate Rewards®

If you have the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred, combining your Ink Business Unlimited rewards with the rewards you earn from those cards can stretch the value you get back from your spending.

Points held in accounts for those cards can transfer to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio, including programs for United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Marriott. 

A flight or hotel stay with a transfer partner that’s pricey when paid for in cash might be redeemable for a low number of points or miles — a travel strategy that boosts your points’ worth.

And while points earned from the Ink Business Unlimited are typically valued at one cent each, transferring them to accounts for the Sapphire Preferred, Ink Business Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve and then redeeming them for travel through Chase Travel℠ will yield higher values of 1.25 cents (Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred) or 1.5 cents (Sapphire Reserve) per point.

READ MORE: Your Ultimate Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards®

Business management tools

An unlimited number of employees can be added to the account as authorized users, allowing them to make purchases and earn rewards with their own Ink Business Unlimited cards — subject to spending limits that you can set. 

Card activity can be integrated with bookkeeping software like QuickBooks, simplifying the tax prep process.  

What We Like About the Ink Business Unlimited® 

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has a strong base cashback rate, which means you’ll earn a reliable amount of rewards on all your spending. 

We also like its redemption flexibility. Rewards can be redeemed as cashback, or you can maximize their value if you have any of three qualifying annual-fee cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 

What We Don’t Like About the Ink Business Unlimited®  

Purchases made in a foreign currency will incur a foreign transaction fee of 3%, which makes for a net loss of 1.5% on most foreign currency transactions after factoring in the base cashback earning rate. 

Also, its base rate isn’t the absolute highest on the market. For instance, its core rewards rate is edged out by the 2% cashback rate on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year (1% after) offered by the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.

Granted, the Ink Business Unlimited’s 1.5% applies to spending that is, well, unlimited. But this isn’t a critical consideration for small businesses that are unlikely to exceed $50K in annual card purchases.

Who Should Get the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card? 

The Ink Business Unlimited is a simple, no-annual-fee business credit card that will appeal to most folks with a modest amount of business expenses they want to separate from their personal expenses. 

This may include sole proprietors who rent out property, those with freelance income, or anyone else who operates some kind of side hustle. 

That said, you should really zero in on the Ink Business Unlimited if you expect to spend enough to earn the welcome offer and already use or are planning to apply for Chase’s Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred cards.

LEARN MORE: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Who Shouldn’t Get the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card? 

Although the Ink Business Unlimited has well-balanced features, there are other business credit cards out there worth exploring if your business:

  • Spends more than $10,000 annually on office supplies, phone bills, gas, dining, or consulting services. In that case, you’ll likely earn more rewards with a business credit card that offers elevated rates in those purchase categories.
  • Has more than $30,000 in projected annual expenses that are chargeable to a credit card. With that purchase volume, it’s probably worth paying an annual fee for a business credit card with higher rewards rates and more comprehensive features.
  • Requires regular overseas travel for meetings or conferences. Globetrotting businesses should look at credit cards that earn accelerated rewards on travel and don’t charge foreign transaction fees. 

COMPARE: Best Business Credit Cards

Alternatives to the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card 

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

  • Rewards rate: 5% cashback on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; 1% on everything else
  • Welcome offer: Earn up to $750 bonus cashback: $350 when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months after account opening
  • Annual fee: $0

. . .

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is another no-annual-fee card and offers its highest cashback in common small business categories. 

It also comes with several of the same perks that the Unlimited offers, including auto rental collision damage waivers, purchase protection, and extended warranties.  

However, note that the highest rewards categories are capped at a combined $50,000 per year, so you’ll benefit the most from this card if your business falls under that spending range. 

LEARN MORE: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

  • Rewards rate: 3x points on every dollar spent on shipping, advertising with social media and search engines, internet, cable, phone, and travel — up to the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in these categories; 1x per dollar spent everywhere else
  • Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Annual fee: $95
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

. . .

If you’d rather just earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® and not worry about cashback, you could opt for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

It does charge an annual fee, but it also offers more perks for travelers, such as trip delay/cancellation, baggage delay, and lost baggage insurance.

LEARN MORE: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

  • Rewards rate: 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 2% on all other purchases
  • Welcome offer: Earn a $2,000 cash bonus when you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
  • Annual fee: $150 (waived if you spend $150,000 that year)
Spark Business Cash Plus Credit Card

. . .

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus earns unlimited cashback. While it does charge an annual fee, that fee will be credited back to your account if your business spends at least $150,000 in a calendar year. 

Also, this card may be better if you travel frequently for work since it earns the highest rewards for hotels and rental cars, and, unlike the Ink Business Unlimited, it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.  

The catch with the Spark Cash Plus is that it’s a charge card, rather than a credit card, so you need to pay off your balance in full every month.

LEARN MORE: Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Bottom Line: Is the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Worth It?

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a good card for business owners who are just starting out — maybe you’re not yet sure what your highest-spending categories will be or you’re not yet traveling for work.

Since it has no annual fee, it’s an easy starter card, but if you’re not a Chase loyalist, you may want to consider a competing no-annual-fee card or even pay a fee for a card with higher rewards rates and better benefits. 

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. . .


Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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I'm an award-winning lawyer and personal finance expert featured in Inc. Magazine, CNBC, the Today Show, Business Insider and more. My mission is to make personal finance accessible for everyone. As the largest financial influencer in the world, I'm connected to a community of over 20 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. I'm also the host of the podcast Erika Taught Me. You might recognize me from my viral tagline, "I read the fine print so you don't have to!"

I'm a graduate of Georgetown Law, where I founded the Georgetown Law Entrepreneurship Club, and the University of Notre Dame. I discovered my passion for personal finance after realizing I was drowning in over $200,000 of student debt and needed to take action-ultimately paying off my student loans in under 2 years. I then spent years as a corporate lawyer representing Fortune 500 companies, but I quit because I realized I wanted to have an impact; I wanted to help real people and teach them that you can create a financial future for yourself.

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Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.