Guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards

From startups to established enterprises, managing business expenses efficiently is crucial. While Chase is known for its robust consumer credit card offerings, their Ink Business family of cards provides tailored solutions for diverse business needs.

These cards offer either cash-back rewards or valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, providing flexibility for different spending habits.

A key advantage is the ability to combine rewards with other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Freedom Flex, and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, maximizing earning and redemption potential. 

Currently, four Ink Business cards are available: the Ink Business Premier Credit Card, Ink Business Cash Credit Card, Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. 

Let's delve into these four cards, including details on the current best business credit cards welcome offers available on select cards.

Chase Ink Business Cards overview

Chase Ink Business cards

Chase Ink Business Premier Credit Card:

The Chase Ink Business Premier Credit Card is a unique offering within the Chase Ink family, designed for businesses with significant spending volume and a preference for straightforward cash-back rewards. 

It stands out with its high rewards rates on large purchases and travel booked through Chase, but it's important to understand its limitations regarding point transfers.

Key Features:

• Sign-up bonus: Earn $1,000 cash back after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening.

• Annual fee: $195

• Rewards:

• Earn 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

• Earn 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or greater.

• Earn 2% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

• Redemption: Earned rewards are received as Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back (at a rate of 1 cent per point), gift cards, statement credits, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

• Crucial Limitation: 
• No Point Transfers: A key difference between the Ink Business Premier and other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards (like the Ink Business Preferred, Sapphire Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve) is that you cannot transfer points earned with the Premier to Chase's airline and hotel partners. You also cannot transfer these points to other Ultimate Rewards accounts.

Who is this card best for?

• High-spending businesses: This card truly shines for businesses with substantial monthly expenses, especially those regularly making purchases of $5,000 or more. The 2.5% cash back on these large purchases is a significant advantage.

• Businesses prioritizing simple cash back: If your primary goal is to earn straightforward cash back and reinvest it into your business, this card is a strong contender.

• Businesses booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards: The 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase portal is a valuable perk for those who frequently use this service.

• Businesses seeking no preset spending limit: The Ink Business Premier is a charge card, meaning it doesn't have a pre-set spending limit. This can be beneficial for businesses with fluctuating expenses.

Who might consider other options?

• Travel rewards enthusiasts: If maximizing travel rewards through airline and hotel transfers is your priority, the Ink Business Preferred is a much better choice.

• Businesses with lower spending volume: The $195 annual fee might be difficult to justify if your business doesn't have significant expenses. Other no-annual-fee options like the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Unlimited might be more suitable.

• Businesses with high spending in specific bonus categories: If a large portion of your spending falls into categories like office supplies, internet, or phone services, the Ink Business Cash could offer higher returns

Apply here: Ink Business Premier

Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card:

The Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is a premium business credit card designed for entrepreneurs and business owners who prioritize travel rewards and flexibility. 

It's particularly attractive due to its valuable Ultimate Rewards points and the ability to transfer those points to a wide range of airline and hotel partners.

Key Features:

• Sign-up Bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is a significant bonus that can jumpstart your rewards balance.

• Annual Fee: $95

• Rewards Program:

• 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year on:

• Travel (including airfare, hotels, rental cars, train tickets,1 taxis, tolls, and parking)

• 1x point on all other purchases.

• Ultimate Rewards Points: The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which offer several redemption options:

• Transfer to Travel Partners: This is the most valuable redemption option. You can transfer points to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio (in most cases), allowing you to book award travel and potentially get significantly more value than redeeming for cash back. Popular transfer partners include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and more.

• Redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal: When redeeming points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, your points are worth 25% more (1.25 cents per point). This can be a convenient option for booking flights, hotels, and rental cars directly.

• Cash Back, Gift Cards, and Statement Credits: You can also redeem points for cash back, gift cards, or statement credits, but these options generally offer a lower value per point than travel redemptions.

• Travel and Purchase Protections: The card comes with a suite of valuable travel and purchase protections, including:

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to covered reasons.

• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver: Provides primary coverage for damage due to collision or theft for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.

• Cell phone protection: Covers damage or theft of your cell phone (subject to a deductible).

• Purchase protection: Covers new purchases for damage or theft for 120 days.

• No foreign transaction fees: This is a significant advantage for businesses that conduct international transactions or travel abroad.

Who is this card best for?

• Business owners who travel frequently: The bonus categories and travel partner transfer options make this card ideal for those who travel for business.

• Businesses with significant spending in the bonus categories: If your business spends heavily on advertising, shipping, or internet/phone services, you'll maximize your rewards earnings.

• Those who value flexibility in redemption: The ability to transfer points to travel partners, redeem through the Chase portal, or opt for cash back provides a high degree of flexibility.

• Freelancers and small business owners: The relatively low annual fee makes this card accessible to smaller businesses and side hustlers.

Who might consider other options?

• Businesses that prioritize simple cash back: If you prefer the simplicity of cash back over managing points and transfers, the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Unlimited might be more suitable.

• Businesses with extremely high spending who don't prioritize travel partner transfers: The Ink Business Premier might be a better fit due to its higher cash back rates on large purchases.

Apply here: Ink Business Preferred

Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card:

The Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card is a no-annual-fee business credit card designed for businesses that want to maximize cash back rewards on common business expenses. 

It's a great option for those who prefer the simplicity of cash back over managing points and travel redemptions.

Key Features:

• Sign-up Bonus: Earn $350 cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus an additional $400 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening — that's $750 total cash back.

• Annual Fee: $0

• Rewards Program:

• 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at:

• Office supply stores

• Internet, cable, and phone services

• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at: Gas stations, Restaurants

• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

• Rewards Redemption: Cash back is earned as Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point. You can redeem for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

• Important Note on Ultimate Rewards: While the Ink Business Cash earns rewards in the form of Ultimate Rewards points, these points can be combined with other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards (like the Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Chase Sapphire Reserve) to unlock more valuable redemption options like travel transfers. On its own, the cash back earned with the Ink Business Cash cannot be transferred to travel partners.

• Other Benefits:

• Employee cards at no additional cost.

• Purchase protection.

• Extended warranty protection.

Who is this card best for?

• Businesses with high spending in the bonus categories: If your business has significant expenses at office supply stores or on internet, cable, and phone services, you'll maximize your cash back rewards.

• Businesses that prefer simple cash back: This card is a great option for those who want a straightforward rewards program without the complexities of points transfers and travel redemptions.

• Businesses looking for a no-annual-fee card: The $0 annual fee makes this card a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes.

Who might consider other options?

• Travel rewards enthusiasts: If maximizing travel rewards through airline and hotel transfers is your priority, the Ink Business Preferred® is a better choice.

• Businesses with very high spending who don't prioritize specific categories: The Ink Business Unlimited might be a better fit due to its simple, flat cash back rate on all purchases.

Apply here: Ink Business Cash

Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card:

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is a no-annual-fee business credit card that prioritizes simplicity. 

It offers a straightforward, flat cash back rate on all business purchases, making it an excellent choice for businesses that want to avoid the complexities of bonus categories and varying reward structures.

Key Features:

• Sign-up Bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• Annual Fee: $0

• Rewards Program: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There are no bonus categories to track, making it easy to earn rewards on every business expense.

• Rewards Redemption: Cash back is earned as Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point. You can also redeem for gift cards, merchandise, and travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

• Combining with Other Ultimate Rewards Cards: While the Ink Business Unlimited earns cash back, these rewards are earned as Ultimate Rewards points. This is important because you can combine these points with other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, such as the Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Chase Sapphire Reserve, to unlock more valuable redemption options like transferring points to travel partners. On its own, the cash back earned with the Ink Business Unlimited cannot be transferred to travel partners.

• Other Benefits:

• Employee cards at no additional cost.

• Purchase protection.

• Extended warranty protection.

Who is this card best for?

• Businesses that prefer simple cash back: If you want a no-fuss rewards program with a consistent return on all spending, this card is a great option.

• Businesses with diverse spending habits: Since there are no bonus categories, you'll earn the same rate on all purchases, regardless of where you spend.

• Businesses looking for a no-annual-fee card: The $0 annual fee makes this card a cost-effective choice for businesses of all sizes.

• Businesses that want to maximize flexibility by pairing with a premium Ultimate Rewards card: By combining the Ink Business Unlimited with a card like the Ink Business Preferred, you can earn a solid cash back rate on all purchases and then transfer those rewards to travel partners for potentially higher-value redemptions.

Who might consider other options?

• Businesses with high spending in specific categories: If a significant portion of your spending falls into categories like office supplies, internet, phone services, travel, or advertising, other Ink cards with bonus categories (like the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Preferred) might offer higher returns.

• Businesses that prioritize travel rewards and don't want to manage multiple cards: If travel rewards are your primary goal and you prefer a single card solution, the Ink Business Preferred might be a better fit.

Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited

Which Chase Ink Business Card is Best for You?

Each Chase Ink Business card has its strengths, so the right one depends on your business spending habits:

• Ink Business Cash: Perfect for businesses that spend on office supplies and telecom services. Earn 5% cash back on these purchases, up to $25,000 per year, with no annual fee.

• Ink Business Unlimited: Great if you want simplicity. Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no category limits, spending caps, or annual fee.

• Ink Business Preferred: Ideal for those who want a bit more. This card offers higher rewards and benefits for a small $95 annual fee, making it a great match to pair with the Ink Business Cash or Unlimited cards.

• Ink Business Premier: Designed for big spenders. Earn 2%-2.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, making it worth it if your business spends heavily every year.

Both the Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Premier also include cellphone protection, a valuable perk given how expensive smartphones are these days.

Pick the card that matches how and where your business spends the most!

Do You Qualify for a Business Credit Card?

• A business credit card is a great way to keep your personal and business expenses separate. You don’t need a physical store or a big operation to qualify—small ventures count too!

• Even if you run an online Etsy shop, work as a freelancer, drive for a ride-hailing service, or have any other small side hustle, you’re likely eligible for a business credit card.

• These cards often come with big sign-up bonuses and high rewards in different spending categories, making them a smart addition to your wallet, no matter how small your business is.

Can You Have More Than One Chase Ink Business Credit Card?

The short answer: Yes, you can! This is great for businesses looking to get the most out of Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program by taking advantage of multiple bonus categories.

Here’s how to use each card effectively:

• Ink Business Cash: Use this card at office supply stores and on telecommunication purchases to earn 5% back. You’ll also earn 2% back at restaurants.

• Ink Business Preferred: This card shines for travel expenses, shipping costs, and advertising purchases on social media and search engines, earning 3 points per dollar. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international purchases.

• Ink Business Unlimited: Perfect for everything else, earning 1.5% back on every purchase. If you combine all your points under the Ink Business Preferred, you’ll have a pool of Ultimate Rewards points ready to transfer to travel partners.

• Ink Business Premier: Use this for big purchases or if you prefer cash back over points. This card has no preset spending limit, making it flexible for large business expenses.

Things to Know

• You can apply for each card, earn their sign-up bonuses, and even apply for multiple cards if you run more than one business.

• Chase’s standard application rules still apply, so be mindful of these to improve your chances of approval.

• Having multiple cards allows you to maximize rewards in different spending categories and build a strategy that works best for your business.

A key strength of the Chase Ink business cards lies in the flexibility of the Ultimate Rewards program. 

Whether you're earning cash back or points, the ability to combine rewards across multiple cards and unlock premium redemption options, such as travel partner transfers, provides significant value. 

By strategically leveraging the Ink Business cards and the broader Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, business owners can maximize their returns and achieve their financial objectives.