Ink Business Cash® Credit Card review: The perfect business card to start small
This card is an ideal choice for start-ups and small businesses with less-than-predictable expenses and incomes.
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Snapshot
4.3
Bottom line
This is the ideal Chase business card if your expenses lean heavily towards telecommunication and internet services. If you don’t spend much more than $50,000, this could be a very rewarding and flexible option.
Intro offer
Earn up to $750 bonus cash back
Rewards Rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.99% - 25.99% Variable
4.2
Cardholder rating
Extra perks
Meets needs
Online tools
Customer service
4.3
Bankrate score
Rewards value
APR
Rewards flexibility
Features
Why you'll like this: Its rewards rates, business-focused bonus categories and sign-up bonus are some of the best on the market for no annual fee.
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card overview
If your small business spends a fair amount on office supplies and telecommunications services, the Ink Business Cash Credit Card is probably a great fit for you. The card’s maximum cash back rate only applies to the first $25,000 you spend in both your 5 percent and 2 percent categories. These spending caps mean you have a total spending cap of $50,000 among your highest rewards categories. However, despite this limitation, Chase offers categories that are consistent with the majority of business expenditures.
With features like an intro APR offer on purchases and no annual fee, it’s clear that this Chase business credit card can offer a respite for businesses with irregular cash flows.
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Rewards
- 5 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores, internet, cable and phone services per year
- 2 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants per year
- 1 percent on all other purchases
- Rewards value: 2 cents per point
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis -
Welcome offer
- $350 bonus cash back 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
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis -
0% APR offer
- Purchase intro APR: 0 percent intro APR for 12 months
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
- 17.99% - 25.99% Variable
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis -
Rates and fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Late payment: $40
- Foreign transaction fee: 3 percent
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis -
Other cardholder perks
- Free employee cards
- Car rental coverage
- Extended purchase warranty
- Theft/damage purchase protection
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis
Ink Business Cash pros and cons
Pros
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Introductory APR offer on purchases can help small businesses get off the ground quicker by stalling interest
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No annual fee makes this a fantastic choice for small business owners wanting a low-cost business rewards card
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Flexible redemption options with Chase Ultimate Rewards are a unique feature when compared to other small-business credit cards
Cons
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Total boosted rewards are capped at $50,000 per year, which businesses with larger budgets may exceed
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The 3 percent foreign transaction fee may eat into some of your cash back earnings
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Boosted rewards rate categories may not appeal to small or remote-based businesses
Why you might want the Ink Business Cash card
The Ink Business Cash can be a great option for businesses that require a central point of operation, whether it’s a warehouse for inventory, offices, or in-house manufacturing. This card provides great perks that can help business owners stay afloat with a solid welcome offer, no annual fee and useful perks for employees.
Welcome offer: Holds up against the competition
The Ink Business Cash currently offers $350 bonus cash back 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, equaling a total of $750 in cash back. This is a great offer compared to bonus value you'll find on other small-business credit cards, especially those with no annual fee. You could also meet the spending requirement relatively easily if you plan your card application around a large purchase.
Intro APR: A pretty good offer on new purchases
Particularly useful for startups with unpredictable cash flows, the 0 percent intro APR on new purchases for 12 months (17.99% - 25.99% Variable thereafter) can offer a necessary reprieve during a time when your business may be spending more than earning.
This perk is available on many rewards cards but not so much on business cards, much less for this long, providing a nice break from interest charges. Also, the ongoing variable rate can be below the current average interest rate depending on your creditworthiness.
But don’t keep this benefit in the back of your mind for long because when your first account anniversary comes around, you’ll owe your full balance if you want to avoid interest charges.
Perks: Free employee cards and extra protections
To give you and your employees a convenient, fast way of accessing business funds, you can request employee cards at no additional cost. For extra security, the account holder can set individual spending limits on employee cards. You’ll also earn rewards on all employee spending with these additional cards.
Other useful benefits include purchase protection for up to 120 days against damage or theft (up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account) and a 12-month extended warranty when you make an eligible purchase with your card. The extended warranty only applies to qualifying warranties of up to three years and begins once the manufacturer’s warranty ends.
Why you might not want the Ink Business Cash card
While the Ink Business Cash can be useful to businesses in their early days, it has a few drawbacks. This card may be a great choice for office-based businesses, but it might be a poor fit for other types. The spending caps can be too limiting for businesses with high budgets, and the foreign transaction fees can make the card more harmful than helpful when used overseas.
Rewards: Valuable, but selective
While this card has the potential for high cash back earnings, it depends on whether you can maximize the spending categories without exceeding the spending cap. If you have an office-based business, the office supply, internet, cable and phone services categories are lucrative and make this card a top choice. The additional cash back rewards for gas stations and restaurant purchases also make it great for out-of-office meetings and trips.
Travel: Decent but thin travel benefits
The card includes a 3 percent foreign transaction fee on all purchases overseas, which could cut into your rewards if you purchase from international merchants or travel out of the country frequently. The foreign transaction fee could eclipse the majority of your boosted cash back earnings, which is not ideal.
Plus, the only major travel perk the card includes is car rental coverage, which covers up to the cash value of the vehicle in case of theft or collision in qualifying locations. While useful, it’s a common perk. Overall, this card wouldn’t be worth packing for international business travel.
We tried it: Here’s what our experts say
The Ink Business Cash offers strong earning rates as a cash back card, especially for office supply store purchases, according to Bankrate credit cards writer Ryan Flanigan.
This is one of the most underrated cards out there: The high rewards rates and getting up to 125,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points annually for no fee are unbelievable. I spend a lot at office supply stores, so this card is a big winner for me. You might not think of office supply stores as a valuable category, but they sell many household items and merchant gift cards to many places, meaning you can get 5X almost anywhere if you take a little extra time. I hit the yearly cap very quickly on this card and it’s a big boost to my travel aspirations.
— Ryan Flanigan, Writer, Credit Cards
How the Ink Business Cash Credit Card compares to other small-business cards
When choosing among Chase’s Ink Business cards, the best option for you will depend on where you spend the most money for your business. While the Ink Business Cash card makes sense if you spend heavily on office supplies, internet, cable and phone services, it may not cater to all your needs. The spending limit could also hinder your cash back potential. In this case, you should consider a cash back card with unlimited rewards or higher spending limit.
Annual fee
Intro 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.
Rewards rate
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 card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards rate
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards rate
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Best cards to pair the Ink Business Cash Credit Card with
If you spend a lot on travel, then it makes sense to pair this card with a travel credit card. This way, you can take advantage of a category the Ink Business Cash excludes. Choosing another business credit card with travel-focused perks and rewards might also be a great idea, but only if travel is an important factor in your business.
Who is the Ink Business Cash right for?
Bankrate’s Take — Is the Ink Business Cash Credit Card worth it?
The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is best suited for small businesses with significant office supplies and telecom service expenses. It comes with a huge welcome bonus, and the introductory APR period will be handy for those with irregular cash flows or who need to pay off large purchases while establishing their business.
However, those who travel often for work will find limited value in this card due to the foreign transaction fees and lack of travel perks. Businesses that spend more outside this card’s categories may question whether the Ink Business Cash Card is worth it compared to a flat-rate cash back card.
How we rated this card
Our proprietary card rating system takes into account a mix of factors when scoring business credit cards, including each card’s rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more.
We analyzed over 50 of the most popular business credit cards and scored each based on how its key features stacked up compared to those of other cards in its category.
Here are some of the key factors that gave this card its score:
Frequently asked questions
What cardholders think
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
In May 2024, Bankrate collaborated with third-party SliceMR to survey 6160 cardholders nationwide. Bankrate and Slice MR collected, averaged and presented website analytics and cardholder responses to six questions on a 5-point scale. Responses are based on individual cardholder’s product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Users received an incentive for their feedback. User ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by credit card issuers, nor do these ratings reflect Bankrate’s own reviews of these cards.
Community Reviews
* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
