Ink Business Cash Credit Card 2023 review: Exceptionally rewarding for small business owners

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card checks nearly every box for small business owners looking to maximize returns on their spending. From no annual fee to cash back on business expenses to important travel and purchase coverage when you hit the road, the Ink Business Cash is a strong choice for ventures of all sizes.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

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Welcome Bonus

Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn $900 bonus cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

18.49% – 24.49% Variable

Credit Score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

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.

Editor’s Take

Pros

• No annual fee.
• Rich rewards rate in areas where businesses are likely to spend the most.
• Employee cards at no additional cost.

Cons

• There’s a foreign transaction fee.
• Bonus categories are capped at $25,000 in spending each account anniversary year.
• Lackluster rewards outside of bonus categories.

For business owners who are comfortable tracking various rewards categories, the Ink Business Cash Credit Card earns exceptional cash-back rewards, on areas of typical office spending and elevated rewards in other common business areas, too. Add in a larger-than-average welcome bonus, plus travel and purchase coverages and you’ve got a top-notch small business card.

Card Details

• Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from 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
• 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.
• 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

About the Ink Business Cash Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is an excellent starter card for businesses that also has lasting power to keep it a wallet staple for years to come. It has no annual fee and you can add cards for your employees at no extra cost.

There are several bonus categories that earn high rewards on the Ink Business Cash, including 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, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. 

If you’re able to maximize each bonus category limit, you could take home up to 175,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points every year, worth $1,750 in cash back. Plus, you can benefit from 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49% applies to purchases and balance transfers. There's a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, adding to the Ink Business Cash’s standing as one of the top business cards on the market.

Ink Business Cash Credit Card basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: $900 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. 
• Rewards: 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, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. 
• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49% applies to purchases and balance transfers. There's a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• Other perks and benefits: No fee for additional employee cards, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, extended warranty and access to roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance services.
• Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

Ink Business Cash Credit Card other details

Ink Business Cash Credit Card rewards

The Ink Business Cash card earns the following rewards:

• 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.
• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Although the welcome bonus and ongoing earning rate is marketed as earning “cash back,” you’ll earn rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. The math is simple: Each point is worth 1 cent each. Therefore, $500 equates to 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and earning  cash back means you’ll earn  points per $1 spent in eligible categories.

Your rewards balance will update after every statement closing date, and you can redeem points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more. 

Savvy business owners may also want to open the $95-per-year Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. in the future. This powerful card duo can not only lead to a surplus of rewards, but you will be able to pool your points balance together and transfer your points to more than a dozen of Chase’s airline and hotel loyalty partners, only accessible if you carry the Ink Business Preferred.

Ink Business Cash Credit Card rewards potential

Businesses can range from sole proprietorship, small or large storefronts, or even side hustles like Uber or DoorDash. To predict the rewards potential you could earn on the Ink Business Cash, we’ll use estimates from government data and other publicly available information on U.S. household spending. However, be sure to tailor these metrics to your own business finances.

We estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.

This sample business owner could earn a grand total of 41,689 Ultimate Rewards points annually, worth $416.89.

Ink Business Cash Credit Card APR

There’s a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49% applies to purchases and balance transfers. There's a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Ink Business Cash Credit Card pros

• No annual fee: You won’t have to pay a membership fee to open this account.
• Cash back on business expenses: The Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card offers a diverse range of bonus categories.
• Travel and purchase coverage benefits: From purchase protection to primary car rental insurance, the Ink Business Cash has your business covered on many fronts. 
• Add employee cards at no additional cost: You won’t have to worry about additional fees; plus, all of the points will pool into your rewards balance.

Ink Business Cash Credit Card cons

• Only earns cash back on non-bonus purchases: If your business spending falls outside of the bonus categories, you may want to find another card to sweep up those remaining rewards.
• Charges a  foreign transaction fee: You should leave this card at home when you’re traveling internationally, as it’ll incur a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
• Requires a good to excellent credit score to qualify: When you apply, Chase will pull your data from your personal credit score and finances, so you may not qualify if you have less-than-ideal credit history.

How the Ink Business Cash Credit Card compares to other small business cards 

Ink Business Cash Credit Card vs. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Within the same Chase Ink business card family is the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. At first glance, it offers similar benefits — with no annual fee and an identical welcome offer. However, where the Ink Business Unlimited card is different is in its earning rate. You’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases, which is best-suited for businesses with unpredictable or varying expenses.

There’s no reason why you can’t hold both business cards, in theory. However, you’ll want to be mindful of too many credit checks in a short time frame as it can impact your credit scores, so it’s best to apply for a second card at least six- to 12 months down the line. 

Ink Business Cash Credit Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is a step above the Ink Business Cash Credit Card and is a great partner to the Ink Business Cash Credit Card. Although it carries a $95 annual fee, it offers 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

The Ink Business Preferred is a travel-focused card, and you’ll get a 25% bonus when redeeming your points for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal — that elevates your point redemption rate from 1 cent to 1.25 cents. Not only that, but you can transfer your points directly to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, which include British Airways, Southwest, United Airlines, JetBlue and World of Hyatt

Ink Business Cash Credit Card vs. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Also with no annual fee, the Amex Blue Business Plus (terms apply) offers a straightforward earning rate. You’ll earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. If you’re able to maximize this limit, you can easily accrue up to 100,000 points per year.

Should you get the Ink Business Cash Credit Card?

With its generous welcome bonus, valuable earning rate and slew of protections and benefits, the Ink Business Cash is a top-notch choice for businesses whose spending patterns align with the rewards offered on the card. 

Ink Business Cash Credit Card summary