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Whether you’re running a small business with several employees, reselling items online, or tutoring out of your home, a business credit card can provide you with attractive benefits you wouldn’t get from a personal credit card.
The three Chase Ink Business credit cards all provide generous sign-up bonuses and robust rewards on business purchases, and cardholders also have the added convenience of being able to easily track business expenses and employee spending.
But which Ink Business credit card is right for you? That depends on the scope of your business and your spending needs. Consider how much you’ll spend on business-related purchases, whether you’ll travel for business, and which perks are most important to you.
The Chase Ink Business cards, compared
Do you travel internationally for business? You’ll likely want a card with no foreign transaction fees and added travel perks. Do you have expensive startup costs? You may want a card with a 0% introductory APR (annual percentage rate) and a high credit limit.
To decide which Ink Business card is the best credit card for you, consider how you’ll use your card and check out our side-by-side comparison.
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card |
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card |
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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
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| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months | Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months | Earn 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months |
| Earning rate | 1.5% cash back on all spending | 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, or phone services (up to $25,000 combined annually); 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 combined annually); and 1% cash back on everything else | 3X points on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel, shipping, internet, cable, or phone services, and advertising purchases with social media and search engines; and 1X points per $1 on everything else |
| Redemption options | Cash, gift cards, travel, and more | Cash, gift cards, travel, and more |
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| Introductory rate | 0% purchase APR for 12 months after account opening (then 15.49% to 21.49% (variable)) | 0% purchase APR for 12 months after account opening (then 15.49% to 21.49% (variable)) | None |
| Foreign transaction fees |
3% | 3% | None |
| Other perks |
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| Learn How to Apply | Learn How to Apply | Learn How to Apply |
How the Ink Business cards stack up
The best business credit card for you will depend on what kind of purchases you need to make for your business, how much you’ll spend, and how you plan to redeem your rewards. Consider the following factors when deciding which Ink Business credit card to apply for.
1. Earning rates and bonus categories
There’s no clear winner when it comes to earning rates, since getting the best bang for your buck depends on your regular expenses and redemption needs. But all the Ink cards are part of a robust rewards program.
Frequent business travelers will likely get the most value out of the Ink Business Preferred Card. Not only does it offer 3X points on travel purchases, and 5X points on Lyft rides, but your points stretch 25% further when used to book travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards. That means you can effectively get $3.75 toward travel for every $100 you spend on travel purchases.
If you’re mainly using your card for business lunches; gas; office supplies; or internet, cable, or phone services, the Ink Business Cash offers the best earning rates in those select business categories. But if most of your business purchases fall outside those categories, you’ll likely get the best overall rewards from the Ink Business Unlimited credit card, which offers 1.5% back on every purchase.
Up to 5% Cash Back
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Intro Offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, or phone services (up to $25,000 combined annually); 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 combined annually); and 1% cash back on everything else
Benefits
- $750 cash back sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months
- Up to 5% cash back
Drawbacks
- Capped spending on bonus cash back categories
- Has foreign transaction fee
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
- 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, or phone services (up to $25,000 combined annually); 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 combined annually); and 1% cash back on everything else
- Intro purchase 0% APR offer: 0% for 12 months then 15.49% to 21.49% (variable)
2. Welcome bonus
The most valuable welcome bonus comes with the Ink Business Preferred card, especially if you plan to travel for business. The 100,000 bonus points surpass most personal credit card sign-up bonuses and are equal to $1,250 toward travel redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That’s enough to offset the $95 annual fee for a decade.
If you won’t be purchasing business-related airline tickets, consider the Ink Business Cash or the Ink Business Unlimited, both of which offer a $750 cashback bonus.
3. Introductory purchase APRs
While it’s generally ill-advised to put purchases you can’t afford on a credit card, business startup costs might be an exception, and these Chase credit cards can help.
If you need to make costly purchases to get your business up and running, you’ll likely want to opt for the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Unlimited, since both of these credit cards come with a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months. After that your balance will be subject to the regular variable APR of 15.49% to 21.49% (variable).
But that gives you a full year to pay back any startup costs interest-free. The Ink Business Preferred Card, on the other hand, comes with an APR of 18.24% to 23.24% (variable) right off the bat.
4. Redemption options
With any of the Ink Business cards, you can redeem points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, Apple store purchases, or travel. The Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited cards are virtually identical when it comes to redemption options.
With the Ink Business Preferred Card, on the other hand, you’ll get more value out of your points when you use them toward travel. The Ink Business Preferred may be your best best if your goal is to earn free flights and hotel stays, as booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal will give your points 25% more value.
The Ink Business Preferred also allows you to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Chase travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. For example, you can transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, and IHG Rewards Club. You can even transfer points to the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program. This gives you more flexibility (and possibly more value) when you redeem your travel rewards.
5. Other perks
You’ll get identical perks from the Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash cards, and the benefits are common to most credit cards. Both cards offer you the opportunity to pick up employee cards at no additional cost; they also provide purchase and extended warranty protection along with travel assistance and rental car insurance coverage.
The Ink Business Preferred, however, has some added perks for travelers. There are no foreign transaction fees, and the card provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance. You’ll also get cell phone protection included with your card, which gets you up to $600 if your phone is stolen or damaged as long as you pay your phone bill with your card.
FAQs
Which Chase Ink business card is the best?
The best Chase Ink card for you depends on which card’s benefits most align with your business expenses and needs. The Ink Business Preferred offers a helpful 3X rewards rate on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel, shipping, internet, cable, or phone services, and advertising purchases with social media and search engines.
However, the Ink Business Cash offers 5% cash back on office supply stores and internet, cable, or phone services (up to $25,000 combined annually) and 2% cash back on gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 combined annually). And the Ink Business Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
Can I apply for Chase Ink without a business?
All Ink cards are business cards, which means you need a business to qualify for one. But this doesn’t mean you have to run a large business with hundreds of employees. Small businesses are also eligible, including side hustles and independent contractor work. For example, if you earn income from selling items on Amazon or you work as a freelance writer, that’s technically business income and could qualify you for a business card.
Does a Chase Ink business card report to personal credit?
Chase business cards don’t typically report to personal credit bureaus, but they could if you default on your credit card payments. You should still expect a hard credit check with personal credit bureaus when applying for an Ink business card.
Are Chase business cards or Amex business cards better?
The better business cards between Chase and Amex depends on your goals and business needs. The Chase Ink cards work well together, offering many options to earn bonus rewards on common business expenses. And you’re able to pool Chase points together for quicker redemption opportunities. However, many of the American Express business cards tend to focus on travel rewards and offering valuable travel benefits. So if you travel frequently, certain Amex cards might be useful for you.
Choosing the right card
Between the generous sign-up bonuses and rewards-earning potential associated with the Chase business credit cards, applying for one of them is a smart move for many small business owners. This is especially true if you already hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® card.
But Chase isn’t the only credit card issuer to offer some of the best business credit cards with impressive rewards. And there are other credit card offers you may qualify for, even if you’re self-employed, are worried about your credit score, or have a limited credit history. To choose the right card for you, consider your spending needs and how you plan to redeem your rewards. And be sure to read through our business credit card application tips before getting started.
Hot Sign-up Bonus
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Intro Offer
Earn 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
3X points on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel, shipping, internet, cable, or phone services, and advertising purchases with social media and search engines; and 1X points per $1 on everything else
Benefits
- 100,000 points sign-up bonus
- 3X points on travel and common business spending categories
- Flexible redemption options
- Additional employee cards at no extra cost
Drawbacks
- Has annual fee
- No intro 0% APR promotion offered
- Limited business-specific benefits
- Earn 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
- 3X points on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel, shipping, internet, cable, or phone services, and advertising purchases with social media and search engines; and 1X points per $1 on everything else
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