Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card review: Is solid flat-rate cash back right for your business?

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If you’re looking for straightforward rewards on your business spending without the hassle of tiered rewards or spending caps, consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.

This card offers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee, making it ideal for businesses with diverse spending patterns. With a solid welcome bonus, a solid intro APR on purchases, plus travel and purchase protections, the Ink Business Unlimited provides significant value for small business owners.

While the card offers good basic redemption options, its rewards potential is maximized when paired with a premium Chase card, allowing for transferring points to Chase's travel partners.

How the Ink Business Unlimited works 

The Ink Business Unlimited card offers simple, consistent rewards for businesses with diverse spending patterns. Here are the key things to know about this card:

• Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, 5% cash back on Lyft purchases through March 2025.
• Welcome bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Annual fee: $0
• Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, followed by a variable APR of 17.99% to 23.99%.
• Redemption options: You can redeem points for cash back, gift cards, statement credits, and direct deposit. You can also book travel (via the Chase Travel℠ portal) or transfer points to Chase's travel partners (when paired with a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®)
• Additional benefits: Free employee cards, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, car rental collision damage waiver, travel and emergency assistance services, and roadside dispatch.

Ink Business Unlimited rewards

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is a flat-rate earning card that’s simple to understand and carries more value than meets the eye. It’s a heavy hitter when it comes to earning rewards at places that don’t typically offer bonus cash back.

Earning rewards 

The hallmark of the Ink Business Unlimited card is its flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, regardless of category. This rewards structure ensures that you're earning valuable points on every business expense without the need to track bonus categories or adjust your spending habits.

While some competing business cards offer a higher flat-rate return of 2% cash back, they often charge an annual fee. 

For example, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card offers 2% unlimited cash back, but it charges an annual fee of $150 (which can be reimbursed if you spend more than $150,000 annually). 

Redeeming rewards 

The Ink Business Unlimited card offers several redemption options: cash back, statement credit, direct debit, and gift cards. Using your points, you can also book travel directly through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

But the Ink Business Unlimited card's true potential lies in its ability to pair with other premium Chase cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Redeeming through Chase Travel can boost the value of your rewards by 25% to 50%, depending on the card you have.

You can also transfer points Chase's airline and hotel partners, often providing more value than standard redemption options. 

Here’s an example — take a round-trip flight from Salt Lake City to Rome, which may cost over $1,000 or around 99,000 points when booked through the Chase travel portal. But by transferring your points to a travel partner like KLM Flying Blue, you might be able to book the same flight for just 58,500 miles, saving roughly 30,000 points.

The flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards points also means that you can take advantage of sales and promotions. If you find a great deal on a flight or hotel, you can pay with points through the Chase travel portal, potentially stretching your rewards further.

Ink Business Unlimited benefits

The Ink Business Unlimited card also offers a range of benefits designed to support and protect your business. Let's explore these perks in more detail.

Sign up bonus

One of the standout features of the Ink Business Unlimited is its generous sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

This bonus is particularly impressive for a card with no annual fee, as it significantly boosts your rewards balance right from the start.

Additional perks

The Ink Business Unlimited card comes with a suite of additional benefits, including: 

• Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Extended warranty protection: This policy extends the manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
• Car rental collision damage waiver: Provides primary coverage when you rent a car for business purposes, which can save you money on the rental company's collision damage waiver.
• Travel and emergency assistance services: Offers access to a dedicated hotline for help with travel emergencies, such as medical and legal referrals.
• Roadside dispatch: Provides a 24/7 hotline for assistance with towing, jumpstarting, tire changes, and more. 

Keep in mind that the Ink Business Unlimited doesn't have some of the premium travel benefits found on higher-end business cards, such as travel insurance, cell phone protection, or travel credits. These benefits are often associated with cards that charge an annual fee, such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

0% intro APR offer

The Ink Business Unlimited card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months after account opening. 

After the introductory period ends, a variable APR of 17.99% to 23.99% will apply, depending on your creditworthiness. The 0% APR offer does not apply to balance transfers, and you must make at least the minimum payment by the due date to avoid losing the promotional rate.

It's always best to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. But, the 0% introductory APR can provide flexibility for businesses that need to make larger purchases and pay them off over time.

Ink Business Unlimited fees & charges

While the Ink Business Unlimited card offers valuable benefits, it's essential to know the various fees that come with it. Let’s look at the costs you should consider before applying.

Annual fee 

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited doesn’t charge an annual fee. 

Considering the card's 1.5% flat-rate cash back on all purchases and the high welcome offer, the lack of an annual fee makes the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card a highly cost-effective choice for many businesses.

But, if you consistently carry a balance on your card and incur interest charges, the costs can quickly outweigh the rewards you earn. To truly maximize the value of this card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month and avoid interest charges altogether.

Interest rates

Like most credit cards, the Ink Business Unlimited charges interest on balances not paid in full by the due date. The card's interest rates are as follows:

• Regular APR: 17.99% to 23.99% variable APR
• Balance transfers: 17.99% to 23.99% variable APR
• Cash Advances: 29.74% variable APR

These APRs align with the average rates other business credit cards charge in the market. It's essential to remember that interest charges can add up and reduce the value of your rewards.

To avoid paying interest, always aim to pay your statement balance in full by the due date each month. If you need to carry a balance, try to keep it as low as possible and pay it off as quickly as possible to minimize interest charges.

Other fees

In addition to interest charges, the Ink Business Unlimited has several other fees to be aware of:

• Foreign transaction fee: 3%
• Balance transfer fee: 5% or $5, whichever is greater
• Cash advance fee: 5% or $15, whichever is greater
• Late payment: $40
• Return payment: $40

To minimize these fees, avoid using your card for balance transfers or cash advances. These transactions often have high fees and start accruing interest immediately. 

Suppose you frequently travel internationally or make purchases in foreign currencies. In that case, you may want to consider a business credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, such as the Ink Business Preferred Card or the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.

How the Ink Business Unlimited compares 

When considering the Ink Business Unlimited card, it's essential to evaluate how it stacks up against other popular cash back business cards.

Ink Business Unlimited vs. Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards

The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard has a tiered rewards structure. You’ll earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (from a list), 2% cash back on dining, and 1% back on all other purchases.

The 3% categories include gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services, and business consulting services. The 3% and 2% categories are capped at a combined $50,000 each calendar year. 

If your spending aligns closely with its 3% and 2% categories or you spend under $50,000 annually in the bonus categories, the Customized Cash Rewards card may be a better fit. 

However, the Ink Business Unlimited card is better if you prefer a simple, flat-rate rewards structure or your business spending exceeds $50,000 annually across various categories. 

Ink Business Unlimited vs. American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers a straightforward rewards structure, earning 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% after that.

If you have a small business and spend under $50,000 annually, the Blue Business Cash’s 2% rate is hard to beat. But if you spend over that amount or want the potential to transfer rewards to travel partners, the Ink Business Unlimited is a better bet. 

Who should consider the Ink Business Unlimited?

If your company's expenses don't fall neatly into common bonus categories, the Ink Business Unlimited Card's 1.5% flat-rate cash back offers a solid return without the need to track categories. It's ideal for small business owners who prefer a no-fuss approach to their business card.

Plus, while the Ink Business Unlimited is marketed as a cash back card, its rewards are earned as Ultimate Rewards points. These points can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.

For businesses with a premium Chase card like the Sapphire Reserve, these points can be combined and transferred to Chase's travel partners for potentially even greater value.

On the other hand, businesses with high spending concentrated in specific categories like travel, advertising, or office supplies may find more value in a card that offers higher reward rates in those areas. This includes the Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card or the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card.

Companies that travel internationally may prefer a business card with no foreign transaction fees. The Ink Business Unlimited Card charges a 3% fee on purchases made abroad.

How we rated this card

Every credit card review we publish has undergone a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity.

We rate all credit cards on a 10-point system, with 10 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest possible score. We assess each card across several key factors, weighted based on what our research shows matters most to readers like you. Learn more about our methodology here. 

The bottom line 

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card offers great benefits without the cost of an annual fee, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. The flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases simplifies earnings and can be particularly valuable for diverse business expenses that don't typically fall into bonus categories.

However, if your business spending is concentrated in specific categories, a card with bonus rewards in those areas might provide more value. Plus, to maximize redemption options, particularly for travel, you'll need to pair this card with a premium Chase card, which may not be ideal for all businesses.

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