Chase Ink Business Unlimited Review: Simple, No-Frills Cash Back

This card earns a flat 1.5% back on everything, with no categories to keep track of and an unusually generous sign-up bonus for its class.
Gregory Karp
By Gregory Karp 
Edited by Ryan Lane

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Our Take

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
The bottom line:

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card delivers with straightforward rewards, a long intro APR period and a top-notch welcome offer. But other cards, even other Chase cards, may provide more bang for your buck if you're OK with monitoring bonus categories.

Jump to: Full review
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.49%-24.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Rec. credit score
690-850 (Good - Excellent)
Apply now

on Chase's website

Quick Facts

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No annual fee

  • Intro APR period

  • No reward caps

  • New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

  • No bonus categories

Compare to Other Cards

NerdWallet rating 
NerdWallet rating 
Annual fee

$0

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

18.49%-24.49% Variable APR

Regular APR

21.24%-26.24% Variable APR

Intro APR

0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months

Intro APR

N/A

Recommended Credit Score
Recommended Credit Score
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Full Review

For entrepreneurs who would rather worry about their business than their credit card rewards program, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card from Chase keeps it simple.

The card has an annual fee of $0, offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and has a long intro APR period. A hefty sign-up bonus doesn’t hurt, either: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

But business owners aiming to squeeze the most juice out of their business card might find even greater rewards from a different option in the Chase business credit card lineup.

For instance, if your biggest expenses are office supplies or internet, cable and phone services, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns up to 5% back in those categories on up to $25,000 spent. Its 2% cash back on restaurants and gas stations (again, up to $25,000 spent) also tops the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card’s flat 1.5% rate.

And frequent business travelers may prefer the Chase Ink Business Preferred, which earns up to 3 points per dollar on travel purchases and boasts an even bigger welcome offer than Chase’s cash back business cards: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

Key features of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Card type: Small business.

Annual fee: $ 0.

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

Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR

Foreign transaction fees: 3%.

Why you might want the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

No cap on cash back rewards

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is true to its name, delivering 1.5% cash back with no caps or restrictions. While other cards deliver higher rewards — anywhere from 2% to 5% — almost all limit how much you can earn, either with annual spending caps or the use of bonus categories. The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card, for example, earns 2% back on the first $50,000 in spending per year, then the rate falls to 1%. While you can earn unlimited 2% cash back with the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card or Capital One Spark Cash Plus, both cards are charge cards and have an annual fee.

Easy-to-understand rewards

This card doesn’t require you to remember any spending categories — you’ll just get a flat rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent. Rewards come in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, worth 1 cent each when redeemed as cash back. You can get that cash back in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Points can also be redeemed for:

  • Gift cards (1 cent per point).

  • Travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (1 cent per point).

  • Amazon purchases (0.8 cents per point).

It’s also possible to move your rewards to other Chase accounts that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, potentially getting more value for travel.

Big welcome offer, long intro APR period

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card delivers a double-whammy with a massive welcome offer and long interest-free period. Those benefits are especially useful if your business has a large purchase on the horizon: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Then pay it offer without accruing interest — this card offers 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR. Those are great perks for a business credit card — especially one with an annual fee of $0.

Why you might want a different card

You spend lots in specific categories, like gas or office supplies

A cash back rewards rate of 1.5% on everything is simple, to be sure. But if you have higher spending in certain categories, such as travel or office supplies, you might be better off with a cash-back business credit card that offers a higher rewards rate on those spending categories.

For example, elsewhere in the Chase lineup is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, which offers 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on Internet, cable and phone services each year. Plus, it earns 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants annually, in addition to an unlimited 1% cash back on all other card purchases. Plus, it has an annual fee of $0.

You often travel abroad

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%, which will hurt if you travel overseas. Frequent international travelers would be better served by a business travel rewards card with no foreign transaction fees. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns up to 3 points per $1 on travel purchases and has no foreign transaction fees, but does charge a $95 annual fee. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit carddoesn’t charge an annual fee and delivers the same unlimited 1.5x rewards as the Ink Business Unlimited.

Should I get the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card?

The simplicity of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card could be a fit for entrepreneurs who don’t want to deal with cumbersome bonus category terms. And its generous sign-up bonus and introductory 0% APR period on purchases are a boon for those planning to make a major purchase and pay it down over time.

But if you’re looking for lucrative rewards, you can do better, maybe even among other Chase business credit cards.

on Chase's website

Methodology

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
Frequently asked questions

It depends on how you spend and how you want to earn rewards. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers 5% cash back on office supplies and telecom services and 2% at restaurants and gas stations, up to a limit; other spending earns 1%. The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns 1.5% cash back on all spending. Neither has an annual fee, and their sign-up bonuses are comparable.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

You’ll need at least good credit to qualify for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. Generally speaking, “good credit” is defined as a personal FICO score of at least 690. But a credit score alone isn’t enough to qualify for any credit card. Issuers take into account your income, existing debts and other information.

The annual fee is $0.

Applying for a small-business credit card can make sense for formal businesses or anyone who is self-employed. That includes freelancing, gig work or a side hustle. You don't need to be incorporated or have a formal business structure, like an LLC or partnership. Learn more about who can apply for a business credit card.

It depends on how you spend money with your business and whether you’re willing to pay an annual fee. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card are cash-back cards with no annual fee and different rewards structures. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is more of a travel card. It earns points, has an annual fee of $95 and includes more benefits.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a Visa.