Chase Ink Cash Review: A Cash-Back Contender for Small Businesses

The Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card can be a lucrative card for small-business owners who spend heavily in its top bonus categories and want a card with an annual fee of $0. And it welcomes new cardholders with a generous sign-up bonus.

But its most lucrative rewards are capped, which hurts big spenders. And while its other rewards and features are decent, better options exist for heavy travelers willing to pay an annual fee.

The Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card is a capable cash-back rewards card, but some business owners will find a better fit elsewhere, even among other Chase business credit cards.

» MORE: Making the most of Ink Business Cash

Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card: Basics

Card type: Small business.

Annual fee: $0.

Sign-up bonus: Earn $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Ongoing rewards:

• 5% cash back on up to $25,000 a year in spending at office supply stores and on cable, internet and phone service.

• 2% cash back on up to $25,000 a year in spending at gas stations and restaurants.

• 1% cash back on all other spending.

Your cash will come in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. One point equals one penny.

Interest rate: 0% on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 14.74% - 20.74% Variable APR.

Foreign transaction fee: 3%.

Key benefits of the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Notable sign-up bonus

The sign-up bonus is enough to pay for several client lunches and is especially generous for a card with an annual fee of $0.

Bonus rewards in common business categories

The 5% categories are valuable and align with typical small-business spending. It’s especially good for smaller spenders who won’t blow through the $25,000 rewards cap midway through Q1. Spending up to that cap reaps a cool $1,250 per year.

Double cash back on gas stations and restaurants (2% instead of 1%) isn’t special nowadays, but it’s a fine return if you don’t want to fiddle with other credit cards to earn higher rewards.

An introductory 0% APR period

These kinds of offers are missing from many business credit cards, making this a good option for an entrepreneur looking at startup costs and needing extra time to pay.

» MORE: Chase credit cards mobile app review

Pairing with other cards

For more cash back

A common strategy is to use a card like this for its high-value spending categories, in this case to get 5% or 2% cash back. Then, use another card for everything else that offers a better return than this card’s 1%. You don’t even need to leave the Chase family to do that. The Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card offers 1.5% cash back on everything. The extra half a percentage point will add up, especially with typical business spending.

» MORE: 3 things to consider when choosing a Chase Ink credit card

For high-value travel rewards

Typically, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are worth around 1 cent each. But three Chase cards — the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, along with consumer cards Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — offer boosts to that point value if you use your points to book travel through Chase. With the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel this way. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, they're worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed this way.

The Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card isn't eligible for these more-valuable travel redemptions, but if you also have any of those other three special cards, you can transfer points to that card from your Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card. If you do this, then redeem for travel, your effective rewards rate gets even better.

Points on those three special cards can also be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to other loyalty programs, such as United Airlines, British Airways or Marriott. Potentially, that could net you an even higher effective rewards rate.

» MORE: How a Chase 'trifecta' can be beneficial

Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card: Drawbacks and alternatives

5% categories that don’t fit your business

If your business spends relatively little on office supplies or cable-internet-phone services, you’re missing the primary reason to use this card long-term.

Examples of cards with different and simpler rewards:

• The Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business gives you 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no limit. It has a $0 annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees. There's also a sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

• The Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card also pays 1.5% cash back with no limit for an annual fee of $0. Its sign-up bonus: Earn $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Poor choice for traveling abroad

If you're traveling internationally, the 3% foreign transaction fee is punitive. The Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business has no such fees.

For other options, see our page of top-rated credit cards as well as our list of the best small-business credit cards.

Is the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card right for you?