Chase Ink Cash Review: Low Caps But High Rewards for This Business Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a capable cash-back business credit card. But it can turn into a lucrative one if your company’s operating expenses include office supplies and internet, cable and phone bills.

You’ll earn 5% cash back in those areas, up to the first $25,000 per year in combined spending. That’s $1,250 in cash back annually if you max out that bonus category each year. You’ll also get 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, again with the $25,000 annual cap.

Those low limits on bonus categories also curb the card’s value as an everyday business credit card. You’ll earn just 1% back on all other spending, which is hardly competitive. Given that, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is best paired with a flat-rate cash-back card to maximize your rewards (see a few top-notch options below).

» MORE: Making the most of Ink Business Cash

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is best for small-business owners who:

• Want to leverage bonus categories to optimize rewards.

• Spend $25,000 annually on office supplies and telecom services.

• Are comfortable managing multiple business credit cards.

• Prefer to earn cash back over travel rewards.

You might prefer the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® if: You’ll quickly max out your bonus categories on the Ink Business Cash. Why? The Business Triple Cash rewards card has the same bonus categories with lower rates — but no caps. Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases There’s also a long intro APR period that applies to purchases and balance transfers. And the card has no annual fee.

You might prefer the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card if: You prefer the simplicity of flat-rate rewards. With the Signify Business Card, you’ll earn 2% back on every single purchase. You won’t get that level of rewards on all your purchases without paying an annual fee.

» MORE: Best no annual fee business credit cards

Card type: Cash-back business credit card.

Annual fee: $0.

Sign-up bonus: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after 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% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR.

Foreign transaction fee: 3%.

Bonus rewards match your business spending

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card's 5% categories are valuable and align with typical small-business spending. It’s especially good for smaller spenders who won’t blow through the annual $25,000 rewards cap in the middle of Q1. If you spend up to that cap, you could get $1,250 per year in cash back.

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. Plus, you can add employee credit cards for free so any on-the-road staff spending earns you rewards, too.

You’re planning for a big purchase

Even if you’re facing a large expense outside the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card’s bonus categories, the card still packs a pair of features that can make it worth your while: an introductory 0% APR period and notable sign-up bonus.

The card’s 0% intro APR offer makes it a good option for financing startup costs or a major purchase. And if you’re planning to spend big anyway, you could easily earn this sign-up bonus: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. That’s especially generous for a card with an annual fee of $0.

» MORE: Best business credit cards for startups

Opportunity to pair with other Chase cards

It can pay to keep things in the Chase family if you have business or personal cards from the issuer. You can combine rewards earned on your various cards and potentially increase their redemption value in the process.

One common strategy: Use the Ink Business Cash for its high-value spending categories, in this case to get 5% or 2% cash back on office supplies, phone bills, restaurants and gas. Then, use another Chase business card for everything else.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a good complement to the Ink Business Cash, as the former offers 1.5% cash back on everything with no rewards cap. The extra half a percentage point will add up on all of your other purchases.

In the market for travel benefits? Combine the Ink Business Cash with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, which earns 3X points on bonus categories (travel, shipping purchases, telecom and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines).

Typically, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are worth around 1 cent each, but the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card boosts that value to 1.25 cents if you use your points to book travel through Chase. You can transfer points from your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to earn that higher redemption rate.

Similarly, two Chase consumer cards — the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — offer point values of 1.25 cents and 1.5 cents, respectively, when redeemed for travel via Chase. That means, if you use one of those cards for your personal spending, you can combine its points with those earned on Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to truly maximize your travel rewards.

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

Low caps on bonus categories

The Ink Business Cash caps its 5% and 2% bonus categories at $25,000 annually. But some businesses would blow through those limits in a matter of months. If that’s true for your company, the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® is a better pick.

You’ll get elevated rewards (3%) in the same categories — office supplies, telecom, gas and restaurants — but there’s no ceiling to how much you can earn in those bonus categories. So if you spend $75,000 annually across those four categories, you’d earn $2,250 each year in cash back. At best, you’d earn $2,000 back with the Ink Business Cash.

The Triple Cash Rewards card also offers a longer intro APR period: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%-28.24% Variable APR

The 5% categories 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. Instead, consider other cash back business cards with simpler rewards and no annual fee.

The Wells Fargo Signify Business Card, for example, gives you 2% cash back on every purchase with no limit and has no annual fee. You’ll also get a long intro APR period and a competitive welcome offer: Earn a $500 cash rewards bonus when you spend $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

You make international purchases

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee, so you should avoid using it to make international purchases — that includes purchases from vendors abroad, as well as using the card while overseas.

Instead, opt for a business credit card with no foreign transaction fee — such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Not only will you save on costly fees, you can also net a massive welcome offer: Earn 100,000 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℠.

Should you get the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card?

if your primary business expenses align with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card's business bonus categories it makes sense to get one. You don't have to pay an annual fee to carry the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and you’ll get other benefits, including a nice welcome offer and long intro APR period.

But savvy business owners will pair this card with one that has a better rewards rate or everyday spending. If you don’t want the hassle of multiple business cards — or you don’t spend big on office supplies or telecom, which earn the highest rewards rate — a flat-rate cash-back card is a better choice.