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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 is a former NerdWallet writer and an expert in personal finance and credit cards. A journalist for more than 30 years, he has been a newspaper reporter and editor, authored two personal finance books and created the "Spending Smart" syndicated newspaper column. His awards include national recognition several times from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
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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.
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Recommended credit score
690-850good - excellent
Recommended credit score
690-850good - excellent
Recommended credit score
690-850good - excellent
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.
instead if: Your business expenses are relatively low, but concentrated on office supplies or internet, cable and phone services. That 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
instead if: You’re a frequent business traveler. That card earns up to 3 points per dollar on travel purchases. It also boasts an even bigger welcome offer than the Unlimited:
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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 17.74%-23.74% 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.
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.
doesn’t require you to remember any spending categories — you’ll just get a flat rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent. That may make this card a good choice for solopreneurs and owners of very small businesses who are juggling lots of competing priorities.
Even freelancers, gig workers and side hustlers can apply for a business credit card; you don't need to be incorporated or have a formal business structure, like an LLC or partnership.
"Even though Chase doesn’t publish it, its '5/24' rule is common fodder in forums like Reddit. (I’ve spotted mentions of it in multiple threads about the
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
.)
"This unwritten policy means you can’t get a Chase credit card if you’ve been approved for five credit cards in the last 24 months — from any issuer. Personal card approvals go toward that total. But your business cards are murkier. Those that show up on your personal credit report count; others don’t.
"The bottom line? If the
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
seems like a fit for you, tally any and all recent approvals before applying. It’s a simple way to eliminate one potential pothole. And once approved, Chase business cards won’t count toward your five-card limit."
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.
, 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. It also 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 abroad or buy inventory from overseas vendors. The
. It earns up to 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases and has no foreign transaction fees, but does charge a $
95
annual fee.
You want an even higher rewards rate
There are even higher cash-back rewards rates out there — though they may come with limits. 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%. And 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. (See rates and fees.)
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.
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