Overview
The bottom line:
Add this card if your business spends at least $25,000 a year on office supplies and telecom services. Combine it with another Chase card for even better rewards.
Credit card details
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.49%-25.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
Cashback
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Intro offer
$900
Earn $900 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Intro APR period
New cardholder bonus offer
High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
Low rate outside bonus categories
Spending caps on bonus rewards
More details from Chase
- Earn $900 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card churns out big rewards for specific expenses, but it has low caps on those bonus rates. That makes it a good fit for new companies and smaller businesses that count office supplies and telecom (internet, cable and phone) among their top expenses.
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.
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 overall rewards.
This card is best for:
✔️ New companies, very small businesses.
✔️ Office supplies and telecom.
✔️ Strategic purchasing.
Not a fit? Consider these business credit cards
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
IN THIS REVIEW
At a glance: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
💳 Card type: Cash-back business credit card
💲 Annual fee: $0.
💰 Sign-up bonus: Earn $900 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
🎉 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.
📈 APR : 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%-25.49% Variable APR.
📍 Minimum credit limit: $1,100.
💷 Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
🎆 Other benefits:
- Automatically considered for a credit limit increase every six months.
- Cash back is earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points and can be combined with other personal and business Chase cards.
See complete on Chase's website.
Benefits and perks
Up to 5% cash back
Few business cards offer better rewards on office supplies and telecom (internet, cable and phone services) than the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. You’ll earn 5% back on the first $25,000 in combined spending each year. Max out that benefit and you’ll net $1,250 in cash back each year.
Intro APR period
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card’s 0% intro APR offer makes it a good option for financing startup costs or a major purchase. You’ll get 12 months to pay down those expenses interest free before the variable interest rate kicks in (17.49%-25.49%).
You can also net the card’s sign-up bonus: Earn $900 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
» MORE: Best 0% APR business cards
Pool points with other Chase cards
Cash back earned with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is awarded as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points — 1 point equals 1 cent. But you can combine rewards earned on your Ink Business Cash with other Chase business and personal cards to increase your redemption value.
You can transfer points from your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Drawbacks and alternatives
Low initial credit limits
A primary gripe about the Ink Business Cash in online forums is the card’s low initial credit limits. Many commenters report credit limits ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 when first approved (the minimum starting limit is $1,100, according to Chase). And while Chase says cardholders are automatically considered for a credit limit increase at least every six months, some cardholders note increases are harder to get early on.
If you need a card with a higher starting limit, consider the Ink Business Preferred or the Capital One Spark Cash
Low caps on bonus categories
The Ink Business Cash caps its 5% and 2% bonus categories at $25,000 annually. But some businesses may blow through those limits in a matter of months. If that’s true for your company, the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card
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. 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.
5% limited to office supplies, telecom
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
The Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card .)
High foreign transaction fee
Avoid the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card if you regularly make international purchases — that includes buying from vendors abroad, as well as using the card while overseas. The Ink Business Cash charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, which can quickly negate any rewards you earn with your purchase.
Instead, opt for a business credit card with no foreign transaction fee
How we evaluated the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card?
NerdWallet's business credit card experts compared the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to other cash-back business cards, evaluating how the card's rewards, perks, fees and features stack up to its peers. We also surveyed Chase, the card's issuer, gathering information about employee cards, spending controls, credit limits and how often cardholders are considered for a credit limit increase. This data, alongside feedback from business owners — solicited directly and gathered via online forums like Reddit — helped inform our review of the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.
Notes from card issuers
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
If you count office supplies and telecom among your top expenses, get the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. Otherwise, opt for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, which earns 1.5% cash back on all spending.
You typically need a FICO score of at least 690 to qualify for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. Chase will also take into account your business and personal income and existing Chase relationship, among other factors, when evaluating your application.
Yes, you can apply for a Chase Ink Cash card without a formal business. In fact, this entry-level business card is a great option for those who do freelancing, gig work or have a side hustle. Learn more about who can apply for a business credit card.