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I've been writing about credit cards since 2008, and in that time I've looked at hundreds, if not thousands of different cards. But I also use travel rewards credit cards to earn a dozen or more free trips each year, and small business credit cards are a key part of my award travel strategy.
When it comes to travel rewards, I'd argue that Chase is the leading credit card issuer. It offers a broad variety of cards that help consumers earn points through its Ultimate Rewards program.
And Chase keeps adding to its portfolio of small business cards that you can use to increase the rewards you earn. Chase currently offers three small business credit cards that earn points in the Ultimate Rewards program, and each is uniquely valuable. Let's take a look at all three of them, and then find out which one (or more) is right for you.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- $0 Annual Fee
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$750
Editor's
Bonus EstimateLearn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.
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Sign-Up Bonus
$750Cash 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.
- 17.99% - 25.99% (Variable) APR
Secure application on issuer’s website
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- $95 Annual Fee
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$1,980
Editor's
Bonus EstimateLearn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.
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Sign Up Bonus
90,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,980 (90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)
- 20.74% - 26.74% (Variable) APR
Secure application on issuer’s website
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- $0 Annual Fee
-
$750
Editor's
Bonus EstimateLearn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.
-
Sign-Up Bonus
$750Cash Bonus
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 17.99% - 23.99% (Variable) APR
Secure application on issuer’s website
Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
- $195 Annual Fee
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$1,000
Editor's
Bonus EstimateLearn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.
-
Sign-Up Bonus
$1,000Cash Bonus
Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Flex for Business Variable APR: 18.99% - 26.99% APR
Secure application on issuer’s website
Best for Travel Rewards: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you’re a business owner who travels a lot for work or pleasure, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is an ideal choice. It offers a whopping 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months — with the card’s 25% bonus on travel booked through Chase, that’s worth $1,250. But you could potentially get more through one of the bank’s transfer partners.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR20.74% - 26.74% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.
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Sign Up Bonus
90,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,980 (90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)
Those with travel and advertising expenses will like the high earning rates in these categories, plus cardholders can eke out even more value with fully transferable rewards through the Chase Travel℠ portal. One drawback is the modest annual fee, though many can offset this with the card’s earning potential.
Overview
This card offers a whopping 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months — with the card’s 25% bonus on travel booked through Chase, that’s worth $1,125. But you could potentially get more through one of the bank’s transfer partners. The rewards you earn from the Ink Business Preferred Card can be transferred to 10 different airline partners including United, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore and British Airways, as well as hotel partners Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott.
Unlike the other two Ink Business cards, you can use this card to transfer your rewards directly to airline miles and hotel points. Travelers may also like this card’s cellphone protection policy that will cover up to $600 per claim.
Pros
- 3x points on 5 different categories (up to $150,000)
- Robust travel, purchase and cellphone protections
- Ability to earn transferable points to use on travel partners
- No additional charge for extra cards for additional authorized users
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit
Travel Benefits
Unlike the other two Ink Business cards, you can use this card to transfer your rewards directly to airline miles and hotel points. Travelers may also like this card’s cell phone protection policy that will cover up to $600 per claim.
Why We Like This Card
The rewards you earn from the Ink Business Preferred Card can be transferred to 10 different airline partners including United, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore and British Airways, as well as hotel partners Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott.
Who Should Use this Card?
People who own internet-based businesses and spend heavily on advertising are the ones who can really earn the most rewards from this card.
Best for Big Spenders: Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
One of the newest Ink cards joining the Chase family is the Ink Business Premier Credit Card. Currently offering a generous $1,000 bonus which comes in the form of points (but can be redeemed as cash back). Plus there's no ceiling on your earnings.
Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
- Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work
- APRFlex for Business Variable APR: 18.99% - 26.99%
- Annual Fee$195
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Sign-Up Bonus
$1,000Cash Bonus
Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
This card has the highest annual fee of the Ink Business card suite, but it’s designed for businesses with bigger operating costs—its already-solid cash-back rate jumps for large purchases. However, savvy Chase cardholders may be disappointed to learn that points earned with this card can’t be moved to other Chase cards or transferred to Chase travel partners.
Overview
The Chase Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card offers a generous new card member bonus cash back and unlimited earnings potential to invest the cash back into your business. Cardholders can earn 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, and 2% cash back on all other business purchases, all for a modest annual fee of $195.
Pros
- Generous sign-up bonus
- No additional cost for employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Unlimited reward-earning potential
Cons
- Annual fee is high
- Other business cards could offer greater returns on typical bonus categories, like advertising or shipping costs
- Points are redeemable at a fixed 1 cent rate—and cannot be pooled with other Chase cards to access Chase’s 10+ airline and hotel transfer partners
Travel Benefits
Unlock the world of convenience and rewards with the Chase Ink Business Premier℠ Card. Earn points on purchases and benefit from a variety of travel perks - it's the perfect way to maximize your time and make business travel work for you.
The Chase Ink Business Premier℠ Card gives you 5% cash back on travel purchases booked through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal. Cash-out those hard-earned points for cash back with no earning cap.
Why We Like This Card
We like the Chase Ink Business Premier℠ Card because it offers an unbeatable combination of rewards on your purchases (both big and small), travel benefits, and (of course) the unmatched service of Chase. Plus, you’ll get access to a laundry list of exclusive benefits like flexible spending limits, tools for monitoring expenses, and hefty protection on your purchases.
Who Should Use This Card
The Ink Business Premier can be a valuable asset for business owners who make significant purchases, particularly those with high expenses all year round, as it offers a generous sign-up bonus and a simple rewards system.
Best for Flat-Rate Earnings: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
If you want cash back that you can drive back into your business or use for personal expenses, the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card could be a great option. The card has no annual fee but offers an incredible $750 cash bonus after you spend $6,000 in the first three months. You'll also earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make.
If you have some purchases coming up and need some time to pay them off, the card’s 0% APR on purchases for 12 months can help you save a lot on interest, after that the 17.99% - 23.99% (Variable) APR applies based on your creditworthiness. And, if you need employee cards, you can get them at no additional charge.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR17.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
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Sign-Up Bonus
$750Cash Bonus
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
If you’re looking for a solid business credit card with unlimited earning potential, this could be it. With a 1.5% cash-back rate, it earns less than the other Ink Business cards, but you can put earning on autopilot with no spending limits or categories to juggle.
Overview
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card is one of the best business credit cards on the market, and if you use it right by pairing it with a Chase card with an annual fee, you can unlock access to valuable transferable Ultimate Rewards points that you can move to travel partners.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Easy earning structure of 1.5X back on everything with no limits
- Robust travel and purchase protections
Cons
- Businesses that spend more on bonus categories won't earn more in rewards
- 1.5X isn't the highest earning rate
Travel Benefits
The Ink Business Unlimited also doesn’t allow point transfers by itself, but the points can be combined with rewards from other Chase accounts that do allow transfers. It also has travel benefits including an auto rental collision damage waiver, travel and emergency assistance and roadside dispatch.
Why We Like This Card
Here’s a card that you can use to earn a strong rate of return on all of your business purchases, with no annual fee. The Ink Business Unlimited is technically a cash-back card, but the rewards can be transferred to travel partners when you have another qualifying Chase card that offers this feature.
Who Should Use this Card?
This is a perfect card for those who aren’t interested in bonus categories, or for those who are, but want a separate card just for purchases that don’t qualify for a bonus.
Best for Earning Cash Back: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
If you’re looking to avoid annual fees on your business spending, too, consider the Ink Business Cash Credit Card. In addition to earning excellent cash-back rewards, it also includes competitive introductory offers and provides cards for employees at no additional charge.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR17.99% - 25.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
-
Sign-Up Bonus
$750Cash 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.
Business owners looking to earn a high rate of cash back on common business expenses like office supplies and internet could get a lot of value from this card. The trade-off for the high cash-back rate, though, is a lower spend cap than you’ll find with other Ink Business cards.
Overview
The Ink Business Cash® is legendary for its offer of 5% cash back for purchases at office supply stores and on many telecommunications services, with no annual fee. And while 5% cash back sounds great, these rewards can be much more valuable when paired with another Chase credit card that allows transfers to airline miles or hotel points. In addition to earning excellent cash-back rewards, it also includes competitive introductory offers and provides cards for employees at no additional charge.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 5x back on a broad array of business spending categories
- Robust travel and purchase protections
- Don't need a full-fledged business to apply
Cons
- Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit
Travel Benefits
The rewards points you earn from this card are worth one cent each as either cash back or another option such as a gift card. But you can potentially earn much more if you also have another Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card) by transferring your rewards into miles with Chase's 10 airline partners or into points with its three hotel programs. And when you can redeem their points and miles for expensive flights or hotel reservations, they can be worth far more than a penny each.
Other travel benefits include an auto rental collision damage waiver, travel and emergency assistance and roadside dispatch.
Why We Like This Card
The Ink Business Cash is legendary for its offer of 5% cash back for purchases at office supply stores and on many telecommunications services, with no annual fee. And while 5% cash back sounds great, these rewards can be much more valuable when paired with another Chase credit card that allows transfers to airline miles or hotel points.
Who Should Use this Card?
This an incredibly good card for anyone who owns a small business and makes frequent purchases at office supply stores, which can include furniture, electronics, school supplies, gift cards and printing services. The Ink Business Cash is also a great card to use when paying for your internet service, phone bill or television service. It might not seem like much, but earning 5x rewards on these bills every month will add up to serious rewards very quickly. You earn one point per dollar spent elsewhere.
How to Choose the Best Chase Ink Business Card for Your Needs
If you're going to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, then you need to have at least one card that allows you to transfer them to airline miles or hotel points. So if you already have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® or an Ink Business Preferred, you'll be able to get all of the benefits of the Ink Business Cash. If you don't, then the Ink Business Unlimited should be where you start. You'll get the best sign-up bonus, and you'll be able to immediately transfer your rewards to airline miles or hotel points. This card is also perfect for those who will spend heavily in the 3x earning categories of travel, shipping, telecommunications and online advertising.
Those who spend heavily at office supply stores and on telecommunication services won't be able to beat the Ink Business Cash card's 5x offer. Otherwise, small business owners can consider the Business Unlimited with the opportunity to simply earn 1.5x on all purchases, with no limits. Alternatively, it can make sense to get the Ink Business Unlimited to complement another card, and use it for purchases that won't qualify for a bonus. That's always been my strategy.
Bottom Line: Ink Business Credit Cards Review
You can't go wrong with any of these three cards, but there's a way to make sure you get it right. First, be sure to have a card that allows point transfers, whether or not it's an Ink card. But then, choose the card or cards that will offer you the most valuable rewards for your small business spending. By playing your cards correctly, you'll earn far more rewards than you might have thought possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Since Chase does not offer pre-approval for its Ink Business credit card, the only way to truly know if you are eligible is to apply for an Ink card either online or in-branch. However, you’re more likely to be eligible for an Ink card, when you have a good to excellent credit score (700 or better), are a registered business with an employer identification number (EIN), and you are under Chase’s unofficial 5/24 rule that states only applicants who have opened five or fewer lines of credit in the past 24 months are eligible for card approval.
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You can reach Chase Business Customer Service in the U.S. by calling 1-800-945-2028 and outside of the U.S. at 1-713-262-3300. You can also reach Chase customer service at any one of its nearly 5,000 brick-and-mortar locations nationwide, on Twitter (@ChaseSupportTwitter), or via the secured messaging feature in your mobile or online account.
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You can apply for a Chase business credit card either online or at your local branch. To fill out a Chase business credit card application, provide the legal name of your business, business name on the card, business mailing address and phone number, your type of business, tax identification number (EIN), number of employees, annual business revenue, number of years in business, and your industry category and type.
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Yes, Chase business credit cards are subject to the unofficial 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened more than five personal credit cards in the past 24 months — regardless of the issuer, Chase will not approve you for a line of credit. While Chase has not formally published its 5/24 rule, it is a generally-accepted guideline.
Jason Steele
Jason Steele is a journalist who specializes in covering credit cards, award travel and other areas of personal finance. As one of the nation’s leading experts in the credit card industry, Jason’s work has been featured at mainstream outlets such as Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money and Business Insider.
