Who Should (and Who Shouldn’t) Get the Chase Ink Business Cash

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The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is making a big splash at the moment, with a big cash-back bonus that has even staunch points aficionados considering a cash-back card. The bonus is valuable as a cash offer or when converted to points, but the card’s benefits go beyond that. Cardmembers enjoy bonus points on common business spending categories, rental car insurance, free employee cards, and an APR offer. All of this comes at zero annual cost, which is tremendous. 

Despite these benefits, the Ink Business Cash isn’t for everyone. If you’re considering whether to get a Chase Ink Business Cash card, here’s everything you need to know about whether this card might be a good fit for you:

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

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• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR17.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $750Cash Bonus More Info

  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
• Pros & Cons

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

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a valuable business cash-back card for entrepreneurs of all types. Earn an impressive rewards rate of 5% cash back on select business purchases. These include the first $25,000 you spend each account anniversary year at office supply stores and on phone, cable and internet services. Ink Business Cash also offers 2% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and gas stations each account anniversary year. You’ll earn 1% cash back on virtually all other purchases.

The sign-up bonus gets better because you can convert it to transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you have another card that earns points. Qualifying cards include the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. This flexibility is incredibly valuable because Ultimate Rewards has 14 travel partners you can transfer rewards to for high-end redemptions like first-class seats and luxury hotels. In other words, you can get a lot more than value out of the welcome bonus by converting cash-back rewards to Ultimate Rewards points.

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Benefits of the Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Despite having no annual fee, the Ink Business Cash Card has quite a few benefits. The card offers a competitive benefit generally reserved for premium credit cards: Primary auto rental collision damage waiver. 

With primary rental coverage, you can rest assured knowing your vehicle is covered, up to the cash value, against theft and collision. You won’t have to buy supplemental insurance from the rental company or file a claim with your own insurance company in case of an accident. The entire claim is processed and paid out through Chase. 

Earning rewards is also easy since the card offers generous bonuses in common business spending categories. Cardmembers earn cash back in the following categories each card anniversary year:

• 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services 
• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants
• 1% cash back on all other spending

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Who Should Get the Ink Business Cash Credit Card?

Having reviewed the card’s benefits, you might wonder if the Ink Business Cash card is really for you. It all comes down to your personal needs, but if you can make use of the card’s primary benefits, it could be a great addition to your wallet. Here’s a breakdown of who specifically might benefit from having this card: 

Someone Who Wants a No-Annual-Fee Business Card

If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee business card, the Ink Business Cash is an excellent option. It offers a generous welcome bonus and competitive earn rate on popular spending categories. The card also has an excellent recurring travel benefit in the primary rental coverage, which you usually don’t see on cards with no annual fee. 

Keeping the Ink Business Cash card long-term is easy to justify with all these benefits and no additional cost. But what really distinguishes the Ink Business Cash from other cards is that it provides flexibility in redeeming rewards. Unlike many other no-annual-fee cards, you’re not bound to cashback. You can convert your cash to points for more valuable redemptions if you have another card that earns Ultimate Rewards.

Small Business Owners Who Want a Card With 0% Intro APR

Sometimes small business owners need a loan to cover rising expenses, which is becoming common in this tough economy. A credit card is a good solution for short-term debt, as it offers zero interest for a fixed period. Factoring in the high welcome bonus and no annual fee, the Ink Business Cash is an excellent option if you want a 0% intro APR card.

Someone With an Ultimate Rewards-Earning Credit Card

If you have a card that earns Ultimate Rewards, you can convert the cashback from the Ink Business Cash Card into points. But why get a cash-back card when you’re already earning points? Because the Ink Business Cash Card is an excellent supplement to the Ink Preferred or one of the Sapphire cards. 

You can top off your Ultimate Rewards balance with points and earn up to 5% cash back in categories for which the other cards (mostly) don’t offer bonus points. The best part is that you’ll get these extra benefits without paying more since the card has no annual fee.

Who Shouldn’t Get the Ink Business Cash Credit Card?

While the Ink Business Cash is a great card for some business owners, it’s not the best for everyone. If you want a card that earns elevated rewards in certain business-specific spending categories or you frequently travel abroad, you might want to consider a different card. Here’s a closer look at who shouldn’t get the Ink Business Cash card:

Someone Who Can’t Maximize the Category Bonuses

The Ink Business Cash Card category bonuses are capped to the first $25,000 spent per anniversary year. If you spend significantly more than this in the respective categories, this may not be the best card for you. After all, the earn rate in the bonus categories defaults to 1% cash back after you max it out. Depending on your spending habits, this can be quite limiting. 

Someone Who Wants a Card for International Travel

While the Ink Business Cash is great for everyday business use, it’s not the best card for frequent travelers. The card doesn’t offer bonus rewards on travel purchases, which might be limiting if you travel a lot for business purposes. The card also carries a 3% foreign transaction fee, which can add up if you use it abroad. 

Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking for a card to serve you in the long or short term, the Chase Ink Business Cash is a great option. The lack of an annual fee, massive welcome bonus, category bonuses, and intro APR offer alone are worth adding this card to your repertoire. But if you travel abroad or most of your business spending falls outside the card’s bonus categories, you might want to skip this in favor of a card that earns a flat rate on all spending and charges no foreign transaction fees.