The Guide to Chase Ink Business Cash & Unlimited Cards
The Guide to Chase Ink Business Cash & Unlimited Cards
The Guide to Chase Ink Business Cash & Unlimited Cards
Updated as of March 21, 2024! The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card stand out as premier business cards for earning points. With no annual fee, these cards offer the flexibility to convert rewards into Chase Ultimate Rewards®, my preferred rewards currency. Converting a $750 bonus yields 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points, transferable to 11 airline partners and 3 hotel partners, including Hyatt, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Explore my top 9 ways to utilize Ultimate Rewards and find my complete guide here.
While these cards share many similarities, there are notable differences. Notably, as of March 21, 2024, the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card unveils a new welcome offer!
Welcome Bonuses:
Both the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited cards offer a cash back welcome bonus, typically $750.
Although similar, the welcome offers have differences. With the Ink Cash, you get six months to spend and earn the full $750 cash back. This is split into two tiers: $350 after spending $3,000 in the first three months, and an additional $400 after spending $6,000 in the first six months.
A new Ink Cash offer includes a 10% Business Relationship Bonus. If you have a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary, you'll earn a one-time 10% bonus on all eligible cash back earned in your first year, excluding the welcome offer. Note: this offer is available for Ink Business Cash cards opened between March 17 and November 17, 2024.
The Ink Unlimited offers a $750 welcome bonus after spending $6,000 in the first three months.
Remember to pair your card(s) with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to transfer your points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. Your $750 cash back converts to 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, transferable at a 1:1 ratio to airlines and hotels.
Earning Categories:
One key difference between these cards lies in their earning categories. Typically, during your initial spending period, you'll earn more with the Ink Unlimited card—unless you spend heavily in bonus categories for the Ink Cash card.
If you open a Business Checking account with Chase and continue spending on an Ink Cash card throughout the year, you'll earn more through the Ink Cash Relationship Bonus. However, you'll receive these bonus points only on your first account anniversary.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Earning:
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on 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 on combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases, with no limit on how much you can earn.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Earning:
Earn unlimited 1.5% Cash Back rewards on every purchase.
Earning Multiple Bonuses on Ink Cards: Firstly, you can open at least one of each Ink card to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards® earnings.
Moreover, if you have multiple businesses, you can open each card with both your EIN and your SSN. This allows you to separate business expenses efficiently, a practice Chase recognizes and accommodates.
$0 Annual Fees:
The best part about these 2 cards is that there is NO ANNUAL FEE.
WELCOME OFFER: UP TO $750
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend a total of $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. This can be worth a total of 75,000 points.
ANNUAL FEE:
$0
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If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you have the option to transfer the Ink points to the Sapphire card, unlocking all the benefits associated with airline and hotel transfers!
Receive 5% cash back on the initial $25,000 spent on combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year.
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When we have big expenses, we prefer using Chase Ink cards to meet spending targets. Though the bonus is labeled as cash back, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can combine these points with your Sapphire card. However, this isn't an option if you have a Chase Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card.
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In the past, this card used to give a $500 bonus when you spent $3000 in 3 months. During the pandemic, it changed to $750 after spending $7500 in 3 months. Then, in fall 2022, it increased to $900 after spending $6,000 in 3 months, ending in March 2023. From September 2023 to January 2024, the $900 offer returned. The new tiered offer, giving you 6 months to spend $6000 and earn $750, started in March 2024.
WELCOME OFFER: UP TO $750
Earn $750 (can be worth 75,000 points) after you spend $6,000 in 3 months
ANNUAL FEE:
$0
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If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer the Ink points to the Sapphire card to get all the airline and hotel transfer benefits!
Earn unlimited 1.5% Cash Back rewards on every purchase
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We prefer using Chase Ink cards for covering big expenses and meeting higher minimum spend requirements. The bonus for these cards comes in cash back. But if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can merge the cash back points with your Sapphire card. Note: This isn't possible with a Chase Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card.
You can apply for a Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. If you have multiple businesses, you can get multiple cards. Remember to refer your spouse to maximize benefits.
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In the past, this card used to give a $500 bonus when you spent $3000 in 3 months. During the pandemic, it changed to $750 after spending $7500 in 3 months. Then, in fall 2022, it increased to $900 after spending $6,000 in 3 months, ending in March 2023. From September 2023 to January 2024, the $900 offer returned. The new tiered offer, giving you 6 months to spend $6000 and earn $750, started in March 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do these cards earn cash back or points?
These cards offer bonuses listed in cash back, which technically equate to a version of Chase Ultimate Rewards® redeemable exclusively as cash back. However, there's an exception: when you pair your Ink card(s) with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can transfer your points to Chase's airline and hotel transfer partners for greater value.
Which card should I open?
If you frequent office supply stores like Staples or Office Max/Office Depot, the Ink Cash card is ideal, offering 5x rewards at these stores. It's also suitable if you prefer spreading your spending requirement over six months. If office supply stores aren't your go-to, the Ink Unlimited is a solid choice, earning a flat 1.5 cents per point on most purchases.
What if I don’t have a Sapphire card yet?
You can open one of the Chase Ink cards now and then apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card later. Having a Sapphire card first isn't necessary. Alternatively, if your spouse has a Sapphire card and you don’t, you can call Chase to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® from your Ink card(s) to your spouse’s account to maximize their value. Points can be combined across your household.
I’m not sure I can hit the $6k spend requirement?
If meeting a $6,000 spending requirement seems daunting, explore our tips for reaching high minimum spends. Alternatively, consider the Ink Cash card, which offers the option to spend $6,000 over a total of six months.
Can I put personal expenses on a business card?
Yes, it's common to use a business card for personal expenses. Credit card issuers don't report your spending to the IRS or anyone else, so there are no tax implications. However, if you have genuine business expenses, it's important to track them separately for tax purposes.
What benefits do these cards include?
Aside from a generous welcome bonus and no annual fee, the Chase Business Ink Cash® Credit Card and Chase Business Ink Unlimited® Credit Cards offer additional perks such as
purchase protection
extended warranty protection
travel and emergency assistance
and roadside dispatch.
What can I do with Chase Ultimate Rewards®?
Discover the possibilities with your Chase Ultimate Rewards® by exploring our top 9 uses for Ultimate Rewards and our comprehensive Ultimate Rewards guide. These points can be redeemed for various travel experiences, including trips to Europe, resort stays in Hawaii, all-inclusive vacations in the Caribbean, family road trips, and much more!
Chase announces 2020 Q3 bonuses for the Sapphire Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Update:
Starting July 1 and running through Sept. 30, both chase sapphire cards will earn between 3 and 10 bonus points for every dollar spent on purchases at gas stations, on select streaming services and on Instacart grocery delivery and pickup orders.
Gas stations:
3x on the CSP
5x on the CSR
Streaming Services:
5x on the CSP
10x on the CSR
Sapphire Cardholders will also get up to $50 in statement credits toward an Instacart Express membership, which offers unlimited $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on all orders over $35. There is No activation required for Sapphire cardholders to access these limited-time benefits.
These credits are enough to cover either three months of a monthly membership or up to half off an annual membership.
Today is also the last day to earn bonus points on grocery purchases with Chase Sapphire credit cards. CSP holders can earn 3x and CSR holders can earn 5x, so don’t forget to load up on gift cards today ;-).
*Thoughts: I’m happy to see chase rolling out useful spending bonuses during this covid-19 pandemic, although I will really miss the 5x on groceries!
These 4 credit cards can help you pay off your debt on time!
Do you have existing credit card debt or have accumulated credit card debt due to COVID-19?
STRATEGY: Pay off credit card debt by opening a credit card with an introductory period of 0% APR
One way to alleviate the stress of accumulated credit card debt is to transfer an existing credit card balance to a credit card that offers the benefit of no transfer fees and 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases for a period of time. An added bonus is that all of the credit cards listed below currently do not have an annual fee! As this article was being published, the Chase Slate card was removed from the Chase website, probably as a result of COVID-19 changes by chase. We added an extra BONUS card that can help you transfer your debt.
1. Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
BENEFITS:
No balance transfer fee for transfers within 60 days of account opening
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from account opening
Earn 10,000 membership rewards points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. If you’re saving money to pay off your credit card debt, but want to take advantage of this introductory offer (which you should), contact The Credit Hacker for creative ways on achieving the minimum spend requirement
Approx minimum credit score 660-700
2. Chase Slate
* Currently removed from the Chase Website as of 4/16/2020
BENEFITS:
No balance transfer fee for transfers within 60 days of account opening
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from account opening
Approx minimum credit score 690
CON:
No rewards
3. Citi Simplicity Card
BENEFITS:
Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each credit card balance transfer, whichever is greater
Get 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and for 12 months on purchases. Balance transfers must be completed within the first 4 months
Approx minimum credit score 670
CON:
No rewards
4. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
BENEFITS:
Balance Transfer Fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
Get 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 billing cycles. Balance transfers must be within 60 days from account opening
CON:
Approx minimum credit score 750
No rewards
Transferring debt between cards with the same issuer is typically not allowed.
Please note that introductory rates on credit cards increase SUBSTANTIALLY after the introductory period. Please check the terms of your credit card agreement. Minimum credit score thresholds may vary and are at the discretion of the credit card company you’re applying to. The information provided above is current as of the date of the blog post.
We at The Credit Hacker want to emphasize that we encourage EVERYONE out there to eliminate credit card debt and develop healthy spending habits by utilizing a budget. The credit cards listed above are a tool to get you out of debt, but the reality is that spending habits may need to be adjusted in order to alleviate the debt that was accrued.
The Most sought-after travel perk, the Southwest Companion Pass
We recently got the chance to fly Southwest Air on our recent trip to Kona using our AMEX Platinum airlines credit. For a more detailed review of the flight, check out our friend’s @islandmiler ’s blog!
With news of the SouthWest Effect hitting our islands (Hawaiian Airlines inter-island sales down 16% in Q2), be on the lookout for Southwest Credit card bonuses!
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most sought-after travel perks in the Travel hacking industry. When acquired, whenever you fly with Southwest Airlines, a companion can fly FREE with you for the remainder of the year and the next full calendar year. It only requires 110,000 Southwest points earned in one calendar year to score it, but there are a few credit card combinations you can make right now to earn those points with just two credit cards. Here’s how Southwest defines points that will count:
“Companion Pass Qualifying Points are earned from your revenue flights booked through Southwest Airlines, your points earned by making purchases with a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card, and your base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners.”
*The pass is valid for the rest of the year in which you earn it plus the entire following year. Timing is everything so plan effectively!
Here is a brief rundown of the Southwest Credit Card’s and their current bonuses.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Earn up to 60,000 points. Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 20,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 12 months your account is open.
VALUE: $900
$75 annual Southwest travel credit; 20% back on in-flight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and movies; and four Upgraded Boardings in the A1–A15 position each year (worth up to $50 each). $149 annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Earn up to 60,000 points. Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 20,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 12 months your account is open.
VALUE: $900
No foreign transaction fees, earn points toward A-List status, $99 annual fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Earn up to 60,000 points. Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 20,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 12 months your account is open.
VALUE: $900
3,000 anniversary bonus points, $69 annual fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
VALUE: $1,200
Four A1–A15 annual boarding passes, Inflight Wi-Fi credits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application statement credit every four years, 3x points on Southwest charges. $199 annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Earn 60,000 points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
VALUE: $900
No foreign transaction fees, earn points toward A-List status, 6,000 points at each renewal, $99 annual fee.
