6 reasons why my favorite Ink card is the Chase Ink Business Unlimited
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BLUEPRINT
Published 5:32 a.m. UTC July 2, 2024
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Chase provides a range of business credit cards, specifically designed to cater to the needs of small businesses, providing a range of benefits. The Ink suite of cards are among the most popular and include:
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Ink Business Premier® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
These cards are specifically designed to cater to the needs of small businesses, providing a range of benefits including rewards for business purchases, expense management tools, and additional perks.
I have three of the four Chase Ink cards mentioned above, but one stands out for me more than the rest: the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card.
Let’s look at why the Ink Business Unlimited is my favorite small business card.
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Generous welcome offer
The Ink Business Unlimited provides a generous bonus of $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. These rewards are tracked as points worth one cent each and can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel bookings through Chase Travel℠.
However, individuals who possess a premium Chase credit card, such as the Ink Business Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, can further maximize the value of this welcome bonus.
By combining the rewards earned with the Ink Business Unlimited with the rewards earned on one of the premium Chase cards, I can transfer my rewards to any of Chase’s travel loyalty transfer partners, which can increase their value.
For example, if I held just the Ink Business Unlimited card on its own and I want to book an award flight on JetBlue using Ultimate Rewards®, if I book through the Chase Travel portal, I’ll have to use points equivalent to the cash price. So a flight that costs $250 will require that I use 25,000 points. But if I own one of the premium Chase cards, that unlocks the ability to transfer my rewards directly into JetBlue’s TrueBlue program and book reward flights directly with the carrier. Rewards bookings rarely line up exactly with the cash price and that $250 flight might only cost me 17,500 TrueBlue points, which is a much better value then using 25,000 Ultimate Rewards to book the same flight.
No annual fee
The welcome bonus is undoubtedly a generous offer for a card without an annual fee, as cards with high welcome offers typically have annual fees. However, because the Ink Business Unlimited costs me nothing to own every year, it’s a card I’ll never close because it’s also a strong points-earner.
Unlimited cash-back
For small business owners like myself, the Ink Business Unlimited offers a straightforward 1.5% cash back on purchases, with no limits. I enjoy knowing how much I’m earning when I spend with this card and don’t have to memorize any bonus categories.
It’s also a great card for spending at places that don’t typically fit into credit card bonus reward categories, such department stores and home improvement stores.
Best of all, while the Ink Business Unlimited card is marketed as a cash-back card, those rewards can be used into points when pooled with rewards from a premium Chase card and be worth much more.
Intro APR on purchases
The Ink Business Unlimited card comes with a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then a 18.49% to 24.49% variable APR applies to purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
Although I haven’t personally used this offer, business owners who have a significant purchase on the horizon can find great value in avoiding interest charges for the first 12 months on these big-ticket items.
Just be sure if you take advantage of it, you’ll want to aim to pay off your debt in full within that time frame. If you’re still carrying a balance, the ongoing APR of 18.49% - 24.49% Variable means it’s expensive to carry a balance.
Powerful companion to other Ultimate Rewards cards
In addition to the travel booking benefits of pairing the Ink Business Unlimited with a premium Chase card, the card is also an excellent rewards companion to other Chase cards. For example, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards earn bonus points on travel and dining, the Ink Business Unlimited earns a solid 1.5% cash back on purchases.
Since I have a mix of cards that function well together and don’t have much overlap in earning categories, I earn points faster in more categories and gain the flexibility to transfer those points to Chase’s travel partners, such as United Airlines MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and World of Hyatt. This allows me to maximize the value of my points.
Some cards just hit different. Here’s why this writer keeps her Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. year after year
Primary car rental protection
When I rent a car, I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card at the counter because it comes with primary collision damage waiver coverage. I also earn elevated rewards points on travel purchases made through Chase’s portal, which includes rental cars. However, the Ink Business Unlimited card also includes the same primary auto rental coverage — a rarity for a card without an annual fee.
You will receive theft and collision damage coverage while renting a car for business use and secondary coverage for personal use when you use your Ink Business Unlimited card to cover the full cost of the rental. For the coverage from your card to apply, you must pay for your rental with the Ink Business Unlimited and decline the collision insurance offered by the rental car provider.
The majority of no-annual-fee cards come with secondary car rental protection, sometimes known as “excess” coverage, for collision or loss damage waiver. However, before the secondary coverage kicks in, you must file a claim with your insurance company.
But with the car rental protection of the Ink Business Unlimited, it is not necessary to file a claim with your insurance provider and its car rental protection serves as the primary insurance when you rent a vehicle.
Bottom line
The Ink Business Unlimited is an impressive business card with a straightforward earning structure, a generous welcome bonus, and a range of additional perks. Additionally, the card costs nothing to own as it does not come with an annual fee. For these reasons, I love my Ink Business Unlimited card and it’s a card that I always keep in my wallet.
*The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Ink Business Premier® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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