No two people are alike, and the same is true for business owners. This is why the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card could be a smart choice for business owners who prefer a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to cash back rewards.

Not only is the ease of flat-rate cash back appealing, but the card’s welcome offer and lack of an annual fee make it worth serious consideration. If you’re a business owner interested in earning cash back on purchases, take a look at the Chase Ink Business Unlimited benefits to see if this business credit card is right for you.

Ink Business Unlimited highlights

  • Rewards rate: 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer: $750 cash back when you spend $7,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
  • Purchase introductory APR: 0 percent intro APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Balance transfer introductory APR: N/A
  • Regular APR: 14.74 percent to 20.74 percent variable APR

Earning rewards

Earning rewards with the Ink Business Unlimited is a straightforward process. Though it’s considered a cash back credit card, each dollar spent technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back at a 1:1 value. For example, if you use your card to purchase $1,000 worth of goods, you’ll earn 150 points—worth $15 in cash back.

The benefit to this rewards structure is not having to worry about any particular spending categories or a cap on earning within specific categories. Although the cash back potential may not be as high as other business cards, such as ones with bonus categories, the card’s flat-rate cash back program makes it easy to keep track of earnings throughout the year.

You also have the opportunity to earn more rewards through employee cards, which increases how quickly you can earn and redeem.

Redeeming rewards

The multiple redemption options is where the Ink Business Unlimited really shines.

As discussed above, cardholders earn Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back in the form of a statement credit or a check to a U.S. checking or savings account. Not only are these points redeemable for cash, but they can also be used toward travel, gift cards or shopping. This is an ideal rewards structure for cardholders who like the flexibility of earning flat-rate cash back but want to keep other options open as their rewards needs change.

Another option is to redeem points through the Apple Ultimate Rewards store, the Shop Through Chase portal or by shopping with approved online merchants (Amazon and PayPal are two examples). Be aware that when you use your points through shopping portals, they do not have as high of a value (0.8 cents, to be exact). Your best value is to redeem for cash back, gift cards or travel.

Another simplistic feature about this card is the ability to cash out points at any time. There is no minimum point threshold for redemption, which means you can redeem rewards whenever you want.

No annual fee

Whether you’re starting your own business or scaling it for growth, you most likely have numerous expenses to keep up with. Having no annual fee on a business credit card is one less expense to worry about throughout the year, especially considering the benefits included with the card.

0% intro APR on purchases

Ink Business Unlimited offers an introductory 0 percent APR on purchases for 12 months. This is a great opportunity to make larger purchases without tacking on additional interest charges. When the introductory period is over, you’ll be charged a variable APR between 14.74 percent to 20.74 percent.

Generous welcome offer

If you spend $7,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, you’ll get a $750 cash back bonus. While $2,500 per month in purchases may be a higher threshold versus other cards, the $750 bonus is one of the more substantial offerings in the marketplace.

Free employee cards

Not only do you earn cash back for employee card purchases, but employee cards are free each year, too. Your employees can make their own purchases for business-related expenses, and you can set spending limits as necessary.

Account alerts

If you do decide to set purchase limits on employees cards, you can sign up to receive account alerts from Chase. This will notify you via text if a cardholder hits their spending limit.

Travel protection

Primary rental car insurance

If you or your employees need to rent a car for business purposes, using the Ink Business Unlimited gives you an added layer of protection. Rental car purchases made with the card receive primary rental car insurance—which means a claim would be filed through Chase first. Simply decline any coverage offered by the rental company, and you’ll be provided reimbursement for the actual cash value from damages or theft.

Travel and emergency assistance

From jump starting a car to towing or fuel delivery, Chase offers a pay-per-use roadside assistance, which is available 24/7.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited travel benefits are not to be missed, either. If you’re traveling or need emergency assistance, Chase offers a service to assist you with locating help for legal or medical emergencies.

Purchase coverage

If you purchase an item with the card, the item is covered under the purchase protection offered through Chase credit cards for up to 120 days (up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account). This applies to eligible items that are damaged or stolen, and the protection will extend warranty coverage for up to three years.

How to maximize the benefits offered by the Ink Business Unlimited

The Ink Business Unlimited gives you several ways to maximize the benefits of the card. For starters, if you take advantage of the 12-month 0 percent intro APR on purchases (14.74 percent to 20.74 percent variable thereafter), be sure to pay off the balance before the promotional period expires. This way, you’ll avoid additional interest charges on those purchases.

You can maximize your cash back potential by using the card for as much business spending as possible. From the internet bill to the monthly cleaning service, using this card for all expenses will allow you to earn cash back on purchases you would’ve made for your business anyways. For example, if your typical monthly expenses are $3,000 per month, you can earn $540 by the end of the year—plus another $750 for the welcome bonus.

Another way to maximize Ink Business Unlimited benefits is to strategically pair it with other cards. Pairing this business card with a tiered and/or rotating bonus category option is one strategy. Another tactic is to pair it with a travel card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, should you tend to frequently travel outside of the United States.

The bottom line

Each business has a unique set of financial needs, and the Ink Business Unlimited is likely to be a better fit for a business owner who prefers redemption flexibility. If ease-of-use and simplicity is what you crave as a business owner, this card’s earning and redemption options are likely to appeal to you.