Business owners have their hands full juggling multiple tasks at once—everything from sales and marketing to accounting and human resources. With so many things to take care of, keeping up with a rewards program on a business credit card likely falls near the bottom of the list. The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card not only offers cash back for businesses, but its flat-rate approach is perfect for a business owner seeking simplicity.

Details of the Ink Business Unlimited

There is more to the Ink Business Unlimited than initially meets the eye, which is one reason why it continues to be a popular option among business owners.

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

Earning rewards

For every dollar spent on purchases with the Ink Business Unlimited, you earn 1.5 percent cash back (though, technically, you’re rewarded Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for cash back at a 1:1 value).

Each Chase Ultimate Rewards point is worth 1 cent. Assuming you spend $1,000 in business-related purchases in a month, you would earn 150 points—worth $15 in cash back.

There aren’t any rotating rewards categories to keep up with or certain categories where you earn more points than others. No matter what type of purchase it is for business, you’ll know exactly what you’re earning.

You can earn rewards even faster if you have employees who are authorized to use the card, too. Employee cards do not have an annual fee either, so you can earn points on their purchases without the yearly charge.

Redeeming rewards

While earning rewards involves very little guesswork, when it comes to redeeming rewards, you have a range of options.

You can redeem your rewards for cash back at any time, which is what makes this a cash back credit card. There is no minimum amount of points to cash out, and you can receive funds via a statement credit or check.

Depending on the needs of your business, you can redeem points for travel purchases, gift cards or shopping excursions. You can use the points for purchases with popular merchants such as Amazon and PayPal, but keep in mind doing so makes your points worth around 0.8 cents.

Why the Ink Business Unlimited is a good cash back card for businesses

The Ink Business Unlimited offers flexibility for redemption, which is one way it can support business owners. Whether it’s choosing cash back toward your bottom line or gift cards to use as employee incentives, Chase Ultimate Rewards points allow you to pick a redemption option that suits your business’ needs.

Your business’ needs change throughout the year, and your expenses one month may look different day-to-day. For instance, if you have an uptick in travel expenses in one month versus another, with a flat-rate cash back program, you don’t have any extra upkeep to earn. You simply swipe or enter your card information and let your rewards accumulate.

How to maximize cash back earned with the Ink Business Unlimited

Take advantage of the welcome offer

New cardholders can earn a $750 cash back welcome offer after spending $7,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. The $750 cash back goes straight to your bottom line and may be easier to achieve than you realize.

Although $7,500 is a decent amount to spend, the $750 in cash back is equally large compared to other no-annual-fee business card offers. To achieve the welcome bonus, you can use the Ink Business Unlimited for as many expenses as possible within the first three months—including employee’s cards—for expenses such as internet bills, annual dues, travel expenses and anything else related to running your business.

Be strategic with the 12-month 0% intro APR

The 12-month 0 percent introductory APR on purchases is an ideal time to make the larger purchases your business requires (14.74 percent to 20.74 percent variable APR thereafter). It could be the new laptop computer or software licensing you need to run your business more efficiently, for example.

By taking advantage of this zero-interest offer, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars in interest (or more). The wisest course of action is to pay off the balance prior to the year-long period ending to avoid any potential interest fees.

Pair with other Chase credit cards

One way to maximize your earnings with the Ink Business Unlimited is to pair it with another Chase credit card—and one that qualifies for travel rewards.

You can transfer rewards earned with the Ink Business Unlimited to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example, and then redeem those points for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal for 50 percent or 25 percent more value, respectively.

How does the Ink Business Unlimited’s rewards compare to other cash back business cards?

How does the Ink Business Unlimited stack up to other cash back competitors in the marketplace?

American Express Blue Business Cash Card

Like the Ink Business Unlimited, the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers no annual fee while cardholders earn cash back on business purchases.

With the American Express Blue Business Cash, though, you earn 2 percent cash back capped at the first $50,000 in purchases per year. Once you reach that threshold, you earn 1 percent cash back on all remaining purchases for the year.

As for a welcome offer, you can earn a $250 statement credit after making $3,000 in purchases in the first three months. And similar to the Ink Business Unlimited, the Amex Blue Business Cash offers an introductory 0 percent APR on purchases for 12 months (followed by a variable APR of 15.49 percent to 23.49 percent).

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is another simple, flat-rate cash back business card option. You earn 2 percent cash back on all purchases throughout the year, without any caps or expiration on rewards.

There is an annual fee of $150, which makes it a more expensive option. There’s also no introductory APR offer on purchases or balance transfers. However, the Spark Cash Plus doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees (unlike the Ink Business Unlimited), so it might be a better option for business owners who frequently travel overseas.

Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card does feature a higher cash back rewards rate—but with a caveat.

Cardholders earn 3 percent cash back on a category of their choice, such as office supplies, travel, gas stations or computer services. You also earn 2 percent cash back on all dining purchases (on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, then 1 percent back).

There’s no annual fee, and you can enjoy a 0 percent introductory APR for the first nine billing cycles (14.49 percent to 24.49 percent variable APR thereafter). In terms of a welcome bonus, you’re looking at a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.

The bottom line

The Ink Business Unlimited is a smart solution for business owners who like simplicity with a rewards structure, but also like flexible redemption options when it’s time to cash out.

With no annual fee and a generous zero-interest offer on purchases, this cash back business card is seriously worth considering.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card information updated on August 1, 2022.