Is the Ink Business Unlimited worth it?

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card from Chase is a solid choice for a business credit card. With an unlimited 1.5 percent cash back rewards rate, this card is particularly well-suited for business owners who prefer earning higher-than-average flat-rate rewards over rewards for specific spending categories.

As a business card with no annual fee, the Ink Business Unlimited offers a generous welcome bonus and a 0 percent intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months (18.49 percent to 24.49 percent variable APR thereafter). These benefits (among others) make this card worth considering. But is the Ink Business Unlimited worth choosing over other business card options?

Read on to find out whether the Ink Business Unlimited is the best option for your needs, including how it stacks up against a couple other business credit cards.

When is the Ink Business Unlimited worth it?

In order to decide whether the Ink Business Unlimited is a card worth signing up for, consider each of the card’s main benefits and how they will apply to your business and spending needs.

You want to earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases

The Ink Business Unlimited offers 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases, which is on par with most flat-rate cash back offers. So if you’re looking for a card that will earn you a higher, consistent rate of rewards — and isn’t restricted to earning higher rewards only in specific bonus spending categories — the Ink Business Unlimited may be worth it. Plus, there’s no limit on the amount of rewards you can earn.

You want multiple redemption options

Cash back can be redeemed in the form of statement credits or direct deposits at a 1:1 rate. This means if you spend $20,000 per year, you’ll earn 30,000 points — worth $300 in cash back. However, note that this card technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which means you can also redeem rewards for travel, gift cards and purchases with select merchants through Shop with Points.

You don’t want to pay an annual fee

Not having to pay an annual fee is a strong selling point for this card. Many of the best business credit cards available today charge an annual fee.

You want a 0% intro APR offer on purchases

The Ink Business Unlimited offers a 0 percent intro APR on purchases for 12 months (18.49 percent to 24.49 percent variable APR thereafter). This can be especially helpful if you’re just starting your business and plan on racking up a lot of upfront expenses.

You want to earn a welcome offer

The Ink Business Unlimited offers a solid bonus of $900 in cash back when you spend $6,000 within the first three months of account opening — one of the highest welcome bonuses available for a no-annual-fee business card. If you know you’ll spend at least $6,000 on your card within the first three months (or $2,000 per month), this bonus is certainly worth pursuing.

When is the Ink Business Unlimited not worth it?

While the Ink Business Unlimited offers great benefits, it may not be the best choice for every type of business owner. Before signing up, consider the following:

You’re not able to meet the spending minimum to earn the welcome bonus

While the $900 welcome bonus is indeed one of the highest out there for a no-annual-fee business card, you can only earn it if you spend $6,000 within three months of account opening. If your typical spending falls short of this limit, you may want to consider a card that offers a smaller welcome bonus with a lower spending requirement.

For example, the Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card offers a welcome bonus of $300 in statement credits when you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. On the other hand, if you plan to spend significantly more than $6,000 in three months, you might want to consider a premium business card. For example, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus (offer not available) offers a welcome bonus of up to $1,000 — $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first three months and another $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first six months of account opening.

You’re looking for a business card with a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers

The Ink Business Unlimited does not offer a 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers. So, if consolidating high-interest debt is your main priority, you should consider a business card that offers a 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers. However, note that business credit cards do not commonly feature 0 percent intro APR offers on balance transfers.

You don’t want to earn flat cash back

The Ink Business Unlimited’s flat rate of 1.5 percent cash back will work well for business owners who spend widely across categories. But if you’re a frequent traveler — or if most of your business expenses go toward dining, office supplies or another defined category — you could earn higher rewards with a business card that offers rewards for spending in specific categories.

For example, the Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard, which also has no annual fee, offers 3 percent cash back in the category of your choice, as well as 2 percent back on dining purchases. For the 3 percent category, you can choose from travel, office supply stores, gas stations, computer services, telecom and wireless services and business consulting services. Note that the 3 percent and 2 percent categories are limited to $50,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, after which you’ll earn 1 percent cash back on those purchases.

Or, you might want to consider the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, which offers an unlimited 2 percent cash back on all purchases and an unlimited 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. However, that higher rewards rate is only worth it if you plan to spend enough each year to make up for the $150 annual fee.

Should you get the Ink Business Unlimited?

On top of the 1.5 percent cash back rate on all spending, the Ink Business Unlimited comes with both a competitive welcome offer and no annual fee. You’ll receive a welcome bonus of $900 in cash back when you spend $6,000 within the first three months of opening your account. Plus, you can take advantage of a 0 percent intro APR on purchases for 12 months (18.49 percent to 24.49 percent variable thereafter), which is helpful if you have a large business purchase that you’d like to pay off over time without paying interest.

Ultimately, the best business card for you will depend on how much you plan to spend each year, what you typically spend money on and whether you want to tailor your rewards to specific categories.

The bottom line

The Ink Business Unlimited is a no-annual-fee Chase business credit card with a high, flat cash back rewards rate and a generous welcome bonus. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a business card with no annual fee and aren’t interested in navigating specific spending categories in order to earn rewards.

However, if your spending falls within a few specific categories, you may want to consider a business card that will reward you a higher rate of rewards for that type of spending. Ultimately, you should compare all of your options — as they relate to your business and spending style — before making a decision.