Best business card with no annual fee
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Rewards rate
1% - 5%Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in 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 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Pay over time APR
Regular APR
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card overview
If your small business spends a fair amount on office supplies and telecommunications services, the Ink Business Cash Credit Card is probably a great fit for you. Although the card’s maximum cash back rate only applies to the first $25,000 spent in bonus categories, Chase offers categories that are consistent with the majority of most businesses’ expenditures.
With features like an intro APR offer on purchases and no annual fee, it’s clear that this Chase business credit card can offer a respite for businesses with irregular cash flows.
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Rewards
- 5 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores, internet, cable and phone services per year
- 2 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants per year
- 1 percent on all other purchases
- Rewards value: 2 cents per point
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis -
Welcome offer
- $750 bonus cash back when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis -
0% APR offer
- Purchase intro APR: 0 percent intro APR for 12 months
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 17.99 percent to 23.99 percent (variable)
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis -
Rates and fees
- Annual fee: $0
$40 late payment
3% foreign transaction fee
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis - Annual fee: $0
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Other cardholder perks
- Other cardholder perks
- Free employee cards
- Car rental coverage
- Extended purchase warranty
- Theft/damage purchase protection
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis
Ink Business Cash pros and cons
Pros
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Introductory APR offer on purchases can help small businesses get off the ground quicker and improve cash flow
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No annual fee makes this a fantastic choice for small business owners wanting a low-cost business rewards card
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Flexible redemption options with Chase Ultimate Rewards are a unique feature when compared to other small-business credit cards
Cons
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Total boosted rewards are capped at $50,000 per year, which businesses with larger budgets may exceed
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The 3 percent foreign transaction fee may eat into some of your cash back earnings
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Boosted rewards rate categories may not appeal to small or remote-based businesses
Why you might want the Ink Business Cash card
The Ink Business Cash can be a great option for businesses that require a central point of operation, whether it’s a warehouse for inventory, offices, or in-house manufacturing. This card provides great perks that can help reach that goal with a solid welcome offer, no annual fee and useful perks for employees.
Welcome offer: Holds up against the competition
The Ink Business Cash currently offers $750 bonus cash back when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months. While this is a drop from the card’s last sign-up bonus ($900, its highest to date), it still holds up well when compared to other small business credit cards.
A bonus of this size on a card with no annual fee is nothing to balk at, so if you’ve been waiting for the right time to apply, now might be the time. You could even meet the spending requirement relatively easily if you plan your card application around a large purchase.
Intro APR: A pretty good offer on new purchases
Particularly useful for startups with unpredictable cash flows, the 0 percent intro APR on new purchases for 12 months (17.99 percent to 23.99 percent variable APR thereafter) can offer a necessary reprieve during a time when your business may be spending more than earning.
This perk is widely available on many cards and can temporarily save you from interest charges. Also, the ongoing variable rate can be below the current average interest rate for people with exceptional credit. As a variable rate however, the rate you apply for will vary based on your credit score.
But don’t keep this benefit in the back of your mind for long because when your first account anniversary comes around, you’ll owe your full balance if you want to avoid interest charges.
Perks: Free employee cards and extra protections
To give you and your employees a convenient, fast way of accessing business funds, you can request employee cards at no additional cost. For extra security, the account holder can set individual spending limits on employee cards, and you can subscribe to account alerts to monitor spending. You’ll also earn rewards for all the spending that your employees do with these additional cards.
Other useful benefits include purchase protection for up to 120 days against damage or theft (up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account) and a 12-month extended warranty when you make an eligible purchase with your card. The extended warranty only applies to qualifying warranties of up to three years.
Why you might not want the Ink Business Cash card
While the Ink Business Cash can be useful to businesses in their early days, it has a few drawbacks. This card may be a great choice for office-based businesses, but it might be a poor fit for another type of business. For larger businesses, the spending caps can be too limiting, and the foreign transaction fees can make the card more harmful than helpful when used overseas.
Rewards: Valuable, but selective
While this card has a lot of potential cash back earnings, it depends on you maximizing the spending categories and not exceeding the spending cap. If you have an office-based business, then the office supply, internet, cable and phone services categories are lucrative and make this card a top choice. However, remote startups and work-from-home freelancers may not get the full value from these bonus categories. For small-business owners with varying budgets or irregular expenses, it may be tough to utilize this card fully.
Travel: Decent but thin travel benefits
The card also includes a 3 percent foreign transaction fee on all purchases overseas, which could cut into your rewards if you purchase from international merchants or travel out of the country frequently for work. The foreign transaction fee could eclipse some of your boosted cash back earnings rates, which is not ideal.
Plus, the only major travel perk the card includes is car rental coverage, which covers up to the cash value of the vehicle in case of theft or collision in qualifying locations. While useful, it’s a common perk. Overall, this card may not be worth packing for a business trip abroad.
How the Ink Business Cash Credit Card compares to other small-business cards
When choosing among Chase’s Ink Business cards, the best option for you will depend on where you spend the most money for your business. While the Ink Business Cash card makes sense if you spend heavily on office supplies, internet, cable and phone services, it may not cater to all your needs. If this card does meet your rewards category needs, maybe the spending limit will hinder your cash back potential. In this case, you should consider a cash back card with unlimited rewards or higher spending limit.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards rate
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in 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 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards rate
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Rewards rate
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Best cards to pair the Ink Business Cash Credit Card with
If you spend a lot on travel, then it makes sense to pair this card with a travel credit card. This way, you can take advantage of a category the Ink Business Cash excludes. You can also choose a business card that has more travel-focused benefits, should you travel often for work.
Who is the Ink Business Cash right for?
Bankrate’s Take — Is the Ink Business Cash Credit Card worth it?
It’s clear the Ink Business Cash Credit Card is best suited for small businesses with significant office supplies and telecom service expenses. It comes with a huge welcome bonus, and the introductory APR period will be handy for those with irregular cash flows or who need to pay off large purchases while establishing their business.
However, businesses that spend more outside this card’s categories may question whether the Ink Business Cash Card is worth it compared to a flat-rate cash back card.