Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Ink Business Cash: Details and benefits

Business owners who want to earn cash back without an annual fee should consider the Ink Business Cash, which is offered by Chase. Not only can you earn an unlimited 1 percent back on regular purchases with this card, but you can use it to earn 5 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each year as well as 2 percent back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each year.

With those caps, bonus earnings on 5 percent categories will net you up to $1,250 in bonus rewards each year, and 2 percent categories will net you up to $500 in additional rewards.

This card also comes with free employee cards that can help you earn rewards faster. Plus, you’ll get zero percent APR on purchases for 12 months, followed by a variable APR of 13.24 to 19.24 percent. This perk can be lucrative if you need to make purchases for your business and don’t want to pay interest for a year, but don’t forget that you’ll eventually pay the higher variable APR.

Finally, the Ink Business Cash comes with a handful of cardholder benefits including primary auto rental insurance coverage when you use your credit card to pay for a rental for business purposes, travel and emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch, purchase protection and extended warranties on eligible items that have a manufacturer’s warranty.

Is the Ink Business Cash Right For You?

While it’s hard to complain about a business credit card that doesn’t charge an annual fee, there are a few downsides that come with this business credit card. You can’t redeem your rewards for transfers to airlines or hotels like you can with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, for example. Plus, there are some pretty serious earning caps on the 5 percent and 2 percent cash back bonus categories with this card.

Still, it’s not difficult to see how you could end up ahead. Let’s say your business spends $2,000 at office supply stores buying paper and other supplies each month, as well as $1,000 per month on gas and meals out with clients. Let’s also say you spend $3,000 per month on your business credit card for other purchases related to keeping your company afloat.

In that case, you could expect to earn $2,300 in cash back your first year — $500 in bonus cash in the first three months, $1,200 in rewards for office supply store purchases, $240 in rewards on gas and dining out and $360 in rewards on regular purchases.

Get the most value from the Ink Business Cash

To get the most value out of your Ink Business Cash, you’ll want to make sure you’re using it for all your business spending, but especially in categories that earn 5 percent or 2 percent back.

Meanwhile, take advantage of the zero percent APR offer on purchases for 12 months, but make sure to repay your balance in its entirety before your APR resets to the much higher variable interest rate (13.24 – 19.24 percent variable).

Also look for other ways to rack up more rewards, including Chase Offers. With this program, you can “add” new offers to your credit card that lead to additional savings or more cash back at participating stores. To add Chase offers to your account, look for the Chase Offers section when you log in online or via the Chase mobile app.

You can earn bonus rewards on online shopping, too, by clicking through the Chase portal before you make a purchase at a participating store. While most offers are for 2 to 3 bonus points per dollar spent, you can occasionally earn more than that.

How much are points worth?

The Ink Business Cash offers cash back instead of points, so your rewards will directly correlate with how much you spend. In the 5 percent bonus categories, you’ll earn $5 for every $100 you spend up to annual caps, just like you’ll earn $2 per $100 spent in 2 percent bonus categories.

When you go to redeem your rewards, they’ll be worth the amount of cash back you’ve accumulated.

How to redeem rewards

You can redeem your rewards by logging into your Chase credit card account or the mobile app and selecting the option to redeem your cash back. Redemption options include statement credits on your account, business travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, gift cards to more than 150 brands and stores or Apple products.

Should you pair this card with another Chase credit card?

While the Ink Business Cash lets you earn meaningful cash back without an annual fee, you might want to consider pairing it with another Chase credit card if you want more ways to redeem your rewards.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® in your wallet, for example, you could earn more rewards on your personal spending and gain the option to transfer your points to airline and hotel partners like British Airways, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.

These cards also offer more value when you use your rewards to book travel through the portal. Points are boosted by 25 percent with the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, whereas the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives you a 50 percent boost when you book through the portal with points.

You may also choose to pair this card with another business card that earns more than 1 percent back on regular, non-bonus spending for your business, such as the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card. With the Ink Business Unlimited, you’ll earn a flat 1.5 percent back on everything you buy, so you could use it for all your regular purchases then pull out your Ink Business Cash for purchases made in 5 percent and 2 percent bonus categories.