Ink Business Cash® Credit Card review

Best for small business spending

• Rewards rate: 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 account anniversary year, 2 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year and 1 percent back on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: $750 bonus cash back when you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first three months
• Annual fee: $0
• Purchase intro APR: 0 percent intro APR for 12 months
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
• Regular APR: 13.24 percent to 19.24 percent (variable)

If your small business spends a fair amount on office supplies and telecommunications services, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is probably a good fit for you. While the maximum cash back rate only applies to the first $25,000 spent on bonus categories, we love how these categories are consistent with typical business spending.

With features like a 0 percent introductory APR on purchases for 12 months (13.24 percent to 19.24 percent variable APR thereafter) and a no annual fee, it’s clear that this Chase business credit card can offer much-needed respite for businesses with irregular cash flows.

Current welcome offer

The Ink Business Cash’s welcome offer of $750 bonus cash back when you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first three months is solid compared with other small business credit cards on the market—particularly those with a $0 annual fee—and the spending requirement can be met if you time your card application with a big purchase.

Rewards

One of the best things about having the Ink Business Cash Credit Card is being a part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. This coveted program gives you more redemption options so you’re not limited to cash back rewards. What’s also great about the program is that your points won’t expire as long as your account stays open and doesn’t fall in arrears by 60 days or more. Cash back rewards are tracked as points, and every dollar you earn in cash back rewards equals 100 points.

Earning rewards

You’ll earn 5 percent cash back on the first $25,000 in combined business expenses each account anniversary year, including office supply purchases, Internet, cable and phone services. That’s $1,250 in cash back annually if you meet the full cap. You’ll also receive 2 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent per account anniversary year on combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants; that’s another $500 in cash back.

Assuming you spend up to the $25,000 limit for these rewards categories, you’ll receive $1,750 cash back each year—plus 1 percent on anything over the $25,000 limit and for all other purchases.

Redeeming rewards

Rewards redemption is where the Ink Business Cash Credit Card comes into its own. You can receive rewards as cash or redeem them as gift cards, travel rewards or pay with points for select products or services. You can also combine points with another Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards.

How much are points worth?

According to Chase’s website, when you redeem for cash, gift cards and travel, each point is worth $0.01. However, redemption for other options may have a different value.

Benefits

While this card doesn’t come with fancy travel perks, the benefits it offers—a 0 percent introductory APR on purchases for 12 months (13.24 percent to 19.24 percent variable APR thereafter), free employee cards and insurance—are spot-on for small businesses looking to get more from their spending.

Intro APR on new purchases

Particularly useful for startups with unpredictable cash flows, the 0 percent intro APR on new purchases for 12 months (13.24 percent to 19.24 percent variable APR thereafter) can offer much-needed cash flow respite and save you from interest charges if you’re struggling to repay your credit card balance in full each month.

Free employee cards

To accumulate points faster for more rewards, 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.

Protection and insurance

Other useful benefits include purchase protection for up to 120 days 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.

Using your card to pay for car rental entitles you car rental coverage, too, so you can have peace of mind knowing your rented vehicle is covered for damages resulting from theft or collision.

Rates and fees

The card has no annual fee, but a late payment will attract a $39 fee. There’s a 3 percent foreign transaction fee for overseas purchases, and balance transfers require a $5 fee or 5 percent of the amount transferred, whichever is greater.

The 0 percent introductory APR for purchases lasts for 12 months, then APR reverts to the regular rate of 13.24 percent to 19.24 percent variable.

How the Ink Business Cash Credit Card compares to other small business cards

The Capital One Spark Cash for Business is worth considering if you don’t spend a lot on office supplies and telecom services, or if you prefer simple rewards with a flat-rate cash back card. The cash back rate of 1.5 percent may not seem lucrative, but rewards are not capped and you won’t have to pay an annual fee.

Another option is the Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard. You’ll get 3 percent cash back on your chosen rewards category for up to $50,000 in combined 3 and 2 percent category spending each calendar year—less than the Ink’s rewards structure—but you can choose a rewards category from a list of six to match your spending. The spending cap is also much higher.

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. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, for example, is ideal as it’ll fast track your Ultimate Rewards points by awarding you 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, Internet, cable and phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines—but you’ll have to travel enough to justify the $95 annual fee.

As a no-annual-fee option, the Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business will earn you 1.5X miles for every purchase.

Bankrate’s Take—Is the Ink Business Cash Credit Card worth it?

It’s clear the Ink Business Cash Credit Card is best suited to small businesses with significant expenditure in office supplies and telecom services. It comes with a solid welcome bonus, and the introductory 0 percent APR on purchases for 12 months (13.24 percent to 19.24 percent variable APR thereafter) will be handy for those with irregular cash flows. However, businesses that spend more on other categories may find a travel rewards card or a flat-rate cash back card better alternatives.

Pros:

• Decent welcome offer
• Low intro APR on purchases
• No annual fee
• Flexible redemption options

Cons:

• Rewards are capped
• Foreign transaction fee of 3 percent

*The information about the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card and Spark® Cash Select from Capital One® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.