Who should (and shouldn’t) consider the Ink Business Unlimited?

Among Chase's Ink Business credit cards, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card usually gets the most spotlight. Yet, its no-annual-fee counterpart, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, has plenty to offer. With a straightforward rewards system and a generous sign-up bonus, small-business owners should definitely think about including this card in their financial toolkit.

Let’s dive into the details of the Ink Business Unlimited to determine if it could be a valuable addition to your wallet.

A quick overview of the Ink Business Unlimited

The Ink Business Unlimited is Chase's fundamental business credit card, providing a simple method to earn rewards on routine business expenses. Here are some of the card's key benefits:

• Welcome Bonus: Receive a $900 bonus after spending $6,000 within the first three months of account opening. This is a great return for a business credit card with no annual fee. Additionally, the bonus value can be doubled when paired with any card from the Ultimate Rewards program, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred (details below).
• Strong rewards on everyday business expenses: Enjoy unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making this card ideal for spending outside the bonus categories of your other business credit cards.
• Pairs well with other Ink Business cards: The Ink Business Unlimited is one of four current Chase Ink business credit cards. The other three are the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card (note: this card doesn’t convert cash back into Ultimate Rewards points effectively), Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. These cards offer unique rewards (except for Ink Cash and Ink Preferred, which both provide rewards for internet, cable, and phone services), allowing you to optimize rewards across most business expenses.
• It's free to keep in your wallet: There’s no annual fee, so you won’t need to worry about how much you have to spend to justify keeping this card.

Who should consider the Ink Business Unlimited?

Many business owners could gain from the Ink Business Unlimited. Think about adding this card to your wallet if:

You don't already have a business card for everyday purchases

Examine your current business credit cards. They probably offer just 1 point per dollar or 1% cash back on non-bonus expenditures. This is where the Ink Business Unlimited can help. Utilize this card to fill that void and enhance your rewards potential on everything from tax payments to shopping for your business at a hardware store. The objective of a strong rewards credit card collection is to earn more than 1 point per dollar (or 1% back) on every transaction. Having a card focused on everyday expenses that don't align with typical categories on other cards can lead to hundreds of dollars in extra rewards annually.

You hold other Ink Business or Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning cards

The rewards structure of the Ink Business Unlimited is particularly advantageous if you possess other Chase cards, especially additional Ink Business cards or those within the Ultimate Rewards program.

With the Ink Business Cash, you'll receive 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores and on cellular, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year. The Ink Business Preferred can serve as your primary card for travel and advertising, earning 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases for travel, shipping, internet services, cable services, phone services, and advertising through social media and search engines each account anniversary year.

However, the true advantage of having the Ink Business Cash or the Ink Business Unlimited arises for those also holding the Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Chase Sapphire Reserve.

This is because owning at least one of these three cards allows you to convert the cash back from the Business Unlimited into fully transferable (and thus more valuable) Ultimate Rewards points.

For those with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Preferred, you can redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for 1.25 cents each through Chase Travel℠. If you have the Sapphire Reserve, your points can be redeemed at 1.5 cents each in the travel portal. Additionally, you can increase that value further by transferring your points to one of the program's valuable transfer partners. This could potentially elevate the worth of points to 2 cents or more, according to TPG's July 2024 valuations.

You are a freelancer or have a side business

While you need a form of business to qualify for a small-business credit card, you don't have to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or have a registered LLC to apply. Freelance writers or photographers, sellers on Etsy or eBay, music teachers, sports coaches, and nearly any side hustle can reap the benefits of a business credit card — particularly one that has no annual fee.

If your monthly business expenses are just a few hundred dollars, a card with specific bonus categories that charges an annual fee might not be the best fit. The Ink Business Unlimited provides a straightforward 1.5% cash back on all purchases without any fees, making it ideal for sole proprietors or business owners with lower spending — especially if you also hold the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve as your personal rewards card.

Who shouldn't consider the Ink Business Unlimited?

There are plenty of reasons to apply for the Ink Business Unlimited, but it might not be the ideal choice for everyone. You should explore other small-business card options if:

You already have another fixed-rate business credit card

If you possess a card that provides rewards on everyday expenses (like one of Capital One's Spark business cards), acquiring the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card might not be the best choice. Holding multiple fixed-rate cards can be redundant and can dilute your potential rewards across different accounts. This makes it challenging to accumulate enough rewards for valuable redemptions, especially for a small business. However, if your current fixed-rate card isn’t from Chase, consider shifting your everyday expenses to the Ink Business Unlimited to start earning Chase's points instead of your previous rewards.

You're seeking a card with bonus categories

As noted earlier, this is a fixed-rate card. While it excels in providing rewards on spending that doesn't fit into other cards' bonus categories, its rewards for travel and office supply purchases are relatively modest. If you're in the market for a new credit card and don't currently have one that offers premium bonus categories aligned with your business spending, it would be wise to skip the Ink Business Unlimited. This card should serve as a complement — not the primary option for all your business expenses.

Your other cards earn Amex Membership Rewards

Diversifying your points portfolio across both business and personal accounts is essential. However, if you exclusively hold American Express cards, there's an Amex option that allows you to maximize points within the Amex ecosystem, similar to how you would with the Business Unlimited and other cards in the Chase network.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year, with no category restrictions (after which it earns 1 point per dollar). These points can be combined with rewards from other business cards (like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Business Gold Card), and you can also merge them with your personal Membership Rewards points. Thus, if most of your current cards earn Amex Membership Rewards points, it would be more beneficial to use the Blue Business Plus for daily expenses to maximize the Membership Rewards program.

While the Blue Business Plus may not provide the same enticing welcome bonus as the Ink Business Unlimited, the long-term advantage of pooling your rewards across your other cards could justify the loss of that bonus.

Curious about the Amex Blue Business Plus? Check out our full credit card review.

Final Thoughts

The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card plays a vital role in the Chase Ink lineup due to its rewards on everyday expenses. With a solid welcome bonus and no annual fee, this card is appealing for many business owners. However, it's not the ideal choice for everyone. Be sure to have other rewards cards that provide valuable bonus points in your frequently used categories before opting for the Ink Business Unlimited.

Additionally, keep in mind that Chase often denies applications for its popular credit cards, including the Ink Business Unlimited, if you've opened five or more new credit cards in the past 24 months across any issuer. This guideline, known as the 5/24 rule, also applies to accounts where you are an authorized user, although you may occasionally request that these accounts be excluded from Chase's evaluation. While most business credit cards don't count towards your 5/24 status, you must still be under 5/24 to be approved for Chase's business cards.

For further information, check out our comprehensive review of the Ink Business Unlimited.