Chase Ink Business Unlimited review: an easy 1.5% cash back on all purchases

Chase Ink Business Unlimited®: Overview

APR

• Intro: 0% introductory APR for 12 months from account opening (after that, the variable APR will be 18.49%–24.49%)
• Purchase: 18.49%–24.49% variable
• Balance transfer: 18.49%–24.49% variable
  • Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Cash advance: 29.99%
  • Cash advance fee: Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
• Penalty: Up to 29.99%

Fees

Annual fee: $0

Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Late payment fee: $40

Returned payment fee: $40

Particularly if you have employees, keeping track of the rotating bonus categories of some rewards credit cards can be frustrating. With the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, including those made with your employees’ cards, which are available at no extra cost. There’s no cap on how much you can earn, and Chase offers a variety of reward redemption methods. 

The card also offers a 0% introductory APR for 12 months from account opening (after that, the variable APR will be 18.49%–24.49%). It can be a good card to use if you’re purchasing computers or other costly equipment; you’ll have up to a year to pay for those charges without interest building. 

The card may not be a good fit if you travel often for work; it charges foreign transaction fees, and it doesn’t offer the broad range of travel benefits that other cards offer. You may be better off with a business card that offers perks like travel interruption or cancellation insurance, baggage loss protection, or fee credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. 

Chase Ink Business Unlimited®: Rewards

The rewards program for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card is simple: you’ll earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make for your business, with no limits on your rewards.

For a limited time, there is another rewards perk: you can earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025. 

Does the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card offer a bonus?

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card does have a bonus offer for new customers; you’ll get $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 

That spending requirement may be high for entrepreneurs, freelancers and microbusiness owners. Unless you have substantial monthly overhead costs, such as workspace rentals or inventory to purchase, you may not meet the bonus’ requirement, so this card’s offer may be suitable for more established small businesses. 

How to redeem Chase Ink Business Unlimited rewards

With the Chase Bank Ink Unlimited® Card, you’ll earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. You can redeem your rewards as Chase Ultimate Rewards points in the following ways: 

Gift cards

You can redeem your points for gift cards to major retailers and restaurant chains through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Each point is typically worth one cent, but some retailers offer bonuses that give you more value for each point. 

Shop with points

Select retailers, such as Apple or Amazon, allow you to check out and use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to pay for your purchase. However, this redemption method may not be the wisest use for your rewards; when you shop with points, the value of each point is about $0.008, so your rewards are worth less. 

Statement credits and electronic deposits

You can redeem your points for statement credits to reduce or eliminate your credit card balance. Or you can request that Chase make a deposit to your checking or savings account. With these redemption methods, each point is worth one cent. 

Travel

Through the Chase Travel Center, you can redeem your points to book airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and more. The value of your points varies by travel carrier. 

Transfer to other Chase cards

If you have multiple Chase cards, you can transfer points from one card to another. Transferring your points to another card can help you maximize the value of your rewards. When you transfer points to certain cards, like the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card, and redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards, your points are worth 25% more, so each point is worth 1.25 cents. 

Additional benefits

Although the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card doesn’t charge annual fees, it provides a variety of benefits: 

• Auto rental collision damage waiver: If you’re traveling for work and need to rent a vehicle, use your card to pay for the reservation and decline the car rental company’s insurance policy. Through your credit card, you get free auto rental collision damage waiver coverage that protects against damage and theft. 
• Travel and emergency assistance: When traveling, you can contact the travel and emergency assistance helpline to request medical or legal referrals. However, the charges for any services provided are your responsibility. 
• Roadside dispatch: Roadside dispatch is a membership-free program that allows you to get roadside assistance, including towing services, tire changes or battery jump starts. You are responsible for the cost of any services provided. 
• Purchase protection: Use your card for your transactions and your purchases are protected for 120 days against damage or theft, up to a maximum of $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account. 
• Extended warranty: On eligible purchases with warranties of three years or less, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card will extend the warranty by one year. 

Is the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card right for you?

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is best-suited to owners of established small businesses that want a basic rewards card that’s easy to use. It provides a simple, flat cash back rate on all purchases, and there’s no annual fee. It also provides some added credit card benefits, such as car rental protection, that add value to the card. 

However, not everyone is eligible for the card. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card requires you and your business to have good to excellent credit, and you must provide your business’ employer identification number (EIN) and business revenue when you apply. If you’re just starting out or are a sole proprietor, you may not have that information yet or meet Chase’s revenue requirements, so you may need to look for another card. 

Credit cards similar to the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card

If you’re shopping for a business credit card but aren’t sure if the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card is the right option, consider these alternatives: 

American Express Business Green Rewards vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited® 

Unlike the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card, the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has an annual fee of $95. However, that fee may be well worth the expense to business owners. The card allows you to earn two points for every dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, and one point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 

But the card’s real value comes in the form of its benefits. It has a broader range of perks than the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card, offering purchase protection, extended warranties, car rental insurance, and coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. 

The card doesn’t have a fixed spending limit; instead, it changes based on your purchases, payments, and credit history, so you may get more flexibility with the Amex Business Green Rewards Card than with other options. 

Chase Ink Business Cash vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited®

The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is very similar to the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card, except it’s geared towards those that want to maximize their cash back in certain spending categories. 

With the Chase Ink Business Cash Card, you’ll 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. Additionally, you’ll earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. 

If you tend to do most of your spending in those categories, you may earn more cash back with this card than with the flat cash back rate of the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card. 

Frequently asked questions

What is the annual fee for Chase Ink Business Unlimited®? 

The annual fee for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card is $0.

What is the credit limit for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card? 

The credit limit varies based on your business’ credit and your own credit history, but the minimum credit limit is $3,000. 

What credit score do I need to qualify for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card? 

According to Visa, you need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card, so you’ll need a credit score of 670 or better.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

All information about the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by Fortune Recommends™.