Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Review 2024

Vault’s Viewpoint on the Chase Ink Business Cash

Business owners who sign up for this card 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 year (then 1% back), 2% back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each year (then 1% back) and 1% back on all other purchases. Lyft rides also qualify for an elevated rewards rate of 5% back through March 2025. In the meantime, new cardholders can earn a truly lucrative welcome bonus of up to $750 in cash back. Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening

The Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card is best for those who spend a lot (but not too much in its bonus categories. While the card’s bonus rewards rates are definitely enticing, the spending caps can limit their appeal for business owners who spend a lot overall.

The fact the card offers just 1% cash back on regular, non-bonus spending is also a downside. However, business owners who sign up do get an intro APR offer on purchases, which is somewhat unusual among business credit cards. Other benefits include free employee cards, primary auto rental coverage when renting a car for business purposes, travel and emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. While none of these perks are overly alluring on their own, they do make the card more valuable for small businesses overall.

Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card Highlights

Annual fee: $0

Welcome bonus: Earn a cash bonus of up to up to $750. Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening

Earning Rewards With the Ink Business Cash Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Cash rewards structure has spending caps on its bonus categories. Here’s how you earn rewards with this card:

• 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 (then 1% back)
• 5% total cash back on qualifying Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1% back)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Redeeming Rewards

Rewards earned with the Ink Business Cash are very flexible considering you can redeem for cash back (in the form of a statement credit or direct deposit), gift cards, merchandise or travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Note, however, you cannot transfer these points to Chase travel partners. If you want to be able to access Chase airline and hotel partners, you’ll need to pair the Ink Business Cash with another eligible Chase card—like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or a consumer card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Rates and Fees

Common rates and fees of the Ink Business Cash Card include:

• Annual fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening, then 17.74% – 25.74% variable APR
• Regular APR: 17.74% – 25.74% variable
• Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
• Foreign transaction fee: 3%
• Late payment fee: $40
• Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
• Cash advance fee: 5% (minimum $15)
• Cash advance APR: 29.49% variable

Chase Ink Business Cash Benefits

The Ink Business Cash comes with a handful of perks that add to its appeal and make it more valuable overall.

• Auto rental coverage: This coverage is primary when you rent a car for business purposes and pay for the rental with your business credit card.
• Extended warranty: Get an additional year of extended warranty coverage on items that come with a manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less.
• Free employee cards: Get free employee cards for people who work for you, which can help you earn more rewards over time.
• Purchase protection: Get purchase protection against damage or theft for the first 120 days from the purchase date. This coverage is worth up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.
• Roadside dispatch: Get access to a hotline that can set you up with lockout service, flat tire replacement, fuel delivery and more when you’re traveling away from home. Note that fees for services rendered will be charged to your credit card.
• Travel and emergency assistance services: Call this hotline for help with legal and medical referrals and other emergency services when you’re traveling far from home.

Chase Ink Business Cash Drawbacks

The Chase Ink Business Cash isn’t a perfect credit card. Here are some of its drawbacks to consider.

• Can’t transfer points to Chase travel partners: While the Chase Ink Business Cash offers a variety of redemption options, transferring to hotel and airline partners isn’t one of them.
• Limit on elevated rewards: The 5% and 2% cash back earn rates are both limited to the first $25,000 in combined purchases each year for the previously noted bonus categories, after which you’ll earn 1% back. A larger business might exceed that limit pretty quickly.
• Recommended credit of good to excellent: While Chase doesn’t list the exact credit score the Ink Business Cash is available to, it’s recommended you have a FICO Score of at least 670.
• Low cash back rate on other purchases: An unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases outside of the bonus categories isn’t something to write home about. Some of the best business credit cards earn at least 2X the points, miles or cash back on non-category purchases.

Who Is the Ink Business Cash Credit Card Best For?

The Ink Business Cash is best for business owners who spend up to $25,000 per year at office supply stores or on internet, cable and phone services. Businesses that spend considerable sums on gas and dining purchases for their business can also benefit.

This card’s lack of an annual fee also makes it a solid choice for business owners who want to earn cash back without paying for the privilege each year. The intro APR offer on purchases also adds appeal for business owners looking to invest in equipment or inventory and pay down their balance without interest.

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Who Should Consider an Alternative to the Ink Business Cash?

Business owners who wouldn’t be able to maximize the bonus categories on this card should really look at other options. After all, other business credit cards offer more than 1% cash back on all purchases for no annual fee.

Since this card doesn’t let users transfer points to Chase airline and hotel partners on its own, and since it charges foreign transaction fees, frequent travelers will want to look at alternatives as well.

How Does the Ink Business Cash Stack Up to Its Competitors?

If you’re on the fence about the Ink Business Cash Credit Card, you’ll want to look at other business credit cards with different benefits and earning rates. Consider these alternatives as you narrow down your options.

Ink Business Cash vs. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited comes with the same redemption options for rewards, the same intro APR offer on purchases and no annual fee.

The rewards on this card diverge from there. Instead of offering bonus rewards in several different categories, the Ink Business Unlimited earns a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025). This makes it a better choice for business owners who won’t spend much in the Ink Business Cash’s bonus categories but still want a Chase business card with similar features.

Ink Business Cash vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Preferred is a travel credit card for businesses, so it lets users access the same redemption options with the benefit of getting 25% more value for points redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Users can also transfer points earned with this card to Chase airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, which can help them get more value out of each point earned.

This Ink Business Preferred also has an entirely different rewards structure that could benefit business owners who spend a lot in different categories: 3X points on up to $150,000 spent each year on shipping purchases, advertising with social media sites and search engines, internet, cable and phone services and travel (then 1X points). Lyft rides earn 5X points (through March 2025), and all other purchases earn 1X points. A $95 annual fee applies.

Ink Business Cash vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

If you’re looking for another no-annual-fee business credit card with a higher spending cap on rewards, the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is comparable (see rates and fees). It earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1% after that. There are no categories to keep track of, which makes spending easier.

Like the Chase Ink Business Cash, this card also has a generous intro APR period, travel benefits and extended warranty* and purchase protection*. One area it falls short is the welcome bonus offer, which is just a $250 statement credit earned after you make $3,000 in eligible purchases on your card in the first three months. Overall, this card might make sense if you prefer rewards simplicity and don’t want to pay an annual fee.

Is the Ink Business Cash Worth It?

The Ink Business Cash is definitely worth it for business owners who spend a lot on its top categories each year. After all, fully maximizing the 5% category (or spending $25,000 on those categories in a year) would net you $1,250 in cash back. Further, spending an additional $25,000 on combined gas station and restaurant purchases each year would earn you an extra $500.

That said, earning just 1% cash back on regular purchases isn’t that great. Some of the best business credit cards offer higher earning rates on a wider variety of purchases.

Valuations by Vault: Our Thoughts on the Chase Ink Business Cash’s Value

Rewards earned with this card come with a standard valuation of 1 cent per point. This is very average among cash back credit cards for consumers and for businesses. However, it’s less than you would get if you signed up for a Chase credit card that allows point transfers to the brand’s airline and hotel partners.

* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.