Small business owners looking for a company credit card to cover most of their day to day expenses will be well-served by the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. The card offers a great cash back program, and is ideal for business owners with good to excellent credit.
Thanks to an impressive cash rewards rate, a competitive bonus, and many other ancillary services and perks, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card presents small businesses with an attractive option that goes above and beyond the traditional rewards credit card.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card overview
- Best for – Business owners with good to excellent credit.
- Intro offer – $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
- Cash back – 5% for office supplies, internet, cable, and phone purchase on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases; 2% for gas and restaurants on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases; 1% for everything else.
- Intro APR – (followed by an APR of ).
- Other features – Purchase and fraud protection, free additional cards for employee use.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card in-depth analysis
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card from Chase Bank is a good solution for business owners looking for a lucrative rewards card. The card, which is aimed at business owners with good to excellent credit, is accompanied by competitive cash back rates that offer some of the highest earnings available.
The card also features perks that give business owners and their companies the ability to stabilize cash flow, cover expenses, and manage their finances effectively.
Introductory offer
While the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card’s APRs are similar to industry averages, the is a great perk for new cardholders.
Additionally, a generous introductory bonus allows you to earn up to $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
Rewards
The card offers an extremely competitive 5% back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services. This is one of the highest cash back rewards rates around and is ideal for businesses who spend a lot on office supplies or telecom bills each month. This includes major supply stores such as Office Depot and can be a major boon for companies who prefer to handle most of their business expenses and bills with credit.
Moreover, cardholders can earn 2% cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases for the first $25,000 in combined purchases every year. While this may be less of a major consideration for many business owners, it’s useful for companies with staff in the field or sales teams that wine and dine customers on a regular basis.
In addition to these rewards, all other purchases earn 1% cash back, with no limit on how much you can earn. This rate is within the industry average, but can be useful when it comes to regular expenses such as restocking inventory, utility bills, or even everyday purchases.
Customers can also redeem their cash rewards in a variety of ways including cash, gift cards, products and services available through Chase Bank or eligible third parties, and even to pay for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Most importantly, cash rewards will not expire if accounts are kept open and in good standing.
Annual fee
One of the sweet benefits of this card is that it has annual fee. Whether you’re a cost-conscious business owner looking to minimize extra fees and expenses, or you just like the idea of a card that you don’t have to pay to use, the lack of an annual fee is sure to please.
Business-related perks
Since this is a card designed for businesses, it truly shines when it comes to helping companies manage their finances and meet their obligations. From the start, cardholders can choose between opening a business line of credit, or a commercial one, which has a higher limit and is meant for larger businesses. This lets companies plan their cash flow in advance.
Another major plus the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card delivers is the ability to request additional cards for employees at no extra cost. New cards can be accompanied by special permissions to allow administrators to oversee and track finances with greater ease.
Cardholders are given the option to take advantage of merchant services which include secure, flexible, in-person, and online payment methods. For larger companies utilizing the card, you’ll have access to commercial banking services, though it requires yearly revenues of at least $20 million.
More importantly, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card holders have access to ADP payroll solutions, which simplify the process of tracking employees, paying salaries, and developing better compensation plans.
Purchase protection and security features
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers a broad selection of purchase protections, as well as security features that protect users’ identities and accounts from fraud. The card comes with zero liability protection on unauthorized charges from cardholders’ accounts or cards. This is a standard feature on most cards, but no less important in an age where fraud and identity theft are becoming increasingly common.
You’ll also get enhanced fraud protection, which includes real-time monitoring of account activity, as well as immediate alerts when suspicious charges are made. All Ink Business Cash® Credit Cards are also outfitted with chip technology, which reduces the likelihood of fraud.
Protection is extended to purchases made with the card, which can help offset faulty products, deceptive purchases, and more. All new purchases are covered for up to 120 days against theft or damage up to $10,000 for an individual claim, and $50,000 for each account. Cardholders can also add up to an additional year to manufacturers’ warranties of three or less years for eligible purchases made with the card.
APR
While the credit card’s APR rate of is in line with the industry average, its upper range of available rates makes it a favorable credit card for less creditworthy applicants.
It’s also important to note that your rate could be raised if you are late on your payments. Customers who miss a payment or have a transaction returned will incur a default APR. While this isn’t uncommon with some business cards, the new APR may be left on accounts indefinitely, even after late payments are cleared.
Other fees
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is accompanied by some potentially hefty fees for transfers, cash advances, and foreign transactions.
Balance transfers incur a fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. The cash advance fee is Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. The card also charges a 3% fee on foreign transactions, something many competitors do not.
How much can you earn with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
How much you earn with this card depends on how much you spend. You should be sure to spend at least $6,000 in the first three months in order to qualify for the $750 cash back bonus. In the tables below, I’ve outlined how much you could earn if you spent $5,000 per month (Budget Spender) and how much you could earn if you spent $10,000 per month (Premium Spender).
Budget Spender – $5,000 monthly spending
| Rewards rate | Spending per month | Earnings after 1 year | Earnings in subsequent year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office supplies, internet, phone, and cable | 5% cash back | $1,000 | $600 | $600 |
| Gas and restaurants | 2% cash back | $1,000 | $240 | $240 |
| Other purchases | 1% cash back | $3,000 | $360 | $360 |
| Annual fee | — | — | $0 | $0 |
| Signup bonus | — | — | $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening | N/A |
| Total earnings | — | — | $2,100 | $1,200 |
Premium Spender – $10,000 monthly spending
| Rewards rate | Spending per month | Earnings after 1 year | Earnings in subsequent year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office supplies, internet, phone, and cable | 5% cash back | $2,000 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Gas and restaurants | 2% cash back | $2,000 | $480 | $480 |
| Other purchases | 1% cash back | $6,000 | $720 | $720 |
| Annual fee | — | — | $0 | $0 |
| Signup bonus | — | — | $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening | N/A |
| Total earnings | — | — | $3,300 | $2,400 |
Pros & cons
Pros
- Great rewards — You’ll earn 5% cash back for office supplies, internet, phone, and cable, plus 2% cash back for gas and restaurants. Finally, you’ll also earn 1% cash back for everything else.
- No annual fee — The lack of an annual fee is always a win-win.
- Perks and benefits — This card comes with additional perks like free additional cards for employees, purchase and fraud protection, and more.
- Low intro rate — With a low intro APR, you can make larger purchases for your businesses and have time to pay off the balance.
Cons
- Only for borrowers with great credit — Borrowers with poor to average credit likely won’t qualify.
- Fees and expenses — This card charges high fees for transfers, cash advances, and foreign transactions.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card compared
Chase offers several other cards that are similar to the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and also come with great rewards, including the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash back | 5% back on office supplies, phone, cable, and internet up to $25,000 in combined purchases; 2% back on gas and restaurants up to $25,000 in combined purchases; 1% back on all other purchases | 3x points on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines; 1x on everything else | Unlimited 1.5% cash back |
| Annual fee | $95 | ||
| Intro offer | $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening | 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel rewards when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. | $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. |
| APR | 21.24% - 26.24% Variable |
While the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a great contender for a business rewards credit card, there are some other good options available in addition to other Chase cards. These include the Brex 30 Card and the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®.
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Brex 30 Card | CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash back | 5% back on office supplies, phone, cable, and internet, 2% back on gas and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases | Points ranging from 1x to 7x on expenses including rideshare apps, flights and hotels, restaurants and dining, and technology | 2x points on restaurants, gas, and American Airlines purchases, 1x points on everything else |
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 | |
| Intro offer | $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening | N/A | 65,000 bonus miles after making $4,000 in purchases within the first four months |
| APR | N/A | See terms |
Brex 30 Card
The Brex 30 Card is made for startups with sufficient funding of at least $100,000 (or $50,000 with investors). For those businesses that qualify, you’ll earn some stellar rewards, including 7x points on any rideshares, 4x points on flights and hotels you book through Brex Travel, 3x points on dining out, and 1x points on all other purchases. That’s an impressive amount of cash back!
In addition to a hefty amount of rewards, the Brex 30 Card comes with credit limits that are 10 times higher than the normal average. Plus, Brex offers other unique benefits such as integration with products like Quickbooks and Xero. If you’re looking for an all-in-one business tool, the Brex 30 Card may be a good fit.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® is the perfect card for businesses that find themselves traveling frequently, especially with American Airlines. For starters, cardholders can earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $4,000 in purchases within the first four months of having an account. But the rewards definitely don’t stop there.
Cardholders will also earn 2x points on all cable and satellite purchases, American Airlines purchases, gas purchases, and on all car rentals. Plus, you can earn an additional 1x points on all your other purchases.
Should you get the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card?
Small business owners with good credit should definitely consider the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. The card’s cash back rewards, which include an impressive 5% back on eligible purchases, mean that business owners who regularly use their card can generate a significant amount of cash rewards to reinvest or use for other purposes.
Moreover, the card offers companies better tools to manage their finances, payroll, and customer transactions. Overall, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers an attractive combination of perks and rewards for companies of all shapes and sizes.
How to apply for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
To apply for this card, you’ll need to go to Chase’s website. You can apply as a guest, or you can sign into your Chase account to apply if you already use them for another financial product (this will make the process a little easier).
You’ll need to provide personal information including your name, address, social security number, income, and credit information. You’ll also need to provide information about your business, including how many people you employ, when your business was established, your annual business revenue, and average monthly spending.
Once you submit your application, it will be reviewed and a decision made whether or not to offer you a card. Borrowers with great credit are more likely to qualify.
Summary
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card comes with a variety of benefits, including competitive cash back rates, a great introductory APR, and a annual fee. It’s a great choice for business owners who want a simple, lucrative cash-back card with extra business-related perks.