Chase Ink Business Rewards Review

You may have seen Chase Ink credit cards on lists of the best credit cards for small business owners. What makes these cards popular? More importantly, are they the best choice for your business? 

Here we’ll dive into the rewards offered on Chase Ink Business credit cards.

Chase Ink Business Rewards Overview

Chase Ink is a suite of rewards credit cards available to business owners, from sole proprietors and independent contractors, to firms with many employees. 

There are currently three main Chase credit cards for business to choose from, and one that Chase says will soon be available:

• Chase Ink Business Unlimited card

• Chase Ink Business Cash card

• Chase Ink Business Preferred card

• Chase Ink Business Premier card (coming soon)

Each of these cards has its own rewards structure: 

Chase Ink Business Unlimited card

• Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back

Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card basics:

• No annual fee

• Sign-up bonus of $750 cash back when you spend at least $7,500 on qualifying purchases during the first three months.

• 0% intro APR on purchases for first 12 months after account opening

Chase Ink Business Cash card

• 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined spending on office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone each account anniversary year.

• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each year.

• 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases and on new purchases in bonus categories after $25,000 spending limits are reached.

Chase Ink Business Cash credit card basics:

• No annual fee

• Welcome bonus of $750 cash back when you spend at least $7,500 on qualifying purchases during the first three months.

• 0% APR on purchases for first 12 months

Chase Ink Business Preferred card

• Unlimited 1 point per dollar in spending

• 3x points on shipping, social media, search engine advertising, travel, internet, cable, and phone services categories on the first $150,000 spent per account anniversary year.

Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card basics:

• $95 annual fee

• Earn 100,000 bonus points once you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months of account opening.

• No foreign transaction fees

Chase Ink Business Premier card

This credit card offer isn’t currently available, however Chase notes on its website that it is “coming soon.” Here is an overview of the card rewards that will be offered:

• 2% unlimited cash back on eligible purchases

• 2.5% unlimited cash back on large purchases of $5,000 or more

• 5% unlimited cash back when you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ink Business Premier credit card basics:

• $195 annual fee

• Earn $1,000 sign-up bonus if you make $10,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening.

• Pay in full card which means purchases must be paid for each month, except for Flex for Business purchases of $500 or more, which may be paid over time with interest.

How to Redeem Chase Ink Rewards

Chase Ink cash back rewards are awarded as points. Every $1 you earn in cash back equals 100 points. 

You can redeem your rewards as cash back at a redemption value of one cent per point. You can either request a statement credit or a bank deposit. You can also use points for gift cards, Amazon purchases, or other retail purchases. 

If you prefer travel rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for a variety of types of travel (airfare, hotels, and even tickets for excursions or events) in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. With Chase Ink Business Preferred, points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. 

There are other options, too. For example, with Pay Yourself Back you can pay for specific past purchases using points. Periodic promotions may make these redemptions worth more than the standard one cent per point.   

Rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open. 

In addition to rewards, cardholders will have access to a variety of other Chase Ink card benefits. Most of these perks apply to all of these cards but be sure to check. 

• Free employee cards

• Extended warranty protection

• Purchase protection

• Cell phone protection

• Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance

• Auto rental collision damage waiver

• Roadside assistance (for a fee)

Pros and Cons of Chase Ink Business Rewards

Since each Chase credit card has its own rewards program, you will have to look at each card individually to determine the benefits and drawbacks. However, here are some overall points to keep in mind. And since other factors can make a card more or less desirable, we’ve included some of those other factors in this list of pros and cons. 

Pros:

• Wide range of redemption options

• Higher rewards rates may be given for specific spending

• Many travel partners and travel benefits

• 0% intro APR on some cards

Cons:

• May be able to earn higher rewards elsewhere

• Variable APR higher than some other cards

• Need good credit scores to qualify

• Personal guarantee required

Are Chase Ink Business Rewards Right For You?

There are a few factors you will want to consider when evaluating whether a Chase Ink Business credit card is right for your business. 

First it’s important to understand what types of business expenses you’ll put on the card. If you have significant business spending under categories with high bonus rewards, you may be able to earn as much as 5% cash back. But also keep in mind that rewards may be capped at a certain amount of annual spending ($25,000 or $150,000 depending on the card). 

Businesses with high spend may quickly max out on the bonus rewards that can be earned. 

The standard rewards rate of 1– 1.5% (except the Ink Business Premier card at 2%) are fairly standard for business credit cards. 

Alternatives to Chase Ink Business Rewards

There are many small business credit cards. If you don’t think that the Chase Ink business cards are a good fit for you, or if you are looking for additional cards, here are a few to consider:  

Best for Welcome Bonuses

If your goal is to get a generous welcome bonus, there are several credit card issuers with compelling sign-up offers for small business owners:

• Business Platinum Card from American Express: 120,000 Membership Rewards Points when you spend $15,000 in the first three months. 

• Business Gold Card from American Express: 70,000 Amex Membership Points when you spend $10,000 in the first three months.

• Dash.fi: 3% unlimited cash back for the first three months with no spending category restrictions.

Best for Digital Advertising and Ecommerce Businesses

Dash.fi is the first business credit card designed for advertising and ecommerce businesses, as well as those that need high credit limits to scale. It features significantly higher limits to avoid card failure, as well as cash back rewards that start at 3% unlimited cash back the first three months and 1.5% unlimited cash back after that. 

Cards For Loyal Travelers

If you are loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, you can get their business credit card to earn points along with other perks such as upgrades, elite status, and free flights or hotel stays. Options include: 

• Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express® Card: 75,000 bonus points if you make $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months. 

• Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card: 60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles when you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.

• Chase United Business Card: 75,000 miles if you spend $5000 in purchases the first three months.