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If you’re an avid points and miles enthusiast, you’d be forgiven for glancing past a cash back card with no annual fee. It’s rare for a $0 annual fee card to offer serious travel benefits.
However, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is no ordinary cash back card, it might just be the best all-round business card on the market.
Right now, you can earn a generous 75,000 point bonus.
Confused by the points bonus on a cashback card? Don’t worry. Read on.
Welcome Bonus
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is currently running an intro bonus of $750 after spending $6,000 within three months of opening an account. That’s a tremendous return on your business spending and is one of the best cash back offers available.
The Ink Business Unlimited comes with a unique hybrid system, allowing cardholders to turn their cashback into Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This means that the $750 offer is also worth 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points. When transferred to a travel partner, it’s possible to squeeze almost $1,500 worth of flights or hotels out of those points.
There is a catch, however. Not everyone can exchange the cashback for points. It’s only possible if the cardholder already has another Ultimate Rewards earning card. Currently, the only cards capable of earning these points are:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you don’t have one of these cards, the bonus and any cashback earned will remain as cashback.
This offer on this card is unparalleled. Very few no-annual-fee cards have bonuses as high as 75,000 with such a reasonable spending goal. It would take an average of $2,000 a month of business spending to earn the bonus.
Annual Fee
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited has no annual fee. This is a big deal for a card with a significant bonus and strong earning opportunities. It helps make the card an approachable product for small businesses that don’t spend large amounts of money.
Of course, no annual fee means there are minimal perks. But, this card isn’t designed to be a flashy travel card, it’s a workhorse built to earn lots of points for you and your business.
- Best for: Small Business Owners
- Annual Fee: $0
- Variable APR: 17.74% - 23.74%
- Reward Rate: 1.5%
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
$750 Cash Back
Offer Details:
$750 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Why we like it
The Ink Business Unlimited Card shines with its large intro bonus, currently sitting at $750 of cash back. The card has no annual fee and a simple but strong rewards-earning rate, with 1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on all purchases. This means you don’t have to worry about tracking any bonus categories and still know that each time you swipe the card you’ll be racking up points.
Even better, if you have a companion Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card, or the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can pool your rewards from the Ink Unlimited and make them more valuable by transferring them to Chase’s travel partners like Hyatt, United Airlines, British Airways, Southwest, and more.
Reward details
1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase for your business
Pros & Cons
PROS
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For small business owners and freelancers it’s one of the best cards for turning spending into valuable rewards. The welcome bonus alone is worth $750 of cash back and you’ll continue to rack up rewards with a solid earning rate that applies to all purchases.
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It has no annual fee.
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If you have another Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred, you can pool your points and make them more valuable. You’ll be able to transfer your points to Chase’s travel partners like Marriott, Air Canada, Southwest, United, and more.
CONS
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It does lack some of the juicier benefits attached to other business credit cards likes the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. But with no annual fee, it’s hard to argue with its value proposition.
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It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Earning Rewards
Beyond the strong introductory offer, this card earns points extremely well. Instead of offering high earning rates for specific spending categories, Chase opted to set a flat rate of 1.5% on all spending.
Some business owners might prefer higher rates on categories like marketing and office supplies, but others will enjoy the Unlimited’s broad coverage. Anything from business travel to team coffee orders earns 1.5%.
There is one elevated earning category, but it’s disappearing in March 2025. Until then you’ll get 5% cashback on any Lyft rides. If you’re a regular Lyft customer, that’s a nice addition for the next few months.
Redeeming Rewards
There are several ways to redeem the cashback and points offered by the Ink Business Unlimited. Each has its merits, but one method should be favored above the others.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
If you’re unfamiliar with Chase’s Ultimate Rewards system, it’s widely regarded as one of the most (if not the most) valuable around. This value stems from its strong selection of airline and hotel transfer partners that allow for highly valuable points redemptions.
There are two main ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards points: transferring to a travel partner or the Chase Travel Portal. Remember, if you don’t have one of the other cards mentioned earlier, you’ll be unable to use these options.
Transferring to a travel partner
By far the most valuable way to redeem Ultimate Rewards points is to transfer to an airline or hotel partner. While American Express and Capital One both have quantity on their side, Chase opted for quality. Its fourteen transfer partners include high-value airline programs like Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus, and excellent hotel programs like World of Hyatt.
We’ve built an in-depth guide for how to use the 75,000 points here, but here’s an idea of what they could get you.
- Two roundtrip flights to Europe with KLM/Air France
- A one-way in Qatar’s lauded Qsuite (often worth $10,000)
- A roundtrip business class flight to Europe with Iberia
- 15 nights in a Category 1 Hyatt property
Use them on the Chase Travel Portal
Generally, redeeming points on an issuer’s own portal is a bad idea. It limits the value to around 1 cent per point and prevents the exploitation of any program sweet spots. One exception to this rule is Chase Travel.
Instead of the typical 1 cent per point valuation, the rate is set by the points-earning card you own.
- With Chase Sapphire Preferred — 1.25 cents each
- With Chase Sapphire Reserve — 1.50 cents each
- With Chase Ink Business Preferred — 1.25 cents each
Using this method, the 75,000 point bonus would be worth $937.50 or $1,125 depending on the card you have. While it might not beat the value of transferring to a partner, it’s good value nonetheless.
Redeem for cashback
If you don’t have one of the Ultimate Rewards earning cards, you’re stuck with the cashback. While not as valuable as transferring points, what it lacks in value, it makes up for with flexibility. You can redeem your cashback for anything you want.
Shopping spree? Sure thing.
Fancy dinner? Check.
Kids’ Christmas presents. 100%.
We spend a ton of time pushing high-value travel redemptions, but we’re aware travel is not everyone’s top priority. Don’t feel pressured to use it on travel if $750 of cash could improve your life elsewhere.
Benefits and Perks
As a $0 annual fee card, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited doesn’t come with many perks. There is strong purchase coverage, auto insurance, and emergency assistance, but don’t expect lounge access or useful statement credits. More practical is the 0% introductory APR. That’ll last twelve months before you’re hit with a variable rate.
Another benefit is the ability to add employee cards at no extra cost – perfect for a growing business that’s still keeping an eye on small costs.
Who’s it for?
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is perfect for small business owners looking for a low-risk way to earn cashback or points on their business expenses. Its generous intro bonus is achievable for many, but even those who won’t hit the $6,000 mark will get significant value earning 1.5% back on all purchases.
Pairing this card with a another card boasting high-earning categories would allow higher spending business owners to ensure every dollar earns more than one point.
The Point
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is a highly valuable card for small business owners. With no annual fee and a flat-rate earning system, the card has long-term wallet staying power.
- Best for: Small Business Owners
- Annual Fee: $0
- Variable APR: 17.74% - 23.74%
- Reward Rate: 1.5%
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
$750 Cash Back
Offer Details:
$750 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Why we like it
The Ink Business Unlimited Card shines with its large intro bonus, currently sitting at $750 of cash back. The card has no annual fee and a simple but strong rewards-earning rate, with 1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on all purchases. This means you don’t have to worry about tracking any bonus categories and still know that each time you swipe the card you’ll be racking up points.
Even better, if you have a companion Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card, or the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can pool your rewards from the Ink Unlimited and make them more valuable by transferring them to Chase’s travel partners like Hyatt, United Airlines, British Airways, Southwest, and more.
Reward details
1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase for your business
Pros & Cons
PROS
-
For small business owners and freelancers it’s one of the best cards for turning spending into valuable rewards. The welcome bonus alone is worth $750 of cash back and you’ll continue to rack up rewards with a solid earning rate that applies to all purchases.
-
It has no annual fee.
-
If you have another Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred, you can pool your points and make them more valuable. You’ll be able to transfer your points to Chase’s travel partners like Marriott, Air Canada, Southwest, United, and more.
CONS
-
It does lack some of the juicier benefits attached to other business credit cards likes the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. But with no annual fee, it’s hard to argue with its value proposition.
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It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
