Chase Ink Business Cash vs. Ink Business Unlimited

If you’re a small-business owner and a fan of cash back, Chase has two great offerings: the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.

Both cards offer cardholders a large sign-up bonus, generous intro APR on new purchases and the ability to rack up plenty of rewards on your everyday business spending. So how do you decide which is best?

The two Chase cash back business cards offer very different rewards structures, making it easy to align one or the other with your spending habits. While the Ink Business Unlimited Card offers a flat rate of cash back on every purchase, the Ink Business Cash Card offers bonus cash back rates on select categories.

Since both these cards offer comparable benefits for small-business owners — such as free employee cards and a mobile wallet app to track receipts — deciding between them comes down to how you plan to use your card.

Card details

Card	Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card	Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Rewards rate	1.5% cash back on every purchase	5% cash back on internet, cable and phone services and at office supply stores ($25,000 in purchases per year) 2% cash back on gas and dining ($25,000 in purchases per year) 1% cash back on other purchases
Sign-up bonus	$900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months	$900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months
0% intro APR	0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (17.49% to 23.49% variable after)	0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (17.49% to 23.49% variable after)
Annual fee	$0	$0

Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash

Rewards structure

The winner: Ink Business Cash

Though the Ink Business Unlimited’s flat-rate cash back is great for cardholders who don’t spend heavily in any one category, the Ink Business Cash’s rewards structure is generally better. According to CreditCards.com experts, the average rewards rate on the Chase Ink Business Cash is 1.85 percent, as opposed to the 1.5 percent on the Business Unlimited. If you spend close to our estimated average spend per year, for small-business owners, of $48,000, the Ink Business Cash is a better choice.

Introductory APR

The winner: Tie

Outside of rewards, these Chase Ink Business cards boast the same 0 percent intro APR offer — 0 percent interest on new purchases for 12 months, after which you’ll be charged 17.49 percent to 23.49 percent variable regular APR. No matter how you look at it, this is a great feature to have on a small-business card so that you can give yourself a financial cushion when setting up your business. For those planning a big-ticket item, like a fancy new printer for the office or new chairs for every employee, this is a useful tool to have on your business card.

 Other perks

The winner: Tie

These cards also have the same benefits, which are all useful features when you inevitably run into small hiccups for your business. If your employee rents a car for a work trip, but it becomes damaged or stolen — as long as they decline the rental company’s collision insurance and use the Ink Business card to pay for the rental, Chase could cover the cash value of the card. Other handy perks are purchase protection and extended warranty.

One useful feature you mustn’t forget is that the Chase Ink Business cards allow you to convert your cash back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points and even transfer them to another Chase Ultimate Rewards card. That way, even if you don’t have a personal Chase card, you can still participate in Chase’s flexible and versatile Ultimate Rewards program.

Which card should you get?

The two Chase Ink Business cards share many similarities, but they mainly differ in their rewards structures. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited earns a flat rate of cash back, whereas the Ink Business Cash has bonus categories in which you can earn up to 5 percent cash back in, though up to a point.

• If you’re setting up an office. For those spending on office supplies, phone and internet services, the Ink Business Cash’s 5 percent cash back on these categories (on up to $25,000, then 1 percent) would give you significant rewards. Of course, be sure to charge this card while you’re setting up since you need to spend $6,000 in three months to earn your $900 welcome bonus.
• If you wine and dine with clients. Thanks to the 2 percent cash back (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1 percent) on gas and dining, you’ll be able to earn money while you dine with clients or fill up the tank for commutes or business travel.
• If you spend in different categories. The Ink Business Unlimited is great for business owners who don’t have an office space and tend to spend on a variety of categories say home improvement stores, gas, dining and travel. It’s a great card for anyone who finds fixed bonus categories more restrictive than enticing.
• If your yearly spend is high. For small businesses that already spend over $25,000 a year on office upkeep or on gas or dining (or both), the Ink Business Unlimited Card is a better idea since it has no cap on its flat-rate cash back.

Bottom line

Both the Ink Business Cash Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card can help small-business owners rake in cash back on their everyday spending. Deciding which offers more value for you comes down to taking a good look at your business’ budget and spending habits.

Spread your purchases across multiple categories? The Ink Business Unlimited’s flat rate is top-notch. Spend mostly on office supplies, phone and internet services? You can maximize the Ink Business Cash’s bonus categories, while still earning cash back on dining and gas.

You could also apply for both cards. By pairing the Ink Business Cash Card’s high rate on bonus categories with the Ink Business Unlimited Card’s flat rate on general purchases, you can optimize your rewards potential without having to pay annual fees for either.