Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Review (2023)
Updated December 19, 2023
For years, the card_name has punched above its no-annual-fee weight. It’s still one of the best small business credit cards on the market for a few reasons.
Ink Business Cash® Card
Ink Business Cash® Card
Annual feesannual_feesIntro APRintro_apr_rate,intro_apr_durationRegular APRreg_apr,reg_apr_typeBonus rewardsbonus_milesBonus rewards detailsbonus_miles_full
Rewards rate:
- 5% cash back on $25,000 worth of office supplies and office-related services – like internet, cable, and phone services—every year.
- 2% cash back from gas stations and restaurants every year, up to $25,000.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases (no limit).
First, though it’s advertised by Chase as a cash back credit card, it’s actually not. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points which can be redeemed for cash, but you can also redeem them for free hotel stays, airfare, rental cars etc. at a rate much more favorable than cash back.
It its welcome bonus will make you bonus_miles_full. That leaves most other annual_fees annual fee credit card bonuses in the dust.
Finally, the card earns between 2% and 5% cash back on common expenses, which is well above average.
If you’re on the prowl for a small business credit card, the card_name could be just what you need. Here’s what you need to know about this card.
TIME’s Take
The card_name is among the most powerful earners in the rewards credit card market. Its spending bonuses are generous, and its massive $750 welcome bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements should be reason enough to at least try the card out for a year or two. The fact that the card charges a annual_fees annual fee makes it all the more impressive.
The card may not be the best for big spenders, though, as its bonus categories have a yearly cap.
Chase Ink Business Cash vs Unlimited
| Welcome offer | bonus_miles_full | bonus_miles_full |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate |
|
|
| Intro APR | intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration | intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration |
| APR | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | reg_apr,reg_apr_type |
| Annual fees | annual_fees | annual_fees |
| Credit score | credit_score_needed | credit_score_needed |
Pros & cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Up to 5% back (5 points per dollar) for common business purchases | Only small business owners qualify |
| No annual fee | Bonus spending categories have annual caps |
| Cash back can be converted into travel rewards |
Who is the card for?
The card_name is a small business credit card. That means you’ll need to operate a small business to qualify. However, even side-gigs like selling items on Etsy, driving for Uber or various freelance work can be enough to qualify as a business. If you’re making money from a similar initiative, you are a small business owner.
With annual_fees annual fee, the card_name is a good pick if you’re unwilling to make an initial investment for big value. While it’s got a decent selection of perks, it can’t compete with the ongoing benefits offered by annual fee-incurring credit cards, some of which offer many hundreds of dollars in memberships and statement credits each year.
This card is also great for those interested in travel. As you’ll see, the card’s rewards can be converted into airline miles and hotel points which can make nearly free travel possible.
Rewards structure
The card_name will bonus_miles_full.
The card also earns rewards at the following rate:
- 5% cash back (5 Chase points per dollar) on Lyft rides through March 2025.
- 5% cash back (5 Chase points per dollar) on the first $25,000 of combined spending on internet, cable, phone services and at office supply stores each cardmember year (then 1%).
- 2% cash back (2 Chase points per dollar) on the first $25,000 of combined spending at restaurants and gas stations each cardmember year (then 1%).
- 1% cash back (1 Chase point per dollar) on all other eligible purchases.
A sizable return like this for common expenses is a big deal, particularly for a no annual fee credit card. If your business spending can be channeled through office supply stores (which may include things like Visa gift cards that can be used anywhere), you’ll be sitting on a heap of rewards before you know it.
The card_name earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points — not cash back. You can redeem them for things like:
- Cash back at a rate of 1 cent each.
- Gift cards at a rate of 1 cent each (sometimes 1.1 cents each during promotions).
- To pay for your Amazon cart at a rate of 0.8 cents each.
- Free travel through Chase transfer partners.
That last bullet is the one to focus on. Using your points for travel is far and away the best option to squeeze value from Chase points.
The caveat is that you can’t transfer your points to airline and hotel partners unless you also hold either the card_name, card_name or card_name. To transfer the rewards you earn from the card_name, you must first move your points onto one of these cards (this can easily be done online).
Once you’ve done that, you can convert your points into airline miles and hotel points. Here are a few things you can accomplish with the card_name welcome bonus:
- Transfer 80,000 points to Hyatt for a weekend at Alila Ventana Big Sur, an five-star all-inclusive resort. That’s a $4,000+ hotel stay (a value of 5 cents per point).
- Transfer 77,000 points to Flying Blue (the loyalty program of Air France and KLM) for three round-trip economy promo awards between Miami and Paris on Air France. You’ll pay around $200 in fees per person, but you’ll get $2,500+ in airfare (a value of 2.4 cents per point).
- Transfer 70,000 points to British Airways for a one-way business class flight between the East Coast and Doha in Qatar Qsuites, some of the fanciest lie-flat seats in the sky. That’s a $4,500+ flight (a value of 6.4 cents per point).
You can also “buy” airfare, hotel stays, rental cars etc. through the Chase Travel Portal (Chase’s proprietary online travel agency) for between 1.25 cents and 1.5 cents each, depending on which annual fee-incurring Ultimate Rewards credit card you have.
The fine print
While the card_name doesn’t charge an annual fee, you’ll be on the hook for other common credit card fees, such as:
- Foreign transaction fees: Pay foreign_transaction_fee, whether you’re traveling abroad or making online purchases from a foreign country in your home office.
- Balance transfer fees: Pay $5 or 5% of your balance transfer amount, whichever is greater.
- Cash advance fees: Pay cash_advance_fee
- Late payment fees: Pay a $40 fee when you miss your payment due date. Set your credit card on autopay for the minimum payment to ensure you never have to pay this fee.
- Return payment fees: Pay a $40 fee when your payment is not processed due to insufficient funds (or other reasons).
Of course, you’re also subject to a purchase reg_apr,reg_apr_type, depending on creditworthiness. This detail is irrelevant as long as you pay your balance off each month, as you’ll never incur interest. However, if you think you’ll carry a balance month-to-month, this card is not a good option. In fact, no rewards credit card is a good option for carrying a balance.
Additional hidden perks
Intro APR offer
The card_name offers intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration (then reg_apr,reg_apr_type). This means that swiping your card and carrying a balance month-to-month won’t incur interest during your first year of card membership.
Again, carrying a balance is one of the worst habits you can possibly develop as a credit card holder, but if you’ve got big business expenses on the horizon that you don’t think you can pay off within a few months, this intro APR offer could be a huge help.
Primary rental car insurance
The card_name is one of the only annual_fees annual fee credit cards that offers primary rental car insurance. Simply use your credit card to pay for the reservation and decline the rental agency’s in-house CDW, and you’re automatically covered.
One important note is that you’re only covered when renting a car for business purposes.
Purchase insurances
The card_name positions itself as a good option for big business purchases thanks to the following coverages:
- Purchase protection: Eligible items bought with this card are covered up to 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim (max $50,000 per account).
- Extended warranty protection: Eligible items bought with this card receive up to 1 additional year on U.S. manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less.
Travel and emergency assistance services
The travel and emergency assistance services feature is not insurance, but it can save you a lot of headaches when things go wrong during your trip.
The card_name gives you access to a hotline that offers translation services, help with visas and lost passports, medical referrals and lots more. Even if you just want some advice before your trip starts, you can call the number to get information as simple as weather reports.
The hotline is free to use, but you’ll pay anything that costs money (such as emergency transportation).
Roadside Dispatch
Roadside Dispatch is sort of a pay-to-play AAA membership. By calling a dedicated number, you can arrange for a jumpstart, tire change (as long as you’ve got a spare), towing etc. These services aren’t free (though some may offer discounts), but it’s a comfort to know that you’ve got a solution if you experience car trouble.
What could be improved
The card_name is largely cardholder-friendly aside from one glaring pain point: annual bonus category caps.
For example, if you spend more than $25,000 per anniversary year between gas stations and restaurants, your return rate will be throttled heavily. Depending on the nature of your business, you may spend way more than $25,000 for these expenses each year.
The card could also stand to offer 0% intro APR on balance transfers as well as purchases.
Card alternatives
| card_name | card_name | card_name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus | bonus_miles_full | bonus_miles_full | bonus_miles_full |
| APR | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | reg_apr,reg_apr_type |
| Annual fees | annual_fees | annual_fees | annual_fees |
| Credit score | credit_score_needed | credit_score_needed | credit_score_needed |
*Bonus rewards apply for up to $25,000 in combined spending each year, then 1% (1 Chase point per dollar).
The card_name overperforms for a annual_fees annual fee small business credit card. If your spending aligns with its generous 5% bonus categories, you’ll find this to be the single fastest way to accrue Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Ink Business Cash® Card
Ink Business Cash® Card
Annual feesannual_feesIntro APRintro_apr_rate,intro_apr_durationRegular APRreg_apr,reg_apr_typeBonus rewardsbonus_milesBonus rewards detailsbonus_miles_full
Rewards rate:
- 5% cash back on $25,000 worth of office supplies and office-related services – like internet, cable, and phone services—every year.
- 2% cash back from gas stations and restaurants every year, up to $25,000.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases (no limit).
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is the card_name worth it?
The card_name has annual_fees annual fee, so it’s worth a test drive for just about any small business. Especially if you spend meaningfully at office supply stores or for internet, cable or phone services each year, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option.
What is the fee for card_name?
The card_name has annual_fees annual fee.
How do you qualify for card_name?
To qualify for the card_name, you must operate a small business. This can be a simple side-gig like babysitting, tutoring or coaching — as long as you’re making money from it.