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October 17, 2018 12:00 PM PT

Chase Ink Business Unlimited Review: Is It Good?

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.
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Chase Ink Business Unlimited® card offers a huge sign-up bonus, 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and no annual fee. Read on for the pros and cons.

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

Pros and Cons

  • Earn $900 bonus cash back
  • 1.5% unlimited cash back
  • Foreign transaction fee

Bottom Line

Excellent 1.5% cash back credit card for business

Chase has introduced a new business card - the Chase Ink Business Unlimited.

Do you run a small business and feel left out by the reward structures of other business cards? The Ink Unlimited offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and has no annual fee.

So you can earn rewards no matter what kind of business you have.

Is it right for you? Read on for the in-depth review.

Who It's Best For

  • Businesses with varied spending. You earn a flat 1.5% reward rate on every purchase. So it's great for businesses that don't usually fit with bonus categories on other business cards.

    Counterpoint: If your business spends a lot at office supply stores and on telecom services, gas, and dining, check out the Chase Ink Cash instead.

  • New businesses. It has an introductory APR on purchases, so it's good for new businesses with unsteady cash flow or have large initial purchases to make.

  • If you already have one of the other Chase business cards. The Business Unlimited makes for an ideal companion to the Ink Cash or Ink Preferred. Those cards only offer bonus points in specific categories. You can use the Unlimited on the non-bonus purchases so you can get extra points on everything.

Do you need a business to get Chase Ink Unlimited? Yes, but what qualifies as a business might surprise you. If you do anything for profit, it can be considered a small business. Examples can be: driving Uber, tutoring math, working freelance, or selling items on Etsy.

You don't need to be registered as an LLC or corporation. In fact, you can substitute your Social Security number for a Business Tax ID when applying. But never lie on a credit card application - you may be asked to provide documentation before being approved.

Why We Like the Ink Business Unlimited

  • A huge sign-up bonus. Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening This is an amazing welcome bonus for a card with no annual fee.

  • 1.5% cash back on everything. You get an automatic 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make for your business. There are no categories to keep track of or enrollment required.

  • Introductory APR. There is a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases. After that, the APR is 18.49% - 24.49% Variable, based on your creditworthiness.

    This is great if you have some larger initial investments to make for your business. Or if your business doesn't yet have steady cash flow, and you need some time to pay off purchases.

  • Many ways to redeem rewards. You can redeem your rewards at the rate of 1 point = 1 cent in many ways:

    • As statement credit on your next bill
    • As direct deposit into your bank account
    • Exchange for a gift card to select store or restaurant
    • Book travel on the Chase Travel℠ portal

  • Unlimited rewards with no expiration. There is no cap as to how many rewards you can earn. And your rewards never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

  • It's part of the Ultimate Rewards (UR) family. This means that your points have higher potential in the future. Chase allows you to combine your points between different UR cards. Some of the premium UR cards (such as Chase Sapphire Preferred®) allow points to be used for higher value when booking travel or to be transferred to travel partners. So if you eventually get one of the premium UR cards, your points can be worth more in the future. Read more about it below.

  • No annual fee. That's right, this card has no annual fee.

Other Benefits

There are some other notable features of the Ink Business Unlimited business credit card, including:

  • Zero fraud liability. Cardholders will never have to pay for unauthorized charges.

  • Free employee cards. Track each employee's spending, set spending limits, and earn rewards from their purchases.

  • Free monthly statements. You get free monthly statements and quarterly management reports, with itemized and categorized expenses.

  • Purchase protection. You are covered if your eligible item is damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase, for up to $10,000 per claim (and $50,000 per account).

  • Extended warranty protection. Extend the manufacturer's warranty for 1 year on items that come with an initial three-year or less eligible U.S. manufacturer's warranty.

  • Primary auto rental insurance. You get primary coverage for theft and collision damage for most cars rented for business purposes when you decline the rental company's insurance. Reimbursement is up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.

What credit do I need for approval? If you do not have any business credit, then banks will look at your personal credit history when deciding whether to approve you for your first business credit card. Chase's business cards do require good to excellent credit.

Drawbacks of the Card

Be aware of these potential downsides.

  • The rewards may not be the greatest. 1.5% cash back is decent, but not the best. If your business spends heavily on certain categories, there are other cards that could give you more (see comparisons below).

  • Foreign transaction fee. There is a 3% foreign transaction fee for purchases made outside of the U.S. So this card is not the best for businesses that travel abroad often. Check out the Chase Ink Preferred instead.

  • It's bound by the 5/24 rule. Chase's 5/24 policy states that if you've opened 5 or more cards in the past 24 months, you will not be approved for certain Chase cards. If you're at or over the limit, you won't be eligible for the Ink Unlimited even if your credit score is flawless.

How to Make the Most of the Card

On its own, your points on the Ink Unlimited can be redeemed at the rate of 1 point = 1 cent (10,000 points = $100).

But if you pair it with one of the premium Chase UR cards, your points can be worth more. Here's what points are worth with the premium cards when booking travel on the Chase Travel℠ portal:

With these cards, your points can also be transferred 1:1 to a number of airline and hotel partners. This can really maximize the value of your points.

How It Compares

Chase Ink Business Cash®:
Chase Ink Cash gives you bonus points for telecom services, at office supply stores, and on dining and gas. If your business spends mostly in these categories, you can earn more cash back with this card.

It also offers an intro APR, so it's a good choice for new businesses as well. This card has no annual fee.

Chase Ink Business Preferred:
Ink Preferred is geared more towards businesses with travel needs. The main perk of this card is that your points are worth 25% more on the Chase Travel℠ portal, or can be transferred to airline and hotel partners.

This card has no intro APR and a $95 annual fee, so it's best for more established businesses.

Bottom Line

This card is a great choice for small businesses looking for a no-annual-fee card. We love that Chase has made this option for small businesses with varied spending. Not all businesses spend heavily on telecom services, office supplies, travel, etc., so it's great that other types of businesses have an option now too.

The Ink Unlimited is a great addition to the Ultimate Rewards lineup. And if you eventually get one of the premium UR cards, your points can be used for higher value.

Next Step: View the issuer's official application, terms, and details

Write to Anna G at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

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