The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card packs serious value with no annual fee, offering excellent rewards at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services. This business card stands out with its substantial welcome bonus and valuable perks like purchase protection and primary rental car coverage for business rentals.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Ink Business Cash currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full Additionally, if you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account, on your first card anniversary you’ll earn a one-time 10% bonus on all eligible cash back earned in your first year. For example, if you earn $2,000 in cash back, you’ll receive a $200 bonus.
Earning Rewards
With the Ink Business Cash you will earn rewards in the form of Ultimate Rewards points:
This rewards structure offers excellent earning potential for businesses that spend heavily on office supplies and utilities. The 5% category can provide significant value, especially for small businesses. However, the spending caps may limit rewards for larger companies.
While the 2% categories are useful, they’re not industry-leading. The 1% on non-bonus spending is relatively low, making this card less ideal for general expenses.
No Annual Fee
The Ink Business Cash has no annual fee, making it an attractive option for small business owners looking to maximize rewards without additional costs.
Additional employee cards are free, allowing you to earn rewards on their spending. These authorized users can benefit from the card’s protections and perks.
Ink Business Cash Benefits
The Ink Business Cash offers the following card benefits and perks: Primary Rental Car Insurance steps in as the primary coverage when renting for business purposes for any damage or theft of a rental vehicle paid for with this card without needing to use your own auto insurance. Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans. 120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Pros and Cons
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this card:
Pros:
Strong Earning Potential: You can earn up to 5% cash back on office supply stores and select utilities, providing excellent value for common business expenses. The potential to earn 125,000 points or $1,250 cash back in the 5% category alone is impressive.
No Annual Fee: The card has no annual fee, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes looking to maximize their rewards without additional costs. This ensures that all rewards earned translate directly to savings for your business.
Flexible Redemption Options: While marketed as a cash back card, rewards can potentially be converted to valuable Ultimate Rewards points when paired with certain Chase cards. This flexibility allows you to choose between cash back for immediate savings or travel rewards for potentially higher value.
Primary Rental Car Insurance: You’ll benefit from primary rental car insurance for business rentals, potentially saving on insurance costs and protecting your personal auto policy from claims.
Cons:
Foreign Transaction Fees: The card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, making it less suitable for businesses with international expenses. If you frequently make purchases abroad, this fee can quickly negate the rewards earned.
Spending Caps on Bonus Categories: The 5% and 2% cash back categories are limited to the first $25,000 in combined purchases per cardmember year, which may be restrictive for larger businesses or those with high spending in these categories.
Low Earn Rate on Non-Bonus Spending: The card only offers 1% cash back on purchases outside the bonus categories. This low earning rate may not be competitive for businesses that spend significantly in areas not covered by the 5% and 2% categories.
Alternatives to the Ink Business Cash
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) offers great rewards for small business owners. With bonus points on travel, shipping, advertising, and communication services, plus valuable travel protections, it’s a solid choice for companies looking to maximize their everyday spending. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 3x points on travel, shipping, advertising made with social media sites and search engines, and internet, cable and phone services on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (review) offers a straightforward 1.5% cash back on all business purchases with no bonus categories to track and no annual fee. This card shines brightest when paired with premium Chase cards, allowing you to transform your rewards into valuable Ultimate Rewards points for transfers to travel partners. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Primary rental car insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, and 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review) offers a strong 2x Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in purchases annually, making it an excellent no-annual-fee (rates & fees) option for small business owners. This card provides good value for everyday spending and access to Amex’s 20+ transfer partners, though it does have foreign transaction fees. Welcome Bonus: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Earning Points: 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent on the card annually (then 1 point per dollar). Card Benefits: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Expanded Buying Power, and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
The Verdict
The Ink Business Cash is a solid choice for small business owners looking to maximize their rewards without an annual fee.
You’ll earn generous cash back on office supplies and utilities, making it ideal if these are significant expenses for your business. The card’s welcome bonus is impressive for a no-fee option, giving you a substantial boost right from the start. While the bonus categories have spending caps, they’re likely sufficient for most small businesses.
If you pair this card with a premium Chase card, you can potentially get even more value by converting your cash back to Ultimate Rewards points.
Learn How to Apply: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business Plus® Credit Card from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
