The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card 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.
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 of Ink Unlimited
The Ink Unlimited offers a welcome bonus of: bonus_miles_full
Before applying, keep in mind Chase’s 5/24 rule – you won’t be approved if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the past 24 months. Business owners should consider applying for this card before other personal credit cards since it won’t count toward your 5/24 status once opened.
Good credit is essential for approval, with Chase typically looking for scores of 670 or higher. Small business owners, freelancers, and sole proprietors can all be eligible for this card, making it accessible to a wide range of entrepreneurs.
Earning Rewards with Ink Unlimited
The Ink Unlimited earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards (i.e., 1.5% cash back equals 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points).
You’ll love the simplicity of earning 1.5x points on everything – no need to remember which card to use where.
When paired with certain Chase cards such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll unlock valuable airline and hotel transfer opportunities.
For general business purchases, this card shines with unlimited earning potential at a solid rate. Just keep in mind that other cards might serve you better for specific purchases like flights, restaurants, or office supplies where bonus multipliers can reach 3x-5x points.
Annual Fee of Ink Unlimited
The Ink Unlimited has no annual fee, letting you maximize value without yearly charges. Your card includes valuable coverages like primary rental car insurance and purchase protection at no extra cost.
Adding employee cards is free; these authorized users receive identical insurance benefits.
Ink Business Unlimited Card Benefits
The Ink Business Unlimited offers these 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’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
No Annual Fee: You’ll never pay an annual fee to keep this card, making it an excellent long-term addition to your wallet – especially valuable for small businesses watching their expenses.
Strong Everyday Earnings: The 1.5% back on all purchases provides consistent value with no category restrictions or spending caps to track. When paired with a premium Chase card, this translates to 1.5X Ultimate Rewards points on everything.
Point Transfer Flexibility: You can transfer rewards to premium Chase cards like the Sapphire Reserve or Ink Preferred, unlocking valuable transfer partners and higher redemption rates through the Chase travel portal.
Primary Rental Car Coverage: The card provides primary collision damage waiver coverage for business car rentals, a rare perk for a no-annual-fee card.
Cons:
Foreign Transaction Fees: This card charges a 3% fee on purchases made outside the U.S., so it’s not recommended for international business expenses.
No Bonus Categories: The flat 1.5% rate means you’re potentially leaving rewards on the table compared to cards offering higher rates in specific spending categories like travel, dining, or office supplies.
Partner Card Requirement: To maximize value, you need to pair this with a premium Chase card that allows transfers to travel partners. Without a premium Chase card, you’re limited to cash back.
Alternatives to the Ink Business Unlimited
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.
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.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (review) 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. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; 1% cash back on all other 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.
Is the Ink Unlimited Card Worth it?
The Ink Unlimited stands out as an exceptional choice for business owners who want to maximize their rewards without paying an annual fee. You’ll earn a substantial welcome bonus that can be turned into valuable Ultimate Rewards points when paired with eligible Chase cards, potentially increasing your value significantly beyond simple cash back.
The card’s straightforward earning structure gives you a flat rate on all purchases, while also providing impressive perks typically reserved for premium cards, including primary rental car coverage for business rentals and comprehensive travel protections.
For a no-annual-fee business card that combines a generous welcome offer, consistent earning potential, and valuable benefits, the Ink Business Unlimited is hard to beat, especially if you already have other Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning cards in your wallet.
Learn How to Apply: Ink Business Unlimited® 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.
