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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Review: A No Annual Fee Card Built for Everyday Business Expenses

Review Updated
Joel O'Leary
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

Running a business is tough enough without having to decode complicated credit card reward systems. That's why I like the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) -- it keeps things simple. With generous cash back categories, no annual fee, and a 0% intro APR for new purchases, it's one of the best business cards I've come across.

At Motley Fool Money, we've tested and reviewed dozens of business credit cards. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Chase Ink Business cards -- they're my go-to recommendation for business owners who want straightforward rewards and long-term value. Here's why I love this card, and what you should consider before adding it to your wallet.

4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

17.49% - 25.49% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 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. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Earn 5% cash back in select business categories

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn $900 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening

Earn $900 bonus cash back

  • If your business spends at office supply stores or on telecom, this card can pay off fast. Earn 5% cash back in those categories (on up to $25,000 yearly), plus 2% at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $25,000 yearly). With a limited-time $900 welcome bonus and no annual fee, it can outpace flat-rate cards when you maximize its 5% rewards.

    • Big cash back sign-up bonus
    • Office supply store rewards
    • Internet, cable, and phone service rewards
    • 0% intro APR offer
    • No annual fee
    • Low caps on bonus categories
    • No balance transfer offer
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • Earn $900 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening
    • Earn 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
    • Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
    • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
    • No Annual Fee
    • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
    • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
    • Member FDIC

Our business card ratings are designed to help owners and entrepreneurs find cards that match the way they spend – and scale. We consider earning structures, welcome offers, perks, and business-specific benefits like employee controls or loyalty boosts.

Our highest-rated business cards have:

  • Strong earning potential across everyday or business-specific categories (travel, advertising, office supplies)
  • Transferable rewards programs for added flexibility
  • Welcome offers with meaningful upfront value
  • Valuable extras like employee cards, accounting software integrations, or airline lounge access
  • Low-to-moderate annual fees

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best business credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

Our business card ratings are designed to help owners and entrepreneurs find cards that match the way they spend – and scale. We consider earning structures, welcome offers, perks, and business-specific benefits like employee controls or loyalty boosts.

Our highest-rated business cards have:

  • Strong earning potential across everyday or business-specific categories (travel, advertising, office supplies)
  • Transferable rewards programs for added flexibility
  • Welcome offers with meaningful upfront value
  • Valuable extras like employee cards, accounting software integrations, or airline lounge access
  • Low-to-moderate annual fees

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best business credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

What I like about the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Compared to many other small business cards on the market, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card stands out for its generous bonus categories and no annual fee.

Giant welcome offer

Chase just upped the offer for this card, which gives you an immediate boost that puts real money back into your business.

Earn $900 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. For a no-annual-fee card, that's one of the best upfront offers available to small businesses.

Generous 2% and 5% cash back categories

There are multiple bonus rewards categories and ways to earn cash back. Here are the categories and rates:

  • 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

The 5% categories are capped at $25,000 in combined annual spend, but that's more than enough for most freelancers and small business owners.

While office supply rewards are useful, it's the 5% back on internet, cable, and phone services that really stands out.

Also the 2% rate for gas and restaurants is a perfect fit for many entrepreneurs on the road a lot.

0% Intro APR on Purchases

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months.

This can be a super valuable tool to manage business cash flow. If your business needs to make large purchases upfront, you can pay off the bills over time without interest piling up.

Just keep in mind that a 17.49% - 25.49% Variable APR will apply immediately after the intro period. This card should be used as a short-term financing cushion -- not a long-term debt solution.

No annual fee

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card keeps it simple with a $0 annual fee. That means all the rewards you earn stay in your pocket.

Referral bonus potential

Back when I ran my LLCs, this was my favorite perk of holding a Chase credit card.

You can earn 20,000 bonus points for each business that gets approved for any Chase for Business® credit card through your referral link. That's worth about $200 in cash back (or potentially more when used for travel).

So while you're out and about meeting other business owners, make sure you're singing the praises of your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. You can earn up to 100,000 bonus points per year this way.

Downsides you should consider

Here are a few limitations to be aware of before you apply.

Limited category relevance

The 5% cash back categories are great, but they aren't especially broad. Not every business has a huge ongoing spend in office supplies, phone, or internet services.

So if your company spends more heavily in other areas, you may find you're only earning 1% back on the bulk of your purchases. The default is pretty low compared to most cash back credit cards.

Foreign transaction fees

This card won't be your best travel companion overseas. It charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars on purchases made outside the U.S. For international spending, you'll want a business card with no foreign transaction fees.

Alternatives to consider

Chase offers a few other Ink business cards, each with its own strengths. If the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card isn't the perfect fit, these two might be worth a look:

  • Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) -- Best for simplicity. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. It's perfect if your spending doesn't align with the Cash card's bonus categories.
  • Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) -- Best for travel rewards. You'll earn 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. It also comes with premium travel protections, making it a good choice for business travelers.
As of Apr. 30, 2025
Image for
Image for
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn $900 bonus cash back

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 90,000 bonus points

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Earn 3 points per $1 in select business categories

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

17.49% - 23.49% Variable

Regular APR:

20.24% - 26.24% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$95

Highlights:

  • Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
  • Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
  • Member FDIC
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How to apply

You can apply right here from this page. The online application process usually takes just a few minutes. You'll need to provide both business and personal details, including:

  • Business information -- Name, address, business structure (sole proprietor, LLC, etc.), number of employees, annual revenue, and years in operation.
  • Personal information -- Your name, Social Security number, income, and personal credit history (since you're personally guaranteeing the account).
  • Purpose of the card -- Chase may ask about your typical business expenses and projected spending.

Approval decisions can sometimes be instant. But in some cases Chase may request additional documentation to verify your business.

Even freelancers and sole proprietors can qualify, so you don't need to run a large company to be eligible. Personally, I set up my LLC the week before opening an account, and I was approved instantly.

If approved, you'll usually receive your card in the mail within seven to 10 business days, and you can start earning rewards as soon as you activate it.

Final thoughts

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is one of the simplest small business cards with easy cash back rewards and no annual fee.

Between the huge welcome bonus and ongoing 1%-5% rewards, it's an easy win if your business spends in the right places.

Apply for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card here and start earning today.

FAQs

  • Yes, and they're free! You can set individual spending limits and track expenses easily.

  • Yep. Any business owner can apply for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. This includes established businesses, startups, and freelance businesses.

  • All the Ink Business cards from Chase have robust fraud protection, purchase protection, and the ability to set up account alerts for monitoring activity. That means you won't be responsible for unauthorized or fraudulent charges made with your card.