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Running a small business means every dollar counts -- so paying an annual fee just to access decent rewards doesn't always make sense.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) gets that.
At Motley Fool Money, we've reviewed hundreds of credit cards, and the Chase Ink Business Cash just earned our award for Best Business Credit Card of 2026. Here's our honest review of the card and features, and who it suits best.
NEW: Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
16.74% - 24.74% Variable
Rewards 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 N/A
$0
Welcome Offer
Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months after account opening.
Earn $750 $1,000 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% on gas and dining (on up to $25,000 yearly). With a limited-time $1,000 welcome bonus and no annual fee, it can outpace flat-rate cards when you maximize its 5% rewards.
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:
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:
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.
If you're just starting out or getting your first business credit card, I almost always recommend getting one that has a $0 annual fee. This keeps risk low, and means all your rewards are pure upside.
Here are the top benefits I think are most useful.
For a no-annual-fee card, this truly is a great welcome offer. Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months after account opening..
For some small businesses this might be a stretch to reach. But for any that have expenses lined up or a big-ticket purchase coming soon, it's an easy win to kickstart your cash back.
The bonus categories on this card are pretty well thought out. Even if only a portion of your business spending falls into them, you'll find the cash back accumulates quickly.
You'll 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. For most small business owners and freelancers, that's money you're already spending every month.
If you're on the road a lot -- meeting clients, running errands, grabbing a working lunch -- the 2% cash back on on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year is a nice bonus on top of everything else.
You'll also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases, so no spending goes unrewarded.
The Chase Ink Business Cash offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months.
This can be a super valuable tool to manage business cash flow. Like if you've got to make a bunch of purchases upfront, but the revenue trails by 60+ days. Having an intro APR helps you pay off the bills over time without interest piling up.
Just keep in mind that a 16.74% - 24.74% 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.
Back when I was running my own LLCs, this was one of my favorite perks of holding a Chase credit card. If you have friends or clients that run their own small business, you can refer them and get a bonus if they are approved.
Just make sure they will actually benefit from the card, and explain to them how you use the perks.
Even though this card won our Best Business Credit Card award for 2026, that doesn't mean it's a fit for everyone. Here are some reasons you might want to consider other cards instead.
Category cards live and die by whether your actual spending matches the bonus categories.
If your business doesn't spend heavily on internet, phone services, or office supplies, you could find yourself earning just 1% back on the bulk of your purchases. To be honest, you could fare much better with a flat-rate card that lets you earn a higher rate on everything.
If that sounds like your situation, I'd point you toward the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) instead. It earns a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase, without any spending caps or categories to worry about. It also has no annual fee.
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.
We suggest taking a good look at various options to pick the perfect card for you and your small business. Remember, not all business credit cards are created equal, and every business has unique needs. To help you out, we've put together a short list of top-notch business credit cards that offer great value across a variety of business types.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.90/5
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.
|
Earn |
Earn 5% cash back in select business categories 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. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 16.74% - 24.74% Variable |
||
|
5.00/5
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.
|
Earn |
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 16.74% - 24.74% Variable |
||
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Apply Now for The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
On American Express's Secure Website. |
4.80/5
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.
|
$250 Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. | 1% - 2% cash back 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on the first $50,000 of purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. |
Intro: Purchases: 0% on purchases, 12 months from date of account opening Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 16.74% - 28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
On American Express's Secure Website. |
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:
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.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is easy to recommend to almost any small business owner. It has no annual fee, a strong welcome bonus, and cash back rates that reward the way most small businesses actually spend.
It's also why we named it Motley Fool Money's Best Business Credit Card of 2026.
If your spending aligns with the bonus categories, this one's a no-brainer. And the no-annual-fee structure means you're never taking on risk just by holding it.
Apply for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and start earning today.
The main difference is in how you earn rewards. The Chase Ink Business Cash has bonus categories (up to 5% back) but only 1% on everything else. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited essentially earns a flat rate (1.5% cash back) on all purchases, with no spending caps.
If your spending is concentrated in phone, internet, office supplies, gas, or restaurants, the Chase Ink Business Cash wins. If it's spread across many different categories, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited may be the better fit.
Yes. You don't need to run a corporation or have employees. Sole proprietors and freelancers can apply, and Chase accepts applications even from recently formed businesses. My business was brand new when I applied, and I got approved as a freelancer. Your personal credit history and income will factor into the approval decision.
Yes, and they're free! You can set individual spending limits and track expenses easily.
Motley Fool Stock Disclosures
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Joel O'Leary has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.For rates and fees for The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.