There’s a reason we named the the best business credit card for big expenses this year. Not only does this card offer a large signup bonus, but you get up to 5% cash-back on purchases made in certain business-related categories. There’s also no annual fee and no additional fees for employee cards. Finally, cardholders get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months of card ownership along with an array of other perks.
If you’re in the market for a business credit card but don’t want to pay an annual fee, it would be hard to do better than the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card. Keep reading to learn more about how it works, why you should consider it, and which cards might help your business earn more rewards over time.
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
The Simple Dollar’s Key Takeaways
- No annual fee. Where many of the best business cards charge huge annual fees, it’s refreshing to find a high-quality business card that never charges an annual fee or fees for employee cards.
- Great earning potential. This card offers an exceptionally high rate of cash-back with big limits in certain categories. Once you sign up, you’ll receive 5% cash-back on your first $25,000 spent at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone combined. You’ll also get 2% cash-back on $25,000 in combined spending at gas stations and restaurants each year and 1% cash-back on all other purchases.
- Get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. This offer makes this card a solid option for business owners who need to make a large purchase and pay it off over several months.
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card: Solid Cash-Back Card for Business Owners
Business owners who want to maximize cash-back on their business purchases would be wise to look into the . This card doesn’t charge an annual fee, yet it lets cardholders earn 5% back on a combined $25,000 spent at office supply stores and on cable, phone, and internet services each year. You also get 2% back on $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each year, along with 1% back on everything else you buy.
These are pretty lucrative categories for a no-fee business card, but they can be especially lucrative if your business spends a lot in these categories already. If you buy a ton of equipment at office supply stores each year, for example, you could max out the 5% category to earn an extra $2,500 in cash-back.
Earning 1% cash-back on all your other purchases is fairly standard, but at least the rewards you earn on purchases outside bonus categories are unlimited. Since employee cards are also offered at no cost, you have the potential to rack up even more rewards on employee expenses charged to their cards.
On the redemption side of the equation, points earned with this card are extremely easy to use and redeem. You can cash them in for statement credits, gift cards, or travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
As an added bonus, this card offers zero fraud liability and many of the perks of some of this bank’s premier travel credit cards. As a cardholder, you will get purchase protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, travel and emergency assistance services, and extended warranty protection on qualified purchases.
At the end of the day, it’s hard to beat this card and its offerings considering it doesn’t charge an annual fee. With up to 5% cash-back in certain categories and an array of free benefits for cardholders, what’s not to like?
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card: Where It Falls Flat
While the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card can be lucrative for certain spenders, there is at least one area where it’s severely lacking. Some other business credit cards offer travel-specific perks including the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners, but this card does not.
If you are someone who wants to travel frequently and you prefer to use hotel programs and frequent flyer miles, you should consider a card like the Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card instead. While this card charges a $95 annual fee, it will let you transfer points 1:1 to popular programs like Southwest Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott Rewards, Air France / Flying Blue, and United MileagePlus.
The also lets you book travel through the Chase travel portal for 25% more value, and this option could be a big money-saver if you use it often enough. Finally, the Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card offers some travel protections the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card doesn’t, including cell phone protection, no foreign transaction fees, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
The bottom line: If you want a straight-up cash-back card, the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card may be ideal. If you want a card with more travel perks, however, you may be better off considering other options.
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
Who This Card Is Good For:
- Cash-back enthusiasts who spend a lot on cable, phone, and internet or at office supply stores
- Consumers who prefer cash-back to travel rewards
- Anyone who never wants to pay an annual fee
Who Should Pass:
- Travel enthusiasts who want more options when it comes to redeeming points for travel
- Business owners who are willing to pay an annual fee for more perks
- Business owners who may earn more rewards with a card that offers a different earning structure
How Does It Compare to Other No-Fee Business Credit Cards?
While the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card is a stellar option for business owners who don’t want to pay an annual fee for a credit card, there are other no-fee options to consider as well. The chart below compares the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card to the . Here’s how they stack up:
| Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card | SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Intro Bonus | $500 bonus cash back after you use your card for $3,000 in purchases within the first three months after account opening | Special offer: save on interest with a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; after that your APR will be a variable rate, currently 13.99% - 20.99%. Terms Apply. |
| Earning Structure | Earn 5% cash-back on your first $25,000 spent at office supply stores and internet, cable, and phone combined; also earn 2% cash-back on combined spending at gas stations and restaurants of $25,000 each year and 1% cash-back on all other purchases | Earn 5% back on up to $50,000 spent each year at U.S. office supply stores and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers; earn 3% back on up to $50,000 spent in one of eight categories you choose and 1% back on all other purchases. Terms Apply. |
| Redemption Options | Redeem for cash-back, gift cards, or travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal | Statement credits automatically credited to your account |
As you can see, both cards come without an annual fee and offer the ability to earn up to 5% cash-back. However, the SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express could leave business owners who spend a lot in certain categories way ahead. This is because limits for both the 5% and 3% categories are set at $50,000, whereas the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card only offers bonus points for up to $25,000 in spending in each respective bonus category each year.
Of course, knowing the 3% bonus categories you can choose from with the SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express might help you decide whether this card is a better deal. At the moment, you can choose among:
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines
- Hotel rooms purchased directly from hotels
- Car rentals purchased from select car rental companies
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. purchases for advertising on select media
- U,.S. purchases for shipping
- U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers
While having eight categories to choose from could be a valuable proposition, the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card offers more flexibility and a signup bonus that is easier to earn. To score the $500 in bonus cash, you only have to spend $3,000 on your card within three months after account opening. The also lets you redeem cash for gift cards, statement credits, or travel, while the SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express only offers automatic statement credits you don’t get to control.
Since both cards come without an annual fee, each could be lucrative for nearly any consumer who wants to earn easy cash-back. However, you should consider how much you spend and how you hope to redeem your points before you decide.
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express
Best Strategy with the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
If you’ve made up your mind to get the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card, your strategy to maximize it should be fairly simple. Your first order of business is making sure you use your card for all your office supply, phone, cable, and internet purchases.
After that, you’ll want to get into the habit of using your card for all gas and restaurant purchases. It may help to take advantage of the provision that allows free employee cards. This way, your employees can charge all their business-related purchases to help you earn rewards instead of paying cash and filing for reimbursement later.
Finally, you’ll definitely want to make sure you spend at least $3,000 on your card within three months of account opening in order to earn the initial signup bonus this card offers. With free money on the line, you can’t afford to forget and miss out.
Also, consider whether you have a big purchase to make that you would need several months to pay down. Since this card offers 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, you might as well take advantage if you know you can pay off your balance before the regular APR kicks in.
Final Thoughts
Before you choose a business card, it helps to take a holistic look at your business spending and the type of benefits you hope to gain. Also consider the rewards you hope to earn and how your goals may impact which card would serve you best.
There are numerous business cards to choose from, each offering their own unique benefits and perks. Explore all your options and compare offers before you decide.
Holly Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer and the author of Zero Down Your Debt. Johnson shares her obsession with frugality, budgeting, and travel at ClubThrifty.com.
Related:
- Best Rewards Credit Cards
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- Best Business Credit Cards
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