Review: Chase Ink Business Unlimited

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is a great credit card for businesses with varied expenses. It’s especially valuable for businesses owners and entrepreneurs who do not spend within the bonus categories of the other Ink cards. Business owners and entrepreneurs who want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points at a flat rate will love this card too.

Bonus categories are great because you can earn more points faster within the categories. Who doesn’t love that? But some purchases don’t fall into a category and thus only earn one point on most cards. The Ink Business Unlimited is a business transferrable points earning card that solves this problem.

Earning

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is a simple card. It earns 1.5x UR points per dollar (or 1.5% cash back) on all purchases. As its name suggests, the Ink Business Unlimited has no spending limits on its elevated earning rate. That makes it a great complement to other UR point-earning cards such as the Chase Ink Business Preferred. It is also the business counterpart of the Chase Freedom Unlimited

Furthermore, the Ink Business Unlimited Card’s potential can be maximized if you have multiple UR point-earning cards. If you have a Chase Ink Business Preferred or either Sapphire card, you can transfer the points from your Ink Business Unlimited account to one of those accounts. This feature is the most powerful that Chase has to offer as it’s vital for many earning strategies. Without a premium Chase card, you cannot earn UR points directly. Otherwise, the Ink Business Unlimited earns cash back as a standalone credit card.

Chase is also offering a sign-up bonus worth 75,000 UR points (or $750 cash back) for the Ink Business Unlimited. You can earn this amazing bonus by spending $7,500 within the first three months. This is one of the best bonuses in the industry for a no annual fee credit card! However, the minimum spend requirement might be out of reach for some individuals and small business owners.

Burning

Earning points is fantastic, but points earned are useless if you cannot redeem them for anything of value. Chase has multiple options for points redemption:

Cash Back, Travel, & Gift Cards

Cash back is one of just three redemption options for those who have the Ink Business Unlimited alone. Points are worth just one cent each when redeemed for cash back. Cardholders can also redeem UR points for travel via Chase’s travel portal. As with cash back, points are worth 1 CPP if you redeem them this way.

The final option is to redeem points for gift cards. With this option, UR points are worth 1 CPP. Sometimes, Chase discounts some of their gift card options, enabling cardholders to redeem for more than 1 CPP. This is the best-case scenario if you have the Ink Business Unlimited by itself.

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is not for you if either of these options sounds better than points. At 1.5%, this card does not have the highest flat earning rate among cash back cards.

Transfer Partners

Transfer partners are by far Chase’s most valuable redemption option. But they are only available if you also have the Chase Ink Business Preferred or either Sapphire card. Chase has the following transfer partners:

Hotels

• IHG
• Marriott
• World of Hyatt

Airlines

• Aer Lingus
• Air Canada
• British Airways
• Emirates
• Iberia
• JetBlue
• KLM Flying Blue / Air France
• Singapore Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic

Similar Cards

Chase Ink Business Cash

The Chase Ink Business Cash is similar to the Ink Business Unlimited in name and that it has no annual fee. However, the Ink Business Cash earns in different bonus categories at much higher rates.

The Ink Business Cash earns 5x UR points (or 5% cash back) at Office Supply Stores as well as for Internet, TV, and Phone Services. This card also earns 2x points (or 2% cash back) at Gas Stations (including Costco) and at Restaurants. Each bonus category has a $25,000 annual spend limit. Given the two cards’ earning structures, both cards can complement each other very well.

Furthermore, the Ink Business Cash has the same sign-up bonus as the Ink Business Unlimited. You can earn 75,000 UR points (or $750 in cash back) for each card. Each bonus can be earned after spending $7,500 within the first three months. Together, cardholders can earn 150,000 points for $15,000! That’s incredible for two no annual fee credit cards. However, both minimum spend requirements might be out of reach for some individuals and small business owners.

Chase Ink Business Preferred

Chase’s most powerful business card is the Ink Business Preferred. That’s because it offers a huge sign-up bonus, lots of bonus categories, and some nice perks.

The Ink Business Preferred Card’s sign-up bonus is worth 80,000 UR points. You can earn this bountiful bonus by spending $5,000 within the first three months. This is one of Chase’s most valuable sign-up bonuses!

Furthermore, this mid-tier business card earns 3x UR points on the following categories:

• General Travel
• Cable & TV Services
• Internet Services
• Phone Services
• Shipping
• Social Media and Search Engine Advertising Purchases

There is an annual spending limit of $150,000 across all six categories. That is six times the limit of the Ink Business Cash. The Ink Business Preferred Card’s categories and higher spend limit can be beneficial if your business spends heavily within the categories.

Plus, the Ink Business Preferred also offers more travel benefits than the Ink Business Unlimited. Such benefits make the Ink Business Preferred the better option if you like to travel or your business requires it.

American Express Blue Business Plus

The American Express Blue Business Plus Card is very similar to the Chase Ink Business Unlimited. Both cards have no annual fee and earn their respective transferrable points at flat rates.

However, the Blue Business Plus earns 2x Membership Rewards (MR) points for the first $50,000 of annual purchases. Thereafter, the Blue Business Plus earns just one point per dollar for all purchases. The Ink Business Unlimited does not have any such spend limits. But its flat rate is 25% lower than the Amex card’s highest rate.

The Blue Business Plus Card also does not have a sign-up bonus. But it is the better card if you like American Express’ transfer partners more than Chase’s. It’s also a great option if you also have an Amex card with an annual fee. The Blue Business Plus acts as a no cost way to keep your MR points balance if you decide to cancel one or more of your annual fee Amex cards.

Final Draw

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is fantastic for businesses and entrepreneurs with varied expenditures. It’s also a great complement to the other Ink Business Cards. If you are looking for just one card or for cash back, the Ink Business Unlimited is not the best option. But can be an awesome part of a wallet with multiple Chase UR point-earning cards.

I normally use the FNBO Evergreen Card for non-bonus expenses. Otherwise, the Ink Business Unlimited would take the same integral role in my wallet. The best reason to have both cards is to separate business and personal expenses.

Apply Today: Chase Ink Business Unlimited