Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Review [2024]: The One Card That Simplified My Business Expenses

Card basics

Who should get the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card?

The Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card caters to a wide range of business owners, particularly those who appreciate straightforward rewards and aren't interested in juggling multiple cards or tracking rotating bonus categories.

Its flat-rate cashback structure makes it an attractive option for various business types and spending patterns:

• Small business owners who value simplicity: You can simply earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, eliminating the need to remember which card to use for specific purchases.
• Businesses with varied expenses: You can use this card's flat elevated earning rate for spending in categories that rarely earn bonuses on other business cards, such as professional services, raw materials, or equipment rentals.
• New business owners: You can simplify your credit card strategy while taking advantage of the 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases (then 17.99% - 23.99% Variable).

Of course, these are just a few examples. The Ink Business Unlimited appeal isn't limited to these groups. For instance, I still like this card for its higher base rewards, even though I don't mind juggling more than one card. It's a great catch-all for purchases that don't fall into bonus categories on my other business cards.

Who should skip?

While the Ink Business Unlimited offers great versatility, it might not be the best fit for every business. If your business spends heavily on specific categories like travel, office supplies, or advertising, you might benefit more from a card like the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card or the U.S. Bank Business Leverage^® Visa Signature^® Card.

Similarly, if you frequently travel internationally for business, the foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars could be a significant drawback. In this case, a card like the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, which has no foreign transaction fees and offers bonus points on travel purchases, might be a better choice.

Here's a closer look at this card's top benefits

Straightforward rewards structure

As a small business owner, I consider the simplicity of the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card's rewards structure its main feature. It's refreshing to earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase without having to keep track of rotating categories or spending limits.

This simplicity has actually made me more likely to use the card. With other cards, I sometimes found myself second-guessing whether a particular purchase would earn bonus points, often leading me to default to a lower-earning card just to avoid mental gymnastics. With the Ink Business Unlimited, that's never an issue.

Generous welcome offer

The welcome offer on this card is nothing to sneeze at. You can earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This bonus is achievable for many small businesses without requiring you to overspend. It's a realistic target that rewards your normal business operations without tempting you into unnecessary purchases.

When I first got this card, I was in the process of upgrading my home office setup by ordering a new monitor, desk, chair, and a few accessories. I met a good portion of the spending requirement with purchases I was going to make anyway, and the bonus cash back felt like a nice discount on my new gear.

$0 annual fee

I'm always a fan of $0 annual fee cards, and the Ink Business Unlimited doesn't disappoint. This means every reward you earn is pure profit – there's no mental math needed to figure out if you're getting enough value to offset a fee.

In my experience, this makes the Ink Business Unlimited an excellent keeper card. Even in months when my business spending is lower, I never have to worry about whether I'm getting enough value to justify keeping the card in my wallet.

Introductory APR offer

The 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases (then 17.99% - 23.99% Variable) can be particularly valuable for new businesses or businesses that are expanding. It provides some breathing room in your cash flow, which can be crucial in those early stages or during growth periods.

When I needed to make upgrades to my home office, this intro APR allowed me to spread the cost over several months without accruing interest. I was able to hit two birds with one stone by making progress toward my welcome offer and taking advantage of the intro APR.

Employee cards at no additional cost

The Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card offers additional employee cards at no extra cost. As a solo entrepreneur, I can see how valuable this feature could be if my business grows larger in the future. The ability to add employee cards without incurring extra fees is like having a scalable expense management system built into your credit card.

Instead of dealing with a pile of receipts and reimbursement requests at the end of each month, you could simply review the itemized statements for each employee card. Plus, knowing that these additional cards would also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase is enticing.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

While not the flashiest of benefits, the purchase protection and extended warranty coverage on this card have given me peace of mind on business purchases. When I bought new monitors for my home office, knowing I had an extra year of warranty coverage was reassuring.

I've thankfully never had to use the purchase protection, but knowing it's there if something stops working or gets damaged is comforting. It's these "just in case" benefits that really round out the value of this card for me.

Drawbacks: Why you may want a different card

No bonus categories for increased earnings

The simplicity of the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card can be a double-edged sword. While it offers straightforward unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, it lacks the higher rewards in specific categories. For instance, when I'm booking flights for business trips or stocking up on office supplies, I know I could be earning more with a different card.

There are various business cards that offer category-specific bonus cash back or points, including the Bank of America^® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard^® credit card, U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa^® Business Card, and more.

Foreign transaction fee

As someone who occasionally travels internationally, the foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars that you pay with this card is a real bummer.

It's not a deal-breaker, but it does mean this card can't be my only card if I want to avoid unnecessary fees on international travel or purchases. When I travel abroad, I make sure to use cards like the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business or American Express^® Business Gold Card, which have no foreign transaction fees.

Limited travel perks

While the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card is great for everyday business expenses, it falls short when it comes to travel perks. There's no bonus redemption value for travel and no opportunity to directly transfer points to airline or hotel partners.

However, the Ink Business Unlimited does allow you to transfer your rewards to other Chase cards. Since you earn your cash back as Ultimate Rewards points, you can move them over to the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card. Both these cards offer a 25% bonus value for each point when you redeem via Chase Travel and allow transfers to Chase travel partners.

Earning & redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Best ways to earn

The easy rewards program is one of the best features of the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card. Unlike other cards, which may offer 1% cash back on most purchases and bonus cash back on a few select categories, you simply receive unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase with the Ink Business Unlimited.

Plus, there’s no cap on how much cash back you can earn, so you can spend as much as you’d like on your card and get fully rewarded for each dollar you charge. You earn your cash back in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards, but that's a good thing as they are a very powerful form of credit card rewards.

Maximizing your redemptions

Redeeming points is also simple with the Ink Business Unlimited. You can opt for cash back as a statement credit, which gives you maximum flexibility since you can then use your rewards to reduce the cost of any new purchases you make. If you’d prefer to redeem for travel, merchandise, or gift cards, you can do that, too, through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

If you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, or Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, then you can also change your cashback rewards into lucrative travel rewards. That's because you can transfer rewards earned with your Ink Business Unlimited card over to one of these other cards. This also allows you access to all of Chase's transfer partners and you can get a higher redemption value for each of your points when redeemed through the Chase travel portal as well.

FAQ

Alternatives that might be better for you

While the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card offers simplicity with its flat-rate rewards, it may not be ideal for all business owners. If your spending is concentrated in specific categories, you travel internationally often, or you're looking for premium travel benefits, you might find more value with one of its sister cards.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

If your business spends heavily in specific categories, the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card could be a more rewarding option. Like the Ink Business Unlimited, it has a $0 annual fee, but it earns 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; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

If your business spends a lot on office supplies, internet, cable, phone services, or at restaurants, you could earn significantly more cash back. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on office supplies and internet services, you'd earn $600 cash back annually with the Ink Business Cash, compared to just $180 with the Ink Business Unlimited.

However, keep in mind that these higher rates are capped at $25,000 in combined purchases for each rewards tier per account anniversary year. After that, you'll earn 1% back, which is less than the Ink Business Unlimited's flat rate.

Learn more in our Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card review.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

For businesses with significant travel expenses or that advertise heavily online, the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card could provide more value. This card earns 3X points 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; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases.

If these are major expense categories for your business, you could potentially earn a lot more points. For instance, $2,000 monthly spend on travel and online advertising would net you 72,000 points annually with the Ink Business Preferred, compared to just $360 in the form of 36,000 points with the Ink Business Unlimited.

Additionally, the Ink Business Preferred offers travel insurance benefits, no foreign transaction fees, and cell phone protection.

The main drawback is the $95 annual fee. However, if you can take advantage of the bonus categories and travel benefits, this fee could be easily offset by the additional value you receive.

Learn more in our Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card review.