The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) doesn’t get as much attention as Chase’s Sapphire cards, but it deserves a closer look.
With no annual fee, up to 5% cash back in popular business spending categories and the ability to turn those rewards into valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points when paired with an eligible card, it punches well above its weight. It also currently offers a welcome bonus of $1,000 cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.
Here are six reasons why this card deserves a spot in your wallet.
There’s no annual fee
High-value cards with no annual fees are hard to come by these days, and some of the top travel cards for both business owners and consumers charge almost $700 in annual fees. If you hold more than a dozen cards like many of us here at TPG, credit card annual fees can really add up.
One of the biggest benefits of the Ink Business Cash is that you earn cash back on business expenses and at gas stations and restaurants, get travel and purchase protections and earn a solid welcome offer without paying an annual fee.
Related: Earn rewards on a budget with these no-annual-fee credit card strategies
It has a solid welcome offer
New cardholders can currently earn $1,000 cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.
If you also have an eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), that bonus can become even more valuable.
Because you can pool your Chase Ultimate Rewards points into one account, your $1,000 cash-back bonus can be converted into 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. According to TPG’s July 2026 valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each, making this bonus worth approximately $2,050 when you transfer points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions.
Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses currently available
You don’t need a traditional business to qualify
One of the biggest misconceptions about business credit cards is that you need a large company or an employer identification number to apply. In reality, many sole proprietors can qualify using their Social Security number.
If you freelance, drive for a ride-hailing service, sell products online, tutor, consult or earn income from another side hustle, you may be eligible for the Ink Business Cash. Chase considers many small-business activities eligible, even if they work part time or are just getting started.
That means you don’t need a formal limited liability company or incorporated business to take advantage of the no-annual-fee card’s valuable bonus categories and welcome offer.
Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?
It offers valuable bonus categories
Another reason to consider the Ink Business Cash card is that you can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on phone, internet and cable TV services each account anniversary year. You’ll also earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and you’ll get an unlimited 1% cash back on everything else. Plus, through Sept. 30, 2027, you’ll earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides.
When you max out your bonus spending in the 5% and 2% categories, that adds up to $1,750 in cash-back rewards earned each year. For a no-annual-fee credit card, that’s great potential for earned rewards. Of course, if you’re pairing this card with a Chase Ultimate Rewards card, that $1,750 turns into $3,587 in rewards value.
Related: How to choose a cash-back credit card
There are travel and purchase protections
The Ink Business Cash comes with some solid travel and shopping protections. It offers purchase protection, covering newly bought items for 120 days against damage or theft (up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account). As a cardmember, you’ll also receive extended warranties for eligible purchases, as the card extends a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year (on eligible warranties of three years or less).
The Ink Business Cash card also offers an auto rental collision damage waiver. Essentially, when you rent a car for business purposes and charge it to this card, you can decline the rental car company’s collision insurance and be covered by the card in the case of theft or collision damage. This is valid on most rentals both in the U.S. and abroad — just make sure to check the fine print for more details.
Note that if you’re renting a car for personal use, the Ink Business Cash won’t be of use. In that case, the Sapphire Reserve or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), both of which offer primary rental car insurance, would be better options.
Related: The best credit cards for purchase protection
The card pairs well with Ultimate Rewards cards
One of the best things about the Chase lineup is the ability to pool your rewards between cash-back and Ultimate Rewards cards (including all the Chase Ink Business cards). As mentioned above, if you hold the Sapphire Reserve, the Sapphire Preferred or the Ink Business Preferred, you can convert your Ink Business Cash rewards into Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are valued at 2.05 cents each, according to TPG’s valuations, making them one of the most valuable rewards currencies available.
Although the Ink Business Cash isn’t part of the official Chase Trifecta, it’s still a valuable card to pair with other Chase cards. You could effectively earn a return of 10.25% (based on TPG’s valuations) for the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores and on the other services mentioned above, as well as a return of 4.1% on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants. As for everyday nonbonus spending, this card offers a pretty solid 2.05% return, which is great for a no-annual-fee card.
Remember that your redemption options increase drastically when you pair the Ink Business Cash with other Chase cards. For example, if you use the Sapphire Reserve for personal travel and dining and the Ink Business Cash for your small-business expenses, the rewards you can earn with your Ink Business Cash can be redeemed for up to 2 cents each, depending on the specific redemption, through the Chase Travel℠ portal or for travel partner redemptions when you transfer your points. (See your rewards program agreement for full details.)
Related: How long do Chase Ultimate Rewards take to transfer to partner programs?
Bottom line
The Ink Business Cash is one of the strongest no-annual-fee business credit cards available.
Between its generous welcome bonus, valuable bonus categories, built-in purchase protections and ability to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points when paired with an eligible Chase card, it delivers outsize value without adding another annual fee to your wallet.
You also don’t need a formal business or EIN to apply; freelancers and those with a side gig can qualify using a Social Security number instead.
For more information, read our full review of the Ink Business Cash.
Apply here: Ink Business Cash Credit Card
