Chase Ink Business Cash Card vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card

Tailored to small business owners, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card are no-annual-fee cards that provide various benefits, including flexible cash back and travel perks. 

However, choosing the best credit card based on your business's needs is important to take full advantage of what the Chase Ink cards offer. 

Ink Unlimited vs. Ink Cash

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made with the card. This makes it a good catch-all card for spending on a range of transaction categories.

The  Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is slightly more complex. For this card, you'll earn 5% back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary, including office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services (then 1% after that). You'll also earn 2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary, including gas stations and restaurants (1% after that), then 1% back on other purchases.  

Note that the $25,000 limit for 5% and 2% are kept separate compared to some other issuers. 

What do these cards have in common?

• No Annual Fee: Neither card requires an annual payment to retain the account, so you can easily hold either without worrying about an impending annual charge.
• Earn Points: With both credit cards, you earn points as you spend. Although the cards are marketed as cash back, the fine print mentions the cards earn cash back in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Intro Bonus: Both cards offer competitive intro bonuses when you meet a specific minimum spend requirement after 3 months of account opening
• Same Travel Protection and Perks: Both cards come with primary auto collision damage waiver (CDW), travel accident insurance, roadside dispatch, travel and emergency assistance, lost luggage benefit, and baggage delay benefit. Terms and conditions apply to benefits.
• Shopping Benefits: You'll have access to the same extended warranty and purchase protection when you spend with either credit card. Terms apply.

Who is eligible for Chase Ink credit cards?

Both Chase Ink cards are subject to the unofficial Chase 5/24 rule, meaning you will likely get rejected for the card if your credit report shows you have applied to 5 or more new personal credit cards in the last 24 months. 
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It's important to note that only personal credit cards affect impact 5/24, so the order in which you apply to new credit cards is important. 

If you're currently at 4/24, you can apply for the Ink Unlimited and Ink Cash without either contributing to automatic rejection. Another thing to note is that business cards are generally available to sole proprietors in the United States.

Optimal strategy

Since the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited cards don't have an annual fee, some business owners might choose to get both. The Ink Unlimited is a great catch-all credit card, and the Ink Cash has point multipliers on useful business categories.
 

If you are concerned about meeting the minimum spending criteria, it is wise to stagger applications and get each card during a period suited to you to make the most of each intro bonus!

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