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Running a business can be a fulfilling way to make a living and contribute to your local community.
Financial management is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business and is often the best way to determine how healthy the enterprise is.
Business credit cards are powerful tools to help business owners increase their financial position, monitor spending, and build business credit. Choosing a business credit card requires careful research and understanding of your recurring business expenses and what your goal is for your spending habits.
Cash back credit cards AR popular with business owners because they offer flexible rewards and easy to earn points and cash back credits.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card has one of the highest introductory spending bonuses for a $0 annual fee business credit card, and it offers unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases.
Although it is not ideal for carrying balances, or international spending, it is a robust credit card that fits the needs of many small and medium-sized business owners.
This article will discuss the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card to help you decide if it is a good choice for you and your business.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is an excellent rewards card for business owners, especially with no annual fee.
Although many consumers will enjoy the cash back potential that this card provides, potential cardholders should know that the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® provides access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most valuable and versatile points systems on the market, and it is especially powerful when matched with another Ultimate Rewards generating card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Simplicity is supreme when it comes to earning rewards with the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® card.
There are no spending categories to track, points never expire, and all purchases generate 1.5% back per dollar spent.
Business owners and cardholders who Value flexibility will enjoy the unlimited earning potential provided by the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® card.
Since there are no caps on how many points cardholders can earn, business owners need to swipe their card on everyday spending to earn their points and cash back.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® has a huge advantage against comparable business credit cards because of its flexible rewards Redemption options.
Although other cards compete with the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® in earnings capability, very few offer Chase’s variety of redemption options.
Cardholders can use their accumulated points as direct statement credits. They can use them to book travel either directly through Chase or through a transfer partner (such as an airline or hotel chain). They can use them to purchase gift cards that can help offset business expenses.
Many business owners opt to use their points to cover expenses as statement credits, but flexibility is a powerful option if they need it.
Beginning with strong everyday earning potential with no annual fee, there is plenty to love about the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® card.
Consumers who want to help their business build credit without hassle will enjoy the ease of earning cash back rewards with this card.
Unlimited points that never expire are a huge selling point for this card. Every transaction paid for with the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® earns 1.5% back regardless of spending category.
While some consumers like juggling bonus categories and optimizing their points earning potential, many business owners prefer to have total flexibility, which this card provides.
Coupled with the lucrative redemption options provided by Chase, the unlimited 1.5% cash back can go a long way, especially when the primary cardholder issues additional employee cards.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card enables business owners to quickly add employee credit cards with a generous amount of customization.
For example, managers can carry credit cards with higher limits, or seasonal workers can receive an employee credit card with a lower limit for quick store runs or small expenses.
Customizing employee credit cards without requiring monthly maintenance fees or additional costs to issue the credit cards is a powerful benefit because business owners will be able to track their cash flow and manage authorized spending in a centralized location.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® comes with one of the highest introductory spending bonuses for a no-annual-fee business credit card.
Cardholders who spend $7,500 in the first three months will receive the Bonus in the form of 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points which can immediately be used as a statement credit.
Other cards may carry a higher bonus, but the minimum spending threshold is often much higher and carries an annual fee.
Some businesses can easily spend $7,500 within three months, but some business owners may struggle to hit this. If you want to lock down the spending bonus, look at your budget forecasts to identify your next large business purchase.
When you identify your next large investment, that would be a better time to apply for this card to not jeopardize your business finances.
The absence of an annual fee for a business credit card that offers unlimited earning potential with a large sign-up bonus is welcome.
Finding a competitive business credit card can be difficult because applicants often need to decide between price and potential value. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® hits a sweet spot and offers excellent value without an annual fee.
The business credit card market can seem crowded, so let’s see how the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® compares to its peers:
The Chase Ink Business Preferred® is the Chase Ink Business Unlimited older sibling. In practice, rewards redemption is the same, and both offer additional employee cards at no cost.
However, the differences stem from how they earn points. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® offers unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases, whereas the Chase Ink Business Preferred® generates 3x points per dollar spent in different categories.
Bonus categories eligible for the 3x points include Shipping purchases, Internet, cable, and phone services, advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines, and travel. All other purchases earn 1x the point per dollar spent.
The Capital One Spark Cash and Chase Ink Business Unlimited® are two very competitive credit cards fighting for the same customer.
The Capital One Card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® offers 1.5% on all purchases.
While the Capital One Spark Cash for Business card offers a higher earning rate, it comes at the expense of a $95 annual fee (which is waived the first year) and a smaller $500 introductory spending bonus.
When deciding between these cards, take a detailed look at your projected expenses. If you think the extra 0.5% will easily cover the annual Fee, then the Capital One Spark Cash may be a better fit, but if you value flexible redemption options, Chase is the better choice.
Although the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® and Brex Credit Card are both designed for business owners, they target different clientele.
The Brex card is a charge card which means the entire balance needs to be paid off every month, and approval requires a link to a bank account with a minimum of $50,000.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is a more traditional business credit card for everyday spending, whereas the Brex Credit Card is a better fit for high-growth companies that need access to higher spending limits.
The Capital One Spark Miles offers a very similar structure to the cash, but it is geared toward business owners who want to have flexible travel rewards instead of cash back.
It carries the same $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year, and it earns 2x miles per dollar spent which can be used to cover travel expenses.
If you are trying to decide between the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® and Capital One Spark Miles, the two biggest questions to ask are:
Let’s discuss some of the most common questions associated with the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card:
No – the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® does not carry an annual fee.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® offers unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases regardless of the spending category.
Good to excellent credit is recommended for business owners applying for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card. Since the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is a lucrative rewards card, Chase will carry higher standards for approval.
Overall, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is a jack-of-all-trades credit card for business owners who want flexible rewards without an annual fee.
While there are cards that offer higher earning rates that carry an annual fee, many business owners who want a simple card and the ability to build credit should strongly consider the Chase Ink Business Unlimited.