How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure
LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).

Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Review

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review tooltip-question

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
4.6
Ink Business Cash<sup>®</sup> Credit Card
Intro Purchase APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, then 17.49% - 25.49% Variable
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Cash Back Rewards
Earn 5% cash back in select business categories

Key takeaway

If you’re a small business owner who wants to earn generous rewards on everyday company expenses, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is an excellent choice. It offers an unbeatable cash back rate at office supply stores, on cable, phone, and internet services, and at gas stations and restaurants — all for no annual fee.

Pros and cons

  • Generous sign-up bonus
  • Excellent cash back rate on everyday business purchases
  • Solid intro APR on purchases
  • Automatic account reviews to see if you qualify for a credit line increase
  • $0 annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost
  • Valuable travel and purchase protections
  • 5% and 2% cash back categories each capped at $25,000 in annual purchases
  • Poor return for non-bonus spending categories
  • High spend requirement to earn the sign-up bonus
  • Foreign transaction fees

Is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card a good card?

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a standout cash back card for businesses with substantial monthly expenditures at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services. It offers a great 5% cash back rate on these purchases. The card also offers elevated cash back rewards on gas station and restaurant purchases.

But even with its excellent earning rates, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card won’t be a great fit for all businesses. For starters, the card offers few travel-related benefits, and also has annual caps on its primary spending categories. For businesses that don’t spend in the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card‘s bonus categories, a flat-rate cash back card — like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card — could be a better choice.

What is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card worth?
By our estimates, the average Ink Business Cash® Credit Card holder can get $1,002 in value from the card during their first year of card membership – thanks in part to its very generous sign-up bonus. However, the value drops to $252 during the second year*.

*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

Looking for more business card options? See our list of the best business credit cards.

Quick facts

  • Annual fee: $0 annual fee
  • Sign-up bonus: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
  • Rewards: Earn 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. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
  • Intro APR on purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, then 17.49% - 25.49% Variable
  • APR on balance transfers: 17.49% - 25.49% Variable
  • Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Other benefits: Auto rental coverage, travel and emergency assistance, roadside assistance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection
  • Credit needed: Excellent

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card benefits

  • Generous sign-up bonus

    The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card’s sign-up bonus alone — which could be worth up to $750 — is a great reason to sign up for this card.* You’ll earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

    While this is a very high sign-up bonus compared to many other business credit cards, it is possible to get an even higher welcome offer. But those cards will likely require a higher spend to earn the bonus and an annual fee. For example, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus charges a $150 annual fee (see rates & fees) and lets you earn $2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year.

    *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

  • Excellent rewards rate on everyday business expenses

    The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers one of the highest cash back rates you can find on common business purchases. You’ll earn 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. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.

    What qualifies for 5% back on internet, cable and phone services?According to Chase, this 5% category includes internet, cable, satellite television and radio, cellular, wireless data and landline services. Some Reddit users have also reported that many streaming services are eligible for the 5% cash back rate.

    You’ll earn rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are extraordinarily flexible. Not only can you redeem your points for cash back, but you can also redeem points for a variety of other rewards, including gift cards and travel.


    Tip:
    To get even more value from your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card rewards, you can transfer them to another card that also earns Ultimate Rewards. For example, if you transfer your points to the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates & fees) and redeem them for travel through Chase’s portal, your points will be worth 25% more.

  • Solid intro APR on purchases

    If you need time to pay off a large business expense, like employee laptops or office furniture, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card can give you a year to do so without charging interest. The card offers a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, after which an APR of 17.49% - 25.49% Variable will apply. This is one of the longest interest-free periods you’ll be able to find from a business credit card.

  • Regular account reviews for potential credit line increases

    Every six months (and sometimes even sooner), Chase will automatically check to see if you’re eligible for a credit limit increase. This is a great feature that can give you even more purchasing power to cover your business expenses.

  • Valuable travel and purchase protections

    The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card provides robust travel and purchase benefits, including auto rental coverage, travel and emergency assistance, roadside assistance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

    We should note that while many cards may offer car rental collision coverage, that coverage may be “secondary,” meaning this coverage kicks in after any claims are made through your insurance. However, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers primary car rental insurance on rentals for business purposes within your country of residence and for both personal and business rentals abroad. For personal rentals within your country of residence, the coverage is secondary.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card drawbacks

  • Spending cap on bonus categories

    Unfortunately, the 5% and 2% cash back categories are each capped at $25,000 in purchases each year. After your business hits either of these caps, you’ll only earn 1% cash back in those categories for the remainder of the year.

    That said, those are pretty generous caps — you can earn up to $1,750 in cash back rewards from the card’s bonus categories before you hit the limit. Still, if you have a business that spends far beyond the $50,000 annual limit, you might consider a card that offers unlimited accelerated cash back rewards, like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.

  • High spend requirement to earn the sign-up bonus

    While this card offers a very valuable sign-up bonus, you’ll be required to spend a total of $6,000 to earn it. That said, you will get six months to reach that threshold. As long as you plan to spend approximately $1,000 on the card each month for six months, you shouldn’t have a problem reaching that amount.

  • Foreign transaction fee

    Many cards hit you with extra fees when traveling abroad, and the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is one of them. You’ll be charged a fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. If you plan to travel outside the U.S., you should look for a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

    Learn more about foreign transaction fees

Alternative business credit cards

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

| Disclosures
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
Rates & Fees
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
17.49% - 23.49% Variable
$0
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

If you like what the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has to offer, but would rather earn a flat cash back rate on every purchase, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card may be a better option. Similar to the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, the card charges a $0 annual fee, offers an intro APR on purchases and provides travel and purchase benefits. But instead of earning elevated rewards in a few specific spending categories — and 1% cash back on everything else — the card lets you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card also offers a similar sign-up bonus to the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, but you’ll have less time to meet the spending requirement. You can earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That means you’ll need to spend approximately $2,000 each month for three months to earn the bonus.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs. Capital One Spark Cash Select

| Disclosures
Capital One Spark Cash Select
Capital One Spark Cash Select
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
17.49% - 23.49% (Variable)
$0
1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and
  • Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
  • No annual fee
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
  • Rewards won't expire for the life of the account
  • Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
  • Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
  • For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
720 850
Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The Capital One Spark Cash Select is another card that offers a flat cash back rate, but the welcome offer may be more easily attainable — since it has a considerably lower spend requirement to earn it. The $0-annual-fee card lets you earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site (see rates & fees). You’ll also earn $500 Cash Back once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

The Capital One Spark Cash Select doesn’t offer an interest-free period on purchases, so it’s not ideal if you plan to carry a balance on your card from month to month. But if you plan to travel out of the country, know that this card charges foreign transaction fees of none (see rates & fees).

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

| Disclosures
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
| Terms Apply
0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
17.49% - 27.49% Variable
No annual fee
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000
  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
  • 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
  • Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
  • From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
  • The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers a flat rate of cash back that’s slightly higher than that of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and Capital One Spark Cash Select — but there is an earning cap. You’ll earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. If you max out that amount, you can earn $1,000 back on those purchases each year.

Similar to the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card charges a no annual fee and offers an interest-free period on purchases. Plus, you’ll get American Express’s Expanded Buying Power feature, which allows you to exceed your credit limit with no overlimit fees.

Just know the welcome offer for this card is significantly lower: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. But the card does come with valuable benefits, like car rental loss and damage insurance1, Global Assist Hotline2, extended warranty3, purchase protection4 and dispute resolution.

Is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card right for you?

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is an excellent choice for businesses with substantial spending at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services. The earning rates at gas stations and restaurants could also make it a great all-around card for some businesses. And with its generous sign-up bonus, $0 annual fee and valuable benefits, there’s little downside to the card.

But if you spend heavily in other shopping categories, you may be better off with a card that offers unlimited accelerated cash back on every purchase, like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.

apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
Rates & Fees
1. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
2. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
3. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
4. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.