Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card Review of April 2024

Last Update: March 12, 2023 • Credit Card Reviews •

Each time a new credit card appears, consumers compete to be the first in line to apply for it. They want to get the card and try it out before anyone else, especially if their credit and overall financial situation make them eligible for the card.

But wouldn’t it be better if you could read everything about the card before actually applying for it?

That is why we write reviews of credit cards and other financial services and products. When you read our review of this new credit card by Chase, you will know what exactly this card offers, what are its advantages and drawbacks and whether you are eligible for it.

Quick Overview

First, take a quick look at the list of Ink Business Ultimate Card features. That way, you will get an idea of what this card offers without reading the entire article.

$500 bonus cash back if you spend $3,000 in the first three months after the account’s opening.
Unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on each purchase made for your business.
0% APR applies to purchases and balance transfers made within the first twelve months of account opening.
Redeem for cash back rewards as long as your account is open.

Who Should Apply for This Card?

This card is primarily targeted at small business owners, so bear in mind that it is not eligible for everyone. However, it is not that hard to get approved since many occupations, such as freelancing and other sole proprietor-type work, are under this category.

Business Unlimited works best when paired. You can pair it with one of the Ultimate Rewards cards and another business rewards credit card to get the best results. It might be best to avoid this card if you have neither of the other two mentioned cards.

This card has no bonus categories, so it suits great to everyone who wants to combine it with other cards for non-bonus spending. You can combine it with a card that offers bonuses like travel, office supplies, dining, and so on.

This card has a 0% introductory APR and doesn’t charge an annual fee. Therefore, it is the perfect fit for start-ups or other businesses that don’t have a regular cash flow. The introductory 0% APR lasts for 12 months after you open the account, and it applies to purchases and balance transfers. After this promotional period, the variable APR will range from 14.74% to 20.74%, so make sure to pay off all balances while the promo period lasts.

Sign-up Bonus

A $500 bonus offered by the Business Unlimited card looks really great.

If you spend at least $3,000 in the first three months after account opening, you will be eligible for this bonus. However, if you decide to convert this cash to Ultimate Rewards points, you can earn much more.

For example, there is an option to turn your bonus into 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points. That will double your cash if you choose to pair this card with a card that earns UR points, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If you do this, you can get as much as $1,050 for your 50,000 points.

Cash Back

The Ink Business Unlimited gives you 1.5% cashback for all your purchases. That is both the upside and the downside of this card.

What do we mean by this?

Well, if you decide to buy airfare using this credit card, you will lose the opportunity to earn five times as much by using another card like the American Express Platinum Card. Also, in case you use this card to buy internet service or office supplies, you will lose 5% cashback on the first $25,000 for not using the Ink Business Cash card for these and similar purchases.

Therefore, don’t use a Business Unlimited card for purchases that could earn you more money if paid with other cards.

Redeem Your Rewards

You can redeem your rewards in a few ways: cashback, gift cards, travel, or Amazon points.

If you choose to redeem your cash rewards, you can get the money as an account statement credit or through an electronic deposit into an eligible US savings or checking account. The first option would reduce your card balance but not the minimum monthly payment. Each point redeemed for travel, gift cards, or cash is worth one cent.

If you move your points to another Chase Ultimate Rewards points card (Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Sapphire Preferred), you can increase your redemption rate to 3.15%. If you decide to do this, bear in mind that the other card will need to be registered to you, your household member, or the company’s owner.

Once your points are moved over to an Ultimate Rewards earning account, you will be able to book travel directly through the Chase portal, which will earn you up to 1.5 cents per point. Another option is to transfer the points to one of thirteen travel partners. Choosing your travel partner wisely can get more value per point – 2.1 to 6 cents. You can redeem premium vacation packages, including flights and cruises, without blackout dates or restrictions on airfare booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

If you want to use your points to shop at Amazon, this is also an option. It is straightforward to redeem your points and use them to pay for an entire Amazon order or a part of it, including shipping and tax.

Finally, you can use your points to get iTunes, Home Depot, Staples, or Amazon gift cards. There are more than seventy gift card options, so making a choice will probably take some time.

What are The Perks of Ink Business Unlimited Card?

If you like the benefits offered by the Ink Business Cash card, you will like the benefits of this card as well.

Employee cards at no additional cost

This feature allows you to set and change individual spending limits on employee cards. Also, if you use this option, you can earn even more rewards from your employees’ purchases.

However, your employees will have equal charging privileges and will be authorized users to use the account. Therefore, you might want to set individual spending limits before letting your employees use their cards.

Purchase protection

Purchase protection will cover all new purchases that you make for up to 120 days. That applies to protection against damage or theft worth up to $10,000 per claim or $50,000 per account.

Extended warranty

This extends the time period of a US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of up to three years.

Auto rental collision damage waiver

If you use Ink Business Unlimited to rent a car for business, you can decline the rental car company’s collision insurance. The card will cover the amount up to the vehicle’s cash value if a collision or car theft occurs. The waiver applies before your own car insurance policy, and it is valid on the majority of rentals you make both in the US and abroad.

Pros and Cons

Take a look at the list of positive and negative sides of the Ink Business Unlimited card.

Pros:

No annual fee

Can you imagine a credit card without an annual fee? Well, now you have found it.

5% cashback

Get this card and earn 1.5% cashback on all your purchases.

A year of 0% APR

If you need help getting your business off the ground, you will love that this card offers a 0% APR within the first year of account opening.

Combine it to earn more

This card lets you use it with the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card to earn three points per dollar or 3% cashback in some business categories, as well as 1.5% cashback on all other purchases.

You can also use this card and other cards to earn different types of rewards.

No limit on rewards

That goes both for the value of rewards you can earn and the time limit because rewards earned with this card do not expire. Also, there are no blackout dates on travel rewards.

Various redemption options

This credit card offers a few ways to redeem your points, such as travel, gift cards, Amazon purchases, statement credits, deposit into a checking or savings account, and so on.

Cons:

Transfer to earn more

If you want to earn more than one cent per point, you will have to transfer points to a premium Ultimate Rewards card.

High redeem threshold

You need to earn at least 2,000 points to redeem.

Not good for spending in various categories

If you spend a lot of money in a particular category (e.g., travel, office supplies), this card might not be the best option for you.

However, take a shot with this credit card if you are a business owner who regularly spends money in various categories.

Good credit required

If you want to use this card, you need to have a good or excellent credit score.

Conclusion

If you are a business owner or freelancer, the new Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card by Chase might be the perfect solution for you.

It has many benefits that can help you improve your business: no APR during the first year, 1.5% cashback, a $500 welcome bonus, and no limit on rewards as long as your account is open.

After reading this review, you know a lot about this credit card for small-business owners. Weigh out its pros and cons and decide if it is the right card for you.

If it is, run to the nearest Chase branch. Who knows, you might be the first to get it.