Ink Business Cash vs. Ink Business Unlimited: Which Fits Your Business?

Advertiser Disclosure: Cal Barton Cashback may receive compensation when you click on certain links or are approved for products mentioned on this page. This compensation may affect how and where products appear, but it does not influence my opinions or evaluations. 

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card are both no-annual-fee Chase business cards, but I would not use them interchangeably.

My opinion is that the right choice depends less on which card sounds better and more on whether your business spending is concentrated or spread across many different categories.

The basic difference

The Ink Business Cash currently earns:

• 5% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases each account-anniversary year at office-supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services
• 2% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases each account-anniversary year at gas stations and restaurants
• 1% on other eligible purchases

The Ink Business Unlimited currently earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible business purchases. Both currently have no annual fee.  

When I prefer the Ink Business Cash

I would lean toward the Ink Business Cash when a company spends a meaningful amount in its elevated categories.

A business with substantial internet, phone or office-supply expenses may earn more through the 5% categories than it would through a flat 1.5% card.

The 2% categories can also help businesses that spend regularly on gas or dining.

However, the annual spending caps matter. Once the applicable combined cap is reached, purchases in that group earn the card’s base rate under the current program terms.  

The Ink Business Cash therefore rewards a business owner who is willing to understand the categories and monitor the relevant spending limits.

When I prefer the Ink Business Unlimited

I would lean toward the Ink Business Unlimited when business spending is scattered across categories that do not earn elevated rewards on the Ink Business Cash.

That may include:

• advertising
• shipping
• inventory
• equipment
• professional services
• repairs
• software
• general vendor payments

Receiving 1.5% instead of 1% on these eligible general purchases can make a noticeable difference as spending grows.

It also removes the need to track category caps or determine how a merchant will code.

For an established company that values simplicity, the Ink Business Unlimited may be the easier card to manage.

A simple way to compare them

Imagine that your business spends $30,000 per year, with most expenses falling outside the Ink Business Cash bonus categories.

At a 1.5% return, $30,000 in eligible general purchases would produce $450 in cash-back rewards.

At a 1% return, the same amount would produce $300.

In that example, the Ink Business Unlimited would provide $150 more in rewards.

But now imagine that a large portion of that spending goes toward eligible internet, phone and office-supply purchases. The Ink Business Cash could produce a significantly stronger result on those qualifying purchases, subject to its annual cap.

Your real expense history should decide the winner.

Could an established business use both?

Some business owners may find that the cards complement one another.

The Ink Business Cash could be used for its elevated categories, while the Ink Business Unlimited could handle general purchases that would otherwise earn only 1%.

That approach requires more account management and is not necessary for everyone. It also does not mean that a business will qualify for both cards or receive any particular credit limit.

Approval, credit limits and new-cardmember-offer eligibility are determined by Chase.

Be careful with category strategies

It is important to use a business card for legitimate business purchases and not manufacture spending simply to earn rewards.

Chase’s guidelines specifically prohibit advising readers to purchase gift cards at office-supply stores to exploit the Ink Business Cash reward rate.

Focus on normal expenses your business already incurs.

Rewards should improve the value of necessary spending—not create an excuse to buy something you otherwise would not purchase.

My final opinion

I prefer the Ink Business Cash for an established business with predictable spending in its elevated categories.

I prefer the Ink Business Unlimited for an established business whose expenses are broad, irregular or difficult to categorize.

Neither card is universally better.

Look at several months of actual business statements and estimate how much spending would earn 5%, 2%, 1.5% or 1% under the applicable terms. That will give you a more useful answer than choosing based only on an introductory offer.

Review the current terms for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card before selecting either option.

Editorial Disclosure: The opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by Chase or any other card issuer. Product terms can change. Review the issuer’s current terms before applying.