Chase Ink Business Unlimited Review: Simple, No-Frills Cash Back

For entrepreneurs who would rather worry about their business than their credit card rewards program, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card from Chase keeps it simple.

The card has an annual fee of $0 and offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. And a hefty sign-up bonus doesn’t hurt: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

But business owners willing to put some effort into learning a rewards program might find greater rewards value with a different small-business credit card, even one within Chase’s own lineup of small-business credit cards.

» MORE: Compare cash-back business credit cards

Key features of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Card type: Small business.

Annual fee: $ 0.

Sign-up bonus: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR

Foreign transaction fees: 3%.

Why you might want the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Easy-to-understand rewards

This card doesn’t require you to remember any spending categories — you’ll just get a flat rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent. Rewards come in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, worth 1 cent each when redeemed as cash back. You can get that cash back in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Points can also be redeemed for:

• Gift cards (1 cent per point).

• Travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (1 cent per point).

• Amazon purchases (0.8 cents per point).

It’s also possible to move your rewards to other Chase accounts that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, potentially getting more value for travel. More on that next.

You have other Chase cards and want to maximize travel rewards

Typically, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are worth around 1 cent each. But three different Chase cards — the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, along with consumer cards Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — offer boosts to that point value if you use your points to book travel through Chase. With the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel this way. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, they're worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed this way.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card isn't eligible for these more-valuable travel redemptions. But if you also have any of those other three special cards, you can transfer points to that card from your Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card — including toward a consumer card to save on personal travel. If you do this, and then redeem for travel, your effective rewards rate gets even better.

Points on those three special cards can also be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to other loyalty programs, such as United Airlines, British Airways or Marriott. Potentially, that could net you an even higher effective rewards rate.

» MORE: How a Chase 'trifecta' can be beneficial

You’re making a large purchase soon

One of the ways to maximize the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card’s benefits is to make a large purchase soon after opening the card to get this bonus: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.. Plus, you’ll have time to pay it off before accruing interest — this card offers 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR.

Those are great perks for a business credit card — especially one with an annual fee of $0.

» MORE: Best 0% APR business credit cards

Why you might want a different card

You spend lots in specific categories, like gas or office supplies

A cash back rewards rate of 1.5% on everything is simple, to be sure. But if you have higher spending in certain categories, such as travel or office supplies, you might be better off with a cash-back business credit card that offers a higher rewards rate on those spending categories.

For example, elsewhere in the Chase lineup is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, which offers 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on Internet, cable and phone services each year. Plus, it earns 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants annually, in addition to an unlimited 1% cash back on all other card purchases. Plus, it has an annual fee of $0.

You often travel abroad

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%, which will hurt if you travel overseas. Frequent international travelers would be better served by a business travel rewards card with no foreign transaction fees. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card, for instance, has no foreign transaction fees and doesn’t charge an annual fee.

Should I get the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card?

The simplicity of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card could be a fit for entrepreneurs who don’t want to deal with cumbersome bonus category terms. And its generous sign-up bonus and introductory 0% APR period on purchases are a boon for those planning to make a major purchase and pay it down over time.