Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Review 2024

First things first: The card_name will bonus_miles_full

That’s virtually unprecedented for a no annual fee credit card, and it’s a coup for anyone that can be approved — which isn’t everyone.

That’s because the card_name is a small business credit card, which means you must have a for-profit venture to qualify. But as we’ll discuss, the term “small business” includes more activities than you might imagine. You may even discover that you operate a small business without realizing it.

One feature that makes this one of the best credit cards of its category is that, while its rewards are marketed as cash back, they’re actually Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. If you’ve got another participating Ultimate Rewards card, you can magically turn those rewards into exponentially more value travel points.

Here’s everything you need to know about the card_name.

TIME’s Take

The card_name doesn’t offer a lot of variety in its rewards earnings (a flat 1.5% everywhere), but that’s part of its charm. Those who find bonus categories appealing should stay away, but anyone valuing simplicity has found their new daily driver. A minimum of 1.5% back on everything is above average.

Plus, you can count on zero hands the number of no annual fee credit cards that have a better welcome bonus than this card: bonus_miles_full

For any small business owner, it’s worth giving this card a try. Chase is effectively paying you $750 to kick the tires.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited vs Cash

Pros and cons

Who is the card for?

The card_name is a small business credit card. If you’re not a small business owner, you won’t qualify for the card.

The good news is that it’s common to participate in something that can be categorized as a small business. For example, if you occasionally dog sit with Rover, deliver food with DoorDash, babysit for money or sell items on eBay, you can get a business credit card.

The card is also very accessible thanks to its annual_fees annual fee. You can open and keep the card without paying any membership fees, which means it’s a good card to help build your credit history.

The big downfall of this card may be considered a strength by some. You’ll earn 1.5% back (1 Chase point per dollar) on all purchases with the card. Many small business cards offer a more generous return for specific spending categories, but the card_name’s flat earning rate means you’re guaranteed a respectable return for minimal brainpower.

Rewards structure

The card_name will bonus_miles_full

This card earns 1.5% back (1 Chase point per dollar) on all eligible purchases. You’ll also earn 5% (5 Chase points per dollar) on Lyft rides through March 2025.

A 1.5% return isn’t roof-shattering, but a significantly higher floor than most other credit cards on the market. The lowest return you’ll get with many other rewards credit cards is 1% (or 1 point per dollar). This makes the card_name a go-to card for expenses that don’t fall into a bonus category, such as medical expenses, household maintenance, or car repairs.

This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points which can be redeemed at a rate of 1 cent per point. However, these rewards can be worth much more toward travel if you also hold either the card_name, card_name or card_name.

The secret is to transfer the points you earn with the card_name to one of these cards. This allows you to do things like:

• Purchase travel through the Chase Travel Portal for between 1.25 cents and 1.5 cents (depending on which card you have).
• Convert your rewards into hotel points for free accommodation.
• Convert your rewards into airline miles for (nearly) free flights.

The biggest potential value for your rewards comes specifically by transferring your points to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners, such as Hyatt, Singapore Airlines and British Airways. Here are a few examples of what you can do with the card_name’s current welcome bonus:

• Transfer 75,000 points to Hyatt for three nights at the Andaz Amsterdam. That’s a $2,000+ hotel stay (a value of 2.6 cents per point).
• Transfer 68,000 points to Iberia for a round-trip lie-flat business class flight between Washington, DC (IAD), and Madrid (MAD) on Iberia. That’s a $3,400+ fare (a value of 5 cents per point).
• Transfer 78,000 points to Singapore Airlines for two round-trip economy flights between Newark (EWR) and Kauai (LIH) on United Airlines. That’s $1,100 worth of airfare (a value of 1.4 cents per point).

You can also redeem your points for things like gift cards and your Amazon cart, but these options aren’t nearly as valuable as your travel options.

The fine print

The card_name does not charge an annual fee. However, you’ll be subject to various fees that you can expect with just about any card, namely:

• Balance transfer fee: Pay $5 or 5% of your transaction when initiating a balance transfer, whichever is greater.
• Cash advance fees: Pay $15 or 5% of your cash advance, whichever is greater. You’ll also pay an increased 29.99% APR which begins accruing immediately.
• Returned payment fees: You’ll pay a $40 fee if your credit card payment doesn’t go through due to lack of funds (or another reason).
• Late payment fees: You’ll pay a $40 fee if you submit a payment past your due date. This is easily avoidable by setting your account on autopay for the minimum payment amount.

The card_name also charges a foreign_transaction_fee fee, making it a bad option to use when you’re outside the country or making any online purchases that’ll be processed outside the U.S., for that matter.

Additional hidden perks

Intro APR offer

card_name comes with intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration (followed by reg_apr,reg_apr_type). This is a solid offering for a no annual fee cash back credit card — solid enough that some other cards may consider it a “welcome bonus.”

If you’ve got a large business purchase (or a series of purchases) that you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off for several months, the card_name is an excellent card that has the potential to save you literally hundreds of dollars in interest, depending on how heavily you use it.

Primary rental car insurance

The card_name confers primary rental car insurance when you use the card to pay for your reservation and waive the rental agency’s in-house CDW. That’s a hyper-rare benefit among no annual fee credit cards.

There is one catch: You must be renting the car for business purposes. In other words, if you’re renting for your vacation, Chase is not obligated to cover you.

Purchase insurances

The card_name comes with two handy coverages for your purchases:

• Purchase protection: Eligible items purchased with the card are covered up to 120 days against theft or damage, up to $10,000 per claim (max $50,000 per account).
• Extended warranty protection: Eligible items purchased with the card will receive up to 1 additional year on U.S. manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less.

These perks further warrant the card as a good choice when buying expensive business items.

Travel and emergency assistance services

This benefit isn’t necessarily a money-saver, but it’s a good friend to have during your travels. If something goes awry, you have access to a hotline that will help you with medical and legal referrals, arranging emergency travel, assistance with a lost passport and more. While the advice is free, you’ll pay for anything else that would otherwise cost money.

Roadside Dispatch

When you experience trouble on the road, you can call a dedicated number to get help with things like towing, winching, a locksmith, jumpstarts and fuel delivery. Most of these services aren’t free, but they’re a great last resort when you’ve got nowhere to turn.

What could be improved

The card_name has a handful of travel-focused benefits. Its primary rental car insurance and Chase Ultimate Rewards structure make it a go-to credit card for those with travel aspirations. So it’s disappointing that it charges a foreign_transaction_fee fee.

Another welcome addition would be the addition of a bonus category or two, similar to its consumer counterpart, the card_name. This card offers a 1.5% minimum earning rate on all purchases, but it also offers:

• 5% back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Portal.
• 3% back on dining.
• 3% back at drugstores.

A 1.5% baseline is good, but it’s increasingly becoming not good enough.

Card alternatives

*Bonus rewards are earned on up to $25,000 in combined spending each year, then 1% (1 Chase point per dollar).

The card_name is one of the better no-annual-fee small business credit cards on the market. The fact that it earns rewards that can be used for travel separates it from much of the pack. If you don’t have the energy to pay attention to bonus categories, this card’s 1.5% return rate simplifies your earning strategy.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is the card_name worth it?

The card_name has annual_fees annual fee, so there’s no financial risk in opening the card (unless you incur standard fees for activity such as late payments or carrying a balance month-to-month). The card is definitely worth it for most situations, as it earns a respectable 1.5% return for all purchases.

What is the annual fee for the card_name?

The card_name has a annual_fees annual fee.

Does Chase pull personal credit for business cards?

Chase will perform a hard credit inquiry on your personal credit to approve you for its business cards, including the card_name. However, your activity on the card_name doesn’t report to your personal credit.