Annual Fee: $0
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
This is one of the BEST business cards on the market with no annual fee and a staggering 1.5% back on EVERY purchase (the only card to do this that can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards!). Plus, the cash bonus can actually be turned into Chase Ultimate Rewards if you also hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. It's no secret that Chase points are some of the most valuable travel currency on the planet... and with a consistently high welcome offer with a TON of them on an annual fee-free card? It's wild, y'all 👀
Its simple earning structure also makes it a breeze to use for small businesses and sole proprietors—we're looking at you freelance writers, wannabe photographers, and dog walkers. You aren't restricted to making purchases in the "traditional" business sense. Why use a card that only gets you 1x points on "all other purchases" when you could buy those new dog-walking shoes or fancy camera lens (or whatever else) for 1.5x back? So we'd encourage you to view this card as far more than a cash-back business card. You'll easily double its value by pairing it with and moving your points over to one of those more premium cards mentioned earlier. If you don't have a card that lets you transfer points, you still can redeem for cash-back... which is an unbelievably good deal for no annual fee!
If you're looking to add a business card to your wallet that can be used on everyday purchases for the most simple of side hustles, the Ink Business Unlimited should be your top choice.
[.redeem] 5% [.redeem] cash-back per $1 on Lyft rides through March 2025
[.redeem] 1.5%[.redeem] unlimited cash-back per $1 on all purchases
🏆 Daily Drop's Most Popular Card
Annual Fee: $95
🏆 Best for travel credits
Annual Fee: $550
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Our goal is to help you explore the world affordably and experience life changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Here at Daily Drop, we score cards based on six different categories: annual fee, welcome offer, point redemption value, rewards rates, benefits, and travel protections. You’ll notice that APR is not considered because we never recommend carrying a credit card balance if your goal is to maximize miles and points for travel. While these scores are opinion-based, our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and has traveled to almost every country in the world. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.
To say I'm a huge fan of the Chase Ink business cards would be an understatement considering I have every single one of them in my wallet. And while the Ink Unlimited is technically a cash back credit card, when combined with a points earning card like the Ink Preferred, the cash back that this product earns can be instantly converted into Chase Ultimate reward points. Not only that, but with no annual fee it's a pretty easy card to justify and at 1.5% cash back or 1.5x points per dollar on everything, it’s a fantastic every day card for those miscellaneous business transactions!
💡 And if you’re turned off by the word “business” being in the card name, check out this article which helped thousands of Daily Drop readers open business cards last year.
[.pro] Ability to earn major Ultimate Rewards points on a no-annual-fee card [.pro]
[.pro] Simple earning structure [.pro]
[.pro] No earning restrictions on typical business expenses [.pro]
[.con] 3% foreign transaction fee [.con]
[.redeem] 5% [.redeem] cash-back per $1 on Lyft rides through March 2025
[.redeem] 1.5%[.redeem] unlimited cash-back per $1 on all purchases
When it comes to Chase Ultimate Rewards, the best way to maximize your points is to redeem them with travel.
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Turning your points into cash-back [.dontreco]
While you can redeem your points for cash back or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point, or use Chase's Pay Yourself Back option, it simply doesn’t provide the best value.
[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Using the Chase Travel Portal [.sometimesreco]
You can redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, and car rentals through Chase TravelSM, all at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. While this is a decent option, it’s still not the best.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio to stretch your points. [.alwaysreco]
The bottom line is — if a flight or hotel room can be bought with cash, you can use your points to book it. Transferring your Chase points can score you more than 1.25 cents per point by moving rewards to Chase's 14 amaaaazing airline and hotel partners. Top picks include Hyatt, United, British Airways, IHG One Rewards, and so many more. Taking advantage of these transfer partners is one of the best ways to justify your Ink Business Cash. Chase often runs bonus promotions, giving you up to 30% more points or miles when you transfer to a partner.
But how can I actually transfer my Ultimate Rewards points?
Transferring your Chase points is a super simple process. Simply log in to your Chase account and click on “points” in the top right corner. Then, you’ll see three dots on the top of the screen. Click those and select “transfer points to partners.” From there, you’ll be able to view any bonuses and available transfer options. Let the travel commence!
Brendan, who you may have seen on our Daily Drop YouTube channel, is pretty much a points wizard. He earned about a million points on welcome offers and has used them for some pretty sweet redemptions. One of his redemptions? Booking a $3,000 All-Inclusive using the points from his Ink Business Preferred (which, again, could be pooled together with the Ink Business Unlimited). He owns quite a few Ink cards (for good reasons, it seems). Want to learn how to use your Ink card to make a similar redemption? Check this out 👇
Why? Pairing the Ink Business Unlimited with the Capital One Venture X Business card gives you a versatile and powerful rewards combo. The Ink Business Unlimited is pretty simple, offering 1.5% cash back on every purchase without any categories to keep track of—perfect for consistent rewards on all your business spending. The Capital One Venture X Business, on the other hand, brings premium travel perks to the table, including a $300 annual travel credit, lounge access, and flexible redemption options for miles. When you pair these cards, you get the best of both worlds: steady cash back on everything with the Ink Business Unlimited and top-tier travel benefits with the Venture X Business. It’s an ideal setup for business owners who want to earn rewards on everyday expenses while also enjoying luxury travel perks when it’s time to hit the road.
Why? The Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash are a great duo that can seriously aid in earnings rewards. The Ink Business Cash offers an impressive 5% cash back on office supplies, internet, and phone services, and 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants—perfect for your business’s everyday needs. Meanwhile, the Ink Business Unlimited keeps things simple, giving you 1.5% cash back on every other purchase with no categories to juggle. Together, these cards cover all your bases: high rewards where you spend the most with the Ink Business Cash and steady cash back on everything else with the Ink Business Unlimited. Plus, since both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can combine them and redeem for even more value, whether it’s for travel or other rewards. It’s a winning strategy for maximizing every dollar your business spends.
Why? The Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Preferred are a powerhouse pair that cover all your business spending needs. The Ink Business Unlimited is all about simplicity, giving you a flat 1.5% cash back on every single purchase, no categories or caps to keep track of. On the other hand, the Ink Business Preferred shines with impressive rewards on travel and select business categories like shipping and advertising. Together, these cards let you earn high rewards on targeted categories with the Ink Business Preferred, while the Ink Business Unlimited takes care of everything else. And since both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can pool your points and redeem them for maximum value, whether it's through Chase Travel or by transferring to travel partners.
The Ink Business Unlimited is perfect for people who own small businesses and want to earn some extra cashback on everyday purchases. Imagine getting paid back every time you stock up on office supplies, pay your internet bill, or even grab lunch for the team—this card’s got your back with cash back on the stuff you already buy. The cherry on top? This card has no annual fee and a solid welcome offer, giving you a solid boost. With this card, you will have cracked the code to smarter spending.
The Ink Business Unlimited is a great choice for anyone running a side hustle. Whether you’re freelancing, selling on Etsy, or managing a small online business, this card lets you earn rewards on the everyday expenses that come with your side gig. With 5% cash back on office supplies and 2% on gas and dining, you’re getting rewarded for the things you’re already buying. Plus, with no annual fee, it’s a low-risk way to boost your earnings and make the most of your side hustle. It’s like getting a little extra for doing what you already love, which (in my humble opinion) is pretty freaking awesome.
Adding the Ink Business Unlimited card to your wallet is a smart move, especially if you already have another Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Why? Because it lets you double-dip on rewards. The Ink Business Unlimited offers solid cash back on categories like office supplies and utilities, which you can combine with the points you earn on your Sapphire Preferred. Since both cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, you can pool them together for even bigger travel redemptions through Chase’s portal or transfer partners. Pairing multiple Chase cards is a super-duper way to rack up tons of extra Ultimate Rewards points, and the Ink Business Unlimited is a great place to start.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 700, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Ink Business Unlimited, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
The recommended credit score for the Ink Business Unlimited is 670-850 (Good — Excellent). But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line (link), and be granted the coveted Ink Business Unlimited.