Chase offers five main business cards, each built for a different spending pattern

Chase Business Preferred, Chase Ink Unlimited, Chase Ink Cash, Chase Ink Business Plus, and Chase Ink Business Premier are the five cards Chase markets to business owners. None is objectively "best" — the right one depends on what your business spends money on and how much you spend each month. A contractor who buys materials at office supply stores will benefit from a different card than a software company that pays cloud services and travel expenses.

The cards differ in three ways: the cash-back or points structure, the annual fee, and the spending categories that earn higher rewards. Understanding these differences means comparing your actual spending against what each card rewards, not picking based on a name or a sign-up bonus.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Business Preferred earns points on internet, cable, and shipping, plus a large sign-up bonus, but charges a $95 annual fee.
  • Chase Ink Unlimited returns 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee, making it the simplest option for businesses with mixed spending.
  • Chase Ink Cash rewards 5% back on internet and cable, 2% on gas and restaurants, and 1% on everything else, with no annual fee.
  • Chase Ink Business Plus earns points on the same categories as Ink Preferred but costs $95 annually and has a lower sign-up bonus.
  • Chase Ink Business Premier is designed for high-spending businesses and charges $495 per year.

Chase Business Preferred: High sign-up bonus, rewards travel and software

Chase Business Preferred targets businesses that spend on travel, shipping, internet, and software subscriptions. It earns 3 points per dollar on those categories and 1 point on everything else. The card comes with a substantial sign-up bonus — the exact amount changes, but it typically requires $5,000 in spending within three months. The annual fee is $95.

The card's value depends on whether you actually spend in those categories. If your business pays for cloud services, ships products, or books travel regularly, the 3x points rate can offset the annual fee. If most of your spending is on payroll, rent, or utilities — categories that earn only 1 point — this card costs you money compared to a flat-rate alternative.

Points can be redeemed for cash back at 1 cent per point, or transferred to travel partners like United, Southwest, and Marriott at rates that vary. The travel transfer option is why this card appeals to businesses that can use airline miles or hotel points.

Chase Ink Unlimited: No annual fee, flat 1.5% cash back on everything

Chase Ink Unlimited is the simplest card Chase offers for business. It returns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, no categories, no limits. There is no annual fee. The sign-up bonus is smaller than Preferred — usually $300 to $500 cash back after meeting a spending threshold.

This card works best for businesses with unpredictable spending patterns or spending that does not fit neatly into bonus categories. A consulting firm that pays for client dinners, software, travel, and office supplies in roughly equal amounts will earn more with Unlimited than by trying to optimize across multiple categories. The flat rate also means no tracking or strategy — every dollar spent earns the same reward.

The trade-off is that 1.5% is lower than the 3% or 5% some cards offer in their top categories. If your business spends heavily in one or two categories, a card with higher rewards in those categories will pay more. If your spending is scattered, Unlimited is usually the better choice.

Chase Ink Cash: 5% on internet and cable, no annual fee

Chase Ink Cash rewards 5% cash back on internet and cable bills, 2% on gas and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. There is no annual fee. The sign-up bonus is typically $200 to $300 cash back.

This card is useful for businesses that pay predictable utility and internet bills. A small office with a fixed monthly internet bill, gas for delivery vehicles, and regular client entertainment will see the 5% and 2% rates add up. The 5% rate on internet is higher than most cards offer, which makes this card worth holding even if you use another card for most spending.

The limitation is that the 5% category is narrow — it covers internet service and cable TV bills only, not software subscriptions or cloud services. If your business pays for SaaS tools, those earn only 1%. The 2% on gas and restaurants is useful but not exceptional.

Chase Ink Business Plus: Points-based version of Ink Cash

Chase Ink Business Plus is nearly identical to Ink Cash, except it earns points instead of cash back and charges a $95 annual fee. It earns 3 points per dollar on internet, cable, and shipping; 2 points on gas and restaurants; and 1 point on everything else.

The main reason to choose this card over Ink Cash is if you want to transfer points to travel partners. If you plan to redeem for cash back, Ink Cash is the better choice because it has no annual fee and the cash-back rates are higher. The sign-up bonus on Ink Business Plus is usually smaller than on Preferred.

This card occupies an awkward middle ground: it costs more than Ink Cash but offers less earning potential than Ink Preferred in the categories where Preferred excels. Most businesses are better served by choosing either Ink Cash (if they want no annual fee) or Ink Preferred (if they want the highest earning rate and travel transfer options).

Chase Ink Business Premier: For businesses spending $250,000 or more annually

Chase Ink Business Premier charges $495 per year and is designed for high-volume spenders. It earns 3 points per dollar on the first $25,000 in combined purchases across internet, cable, and shipping each year, then 1 point per dollar on those categories after that. It earns 2 points on gas and restaurants and 1 point on everything else.

The card includes a $300 annual credit toward internet, cable, or shipping, which reduces the net annual fee to $195. It also offers higher credit limits and additional perks like employee cards and purchase protections. The sign-up bonus is typically $750 to $1,000 in points.

This card only makes financial sense for businesses spending at least $250,000 per year. At that spending level, the 3x earning on the first $25,000 in bonus categories, combined with the $300 credit, can justify the $495 fee. For smaller businesses, the annual cost outweighs the rewards.

How to choose between them: Match your spending to the card's rewards

Start by listing your business's actual spending over the past three months. Break it into categories: utilities and internet, travel, restaurants and entertainment, gas, office supplies, software subscriptions, shipping, and everything else. Add up each category.

Then calculate what each card would earn on that spending. For example, if your business spends $2,000 per month on internet and software, $1,000 on travel, $500 on restaurants, and $1,500 on everything else, you would earn differently on each card. Chase Business Preferred would earn 3 points on the $2,000 (software counts as internet/cable for rewards purposes), 3 points on the $1,000 travel, 1 point on the $500 restaurants, and 1 point on the $1,500 other — totaling 9,500 points per month. Chase Ink Unlimited would earn 1.5% on all $5,000, or $75 per month. Chase Ink Cash would earn 5% on internet, 1% on software, 2% on travel, 2% on restaurants, and 1% on other — totaling $155 per month.

The card that earns the most on your actual spending is the one to choose. Do not pick based on the sign-up bonus alone — the bonus is a one-time event, but the earning rate affects every purchase for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than one Chase business card at the same time?

Yes. Many businesses hold two Chase business cards — for example, Ink Unlimited for everyday spending and Ink Preferred for travel and software. Chase does not restrict how many business cards you hold, though each process and annual fee is separate. Having multiple cards lets you optimize rewards across different spending categories.

Do these cards report to my personal credit or business credit?

Chase business cards report to business credit bureaus, not your personal credit report. However, Chase will pull your personal credit when you explore, and if you are a sole proprietor, the card may be linked to your Social Security number. The card itself does not appear on your personal credit report once approved.

What is the difference between points and cash back?

Cash back is money returned to your account — 1% cash back on $1,000 in spending means $10 back. Points are a currency you redeem for cash, travel, or other rewards. One point is usually worth 1 cent when redeemed for cash, but may be worth more when transferred to airline or hotel partners. Cash back is simpler; points offer more options if you travel frequently.

Do I need a separate business bank account to get a business credit card?

No. Chase will issue a business card to a sole proprietor with just a Social Security number and no separate business account. If you operate as an LLC or corporation, Chase will ask for an EIN, but you can still use a personal bank account to pay the card. Separating your business and personal finances is a good practice, but it is not required to open the card.

What happens if I do not meet the sign-up bonus spending requirement?

You straightforward do not receive the bonus. The card remains open and usable, and you earn the regular cash back or points on your purchases. There is no penalty for missing the spending threshold — you just lose the one-time bonus. If the annual fee applies and you have not used the card, you can close it before the fee posts.