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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Updated: October 29, 2024
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Chase Ink Business credit cards allow cardholders to turn business expenses into rewards. Two of the best business credit cards options for small business owners are the Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Preferred cards.
Compare Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card features, fees, rewards and costs to determine which one is more suitable for your needs. For example, the Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee and Ink Business Cash has no annual fee. However, the Ink Business Preferred has no foreign transaction fee, while Ink Business Cash has a 3% fee for every foreign transaction.
Comparison Overview: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Ink Business Cash® Credit CardInk Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card At a Glance
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a great option to cover business expenses. It offers a generous 5% cash back on office supply store purchases, as well as on phone, cable and Internet services, up to $25,000 per year. Cardholders can enjoy 2% cash back for spending up to $25,000 at gas stations and restaurants. For all other purchases, you will earn 1% cash back.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best for earning rewards on office supplies
- 1–5% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
- 18.49% – 24.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Substantial cash back on business-specific categories
- Attractive welcome offer
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR offer on purchases
- Free additional employee cards
Cons
- Limited rewards potential on non-bonus categories
- Foreign transaction fees
- Cap on cash back rewards
Introductory Offers
- Earn $350 cash back after spending $3,000 in the first three months.
- Earn an additional $400 cash back after spending $6,000 in the first six months.
Rewards
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services.
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy Zero Liability protection for unauthorized charges.
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Benefit from a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases, then a variable APR of 17.99% - 25.99% after that.
- No annual fee.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card At a Glance
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is best for those who travel often for business, spend on internet advertising and have regular shipping expenses. There is no limit on the number of points you can earn, and if you travel internationally for work, the card doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Great for big welcome offer and ongoing rewards
- 1–3 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.24% – 26.24% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Impressive welcome offer
- High rewards cap
- Boosted rewards redemption through Chase
- Travel protections
- Free employee cards
Cons
- Annual fees
- Cash advance and balance transfer fees
- A late payment can lead to a penalty APR
Introductory Offers
- Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.
- Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
- Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel.
Perks & Benefits
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases.
- Zero Liability protection ensures you're not responsible for unauthorized charges.
- Purchase Protection covers new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more, with no expiration as long as the account is open.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek breaks down the differences between the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to help you decide which one is the better one for you.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Complimentary Travel Coverage | Both cards offer travel and emergency assistance services, as well as auto rental collision damage waiver. However, the Ink Business Preferred also has trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance that will reimburse up to $5,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses should your trip get canceled or cut short because of an illness, severe weather or other covered situations. Ink Business Preferred also offers roadside dispatch, which provides roadside services anytime. Winner: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
Welcome Bonus | Chase offers a welcome bonus to new cardholders. New Ink Business Cash cardholders can get a $750 cash back if they spend $7,500 in the first three months. Meanwhile, the welcome offer for Ink Business Preferred cardholders is 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months. These points can be redeemed as $1,000 cash back or $1,250 in travel rewards. Winner: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
Rewards | Ink Business Cash® Credit Cardholders can get: 5% cash back on purchases made at office supply stores and on payments for phone, cable and Internet services and 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and restaurants at a rate of 2%. However, each of these categories have a $25,000 per year spending capAfter the first $25,000, all purchases will earn 1% cash back. Meanwhile, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Cardholders can earn 3x points when using the card for travel, phone, cable and Internet services and Internet advertising purchases. However, this rate is applicable only up to the first $150,000 spent per year. Points do not expire as long as the account is open. Winner: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
Annual Fee | One of the most appealing features of the Ink Business Cash credit card is no annual fee. On the other hand, the Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee Winner: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card |
Foreign Transaction Fees | For business owners who travel a lot, the foreign transaction fee may be a big consideration when choosing a credit card. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a 3% fee on all foreign transactions. The Ink Business Preferred has no foreign transaction fee. That means you can save a lot when completing transactions outside the U.S. Winner: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
When you are choosing between the Ink Business Cash vs. Ink Business Preferred, it is important to consider your situation and needs.
Who Should Consider the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card?
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is one of the best cash back credit cards for business owners. It has no annual fee and outstanding cash back rates. This makes the card an ideal option if you want to earn rewards on business expenses.
Small business owners and startups would benefit from this card’s rewards program. You can earn bonus rewards for everyday business expenses, including office supplies, phone, cable and Internet services.
Individuals who are on the road a lot for business can enjoy 2% cash back for purchases made at U.S. gas stations and restaurants. The card also offers emergency assistance services and rental car insurance.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is best for individuals who travel often for business. It offers valuable rewards and benefits for regular travelers, including no foreign transaction fees.
The card offers 3x points for every dollar spent on bonus categories, including travel and hotel bookings.
Businesses that use shipping services and online advertising will earn 3x points for every dollar of the first $150,000 spent every account anniversary year on purchases made on shipping and advertising services on social media and search engines.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
The choice between these two cards is difficult, but it comes down to one simple factor: will your business benefit more from points or cash? And the one reason points are typically a better option is that you can always cash them out if needed. So unless you are focused on earning cash back to support your business ventures, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has a slight edge.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
Choosing a business credit card can be challenging. MoneyGeek answers some of the frequently asked questions to help you better understand the difference between the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Is Ink Business Cash® Credit Card better than Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?
Deciding on which card is better requires you to consider your situation and needs. If you’re looking for a business credit card that will help you earn rewards for everyday business expenses, then the Ink Business Cash is for you. However, if you travel often for business and have high business expenses, the Ink Business Preferred is the better choice.
Can you get the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card if you have the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?
Yes, if you think that both cards are beneficial to you, then you can apply for both of them. However, keep in mind the Chase 5/24 rule, which disallows anyone to be approved for a Chase credit card if you’ve been approved for five or more cards in the last 24 months.
Can you transfer points from the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?
Yes, simply set up your cards under one business log-in. Log into your Ultimate Rewards account and select Ink Business Cash. You will see the combine points tab on the next page. Select the Ink Business Cash for the from field and transfer the points to your Ink Business Preferred.
Can you switch from the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?
Yes, you can upgrade your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card to the Ink Business Preferred card after a year. However, your upgrade application will be reviewed. So, a product change is not guaranteed.
What’s harder to get, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?
Generally, it is easier to get approval for the Ink Business Cash Card. It is possible to get instant approval if you’re qualified for it. The approval process may last for 10 days if there is a delay. On the other hand, there is no pre-approval for Ink Business Preferred Card. The approval process usually takes up to 15 days.
How much do you have to spend for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card vs Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to get the welcome bonus?
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a welcome bonus of $750 cash back. To get this, you will have to spend $7,500 within the first three months after opening the account.
Meanwhile, the welcome bonus for Ink Business Preferred cardholders is 100,000 points. However, you need to spend $15,000 on purchases within the first three months after opening the account.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card are solid credit card options for business owners. However, if you’re looking for other options that offer more opportunities to earn bonuses, consider getting a rewards credit card.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Chase Bank. "Chase for Business: Ink Business Cash." Accessed October 29, 2024.
- Chase Bank. "Chase for Business: Ink Business Preferred." Accessed October 29, 2024.
- Chase Bank. "Ink Business Credit Cards." Accessed October 29, 2024.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.