If your small business is looking for an affordable way to earn cash back or boost its Ultimate Rewards balance, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) are two great choices.
Currently, both cards are offering their highest-ever welcome bonuses, which could be even more valuable if you have an eligible Ultimate Rewards card that provides access to Chase’s transfer partners.
It’s important to know whether or not you’re eligible for a welcome bonus. You don’t want to waste a hard pull on your credit just to find out you didn’t meet Chase’s requirements from the start.
Current offers on the Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited
Currently, the Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited have the same welcome offer: Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months of account opening.
These best-ever offers end on Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. ET, so I recommend applying sooner rather than later. We haven’t seen offers this good on either of these cards before.
According to TPG’s September 2026 valuations, this welcome offer could be worth up to $2,050 if you hold a card that offers access to Chase’s transfer partners, such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees).
That’s because you can combine the rewards you earn on your Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Unlimited with that account and redeem them with any of Chase’s partners.
Am I eligible for the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Unlimited’s welcome bonus?
When considering whether you’re eligible for a welcome bonus on either card, there are several factors to keep in mind.
Chase 5/24 rule
Chase’s well-known 5/24 rule states that you may not be approved for a new Chase card if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards over the past 24 months.
While small-business cards like the Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited don’t count toward 5/24, Chase will still take that rule into consideration when deciding whether to approve you.
No-annual-fee Ink family rules
Chase has gradually tightened its eligibility rules for cards in the same family. For the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited, you can earn a welcome offer on either card, but not both. That rings true even if you earned a welcome bonus on one of these cards before the rules changed, or if you closed your account <a href="https://warsaw.today/us-holds-memorials-for-the-9-11-attacks-25-years-later/” title=”US holds memorials for the 9/11 attacks, 25 years later”>years ago.
In addition, you likely won’t be able to earn a second bonus on the same no-annual-fee Ink card. For example, if you previously earned a welcome bonus on the Ink Unlimited, you probably can’t earn another one on that card.
Do I need a business to open the Ink Cash or Ink Unlimited?
You don’t need a traditional business, such as an LLC, to open a small-business card like the Ink Cash or Ink Unlimited. However, you do need a side hustle or similar gig at a minimum. Freelancing, pet sitting, driving for a ride-hailing service and reselling are all examples of work that may qualify you for a small-business card.
Can I hold both the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited at the same time?
Yes, but remember that you likely won’t be able to earn a welcome bonus on both cards. Since both cards have identical welcome offers right now, you don’t need to worry about which card offers greater value with its bonus when deciding which to apply for first.
If you don’t want to hold both cards, your choice will come down to how your business typically spends. Since the Ink Business Cash earns bonus rewards at office supply stores and on common utilities, dining and gas (dining and gas subject to a spending cap), it’s a better choice for business owners who frequently make those purchases.
The Ink Business Unlimited earns 5% cash back on Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027) and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. That makes it an ideal choice for businesses that make a wide variety of purchases or whose spending habits shift regularly.
Bottom line
It’s always important to check whether you’re eligible for a card and its welcome bonus before applying. Credit card issuers will almost always perform a hard pull on your credit report when you apply; too many hard pulls on your credit report can lower your credit score.
Given that, you don’t want to waste a hard pull on a card you more than likely aren’t eligible for. That said, if you meet the eligibility requirements for either the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Unlimited, now is a great time to apply.
Both of these cards have a best-ever welcome offer that’s ending on Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. ET.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Ink Business Cash
Apply here: Chase Ink Business Unlimited
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: thepointsguy.com
