A guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards

While Chase offers a robust portfolio of personal credit cards, the issuer also has a suite of business cards tailored to different types of companies and expenses.

Known as the Ink Business family, these credit cards earn either cash back or Chase Ultimate Rewards points. They generally offer lucrative welcome bonuses and high earning potential across multiple categories, making them a solid addition for many types of business owners.

Adding an Ink Business card to your wallet is a great way to separate personal and business finances. But you don’t have to be a traditional business owner to qualify. In fact, selling products on Etsy, doing freelance writing or running another micro-business can make you eligible.

With this in mind, let’s dive into these cards and see which works best for your business.

Chase Ink Business Cards overview

There are currently four Ink Business cards available:

Each card comes with its own welcome bonus, earning rates and annual fees, which we’ll cover below.

Businesswoman meeting with financial advisor in office conference room — THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES

All of these cards offer the following benefits:

Baggage delay insurance
Extended warranty
Primary car rental insurance (when renting for business purposes)
Purchase protection

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The Ink Business Cash, the Ink Business Premier and the Ink Business Unlimited earn cash-back rewards, while the Ink Business Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Combining your rewards with other Ultimate Rewards cards

Before we get into each card’s details, it’s important to note that if you carry other cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, you may be able to combine your rewards.

You can only combine your rewards from the Ink Business Cash, the Ink Business Preferred and the Ink Business Unlimited; rewards earned on the Ink Business Premier can’t be combined with other cards or transferred.

The cards you can combine with are:

Combining your rewards with one of these cards can further boost your earning and redemption options.

The Sapphire Reserve for Business is a premium business card from Chase that offers elevated perks. While it carries a $795 annual fee and isn’t part of the Ink Business family, it’s designed to deliver luxury travel and lifestyle benefits that may appeal to certain business owners. For a full breakdown of its features and rewards, read our full review of the Sapphire Reserve for Business.

With the basics out of the way, let’s learn more about each Ink Business card.

Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Welcome bonus: Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

a hand holds a credit card - the Ink Business Cash from Chase — THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

5% cash back at office supply stores and on cable, internet and phone services (on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year)
5% cash back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year)
1% cash back on all other purchases

Who should apply? Despite being one of Chase’s no-annual-fee business cards, the Ink Business Cash delivers strong value on everyday expenses. Its bonus categories are especially useful if you regularly purchase office supplies, cover phone services or manage a small office.

Even if you already have the Ink Business Preferred, this card can be a smart complement. It fills gaps by earning 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants — categories that the Preferred doesn’t cover.

And if you hold a premium Chase card, you can combine your Ink Business Cash rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points for even greater flexibility.

To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Cash.

Apply here: Ink Business Cash

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

This welcome bonus is worth $2,050, according to TPG’s May 2026 valuations.

Annual fee: $95

A hand holds the Ink Business Preferred — THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
3 points per dollar on travel, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, shipping purchases and cable, internet and phone services (on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year)
1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Who should apply? This is the only Ink card that earns full-fledged Ultimate Rewards points — those you can transfer to airlines and hotels — on its own rather than cash back. It is also the only Ink card that earns bonus points on travel purchases, specifically.

The annual fee is low enough that freelancers and side hustlers can easily offset the cost, and the higher spending cap on business bonus categories makes it a nice card for established business owners with offices and employees.

To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.

Apply here: Ink Business Preferred

Ink Business Premier Credit Card

Welcome bonus: Earn $1,000 cash back after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $195

a hand holds a credit card — THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
5% cash back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more
2% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Who should apply? The Ink Business Premier is the most premium cash-back offering in the Chase business card family, carrying a $195 annual fee.

Unfortunately, the Ink Business Premier does not earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points like its counterpart, the Ink Business Preferred. You also can’t transfer the rewards earned on the Ink Business Premier to other Ultimate Rewards cards.

Instead, Ink Business Premier cardholders can redeem their points for cash back, gift cards, statement credits and travel through Chase Travel. As such, this card is geared toward business owners with high operating expenses who want to recoup the $195 annual fee and earn cash back to invest back into their business (rather than earning travel rewards).

The Ink Business Premier is a niche option that likely won’t appeal to travel rewards enthusiasts but can be attractive to those who want a simple yet lucrative card with no preset spending limit.

To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Premier.

Apply here: Ink Business Premier

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

Welcome bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Ink Business Unlimited Credt Card_Update — THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

5% cash back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
1.5% cash back on all purchases

Who should apply? This is an excellent card for freelancers who want a card that earns well on every dollar without having to keep track of bonus categories. It’s also a great choice for business owners who need a card for their expenses that don’t fall under a bonus category with their other cards, since you get unlimited 1.5% back on every purchase.

For freelancers or those with side hustles, this means maximizing every purchase without juggling multiple cards with annual fees. For established businesses, this is a great card to pair with other Chase cards, covering purchases that don’t have extra earnings on other cards.

As with the Ink Business Cash, you have the ability to maximize your cash back by converting it to points with a premium Chase card.

To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited.

Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited

Which Ink Business card is right for you?

There are multiple factors to consider when you’re selecting an Ink Business card. Here are some top considerations:

For office supply store and telecommunications service purchases: The no-annual-fee Cash earns 5% cash back at office supply stores and on telecommunications services (up to $25,000 of these purchases each account anniversary year).
For benefits to complement cash-back Ink Business cards: The Preferred offers more rewards that can complement the Cash and/or Unlimited while only charging a minimal annual fee.
For high-spending businesses: The Premier is a good option for businesses that spend thousands annually and want to earn a lucrative 2%-2.5% cash-back rate on all eligible purchases.
For everyday spending outside of bonus categories: The Unlimited racks up 1.5% cash back on all purchases without category restrictions, spending limits or an annual fee.

While you’re weighing benefits, consider that the Preferred and Premier set themselves apart with cellphone protection. This can be valuable considering the high cost of smartphones.

Woman sitting on the floor with a laptop — ROCKAA/GETTY IMAGES

The Preferred and Premier cards charge no foreign transaction fees, while the Cash and Unlimited cards charge a 3% fee on foreign transactions.

If you already carry the Cash or Unlimited, you might want to consider adding the Preferred to your lineup for four main reasons:

Rewards earned on Chase cash-back cards, such as the Cash or Unlimited, can be transferred to the card and then used as full-fledged Chase Ultimate Rewards points with travel partners.
The ability to earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (up to $150,000 of these purchases per account anniversary year).
The cellphone protection benefit can easily justify the $95 annual fee.
The high value of the welcome bonus.

But suppose your business doesn’t spend much on the bonus categories of the Cash or Preferred. In that case, you may be better off simply earning 1.5% cash back on everything with the Unlimited.

Can I have more than one Ink Business credit card from Chase?

Yes, you can. This option can be appealing for businesses that are fully invested in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem and want to maximize purchases across multiple bonus categories.

Here’s an example of how to approach this:

Ink Business Cash: Use this card at office supply stores and on telecommunication purchases to earn 5% back (or 5 points per dollar spent), and use it at restaurants to earn 2% back (or 2 points per dollar spent).
Ink Business Preferred: Use this card for travel, shipping and advertising purchases with social media platforms and search engines to earn 3 points per dollar spent. Plus, use it for all purchases outside the U.S. to avoid foreign transaction fees.
Ink Business Unlimited: Use this card for all other purchases to earn 1.5% back (or 1.5 points per dollar spent).

If you then combine all of your earnings from these cards under your Ink Business Preferred, you’ll have a large balance of fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.

business owner — KATE_SEPT2004/GETTY IMAGES

Also consider the Ink Business Premier (as an alternative to the Unlimited) for all other purchases if you’re happy earning cash back or if you need a card with no preset spending limit when making large purchases.

Ink Business application restrictions

You can open each Ink Business card, earn the welcome bonus on each and even qualify for bonuses across multiple businesses. However, Chase’s standard application rules still apply.

Generally, it’s best to limit yourself to one personal and one business card application with Chase within any 90-day period. You’ll also want to keep the Chase 5/24 rule in mind: if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months, you’ll likely be denied for most new Chase cards. (The good news is that Chase business cards don’t add to your 5/24 count once opened.)

If you aren’t instantly approved, you may be asked to provide additional details about your business or submit supporting documents during a reconsideration call. A little extra effort can go a long way, unlocking the valuable rewards these cards offer.

Bottom line

Chase’s Ink Business lineup offers some of the most rewarding small-business cards on the market, with options for both cash back and transferable Ultimate Rewards points. By strategically pairing two or more Ink cards, you can cover a wide range of spending categories, unlock valuable travel protections and maximize every business purchase.

Whether you’re a freelancer, side hustler or established business owner, there’s likely an Ink card — or a combination of them — that can boost your rewards strategy while helping you keep business and personal expenses separate.

Apply here: Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Apply here: Ink Business Preferred

Apply here: Ink Business Premier

Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

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Stacie Harris

Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.

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Recent Reviews

Claiming a Casualty Loss for Property You Don’t Own – Houston Tax Attorneys

Natural disasters can be expensive. This is particularly true for those who own or have an interest in real estate.

Our tax laws provide some relief through casualty loss deductions and theft loss deductions. But what happens when someone pays to repair property they don’t legally own? This question is particularly relevant when parents continue to financially support their adult children by paying for property repairs after a disaster. Can they claim the casualty loss deduction on their own tax returns?

The recent case of Taylor v. Commissioner, T.C. Summary Opinion 2025-10 (March 3, 2025), addresses this situation and provides an opportunity to consider the ownership requirement for casualty loss deductions.

Facts & Procedural History

The taxpayer and his then-spouse acquired real estate in Texas in 1992. Following their divorce in 2000, the taxpayer-husband transferred his interest to his wife via a special warranty deed.

The taxpayer-wife died in 2007 and her minor daughters inherited the property. The taxpayer-husband was appointed guardian of the estate for his then-minor daughters.

The daughters reached adulthood by 2012, so the taxpayer-husband transferred the property to the children via a deed. When Hurricane Harvey struck in 2017, the property was owned by the taxpayer-husband’s now adult daughters. The taxpayer-husband did not live in the property in 2017.

The taxpayer-husband paid expenses to repair the damage to the property and he paid the insurance on the property. He claimed a $49,500 casualty loss deduction on his 2017 tax return for the damage.

The IRS conducted a tax audit and issued a Notice of Deficiency in 2021, determining a deficiency of $17,537 in federal income tax and an accuracy-related penalty under Section 6662(a). The IRS did not challenge the substantiation for the casualty loss deduction, as it normally does. Rather, it challenged the deduction on the basis of the taxpayer’s ownership of the property.

The taxpayer petitioned the U.S. Tax Court, challenging the IRS’s determination. The question for the court was whether the taxpayer-husband is entitled to a tax loss for the property that he used to own given that he paid for the repairs to the property.

About Casualty Loss Deductions

Section 165(a) of the tax code provides for a tax loss deduction for “any loss sustained during the taxable year and not compensated for by insurance or otherwise.” This is a very broad provision. This broad provision is then narrowed by specific limitations that are set out in the tax code.

Specifically, for individual taxpayers, Section 165(c) restricts deductible losses to three categories:

Losses incurred in a trade or business
Losses incurred in transactions entered into for profit, though not connected with a trade or business
Personal losses arising from “fire, storm, shipwreck, or other casualty, or from theft”

The third category—personal casualty losses—enables taxpayers to deduct losses from sudden, unexpected events like hurricanes, floods, and fires. These deductions provide important tax relief for taxpayers facing significant financial setbacks due to disasters and other unexpected events.

The Ownership Requirement for Casualty Losses

While Section 165 itself doesn’t explicitly say that there is an ownership requirement, the courts have consistently held that only the owner of property at the time of a casualty can claim the resulting loss deduction. This judicial interpretation reflects the fundamental purpose of the casualty loss provision: to provide tax relief to those who have suffered an economic loss from damage to their property.

The leading case establishing this principle is Draper v. Commissioner, 15 T.C. 135 (1950), where the Tax Court denied a casualty loss deduction to a taxpayer who replaced his adult daughter’s property destroyed in a fire. The court held that since the taxpayer didn’t own the property, he couldn’t claim the deduction, regardless of his financial contribution to replacing the items.

This ownership requirement continues to be enforced in more recent cases. In Rogers v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2019-90, the Tax Court reaffirmed that “a casualty loss deduction is authorized only when the claimant is the owner of the property with respect to which the loss is claimed.”

Paying for Someone Else’s Property Repairs

Many taxpayers voluntarily pay expenses for property they don’t own–particularly when helping family members. That is the situation in the Taylor case.

These payments might include:

Parents paying repair costs for properties owned by their adult children
Individuals paying expenses for properties owned by elderly parents
Taxpayers contributing to repairs for damaged properties in their communities

When these payments are made out of generosity or family support, they generally do not create a deductible interest in the property for tax purposes. The IRS and courts consistently maintain that paying expenses for someone else’s property–regardless of the amount or reason–does not transfer the casualty loss deduction to the payer.

From a tax perspective, voluntary payments for property expenses are more akin to gifts than investments creating deductible interests. This principle applies even in cases where the taxpayer previously owned the property or has an emotional attachment to it.

The court in Taylor acknowledged that the taxpayer may have paid for the repairs to the damaged property. However, it found that these voluntary payments did not establish a deductible interest in the property under Section 165. The court noted that a tax deduction for a casualty loss for property is allocated to the person who owned the property and incurred the economic loss, not to those who voluntarily pay to repair it. Citing Draper v. Commissioner, the court reaffirmed that a taxpayer cannot claim casualty loss deductions for property owned by adult children, even if the taxpayer pays for expenses related to that property.

Exceptions to the Ownership Rule

While the general rule requires legal ownership for casualty loss deductions, tax law recognizes certain limited exceptions where non-title holders might claim such deductions. These exceptions generally involve taxpayers who have economic interests in the property despite not holding legal title:

Equitable ownership – where a taxpayer is making payments under a contract to purchase property but hasn’t yet received formal title
Leasehold interests – where a tenant has made substantial improvements to leased property
Life estates and remainder interests – where the taxpayer holds a legally recognized partial interest
Properties held in certain trust arrangements where the taxpayer maintains beneficial ownership

Taxpayers who wish to maintain tax benefits while supporting family members might consider alternative approaches based on these interests. With a little tax planning, such as converting a house to a rental property (rental property losses would fall under the business/profit-seeking categories of Section 165(c) rather than personal casualty losses), maximizing partial asset dispositions, etc., the taxpayer very well may be able to claim the casualty loss for property that they do not own. Suffice it to say that these approaches should be implemented with proper documentation and genuine economic substance to withstand IRS scrutiny.

The Takeaway

This case reiterates that a casualty loss deduction goes to the owner. The taxpayer has to own the property that suffered the damage. Simply paying for repairs or maintenance does not transfer the deduction to the payer, regardless of family relationships or previous ownership history. When supporting family members with property expenses, taxpayers should understand that these payments generally don’t create tax benefits. If tax considerations are important, alternative arrangements that maintain legitimate ownership interests should be established before a casualty occurs.