The primary differences between Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM are the fees and rewards structure. Chase Ink Business Preferred® offers travel rewards and charges $95 annually. Chase Ink Business CashSM pays up to 5% cash back, charges no annual fee, and has the lower ongoing APR starting at 14.74%.
When to Use Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best For: Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee
| Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 17.49% - 22.49% Variable | $95 |
Chase Ink Business Preferred® is a solid pick for business owners with big travel expenses, but who don’t need luxury travel perks like airport lounge access. This business credit card is best used to earn an introductory reward worth $1,250 in travel, receive top ongoing travel rewards, or to save on online advertising purchases.
When to Use Chase Ink Business CashSM
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card
Best For: Office-based businesses that want top cash back rewards
| Intro APR ?0% APR for 12 months on purchases | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% Intro APR on Purchases | 14.74% - 20.74% Variable | $0 | Good - Excellent |
Chase Ink Business CashSM is best for business owners with significant office supply and telecommunications services expenses. You can use this small business credit card to earn a $500 cash sign-up bonus, receive cash back rewards up to 5% of the purchase price, and to access an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) period.
When to Use an Alternative Option: Chase Ink Business UnlimitedSM
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card
Best For: Pocketing 1.5% cash back on every single purchase
| Intro APR ?0% APR for 12 months on purchases | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% Intro APR on Purchases | 14.74% - 20.74% Variable | $0 | Good - Excellent |
You should use an alternative, like Chase Ink Business UnlimitedSM, if you don’t want to track category bonuses or if your business spends in a variety of categories. The Chase Ink Business UnlimitedSM card pays unlimited 1.5% cash back on all spending with no annual spending cap. It charges no annual fee.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM at a Glance
100,000 bonus points—$1,250 in travel—when you spend $15,000 within the first three months | $500 when you spend $3,000 within the first three months | |
3x points per $1 in four spending categories | Up to 5% cash back, including office supply spending | |
None | 0% APR for 12 months on purchases | |
17.49% to 22.49% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate | 14.74% to 20.74% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate | |
$95 | None | |
Cellphone protection, trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and car rental insurance | Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and car rental insurance | |
Sign-up bonus and top ongoing travel rewards | Ongoing rewards up to 5% cash back with no annual fee | |
Editorial Review | ||
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How We Evaluated Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM
Chase Ink Business Preferred® and Chase Ink Business CashSM both offer excellent ongoing rewards and lucrative sign-up bonuses. We took into account the card’s rewards structure, introductory and ongoing APRs, and any additional card features that increase the card’s value, such as baggage insurance or cellphone protection.
In our evaluation of these Chase business credit cards, we considered:
- Introductory rewards: The introductory offer you can earn by meeting a minimum spending requirement. You can earn introductory rewards worth $500 cash back or up to $1,250 in travel.
- Ongoing rewards: The points or cash back rewards you can earn for your ongoing purchases. You’ll earn either cash back rewards worth up to 5% of your purchase price or points-based rewards of 3x points per $1 spent.
- Introductory APR: Whether a card offers an introductory 0% APR period on purchases or balance transfers. Only Chase Ink Business CashSM offers an interest-free financing period—0% APR for 12 months on purchases.
- Ongoing APR: How much it costs to finance purchases or balance transfers. Chase Ink Business Preferred® charges an ongoing variable APR as low as 17.49%, and Chase Ink Business CashSM charges an ongoing variable APR starting at 14.74%.
- Additional features: Any free perks or benefits that increase the card’s value. Both cards offer purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and car rental insurance. Chase Ink Business Preferred® offers unique perks, such as cellphone protection and trip delay insurance.
- Annual fee: How much it costs to own the card each year. Chase Ink Business Preferred® charges an annual fee of $95, while Chase Ink Business CashSM charges no annual fee.
We recommend the Chase Ink Business CashSM as one of the overall best business credit cards because of its mix of rewards and interest-free financing. It pays up to 5% cash back in categories like office supply spending. Plus, it charges no interest for 12 months on purchases. You can also earn a $500 cash bonus when you spend $3,000 within the first three months.
How Business Credit Cards Work
Business credit cards, like Chase Ink Business Preferred® and Chase Ink Business CashSM, provide a revolving line of credit that is best used to earn rewards, issue additional employee cards, and access cheap financing. Most business credit cards offer credit limits from $10,000 to more than $50,000. You can reuse this credit line as you repay your balance.
You must pay your bill monthly on these Chase Ink business credit cards, but you’re only required to make a minimum monthly payment. If your business carries a balance over to the following billing cycle, those balances will accrue interest until they are fully paid off.
These Chase business credit cards pay ongoing cash back and travel rewards for your everyday spending, including employee purchases. You can redeem these rewards for travel, cash back, or gift cards. When you redeem for travel, each point can be worth up to 1.25 cents depending on the card you use. When you redeem for cash back, each point is worth 1 cent on each card.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM Costs
Costs are a significant differentiating factor between Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM. You’ll pay a $95 annual fee with Chase Ink Business Preferred® while Chase Ink Business CashSM charges no annual fee. Only Chase Ink Business CashSM offers interest-free financing on new purchases.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Costs
Chase Ink Business Preferred® charges a $95 annual fee and offers no introductory 0% APR period. Be sure to pay off your balance every month. Any unpaid balances will accrue interest at a variable rate starting at 17.49% APR.
The financing costs of Chase Ink Business Preferred® include:
- Introductory APR: None
- Ongoing APR: 17.49% to 22.49% variable, which will adjust with the prime rate
- Annual fee: $95
- Balance transfer fee: Either 5% of the amount of the transfer or $5, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: None, which makes it one of the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards
If your primary concern in a business credit card how much you’ll pay in interest, this card is not right for you. Instead, choose Chase Ink Business CashSM because it charges no interest for 12 months on purchases. Plus, it offers a potentially lower ongoing variable APR. You can also search and compare different small business credit cards through our Credit Card Marketplace.
Chase Ink Business CashSM Costs
Chase Ink Business CashSM is a no annual fee credit card that offers an introductory 0% APR period for 12 months on purchases. Once the introductory period ends, its ongoing variable APR starts at 14.74%, which is about 2.75 percentage points lower than Chase Ink Business Preferred®.
The financing costs of Chase Ink Business CashSM include:
- Introductory APR: 0% APR for 12 months on purchases
- Ongoing APR: 14.74% to 20.74% variable, which will adjust with the prime rate
- Annual fee: None
- Balance transfer fee: Either 5% of the amount of the transfer or $5, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% for purchases made outside the United States
When compared to Chase Ink Business Preferred®, that card doesn’t have an introductory APR. However, we don’t recommend Chase Ink Business CashSM for balance transfers for two reasons: its introductory APR only applies to purchases, and it charges a high balance transfer fee of 5%. If you need to transfer a balance, consider a balance transfer credit card. Those cards charge no interest on purchases and balance transfers for up to 15 billing cycles.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM Rewards
Both of these cards offer some of the best rewards programs among small business credit cards. Chase Ink Business Preferred® offers a sign-up bonus worth $1,250 in travel and ongoing rewards of three points per dollar. Meanwhile, Chase Ink Business CashSM has an introductory reward worth $500 and pays up to 5% cash back.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Rewards
This business travel credit card offers an introductory reward worth $1,250 in travel when you spend $15,000 within the first three months. Plus, you’ll earn 3x points per $1 spent in four different spending categories and 1x points on all other spending.
Introductory Rewards
You’ll earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 within the first three months after account opening. That is worth $1250 in travel when you redeem them through Chase’s online travel portal. In comparison, Chase Ink Business CashSM sign-up bonus is awarded as cash back compared to bonus points. However, that card’s introductory offer is worth less, but you won’t have to pay an annual fee.
Ongoing Rewards
You’ll earn the following ongoing rewards when you use your card:
- 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year spent in four categories; the categories include travel, shipping, advertising on search engines and social media sites and internet, cable, and phone services
- 1x points on all other spending
In comparison, Chase Ink Business CashSM only pays 1% cash back on travel-related purchases. However, it does pay 5% cash back on similar telecommunication services. If your goal is to earn rewards on travel spending, choose Chase Ink Business Preferred®.
How to Redeem Rewards
You can redeem your rewards for travel, cash back, or gift cards. When you redeem as cash back or for gift cards, each point is worth 1 cent. When you redeem for travel through Chase’s online travel portal, each point is worth 1.25 cents. This redemption rate is higher than if you redeem rewards for travel on Chase Ink Business CashSM.
Additionally, you can increase your redemption value if you transfer your points to a Chase card that’s part of the Ultimate Rewards program, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® personal credit card. Each point is then worth 1.5 cents when you redeem for travel.
You may be able to boost the redemption value when you transfer your points to a select airline partner, including the following: Air France, Avios, British Airways, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. Point values vary per partner, but your rewards could be worth 2 cents per point or more when booking flights.
Chase Ink Business CashSM Rewards
Chase Ink Business CashSM offers an introductory reward of $500 when you spend $3,000 within the first three months after account opening. Plus, you’ll earn up to 5% cash back, which are the best rewards among business credit cards for startups.
Introductory Rewards
You’ll earn a $500 sign-up bonus after you spend $3,000 within the first three months after account opening. This reward falls short of what Chase Ink Business Preferred® offers, which is worth $1,250 in travel or $800 as cash back. However, that card has a minimum spending requirement of $15,000 within three months compared to the $3,000 on Chase Ink Business CashSM.
Ongoing Rewards
You’ll earn the following ongoing rewards when you use your card:
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, cellular phone, and landline services each account anniversary year, then 1% afterward
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, then 1% after that
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
This cash-back business credit card is especially suitable for you if you spend big at office supply stores or on telecommunication services, which pay 5% cash back of your purchase price. Chase Ink Business Preferred® has the advantage when it comes to travel-related purchases at 3x points. Chase Ink Business CashSM only pays 1% cash back on travel-related purchases.
How to Redeem Rewards
You can redeem your rewards for cash back, gift cards and travel through Chase’s website. Redemption value for each option is 1 cent per point, which is lower than the redemption value Chase Ink Business Preferred® achieves when you redeem for travel through Chase. When you redeem as cash back, you’ll either receive a statement credit or a deposit into an eligible checking or savings account from a U.S.-based bank or credit union.
You can also increase your redemption value if you transfer your rewards to a Chase credit card that’s part of the Ultimate Rewards program, which is an unnecessary second step when you use Chase Ink Business Preferred®. Redemption value is 1.25 cents per point.
You may also be able to boost the redemption value when you transfer your points to one of the issuer’s select airline partners. Point values vary per partner, but your rewards could be worth 2 cents per point or more when booking flights.
Choosing Cash Back vs Points Rewards
Choosing between cash back vs points rewards depends on how you want to use your rewards and how much time you want to spend finding the best value. Different rewards programs offer various redemption values and earning restrictions. Typically, if you wish to redeem your rewards for travel, choose a credit card that offers points-based rewards. If you want cash and a guaranteed redemption value, choose a credit card that offers cash-based rewards.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM Additional Features
Both Chase Ink Business Preferred® and Chase Ink Business CashSM offer similar additional features that increase the card’s value, such as extended warranty protection, purchase protection, and car rental insurance. Chase Ink Business Preferred® also includes two unique perks: cellphone protection and trip cancellation insurance.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Additional Features
When you use your Chase Ink Business Preferred® card, you’ll have access to several additional features that can be worth thousands of dollars per year. These perks include cellphone protection, trip cancellation insurance, car rental insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® offers the following additional features:
- Cellphone protection: You and all employees named on the phone bill you pay for with your card are covered for up to $600 in theft or damages per claim. You are limited to three claims or up to $1,800 worth of benefit per 12-month period, with a $100 deductible per claim.
- Trip cancellation and delay insurance: If your trip is canceled, the issuer may compensate you up to $5,000 for prepaid expenses such as airfare or hotels. If your trip is delayed for at least 12 hours, the issuer may reimburse you up to $500 for your meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Offers primary coverage when renting for business purposes, which means it replaces your personal insurance and any insurance the rental company offers. The issuer may reimburse you up to the actual cash value of the car.
- Purchase protection: Covers new purchases from damage or theft for the first 120 days after purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty protection: Provides up to an additional year of coverage on eligible warranties of three years or less.
In comparison, Chase Ink Business CashSM does not offer as many robust additional features. For example, you’ll only receive cellphone protection and trip cancellation insurance through Chase Ink Business Preferred®.
Chase Ink Business CashSM Additional Features
Chase Ink Business CashSM offers additional perks that protect you against damages and losses. For example, you’ll receive car rental insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.
Chase Ink Business CashSM offers the following additional features:
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Offers primary coverage when renting for business purposes, which means it replaces your personal insurance and any insurance the rental company offers. The issuer may reimburse you up to the actual cash value of the car.
- Purchase protection: Covers new purchases from damage or theft for the first 120 days after purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty protection: Provides up to an additional year of coverage on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Chase Ink Business CashSM offers the same additional perks when compared to Chase Ink Business Preferred®, besides cellphone protection and trip cancellation insurance. If you want to receive those perks, choose Chase Ink Business Preferred®.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM: Ease of Use
Once you’re approved for Chase Ink Business Preferred® or Chase Ink Business CashSM, you can access your credit line once you receive your card. You can use your Chase business credit card at any store that accepts electronic payments, or you can enter your card information through online stores. You can reuse your credit limit as you repay your account balance every month.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM: How to Apply
You can get a business credit card online by filling out a basic application with your business and personal information. Typically, you’ll receive an approval decision within minutes. Once approved, you’ll receive your card in the mail within seven to 10 days.
Pros & Cons of Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Chase Ink Business Preferred® is an excellent choice for business owners who want to earn top travel rewards while paying annual fees less than $100. However, this card does not offer an introductory 0% APR period and charges a high ongoing variable APR.
Pros of Chase Ink Business Preferred®
The advantages of Chase Ink Business Preferred® are:
- Pays top travel rewards: With this Chase business credit card, you’ll be able to earn top ongoing travel rewards while paying annual fees hundreds of dollars less than some of the best business travel credit cards.
- Charges annual feels lower than most travel credit cards: Some of the best business travel credit cards charge annual fees up to $595. You can save money on annual fees with this card and earn comparable travel rewards.
- Offers robust additional card features: In addition to standard perks like purchase protection and extended warranty protection, you’ll receive unique other card features, such as cellphone protection and trip cancellation insurance.
Cons of Chase Ink Business Preferred®
The drawbacks of small business credit cards are:
- Lacks interest-free financing: Unlike Chase Ink Business CashSM, this credit card does not offer an introductory 0% APR financing period. We don’t recommend this card if you need to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance.
- Charges a high ongoing variable APR: This card’s ongoing variable APR has a low-end that is 2.75 percentage points higher than Chase Ink Business CashSM. What’s more, its low-end is also higher than the average 17% APR seen on business credit cards.
- Offers no reward opportunity on restaurants or gas spending: This card does not offer rewards at restaurants or gas stations. Instead, consider Chase Ink Business CashSM. It pays 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases on these types of purchases.
Pros & Cons of Chase Ink Business CashSM
Chase Ink Business CashSM is a solid pick for business owners who want cheap introductory financing and a favorable rewards structure. However, if you have significant travel expenses, this card is not right for you.
Pros of Chase Ink Business CashSM
The pros of Chase Ink Business CashSM are:
- Offers an introductory 0% APR period: Chase Ink Business CashSM charges no interest for 12 months on purchases. This can be beneficial to business owners in the early stages of building their businesses.
- Pays top cash back rewards: You’ll receive up to 5% cash back on your everyday expenses, which are some of the best rewards among small business credit cards.
- Provides a substantial sign-up bonus: You’ll earn $500 when you spend $3,000 within three months of account opening. This introductory reward is larger than most other business credit cards that charge no annual fees.
Cons of Chase Ink Business CashSM
The cons of Chase Ink Business CashSM are:
- Sets an annual spending cap on its ongoing rewards: Chase Ink Business CashSM sets an annual spending cap of $25,000 on the 5% and 2% reward categories, which may be too small for some business owners.
- Only pays 1% cash back on airfare and hotel stays: This Chase business credit card is not ideal if you have big travel expenses. You’ll earn 1% cash back on airfare and hotel stays. Instead, choose Chase Ink Business Preferred®.
- Lacks some key travel perks: Unlike other business travel credit cards, this card lacks some important travel features, including travel accident insurance. If you travel for business often, consider a business travel credit card.
Bottom Line
When comparing Chase Ink Business Preferred® vs Chase Ink Business CashSM, the right card for you depends if you want to earn cash back- or points-based rewards. If you want to earn travel rewards, choose Chase Ink Business Preferred®. If you’d rather earn cash, choose Chase Ink Business CashSM.
We recommend Chase Ink Business CashSM as one of the overall best business credit cards. It pays up to 5% cash back and offers a $500 sign-up bonus when you spend $3,000 within the first three months. Plus, you’ll have an introductory 0% APR period on purchases for the first 12 months. You can apply online in a matter of minutes.
