UnitedSM Business Card Review for 2022
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
Nancy Fernandez is a Credit Card and Insurance Expert at Fit Small Business, specializing in business credit cards and business insurance.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
The UnitedSM Business Card from Chase is designed for business owners who fly with United airlines frequently. This small business credit card has a low annual fee of $99 and zero foreign transaction fees. It offers travel rewards that can be redeemed for free flights and travel perks like free checked bags, United Club passes, and priority boarding.
If you wish to compare one card over another, select a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
United℠ Business Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Frequent United Airlines flyers who want to earn travel rewards
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 26.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$99
Credit Needed
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the UnitedSM Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
- Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United ClubSM one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
- Get one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. Activate by 12/31/24.
- $100 United® travel credit after 7 United® flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
Pros
- Annual fee waived for the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn Premier Qualifying Points
Cons
- No 0% introductory APR
- Low ongoing travel rewards
- 25% back on United inflight purchases: Receive 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United- and United Express-operated flights.
- $100 United annual travel credit: Receive a $100 statement credit per year when you make a total of seven United flight travel-related purchases, including seat upgrades, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, or other United fees.
- Priority boarding: You and your companions traveling on the same reservation are eligible for priority boarding prior to general boarding.
- Earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs): You will earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 in net purchases up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 26.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$99
Credit Needed
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the UnitedSM Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
- Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United ClubSM one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
- Get one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. Activate by 12/31/24.
- $100 United® travel credit after 7 United® flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
Pros
- Annual fee waived for the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn Premier Qualifying Points
Cons
- No 0% introductory APR
- Low ongoing travel rewards
- 25% back on United inflight purchases: Receive 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United- and United Express-operated flights.
- $100 United annual travel credit: Receive a $100 statement credit per year when you make a total of seven United flight travel-related purchases, including seat upgrades, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, or other United fees.
- Priority boarding: You and your companions traveling on the same reservation are eligible for priority boarding prior to general boarding.
- Earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs): You will earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 in net purchases up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year.
How We Evaluate Travel Rewards Business Credit Cards
When grading travel rewards business credit cards like the UnitedSM Business Card, we first consider the ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional features. Then, we evaluate the annual fee, introductory no-interest period, and ongoing annual percentage rate (APR).
| Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 20 | 25 |
Introductory Rewards | 25 | 25 |
Additional Features | 25 | 25 |
Annual Fee | 12 | 15 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 5 |
Ongoing APR | 2 | 5 |
| Total Score | 84 | 100 |
Who the UnitedSM Business Card Is Best For
- You fly with United Airlines frequently: It offers rewards that can be used for free flights with United Airlines and its partners.
- You check a bag when traveling: This card allows one free checked bag each for the cardholder and a traveling companion when flying with United Airlines.
If this Chase card doesn’t fit your business needs, then check our guides to the best Chase business credit cards and leading small business credit cards. Alternatively, you may want to visit our Credit Card Marketplace.
UnitedSM Business Card Fees
APR
- Introductory APR: None
- Ongoing APR on purchases, balance transfers, and My Chase LoanSM: 19.49% to 26.49% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance APR: 27.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Default APR: Up to 29.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate; this will be applied to your account if you either failed to make a minimum payment by the date and time it’s due or made an unpaid returned payment
- Grace period: At least 20 days after the close of each billing cycle
- Minimum interest charge: None
Fees
- Annual fee: $99
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash advance fee: Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Late and returned payment fees: $40
- Returned check fees: None
UnitedSM Business Card Rewards
- Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles. Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 75,000 miles after you spend $20,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months your account is open
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting
- 1x mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- 5,000 anniversary bonus miles when you have the UnitedSM Business Card and a United personal credit card
You can redeem your miles by booking United or United partner airline flights. You can also use miles for hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, and e-gift cards or receive them as a statement credit for United ticket purchases and your annual card membership fee. Note that you’ll be responsible for paying all taxes and fees levied by the government on plane tickets. Also, there are no guarantee seats will be available for every flight, though there are no blackout dates.
How to Make Payments on the UnitedSM Business Card
- Online: Pay your credit card bills online or sign up for automatic payments.
- Chase Mobile® App: Manage your credit card payments through the Chase mobile app.
- Automated phone service: Call (800) 436-7958 or the customer service number on the back of your card or billing statement.
- ATM or branch: Visit any Chase ATM or local branch.
- Western Union: Should you wish to pay through Western Union, make sure to use “Code City WALNUT.” It may take up to seven days for the payment to be reflected in your account.
- Mail: Mail a check or money order with your name and account number to:
Cardmember Services
PO Box 6294
Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294
UnitedSM Business Card Features
We categorized the card’s features by Travel Benefits and Rewards, Insurance Protection, and MileagePlus program benefits.
Travel Benefits & Rewards
- Priority boarding: Cardholders and their companions included on the same reservation will be invited to board first on any United-operated flight.
- $100 United travel credit: Earn this after making seven United flight purchases of $100 or more on your card
- United ClubSM one-time passes: Upon account opening and on every card anniversary, you get two United ClubSM one-time passes valued at $100 each.
- Cash back on United inflight purchases: Get a 25% back as a statement credit when you use your card to make inflight purchases for food, beverages, and Wi-Fi.
Insurance Protection
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: When you use the card to rent a car either in the US or abroad, you get collision insurance. It covers almost all damages incurred if your rental meets an accident—be it theft or collision. Note that the reimbursement amount is up to the actual cash value of the vehicle.
- Baggage delay insurance: Receive reimbursement on essential purchases—such as toiletries and clothing—for baggage delays of more than six hours by passenger carrier or up to $100 a day for three days.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: In the event that you or your immediate family member’s check or carry luggage was damaged or lost by the carrier, you can get up to $3,000 reimbursement per passenger.
- Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance: You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares in the event your trip is either canceled or cut short by illness, severe weather changes, and other covered situations.
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours or you require an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, of up to $500 per ticket.
- Purchase protection: Damages or theft to your new purchases gets you coverage for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year for eligible warranty purchases of three years or less.
- Visa concierge: Get complimentary Visa Signature® Concierge Service for 24 hours a day.
MileagePlus Program Benefits
- PQPs: This lets you earn MileagePlus Premier® status, providing you with an enhanced travel experience. You’ll earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 spent on purchases with your card, up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year that can be applied to your Premier status qualification.
- MileagePlus Miles: On top of earning miles on purchases made with your card, you can earn miles by flying with UnitedSM, United Express®, Star AllianceTM, and other United airline partners.
Pros & Cons of the UnitedSM Business Card
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Annual fee waived for the first year: While this business credit card charges a $99 annual fee, it’s waived on your first year. | No 0% introductory APR: It doesn’t offer an interest-free financing option, which means you cannot take advantage of interest-free financing if you plan to use your card for a large purchase. |
| No foreign transaction fees: You can use this card to make purchases outside of the United States without having to worry about foreign transaction fees. | Low ongoing travel rewards: This card offers 2 miles on purchases from United Airlines, which is below average compared to other cobranded airline credit cards. |
| Earn PQPs: You'll earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 spent in purchases, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year. | |
UnitedSM Business Card Alternatives
Chase Ink Business Unlimited®
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is our top small business credit card due to its unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on all business-related purchases, making it perfect for those who travel frequently. As it’s under Chase, it offers the same set of features as that of the UnitedSM Business Card. Finally, it also has an interest-free financing option of 0% on purchases for the first 12 months after account opening.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Pocketing 1.5% cash back on every single purchase
Intro APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases
Regular APR
16.24% - 22.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- 0% introductory APR on purchases
- Unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases
Cons
- Introductory APR period doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- 5% balance transfer fee
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Requires excellent credit to qualify
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes; it provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less
Intro APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases
Regular APR
16.24% - 22.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Pros
- 0% introductory APR on purchases
- Unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases
Cons
- Introductory APR period doesn’t apply to balance transfers
- 5% balance transfer fee
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Requires excellent credit to qualify
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes; it provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad
- Purchase protection: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year
- Extended warranty protection: Extends the time period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business is our best business credit card for travel due to its unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It also offers an interest-free financing option on purchases at 0% for the first nine months after opening an account and a low starting regular APR of 14.24%.
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Travel rewards and annual spending less than $19,000
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
16.99% to 26.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $200 in travel after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5x miles per $1 spent
- 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through the issuer
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Interest-free financing on purchases
Cons
- No 0% APR balance transfer offer
- Limited list of airline partners
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
16.99% to 26.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $200 in travel after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5x miles per $1 spent
- 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through the issuer
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Interest-free financing on purchases
Cons
- No 0% APR balance transfer offer
- Limited list of airline partners
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
American Express Business Platinum Card®
American Express Business Platinum Card® is an alternative for those who travel frequently and want access to airport lounges. This is our leading business credit card with airport lounge access as it offers The American Express Global Lounge Collection®, granting cardholders access to more than 1,400 lounges in 140 countries. For 12 months after opening an account, you get interest-free financing of 0% APR on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. It also has 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
17.99% - 25.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. CLEAR® is available at more than 50 U.S. airports and stadiums.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
17.99% - 25.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. CLEAR® is available at more than 50 U.S. airports and stadiums.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
Bottom Line
The UnitedSM Business Card is best for business owners who fly primarily with United Airlines and want to earn rewards for free flights. It’s also a great option for travelers who usually check a bag and travel with a companion. You can earn 2x miles on United Airlines purchases and another 2x miles for every dollar spent on dining, eligible delivery services, gas, office supplies, and local transit and commuting.
If this annual and foreign transaction fee-free card isn’t right for you, visit our Credit Card Marketplace and our guide to the best small business credit cards to find a more suitable option.
