Ink Business Cash Card – Requirements, Ideal Credit Score & Approval Tips [2024]

Any business owner looking to earn more cash-back on their business expenses would do well to consider the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card.

With it, you can earn 5% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year. Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.

When you also factor in that the card has a great welcome bonus offer, your rewards can be combined with other eligible Chase cards, and the $0 annual fee, it’s easy to see why the Ink Business Cash card is so popular.

If you’re new to business credit cards, you might wonder how difficult it is to get approved for the Ink Business Cash card. This guide will walk you through the process and offer tips to boost your approval odds.

Card Snapshot

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

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Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Welcome Offer

Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Up to $750

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

Up to $750

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 17.74% - 25.74% variable thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.

When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 17.74% - 25.74% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
• Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
• Travel insurance and purchase protection

Cons

• Spending caps in bonus categories
• Low points earning outside of bonus categories

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Card Highlights

• Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
• Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
• Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• No Annual Fee
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 17.74% - 25.74% variable thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

How To Check Your Credit Score

The most important factor in whether you’ll be approved for a new credit card is your credit score. Fortunately, you can easily check your credit score in a number of ways. You can access a free credit report from your current credit issuer (if you have one), through any of 3 credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian), or through a free monitoring service like Credit Karma.

Is a Business Credit Score for the Ink Business Cash Card?

The short answer is no, you do not need a business credit score to apply for the Ink Business Cash card. Business owners who operate as sole proprietors can apply for the Ink Business Cash card using their Social Security number.

If your business has an Employer Identification Number (EIN), adding it to your application will also result in your business credit score being pulled. That said, both your personal and business credit scores serve the same purpose regarding whether you’ll be approved for the card.

Credit Score Required

If you’re considering applying for the Ink Business Cash card, it’s recommended to have a personal credit score of at least 670 or higher — or a business credit score of at least 75 — to maximize your chances of approval.

However, there are no guarantees that your application will be approved, even if your credit score is far higher than these figures, as your credit score is just one aspect of the application decision.

Other Approval Considerations

Personal Income and Business Income

Having a strong income, either personally or through your business, should improve your approval chances as it shows that you’ll be able to pay off purchases you make with the card.

That said, if you’re just starting your business and your projected income is on the low side, don’t let that discourage you. This is by no means a deal breaker regarding whether you’ll be approved for the Ink Business Cash card.

Length of Credit

If your credit history is relatively new, it can adversely impact your approval odds for the Ink Business Cash card, as most credit issuers want to see that you have a long history of paying your bill on time.

Given that, we recommend that you have at least 2 years or more of a clean credit history before applying for the Ink Business Cash card.

Tips To Boost Your Credit Score

If your credit score isn’t high enough to be approved for the Ink Business Cash card, here are some ways to improve your credit score. 

Get a Starter Credit Card

If you’re just starting your credit journey, getting a starter credit card can be the perfect way to improve your credit score. This could be a secured credit card, a student credit card, or a credit card without a large limit, any of which will get you on the path to a strong credit score — as long as you use it responsibly and pay your bill in full each and every month.

Get Added as an Authorized User

If you’re looking to boost your credit score quickly, being added as an authorized user can be a great way to do just that. This allows you to “piggyback” off someone else’s credit score and shows the credit issuer that someone close to you was willing to trust you with their credit.

You should choose this person carefully, though — while your personal score can benefit if the person uses their credit responsibly, it can also be lowered if they do not.

Get Errors Removed

If you notice errors on your credit report, getting these removed is an easy way to increase your credit score quickly. This is why we highly recommend using a credit monitoring service, as you’ll be notified immediately if any suspicious activity appears on your credit report.

Final Thoughts

The Ink Business Cash card is a top-notch Chase business card that can earn business owners tons of cash-back rewards with a $0 annual fee.

If you’re considering adding the Ink Business Cash card to your wallet and have good credit and a couple of years of blemish-free credit history, you should have strong approval odds!