Why I’m Pairing the Ink Business Unlimited With the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase is having a busy summer. First, it unveiled its refreshed Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, which has added several new perks, features, and even bonus categories, all while maintaining its $95 annual fee. Then came a new 100,000-point welcome offer, matching the highest offer we’ve ever seen on the card.

But Chase wasn’t done after that. The issuer also brought the best-ever welcome offers to its no-annual-fee business cards: the Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card and the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card.

As a freelance worker, I already had my eye on the refreshed Chase Sapphire Preferred card. However, seeing those elevated business card offers prompted me to rethink my wallet, which has leaned heavily toward American Express in recent years.

After comparing the two Ink cards, I realized one stood out as the perfect companion to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card: the Ink Business Unlimited card. Here’s why I’m adding it to my wallet.

Best-Ever Welcome Offers on the Ink Business Cards

The Ink Business Cash card and the Ink Business Unlimited card currently have the exact same welcome offer.

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

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 $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening.

$750 $1,000

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,000

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

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; 16.74% - 24.74% variable 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 on dining and gas, 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 $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening
• Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 in combined spend
• Earn 2% cash back on dining and gas each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 spent in combined spend.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
• Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• As a Chase cardmember, you’ll be automatically checked for a credit line increase at least every 6 months.
• Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership.
• No Annual Fee
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.

$750 $1,000

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,000

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.

If so, the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.

Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
• No annual fee
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 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.
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• 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
• Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

• Chase Ultimate Rewards

It’s the best welcome offer we’ve seen on both cards, and it becomes even more valuable when paired with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card — such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, or Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ — you can redeem the cash-back from the welcome offer as Ultimate Rewards points. In this case, that means a whopping 100,000 points.

At Upgraded Points, we currently value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, making 100,000 of them worth $2,000 — double the amount of the cash-back bonus on both of these cards. And by transferring those points to Chase’s airline or hotel partners, you could potentially receive even more value.

Why a Business Credit Card Makes Sense for Me

As a self-employed worker, I need to be mindful when managing my income, taxes, and more — and having a dedicated business credit card makes that much easier.

A business card allows me to separate my personal and business expenses. While I don’t make many business purchases, I still have plenty to buy. Having a business credit card means I can clearly distinguish which purchases were made for my sole proprietorship.

When tax time rolls around, it is easy to see all those expenses in a single place for business deductions. It also helps me get a real-time look at how much I’m taking in compared to how much I’m spending — which would be more difficult if all of my expenses were blended on consumer cards.

It is also beneficial for my points strategy, allowing me to earn valuable points on every purchase, whether it’s for business or personal reasons. And because business cards often have bonus categories tailored to business purchases, I can earn at higher rates on purchases that would typically earn just 1x points with a consumer card.

Why I Chose the Ink Business Unlimited Card Over the Ink Business Cash Card

With both the Ink Business Cash card and the Ink Business Unlimited card carrying $0 annual fees, offering identical welcome offer bonuses, and featuring the same travel and purchase protections, the biggest difference comes down to their earning structures.

Here’s what the Ink Business Cash card offers:

• Earn 5% cash-back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases each anniversary year at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services.
• Earn 5% cash-back on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027.
• Earn 2% cash-back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases each anniversary year on dining and gas.
• Earn 1% cash-back on all other purchases.

Meanwhile, the Ink Business Unlimited card offers:

• Earn 5% cash-back on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027.
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash-back on all purchases.

At first glance, it may look like the Ink Business Cash card is the way to go, thanks to its several bonus categories, but for me, the Ink Business Unlimited card is actually the better fit.

While I have monthly expenses in the office supply store, internet, cable, and phone services category, they’re not particularly significant. And I dine out and purchase gas frequently, but there’s still a better option for me in those categories (more on that in a bit).

With the Ink Business Unlimited card, I don’t have to think about anything when I’m making my purchases — I swipe and earn 1.5% back every time. Perhaps I’ll miss out on a marginal amount of rewards, but I value the simplicity in that earning structure.

Plus, my business expenses can vary from month to month, so this card ensures I earn more than 1x points on everything, no matter what a given month brings. In a time where many of us have to keep spreadsheets to track bonus categories, statement credits, and cardholder perks, I value a card that keeps things simple.

Why the Ink Business Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Preferred Work Well Together

Having both the refreshed Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card in my wallet will greatly benefit my rewards strategy and help fund future travel experiences.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

As mentioned earlier, the Ink Business Unlimited card earns 5% cash-back on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027, and 1.5% back on every purchase.

Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card just updated its earning structure:

• Earn 5x points on Chase Travel purchases.
• Earn 3x points on dining and certain streaming services, gas and EV charging, and vacation homes, including Airbnb and Vrbo.
• Earn 2x points on travel purchases worldwide.
• Earn 1x points on all other eligible purchases.

The card added gas, EV charging, and vacation homes to its 3x bonus category in its recent update, which is hugely beneficial for new and existing cardholders. When you look at the earning structures of each card, it’s easy to see how, when paired together, they turbocharge earnings.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card covers much of my daily personal spending with bonus categories for Chase Travel purchases, dining, gas, vacation homes, and general travel purchases, which include things like rental cars, parking, tolls, and tours. Meanwhile, the Ink Business Unlimited card ensures that every business purchase earns at least 1.5% back — effectively 1.5x points.

Using these cards in tandem ensures a steady stream of points flows into my Chase account at all times, which is essential if I want to continue redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for incredible travel experiences.

The Welcome Offers Sweeten the Deal

There’s another reason this pairing is so compelling: the welcome bonus offers. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offering 100,000 points and the Ink Business Unlimited card offering $1,000 in cash-back (which can be converted to another 100,000 points), it’s a no-brainer to have both in my wallet.

The ability to earn a quick 200,000 Ultimate Rewards points in exchange for a single $95 annual fee is an incredible opportunity and is a strong foundation on which to base an Ultimate Rewards-earning strategy.

Final Thoughts

As a freelance and self-employed worker, having a business credit card helps me identify, separate, and track expenses. It also helps me earn more rewards on purchases that would otherwise generate just 1x points.

For me, pairing the Ink Business Unlimited card with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is ideal because the 2 cards complement each other’s earning structures. Add in the the ability to earn up to 200,000 Ultimate Rewards points from the current welcome offers, and I think this combination is one of the strongest foundations available for anyone looking to build a Chase ecosystem. Plus, it all requires paying just a single annual fee.