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Finding the right card for your business doesn’t have to be hard.
Chase offers credit cards with benefits and features that suit most businesses. You can choose from a general travel rewards card or specific hotel and airline cards where you’ll benefit from being a loyal customer. You also have the option of a cashback card with a long intro APR period for purchases.
Small businesses that spend $50,000 a year or more and want a flat cashback rate on all purchases could find the Ink Business Unlimited℠ credit card useful. You’ll get unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and a good intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers.
However, if your business usually spends less than $25,000 per year — and you mostly spend on categories such as office supplies, gas, dining or Internet, cable and phone services — you could find the Ink Business Cash℠ credit card to be the better choice. It has a higher cashback rate of 5% for the first category of purchases and 2% for the second, but it’s limited to $25,000 in a calendar year, after which you earn a flat 1% back.
Signup bonus. Get 500 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months of your account opening. Redeem your points for $500 cash back.
Unlimited cash back. Get unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make. You’ll earn points when using your card, which you can convert to cash.
Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months after opening your account, and a variable APR between 14.99% and 20.99% thereafter. This is an ideal feature if you’re planning to make a large purchase for your business or you want to make a balance transfer from a non-Chase account.
Free employee cards. Get employee cards at no additional cost. You’ll earn additional cash back from every purchase your employees make.
Credit line. The minimum credit line you can receive is $3,000. When compared to other cashback cards that have credit lines starting at just $2,000, this isn’t half bad. For businesses with excellent credit history, the starting credit line could be even higher.
Foreign transaction fees. You’ll pay a fee of 3% of each transaction you make when traveling overseas. This may not seem like much, but if you spend $10,000 per year in purchases abroad, that’ll add up to $300 in fees.
Penalty APR. Late payments will cost you up to $39 in fees, and you’ll get stuck with a penalty APR of up to 29.99% variable. Try to avoid this or you might have the penalty APR indefinitely. In addition, you may lose your intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, and you could lose all of your points.
Balance transfer limits. You can only make balance transfers from accounts issued by banks other than Chase, up to your credit limit or $15,000, whichever is lower. You can transfer a maximum of three balances.
Best business card for airline rewards: United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card
Business owners who frequently fly with United Airlines — the third largest airline by fleet size in the US, slightly behind Delta Air Lines — could find the United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card to be a good fit for their needs. Airline size isn’t the only thing this card has going in its favor, though — you’ll earn bonus miles in various categories.
In addition, you get perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding, complimentary United Club passes and more.
Signup bonus. Earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 during your first 3 months of opening your account. Redeem your miles for flights, cabin upgrades, hotel bookings, gift cards, shopping, airport dining and more. Flights start from 12,500 miles for a one-way trip within the continental US and Canada.
Earn miles. For every purchase made directly with United Airlines, you earn 2x miles. Gas, restaurant and office supply purchases will get you the same 2x miles per dollar rate. Every other purchase brings you 1x miles. Earn additional miles for flying with Star Alliance partner airlines. You can also earn miles by staying at partner hotels, including Marriott, Starwood hotels, World of Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Best Western and more. Add even more miles by renting cars from Hertz, GroundLink, SuperShuttle and other qualifying rental companies.
Free checked bags. You get one bag free for yourself and one companion who’s traveling on your reservation. One checked bag for a one-way trip costs $25, so you could save $100 for two passengers on a roundtrip flight.
Priority boarding. Get ready for takeoff sooner with priority boarding.
Anniversary United Club passes. After you open your account, you’ll get two complimentary United Club passes worth $59 each. Every 12-month anniversary of your account opening, you’ll get two more passes.
Annual fee. While you won’t pay anything the first year, starting from the second year on, you’ll pay $95 annually to own this card.
Penalty APR. The United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card has a grace period of 20 days after the close of each billing cycle. Payments made after that come with a fee of up to $39. But once you make a single late or returned payment, Chase may impose a penalty APR of 29.99% variable, which you could be stuck with indefinitely.
Balance transfer limits. You can only make a balance transfer of up to $15,000 or your credit limit, whichever is less. Balance transfers can only be made from a non-Chase account.
Best business card for hotel rewards: Marriott Rewards® Premier Business credit card
The Marriott Rewards® Premier Business credit card is ideal for business owners who frequently stay at Marriott and Starwood hotels and resorts.
It offers a generous signup bonus, which you can redeem for 10 free nights at a Category 1 hotel. Plus you get to earn points at restaurants, car rental agencies and office supply stores, as well as on airline tickets and more.
Signup bonus. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you make $3,000 in purchases during the first 3 months of your account opening. Redeem these points for up to 10 free nights at Category 1 hotels.
Earn rewards points. Until August 25, 2018, you’ll earn 6x points at Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest hotels. You’ll also earn 4x points at car rental agencies, restaurants and office supply stores, as well as on airline tickets and Internet, cable and phone services. You’ll get 2x points on everything else you buy. Starting on August 26, 2018, you’ll earn 6x points at participating Marriott and SPG hotels and 4x points on dining, gas, shipping and Internet, cable and phone services. All other purchases will earn you 2x points.
Free night stay every year. Every year on your card anniversary, you’ll receive a free night stay in a Category 1 through 5 hotel in the Marriott hotel collection.
Silver Elite status. When you open your account, you automatically receive Silver Elite status, which gives you benefits such as 20% more points earned on stays, free Wi-Fi and more.
No foreign transaction fees. Using this card abroad won’t incur any additional fees. Other cards have fees of up to 3% for every transaction.
Annual fee. The Marriott Rewards® Premier Business credit card has a $99 annual fee, which is waived for the first year.
Penalty APR. For every late payment you make, you’ll pay $39. After that, the bank may impose a penalty APR of 29.99% variable, which can be applied indefinitely to your account.
Points expiration. If you fail to make the minimum payment within 60 days of your due date or if your account becomes delinquent, you’ll lose all of your points.
Best business card for general travel rewards: Ink Business Preferred℠ credit card
The Ink Business Preferred℠ credit card is made for companies that spend up to $150,000 per year and for those that want a general travel rewards card with flexible points redemption. You can redeem your points for cash back and gift cards, but the highest value comes when redeeming points for travel rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Signup bonus. Get 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of your account opening. That’s up to $1,000 when redeemed for travel rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards, or $800 in cash back.
Earn points. For every dollar spent on travel, Internet, cable, shipping purchases and phone services, you earn 3 points for your first combined $150,000 in purchases per year. After the limit is reached, you’ll earn 1x points for the rest of the year. For all other purchases, you earn 1x points. Redeem points for travel, cash back or gift cards. Keep in mind that your points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for airfare, hotels, cruises and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Airline points transfer. You can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio with Chase’s airline partners including United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Korean Air and more.
Free employee cards. Get employee cards at no additional cost and earn your points faster.
No foreign transaction fees. The Ink Business Preferred℠ credit card comes with no foreign transaction fees. Other cards require you to pay up to 3% per transaction.
Annual fee. You’ll have to pay $95 annually to own this card.
Penalty APR. Late payments will cost up to $39 in fees, and you may incur a penalty APR of 29.99% variable, which can be applied to your account indefinitely.
Balance transfer limits. You can’t make a balance transfer from another Chase account. Also, you’re limited to a balance transfer of up to $15,000 or your credit limit, whichever is lower.
How to compare Chase business credit cards
To find the best credit card for your business, ask yourself the following questions:
How much money do you usually spend? Businesses that spend up to $25,000 per year — mostly on categories such as office supplies, gas, dining and Internet, cable and phone services — could find the Ink Business Cash℠ credit card to be a great choice. Businesses that spend more than $25,000 per year may find the Ink Business Unlimited℠ credit card to be more useful, as you’ll earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. And for businesses that spend up to $150,000 or more per year, the Ink Business Preferred℠ credit card may be the best choice.
Does your company need to make a large initial purchase? To make use of a 0% intro APR period on purchases for the first 12 months after opening your account, consider the Ink Business Cash℠ credit card. You’ll be able to carry your balance for a year and avoid paying high interest. After the intro period, the APR will be between 14.99% and 20.99% variable.
How often do you fly? Business owners who often fly with United Airlines or Star Alliance carriers could save money on checked bags and United Club lounge access with the United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card. In addition, you’ll earn miles on United Airlines purchases, restaurant purchases, gas and office supplies.
Do you often stay at Marriott and Starwood hotels? If you do, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Business credit card would be of great use. It offers a generous signup bonus, allows you to earn points and helps you unlock complimentary benefits at Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels.
Why choose a Chase business credit card?
Travel insurance. In case your trip is canceled or delayed, you can get reimbursed up to $5,000 for prepaid nonrefundable expenses.
Car rental insurance. You’re insured against collision damage or theft of your rental car.
Purchase protection. For new purchases made within 120 days, you’re covered against theft and damage up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Cell phone protection. If your phone is damaged or stolen, you’re covered up to $600 per claim.
Roadside assistance. For roadside emergencies, call 1-800-847-2869 to get assistance for towing, tire changes, jump starts or gas delivery.
Know that not all of these features are available to every Chase small business credit card.
Does Chase report its business credit cards to any of the credit bureaus?
No, Chase doesn’t report your business credit card to any of the personal credit bureaus.
Compare all business credit cards
Updated October 16th, 2018
Bottom line
Small businesses that often travel can choose from a universal travel rewards card — the Ink Business Preferred℠ credit card — or from more specific cards, such as the Marriott Rewards® Premier Business credit card for hotel benefits and rewards and the United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card for flight rewards.
For those who want a simple cashback card or a long intro APR period on purchases, you could find the Ink Business Unlimited℠ credit card to be a decent choice.
The only thing you should be wary of with all of Chase’s small business cards is the penalty APR and the low grace period of 20 days. If you have cashflow problems and you need a longer time to pay your balance, consider The Plum Card® from American Express, where you get a grace period of up to 60 days. Alternatively, you may want to consider any of the Bank of America small business cards that don’t have a penalty APR.
The Ink Business Unlimited℠ credit card and the Ink Business Cash℠ credit card are the only two cards in the Chase business suite that offer a 0% intro APR period for 12 months after opening your account. After that, a variable APR between 14.99% and 20.99% applies.
Ink Business Preferred℠ credit card
United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card
Marriott Rewards® Premier Business credit card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
"Kliment Dukovski is a writer for finder.com. He specializes in global financial markets and personal finance, with a focus on credit cards. His main goal is to deliver honest and accurate information that will help you make the right financial decision. When he's not writing about finance-related subjects he writes sci-fi stories."
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