Ink Business Preferred® vs. Ink Business Cash®

Quick insights

Chase Ink offers a variety of credit cards designed to complement the operations of many different types of businesses. Two options in the Ink suite of credit cards that could be worth a closer look include Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Cash.

Both cards include features like complimentary employee credit cards and quarterly reports, but each offers a distinct rewards programs with unique advantages.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how these two Ink products compare and how they could help your business earn rewards on everyday purchases.

Comparing Chase Ink Preferred and Business Cash credit cards

Chase Ink Business Preferred and Chase Ink Cash credit cards each provide some unique benefits. Let’s compare their rewards programs, fee structures and other features.

Earning rewards

It’s generally recommended to choose a business credit card with rewards that match your spending habits. Ink Preferred and Ink Business Cash rewards programs differ in terms of the types of rewards and spending categories.

Ink Business Preferred rewards

Ink Business Preferred cardmembers could earn points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year:

All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

Ink Business Cash rewards

Ink Business Cash cardmembers can earn cash back on the first $25,000 per year in combined purchases in the following spending categories:

All other purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back.

With minimal overlap between spending categories—utilities being the only one—some business owners may benefit from using both cards strategically to earn rewards on a broad range of everyday business expenses.

Redeeming rewards

With Ink Business Preferred, you earn points instead of cash back, which can be redeemed in a variety of ways. Here are some the ways you can redeem points:

Conversely, the Ink Business Cash card earns cash back. With cash back rewards, there’s no need to calculate point values or worry about redemption rates, which might be preferable for some business owners. You can apply cash back as a statement credit toward your account balance or a direct deposit to most U.S. checking and savings accounts. You can also redeem your rewards for travel or gift cards.

Pairing both cards could help you expand your redemption options. If you have both cards, you can convert cash back from Ink Business Cash into points and transfer them to your Ink Business Preferred account.

Additionally, by pairing these two Ink cards, you can unlock the ability to transfer your cash-turned-points to Chase’s travel partners at a 1:1 ratio (through the Preferred card).

Annual fee

The Preferred card has a higher annual fee than Ink Business Cash. If the Preferred card’s rewards and benefits align with your spending habits and business practices, the annual fee may be worth it.

Ink Business Cash has a low annual fee, potentially making it a cost-effective choice for businesses with lower spending or those seeking to minimize costs. (Ink Business Unlimited^® is the other low annual fee card in the Ink portfolio.)

Learn how the annual fees of Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Cash compare.

Complimentary employee credit cards

Employee credit cards are complimentary with both Ink credit cards. You can issue these cards to authorized employees. With employee cards, you can:

When to consider Ink Business Preferred

If your business incurs high expenses on shipping, digital advertising, utilities and travel, Ink Business Preferred might be a good option. Some businesses with spending habits that could potentially align with Preferred’s rewards structure include marketing agencies, tech startups, professional services firms and e-commerce businesses.

Additionally, the card could be a good fit if you want flexible redemption options, including the ability to transfer points to travel partners.

If your business could benefit from these rewards, you may want to consider applying for Ink Business Preferred.

When to consider Ink Business Cash

Businesses that incur substantial expenses at office supply stores, utility service providers, gas stations and restaurants may benefit from the rewards offered by Ink Business Cash. That might include professional offices, retail shops or home-based businesses.

If you prefer cash back rewards and want to avoid tracking point values, Ink Business Cash might be the better option. Additionally, the low annual fee could appeal to cost-conscious business owners.

You may want to consider applying for Ink Business Cash if you think your business will benefit from the rewards program and low annual fee.

In summary

Chase Ink offers two business credit cards that could potentially help your business earn rewards. Ink Business Preferred could be preferable for businesses with frequent shipping, digital advertising, utility and travel expenses, as well as those who value flexible redemption options and the ability to transfer points to travel partners.

Ink Business Cash could be a wise choice for businesses with regular office supply, utility, fuel and dining expenses, and those who prefer cash back with a low annual fee. Pairing both cards and using them strategically could potentially help cardmembers maximize rewards and their redemption values.

If you’re still not sure about which card fits your business, explore the full line of Chase for Business^® credit cards.