Sign-up bonuses and fees change often — confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before you apply.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is the simplest card in the Ink family: 1.5% back on every purchase, no categories, no caps, no annual fee. What the marketing doesn't say is that the "cash back" accrues as Ultimate Rewards points — and paired with an Ink Business Preferred or Sapphire, those points become fully transferable to Hyatt, United, Flying Blue and the rest. That turns a decent 1.5% card into an effective 3%-in-travel earner on everything your business buys — the business-side twin of the Freedom Unlimited.
Advertiser disclosure: we may be compensated when you're approved through our links. It doesn't affect our editorial take. Terms apply — see the issuer's Rates & Fees.
Quick answer
- Best for: a no-fee 1.5x catch-all for every uncategorized business dollar
- Annual fee: $0 (3% foreign transaction fee — don't use it abroad)
- Welcome bonus: $750–$1,000 after $6,000–$8,000 spend, posted as points — the $1,000 limited-time offer ended 17 September 2026 (verify current offer)
- Key benefit: points become transferable when paired with an Ink Business Preferred or a Sapphire — 1¢ each alone, ~2.0¢ at our valuation once paired
- Earning: 1.5% on every purchase, no cap (plus 5% on Lyft through September 30, 2027)
At a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $750–$1,000 after $6,000–$8,000 spend — the $1,000 limited-time offer ended 17 September 2026 (verify current offer). Posts as points ($1 = 100 points) — a $750 bonus is 75,000 points, ~$1,500 transferred at our 2.0¢ valuation |
| Best for | A no-fee 1.5x catch-all for every uncategorized business dollar |
| Points earned | Chase Ultimate Rewards (transferable only when paired) |
| Points worth | 1¢ each alone; ~2.0¢ each paired (our valuation) |
| Key perk | 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% — don't use it abroad |
| Card network | Visa (Business) |
What the points are worth
- Held alone, points redeem at a fixed 1¢ each — the card is a plain, solid 1.5% cash-back card, full stop.
- Held alongside an Ink Business Preferred, Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, its points pool into that account and transfer 1:1 to Chase's partners, where we value them at 2.0¢ — and where a well-chosen award redeems at 5–8¢+.
Same spending, roughly double the value — the entire difference is holding one premium Chase card. Without one, don't romanticize it: 1.5% is what you get, and a flat 2% cash card beats it. Points don't expire while the account is open.
Where your points can go
Only once paired, your pooled points transfer 1:1 to these programs — tap any partner to see how to use those miles, what they're worth, and the best redemptions:
Airline transfer partners United MileagePlus · Air Canada Aeroplan · Air France/KLM Flying Blue · British Airways / Qatar Avios · Qatar Qsuite award · Virgin Atlantic · Singapore KrisFlyer · Southwest Rapid Rewards · JetBlue TrueBlue
Hotel transfer partners World of Hyatt · IHG One Rewards · Marriott Bonvoy
For every transfer ratio, transfer time and current bonus, see the complete transfer partners chart.
Earning rates
| Rate | Category |
|---|---|
| 5% | Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027) |
| 1.5% | Everything — every purchase, no cap |
That's the whole table, and that's the appeal: inventory, insurance, contractors, equipment — spend that earns 1x on nearly every category card earns 1.5x here, forever, for free.
Benefits & credits
Coverage limits and perks change — verify each is current before you count on it.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then a variable APR.
- Employee cards at no cost with individual spending limits.
- Purchase protection — up to $10,000 per item for 120 days.
- Extended warranty — one extra year on eligible warranties.
- Primary auto rental coverage when renting for business.
- Instacart+ trial and monthly credits (promotional — verify current terms).
Best uses
Every example uses the same formula: (cash price − taxes) ÷ points × 100 = cents per point (CPP) — and assumes the card is paired so points can transfer.
- The bonus alone funds a business-class seat. A $750 bonus posts as 75,000 points. Transfer 60,000 to Air Canada Aeroplan for a ~$4,200 Star Alliance seat to Europe + ~$200 taxes: (4,200 − 200) ÷ 60,000 × 100 = 6.67¢ per point — with 15,000 points still in the tank.
- Uncategorized spend → Hyatt. $3,000/month of general business spend at 1.5x = 54,000 points/year. Three Category 4 Hyatt nights at $350 each for 18,000 points a night: (350 − 0) ÷ 18,000 × 100 = 1.94¢ per point — a $1,050 hotel bill covered by run-of-the-mill expenses.
- Domestic nonstop via United. A $220 fare for 12,500 United miles + $5.60: (220 − 5.60) ÷ 12,500 × 100 = 1.72¢ per point.
- The Ink duo. Hold this and the Ink Cash: telecom and office supplies at 5x there, everything else at 1.5x here, both feeding the same balance behind your Ink Preferred's transfer rights. Total added annual fee: $0.
Who should get it
Get the Ink Unlimited if you want every business dollar earning transferable points without thinking about categories — especially as the catch-all beside an Ink Cash (5x categories) and an Ink Business Preferred (transfer rights + 3x travel/ads). Skip it if you hold no premium Chase card — unpaired, a flat-2% cash-back card beats it.
- Good alternative: Freedom Unlimited — if you don't have business income, it's the identical idea on the personal side.
Not sure of the order to apply? Run your setup through Points Path and keep every balance visible in your Rewards Wallet.
Fine print worth knowing
- 5/24 and business cards: Chase applies 5/24 to Ink approvals (5+ personal cards in 24 months usually means denial), but the card itself doesn't add to your 5/24 count once approved.
- Sole proprietors qualify — freelance or side-hustle income under your own name and SSN is fine. Don't misrepresent.
- 3% foreign transaction fee — use a no-FTF card abroad.
- Points don't expire while the account is open; if you close your only premium Chase card, remaining points fall back to 1¢ redemptions.
- Unpaired, a flat-2% cash-back card strictly beats this one — the pairing isn't a nice-to-have, it's the point.
Bottom line
The Ink Unlimited is the volume engine of a Chase business setup: $0 fee, a bonus that posts as points (75,000 for a $750 offer), and 1.5x on absolutely everything. Alone it's ordinary; paired with one premium Chase card it's an effective 3%-in-travel machine with no cap — the card you swipe when nothing else earns a bonus.
Note: Sign-up bonuses and benefits change. Always confirm current terms on the issuer's site before applying.
FAQ
Are Ink Business Unlimited points transferable? Only when paired. Held alone, points redeem at a fixed 1¢ each; alongside an Ink Business Preferred, Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve they pool into that account and transfer 1:1 to Chase's partners.
Does the Ink Unlimited count toward Chase 5/24? Chase applies 5/24 to Ink approvals (5+ personal cards in 24 months usually means denial), but the card itself doesn't add to your 5/24 count once approved.
Can sole proprietors get it? Yes — freelance or side-hustle income under your own name and SSN is fine. Don't misrepresent.
Does it have a foreign transaction fee? Yes, 3% — use a no-FTF card abroad.
