If you've been hanging around Let's Travel Talk for any amount of time, you've probably heard me talk about the Chase Ink Business cards. A lot. And there's a very good reason for that — these two no-annual-fee cards are two of my most recommended cards ever!

But right now? They just got even better!

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card are both sitting at their highest welcome offers EVER — and neither one has an annual fee. That combination is rare, and I don't want you to miss it!

Here's everything you need to know.

Keep reading to learn how to turn these cash back credit cards into POINTS and how to apply with a small side hustle!

The Current Welcome Offers (Highest EVER!)

I've been sharing these cards for years and they have NEVER EVER been this high! 🙌🏼

A $1,000 welcome offer — the same as 100,000 Chase points — with zero annual fee is never-before-seen RARE!

Wait - I Don’t Have a Business. Can I Still Apply?

YES. And this is the most important thing I want you to read before you keep scrolling.

You do NOT need a full-time business to qualify for a business credit card.

A part time business or side hustle counts. Here are just a few examples of things that qualify:

Selling items on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Etsy
Freelancing or consulting (even just a few hours a month)
Tutoring or babysitting
Driving for Uber or DoorDash
Making crafts or goods you sell to others

If you make any money outside of a regular job, you very likely qualify as a sole proprietor — which is a legitimate business structure that Chase accepts on applications.

👉🏼 Here's my step-by-step guide to applying for a business credit c ard without an LLC.

What's the Difference Between the Two Cards?

These cards are very similar — the main difference is how you earn points on everyday spending beyond the welcome offer.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

5x points on the first $25,000 per year at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services
2x points on the first $25,000 per year at gas stations and restaurants
1x points on everything else

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

A simple, flat 1.5x points on every single purchase — no categories to track

The Ink Cash is the better pick if you spend regularly at office supply stores or have big internet, cable, or phone bills. The Ink Unlimited is perfect if you want something simple — swipe it everywhere and earn 1.5x on everything.

Both cards earn Chase points. Both have no annual fee. If you're new to both, pick the one that fits your spending habits best! If you own multiple businesses, there may be a path to holding both — but more on that in the FAQ below.

How Do I Turn $1,000 Cash Back Into 100,000 Points?

Even though these cards are advertised as cash back, you're actually earning Chase points.!

So that $1,000 welcome offer = 100,000 Chase points.

You can cash them out for $1,000 — or you can do something way more exciting…

Move your points to a transferable Chase card like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ and then transfer your points to travel partners like Hyatt, Southwest, United, Flying Blue, and more!

Here's what 100,000 Chase points can look like in real travel:

4 free nights at the Hyatt Regency Maui (when you transfer to Hyatt)
2 roundtrip economy flights to Europe (when you transfer to Flying Blue)
3–4 roundtrip flights to Hawaii on Southwest (when you transfer to Southwest)

That's a lot more than $1,000 worth of travel. 😊

What If I Don't Have a Transferrable Chase Card Yet?

No problem! You can open one of the Ink cards now, let your points sit in your account, and add a transferable Chase card to your wallet later.

And if your spouse already has a transferrable Chase card, you can combine points across your household — meaning their card unlocks the transfer partners for your points too.

PLEASE NOTE: To transfer your Chase points to travel partners like Hyatt, Southwest, United, and Flying Blue, you or your spouse must hold an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠. Chase to Hyatt transfer ratios are changing on some cards starting June 15 and October 1, 2026. Read my full breakdown here.

My Take ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

These are two of the most recommended cards in my entire point strategy — and with no annual fee and the highest welcome offers they've ever had, I can't think of a reason to wait!

If you've been on the fence about business cards, this is your sign. The application is simple, a side hustle qualifies, and 100,000 Chase points can take your family somewhere incredible!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a full time business to apply for the Ink Business Cash® or Ink Business Unlimited®? No — a side hustle qualifies. Selling on Etsy, freelancing, tutoring, driving for a rideshare app, or any money you make outside of a regular job counts. You apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security number.

Are the Ink Business Cash® and Ink Business Unlimited® actually cash back cards? They're marketed as cash back, but you actually earn Chase points that you can cash out or move to a transferrable Chase card which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for significantly more than $1,000 in travel value.

Can I have both the Ink Business Cash® and Ink Business Unlimited® at the same time? Chase now treats these two cards as a single family for bonus eligibility — meaning if you've earned a welcome bonus on one, you may not be eligible for the bonus on the other using the same business. If you're applying for the first time, I recommend starting with your sole proprietor side hustle to keep it simple.

That said, if you own multiple businesses, there may be a path to earning both bonuses. Data points are showing the best chances of approval for a second card come from applying with a separate business that has an LLC and EIN number.

What's the difference between the Ink Business Cash® and the Ink Business Unlimited®? The Ink Cash earns higher points in specific categories — 5x at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services; 2x at gas stations and restaurants. The Ink Unlimited earns a flat 1.5x on every purchase. If you want simplicity, go Unlimited. If you spend a lot in those bonus categories, the Cash earns more.

What can I do with 100,000 Chase points? When transferred to travel partners, 100,000 Chase points can cover things like 4 free nights at the Hyatt Regency Maui, multiple roundtrip flights to Europe on Flying Blue, or 3–4 roundtrip flights to Hawaii on Southwest. The value depends on how you redeem, but points can almost always worth more than their cash equivalent when used for travel if you transfer to the right travel partners.

As always, I appreciate it so much when you use my credit card affiliate links to apply for a new credit card! It supports my small business at no cost to you!

Ink Business Cash® vs. Ink Business Unlimited®: The Highest-Ever $1,000 Welcome Offer With No Annual Fee