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Approval requirements · November 2026
Chase Ink Business Unlimited: Credit Score Requirements
700+ FICO recommended, plus the 5/24 rule. Here’s what both mean and what to do if you don’t qualify.
Recommended score
700+
FICO for most approvals
5/24 rule
<5
new personal cards in 24 months
Annual fee
$0
plus $750 signup bonus
Independent·Compensation never changes rankings·No sponsored rankings·Data sourced from Chase.com
Approval requirements at a glance
Quick answer
Most approved applicants have a FICO score of 700 or higher. Chase also requires you to be under 5/24 (fewer than 5 new personal cards opened from any issuer in the past 24 months).
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Recommended credit score | 700+ FICO |
| Minimum (occasional approvals) | 670+ FICO |
| Chase 5/24 rule | Must be under 5 new personal cards in 24 months |
| Business entity required | No: sole proprietors qualify with SSN |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Cash back rate | 1.5% on all purchases (unlimited) |
| Signup bonus | $750 after $6,000 spend in 3 months |
| 0% intro APR | 12 months on purchases |
The Chase 5/24 rule explained
Chase automatically declines most applications if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards (from any issuer including Amex, Citi, Capital One, etc.) in the past 24 months.
Business cards typically do not count toward your 5/24 total (including Chase Ink cards and Amex business cards). But you still need to be under 5/24 to be approved for new Chase cards.
How to check your 5/24 count
- Pull your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com
- Count every personal credit card account opened in the past 24 months
- If the count is 4 or fewer, you are likely under 5/24
- Credit Karma shows a running list of accounts with open dates, which is the fastest way to count
Ink Unlimited vs. Ink Cash — which to apply for?
Ink Unlimited ($0 fee, $750 bonus) and Ink Cash ($0 fee, $750 bonus) differ mainly in the earn structure:
| Card | Best For | Earn Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Unlimited | Mixed / varied spend | 1.5% on everything |
| Ink Business Cash | High internet/phone/office bills | 5% internet & office supply |
If your largest expense is SaaS subscriptions, phone, internet, or office supplies, Ink Cash will typically beat Ink Unlimited. They offer 12 and 12 months at 0% APR on purchases.
If you don’t meet 5/24 — alternatives with no such rule
- Amex Blue Business Cash: 2% flat, Up to $500 / $5,000 in 3mo bonus, 12mo 0% APR, $0 fee. No 5/24 equivalent.
- Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash: Unlimited 2%, $500 / $5,000 in 3mo bonus, 12mo 0% APR, $0 fee. No 5/24 rule.
- Capital One Spark Classic: Designed for fair credit (580+), 1% cash back, $0 fee. No spending bonus.
Free tool · Compare all 7 no-fee business cards
See which card earns the most on your actual freelance spend
Enter your monthly expenses across 10 categories and get annual cash back ranked for Ink Unlimited, Ink Cash, Amex Blue Business Cash, WF Signify, and 3 others.
Ranked by math. Compensation never changes the order. Verify current terms at Chase.com before applying.