The Chase Ink Business Cash is one of the most widely adopted small-business credit cards among HVAC contractors for a simple reason: it pays 5% cash back on the categories where service shops routinely spend - office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services - up to a combined $25,000 per anniversary year. For a 5-to-20 truck HVAC company, that often translates to the full $1,250 in category bonuses on the same bills they'd pay anyway: cell phones for every tech, business internet for the shop, cable/streaming for the waiting room, and office supplies for invoicing and admin.
On top of the 5x category, the card earns 2% cash back on the first $25,000 combined at gas stations and restaurants each anniversary year and 1% on everything else unlimited. Gas rewards are capped, but for smaller fleets (typically 2-8 vehicles), the 2% is meaningful. Chase offers free employee cards, individual employee spending limits, and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months - useful when financing a tool purchase or seasonal inventory. The card carries a 3% foreign transaction fee, which is rarely a concern for a domestic HVAC business.
Because rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards points (1 point = $0.01 cash back), owners who also hold a Chase Ink Business Preferred or Sapphire Reserve can pool points for higher-value redemptions on travel. Chase reports activity to business credit bureaus, making this a useful card for building business credit while capturing everyday rewards. It consistently ranks as a top overall small-business card by NerdWallet, Bankrate, and The Points Guy.