American Express Business Cards: Complete Guide to Amex for Business
Compare all Amex Business credit cards for 2025. From Blue Business Cash to Business Platinum, find the right card for your spending with rewards and perks.

American Express Business Cards: Complete Guide to Amex for Business
American Express built its reputation on business cards. From the iconic Business Platinum to the straightforward Blue Business Cash, Amex offers cards for every business type and spending pattern.
But the Amex ecosystem is complex. Charge cards vs. credit cards. Membership Rewards vs. cash back. Annual fees from $0 to $695. Making the right choice requires understanding what each card offers and how it fits your business.
Here's the complete guide to American Express business cards.
Amex Business Card Types
Charge Cards vs. Credit Cards
Charge cards:
- No preset spending limit
- Balance due in full each month
- No APR (because you can't carry balance)
- Examples: Business Platinum, Business Gold
Credit cards:
- Set credit limit
- Can carry balance month to month
- APR applies to carried balance
- Examples: Blue Business Plus, Blue Business Cash
Which to choose:
- Charge cards: Higher spending power, forced discipline
- Credit cards: Flexibility to carry balance, 0% APR offers
The Amex Business Card Lineup
Blue Business Cash
The simple cash back card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards | 2% cash back on all purchases (up to $50K/year, then 1%) |
| 0% APR Intro | 12 months on purchases |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7% |
Best for: Businesses wanting simple, flat-rate cash back with no annual fee.
Blue Business Plus
The everyday points card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards | 2x Membership Rewards points on all purchases (up to $50K/year, then 1x) |
| 0% APR Intro | 12 months on purchases |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7% |
Best for: Building Membership Rewards points without annual fee; pairing with premium Amex cards.
Amex Business Gold
The category bonus card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $375 |
| Rewards | 4x on top 2 spending categories each month (from 6 eligible); 1x on all else |
| 4x Categories | Airfare, advertising, gas, shipping, computer hardware/software, restaurants |
| Monthly Credit | $10 statement credit at select partners |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
Best for: Businesses with heavy spending in advertising, travel, or other 4x categories.
Amex Business Platinum
The premium charge card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 |
| Rewards | 5x on flights booked through Amex Travel; 1.5x on purchases $5K+; 1x on everything else |
| Travel Credits | $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit, $189 CLEAR credit |
| Lounge Access | Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) |
| Status | Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
Best for: Frequent travelers who will use lounge access and travel credits.
Amex Business Green
The entry-level charge card
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Rewards | 3x on travel and transit; 1x on everything else |
| Credits | $100 CLEAR credit, LoungeBuddy credit |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
Best for: Moderate travelers who want charge card benefits at lower cost.
Card-by-Card Comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Best Rate | 0% APR | Point Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Business Cash | $0 | 2% cash | 12 mo | Cash back |
| Blue Business Plus | $0 | 2x | 12 mo | MR points |
| Business Gold | $375 | 4x | No | MR points |
| Business Platinum | $695 | 5x (flights) | No | MR points |
| Business Green | $95 | 3x (travel) | No | MR points |
Membership Rewards Points Value
Redemption Options
| Redemption | Value per Point |
|---|---|
| Statement credit | ~0.6¢ |
| Amex Travel portal | ~1.0¢ |
| Transfer to airlines | 1.0-2.5¢ |
| Transfer to hotels | 0.5-1.0¢ |
| Gift cards | ~0.5-1.0¢ |
Best Transfer Partners
Airlines (best value):
- ANA (Japan): Excellent for international business class
- Singapore Airlines: Premium cabin awards
- Air France/KLM: Good for Europe awards
- Delta: Domestic options (value varies)
- British Airways: Short-haul awards
Hotels (use sparingly):
- Marriott: 1:1 ratio but lower value
- Hilton: 1:2 ratio, moderate value
Calculating True Value
When evaluating Amex cards with annual fees, calculate net value:
Business Gold example:
- Annual spend on 4x categories: $50,000
- Points earned: 200,000
- Value at 1.5¢/point: $3,000
- Minus annual fee: $3,000 - $375 = $2,625 net value
Which Amex Card Should You Get?
Choose Blue Business Cash If:
- You want simplicity—no points management
- Your spending is under $50,000/year
- You don't want to pay an annual fee
- You prefer cash over points
Ideal profile: New business, straightforward expenses, cash flow focused
Choose Blue Business Plus If:
- You want to build Membership Rewards without annual fee
- You'll pair with Business Gold or Platinum later
- Your spending is varied across categories
- You value 0% APR for 12 months
Ideal profile: Building toward premium cards, want points flexibility
Choose Business Gold If:
- You spend heavily in 4x categories:
- Advertising/marketing: $5,000+/month
- Shipping: $2,000+/month
- Travel: Regular business travel
- Restaurants: Client entertainment
- You value category bonuses over flat rate
- Annual fee is justified by spending
Ideal profile: Established business with significant marketing or travel spend
Choose Business Platinum If:
- You fly frequently (10+ trips/year)
- You value airport lounge access
- You book through Amex Travel
- You'll use the travel credits ($400+/year)
- Premium perks matter to you
Ideal profile: Road warrior, frequent flyer, values luxury travel experience
Choose Business Green If:
- You travel moderately (5-10 trips/year)
- You want charge card flexibility
- You can't justify Business Platinum fee
- You value the 3x travel rate
Ideal profile: Growing business with increasing travel
The Amex Lifetime Rule
One Bonus Per Card Per Lifetime
American Express limits sign-up bonuses to once per card—ever.
What this means:
- Get Blue Business Plus bonus now
- Cancel the card 5 years later
- Reapply—no bonus eligibility
Strategy implications:
- Don't waste bonuses on cards you'll cancel quickly
- Consider long-term value before applying
- Time applications strategically
Pop-Up Purgatory
Amex may show a pop-up denying bonus eligibility, often due to:
- Opening and closing Amex cards quickly
- Not using Amex cards you have
- High inquiry activity
Avoiding pop-ups:
- Use your Amex cards regularly
- Keep accounts open longer
- Space applications
Building an Amex Business Portfolio
The Starter Stack
Cards: Blue Business Cash + Blue Business Plus
Benefits:
- No annual fees
- 2% cash back OR 2x points on everything
- 0% APR on both for 12 months
- Flexibility to choose cash or points
Total cost: $0/year
The Growth Stack
Cards: Blue Business Plus + Business Gold
Benefits:
- 4x on top spending categories
- 2x on everything else
- Points pool together
- More transfer partner value
Total cost: $375/year
The Premium Stack
Cards: Business Platinum + Business Gold + Blue Business Plus
Benefits:
- 5x on flights (Platinum)
- 4x on categories (Gold)
- 2x on everything else (Blue Plus)
- Full lounge access
- Maximum credits and perks
Total cost: $1,070/year (but $600+ in credits)
Amex for 0% APR Strategy
Which Cards Have 0% APR?
Only the credit cards (not charge cards):
| Card | 0% APR Period |
|---|---|
| Blue Business Cash | 12 months on purchases |
| Blue Business Plus | 12 months on purchases |
Charge cards (Gold, Platinum, Green) require full payment monthly—no 0% APR.
Using Amex for Interest-Free Funding
Strategy:
- Apply for Blue Business Plus
- Use 0% APR for large purchases
- Pay off within 12 months
- Earn 2x points on everything
Example:
- $30,000 equipment purchase
- Pay $2,500/month for 12 months
- Zero interest paid
- Earn 60,000 points (worth $600-900)
Amex Approval Tips
Factors That Help
Strong indicators:
- Existing Amex relationship
- Strong personal credit (700+)
- Established business (1+ years)
- Significant stated revenue
- Low utilization on existing cards
Factors That Hurt
Watch out for:
- Recent Amex applications (less than 90 days)
- High number of recent inquiries
- Low stated income
- New business with low revenue
Business Verification
Amex may request:
- Business tax returns
- Bank statements
- Articles of organization
- Business license
Tip: Have documents ready but don't worry unless asked.
Maximizing Amex Business Cards
Stacking Credits
Business Platinum offers multiple credits:
- $200 airline fee credit (annual)
- $200 hotel credit ($100 semi-annual)
- $189 CLEAR credit
- $120 wireless credit ($10/month)
- Dell credits ($200/year)
Total potential credits: $700+/year (more than covers $695 fee)
Using Amex Offers
How Amex Offers work:
- Targeted discounts added to your card
- Spend $X, get $Y back
- Must add offer before purchasing
Examples:
- Spend $100 at Dell, get $20 back
- Spend $200 on advertising, get $40 back
- Various rotating offers
Strategy: Check offers weekly, stack with regular purchases
Employee Cards
Add employee cards to business accounts:
- No additional annual fee on most cards
- Earn points on employee spending
- Set spending limits per employee
- Track expenses easily
Amex vs. Chase for Business
When Amex Wins
- Higher category bonuses (4x vs 3x)
- Better travel credits and perks
- Superior lounge access
- More flexible charge limits
When Chase Wins
- Lower annual fees
- Better transfer partner for Hyatt
- 5/24 rule doesn't apply to business cards (but need to be under 5/24 to get approved)
- More 0% APR options
The Hybrid Approach
Many business owners carry both:
- Chase Ink for shipping, 0% APR
- Amex Gold for advertising, restaurants
- Amex Platinum for travel perks
Points accumulate in separate programs but maximize earnings in each category.
Common Amex Mistakes
Mistake 1: Paying Annual Fee Without Using Benefits
A Business Platinum without using credits costs $695 for minimal value.
Fix: Use all credits and perks or choose lower-fee card.
Mistake 2: Wasting Lifetime Bonuses
Getting a card for the bonus, canceling, and losing future bonus eligibility.
Fix: Only get cards you'll keep long-term or that justify the bonus value.
Mistake 3: Not Pooling Points
Having Blue Business Plus points separate from Gold points.
Fix: Points automatically pool when cards are on same account.
Mistake 4: Poor Redemptions
Using points for statement credits at 0.6¢ value.
Fix: Transfer to airline partners for 1.5-2.0¢+ value.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Business Checking
Amex Business Checking offers additional points opportunities.
Fix: Consider Amex Business Checking if you're in the ecosystem.
Your Amex Business Card Strategy
Starting Out
- Apply for Blue Business Plus (no fee, 2x points, 0% APR)
- Use for 6-12 months, build relationship
- Evaluate spending patterns
- Add Business Gold if advertising/shipping spend justifies
Scaling Up
- Add Business Gold for 4x categories
- Keep Blue Business Plus for 2x on everything else
- Consider Business Platinum when travel justifies
Optimizing
- Use right card for each category
- Stack Amex Offers with purchases
- Redeem points through transfer partners
- Maximize credits on premium cards
Next Steps
American Express offers some of the most valuable business credit cards available. The key is matching cards to your actual spending patterns.
Start with a no-annual-fee card to enter the ecosystem. Add premium cards as your spending justifies the fees. Stack cards for maximum category coverage.
The Amex ecosystem rewards loyal customers with excellent perks and earning potential.
Need help building your Amex business card strategy? Freedom Consulting helps business owners optimize their card portfolios. Book a free consultation to maximize your rewards.
Related: 0% APR Funding Strategy | Chase Ink Business Cards
Disclaimer: Credit card terms change frequently. Verify current offers before applying. Approval based on creditworthiness.
Continue Learning
This article is part of our 0% APR Business Funding: How to Access $50K-$300K Interest-Free guide series.
Related articles in this series:
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