Find the Best American Express Business Card of 2024

American Express business card benefits

When you sign up for an Amex business credit card, you gain access to several high-value benefits:

• Uber Cash: Eligible Amex Business Platinum and Amex Business Gold members receive 5% back in Uber Cash each time they order Uber Eats or take a ride with Uber.
• Global Entry membership*: Some Amex business credit cards give you a $100 statement credit when you use your eligible card to pay for the TSA Precheck or Global Entry travel program.
• Hilton Honors status: You may qualify for Hilton Honors Gold status, making it easier to earn free stays at your favorite Hilton properties.
• Statement credits: Depending on which card you choose, you may qualify for additional statement credits. For example, the Amex Business Platinum Card offers a $400 statement credit for Dell Technologies purchases, a $360 statement credit when you advertise with Indeed, and a $150 statement credit for a business subscription to Adobe Creative Solutions.
• Purchase Protection*: Your business credit card gives you access to Purchase Protection, which covers up to $10,000 per occurrence ($50,000 per year max) for lost, stolen, or damaged items. This only applies to purchases made with your eligible credit card.
• Bonus points on travel: Once you have a business credit card through Amex, you may also qualify for extra bonus points on your travel expenses. For example, the Amex Business Gold Card gives you 4X points on your top two spending categories for each billing cycle. This includes plane tickets purchased directly from an airline. Additionally, co-branded business cards like some American Express Delta cards can give even more points to brand loyalists.
• Personal card annual credit: If you have an Amex business credit card, you may be eligible for a $150 statement credit when you’re approved for an Amex personal credit card.
• Automated payments: Amex allows you to make automatic payments each month, ensuring that you never miss a payment due to your busy schedule.
• Travel protection*: American Express travel insurance protects you and your baggage so you can have peace of mind while you travel. Note that some benefits come with an extra charge.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

American Express business card rewards: How do they work?

When you sign up for a business credit card, you gain access to the American Express Membership Rewards program, a top-of-the-line credit card rewards program.

Earning Membership Rewards Points

Each credit card is a little different when it comes to how many points you earn. To give you an idea of how it varies by card, let’s have a closer look at earning rewards with these five Amex business credit cards.

Amex Business Platinum Card rewards

The Amex Business Platinum Card gives you 5 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel and 1.5 points per dollar on the following:

• Software and cloud system providers
• Shipping providers
• Electronic goods retailers
• Construction material and hardware suppliers
• Purchases of $5,000 or more in any other category

For information on rewards for personal cardholders, check out our Amex Platinum Card review.

Amex Business Gold Card rewards

The Business Gold Card gives you 4 points per dollar spent on your top two spending categories each billing cycle.

You’re only eligible for these 4X points when purchasing from the following bonus categories:

• Purchases at U.S. media providers for digital, radio and/or television advertising
• U.S. purchases from electronic goods retailers and software/cloud system providers
• U.S. gas stations
• U.S. restaurants (delivery/takeout included)
• Transit purchases (incl. trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways)
• Monthly service charges from wireless telephone providers in the U.S.

To learn about rewards for personal card holders, head to our Amex Gold Card review.

Amex Blue Business Cash Card rewards

With the Blue Business Cash Card, you earn 2% cash back on all purchases. This is capped at $50,000 per year, after which you earn 1% cash back.

Read our full Amex Blue Business Cash card review

Amex Blue Business Plus Card rewards

The Blue Business Plus Card also earns 2 points per dollar all all purchases up to $50,000 per year and 1 point per dollar spent after that. In addition to this, you will also earn 1 point for each dollar spent on eligible travel purchases through amextravel.com.

Read our full Amex Blue Business Plus card review

Amex Plum Card

With the Amex Plum Card, you earn 1.5% cash back when you make a payment on your account with 10 days of your statement closing.

Read our full Amex Plum card review

Hilton Honors Business Card rewards

The Hilton Honors Business Card offers variable rewards points depending on what you purchase.

With this card, you earn:

• 12 points per dollar on purchases made on resorts and hotels in the Hilton portfolio.
• 6 points per dollar on business purchases at U.S. gas stations, shipping providers, and wireless phone services when purchased directly from the service provider.
• 6 points per dollar on travel purchases at U.S. restaurants, flights, and car rentals.
• 3 points per dollar on other purchases made with the Hilton Honors Business Card.

Read our full Amex Hilton Honors Business card review

Redeeming your Membership Rewards Points

Once you accumulate points, you can redeem them in several ways.

One of the easiest options is to convert your points to cash. If you choose this option, American Express will make a deposit into your American Express Rewards Checking account or Business Checking account.

If you don’t have one of these accounts, don’t worry.

You can redeem your Membership Rewards Points in the following ways:

• Transfer points to a travel partner: As a travel card, Amex allows you to transfer your points to one of its many travel partners, making airfare and hotel stays a little more affordable. The company’s hotel partners include Choice Privileges, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors. Amex also has 18 airlines in its partner network, including Delta and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
• Make travel plans with AmexTravel.com: If you book through American Express Travel, you can use your points toward airfare, hotel accommodations, car rental, and other business travel expenses.
• Use Pay with Points: Certain brands allow you to pay with your Membership Rewards Points during checkout. Top partners include Amazon, PayPal, and Staples.
• Shop on MembershipRewards.com: You can also use your points to purchase items available on the Amex Rewards website. Apple, Sephora, Sur la Table, and Crate & Barrel are just some featured brands.

Which types of businesses qualify for an Amex business credit card?

You don’t need millions of dollars in revenue to qualify for an Amex business credit card.

Amex has credit cards for small businesses, mid-sized businesses, and corporations. If you have a good credit score, you may qualify for a business credit card as a gig worker or freelancer.

Just be aware of the annual fee for each credit card. A credit card with a high annual fee may not be a good fit for a sole proprietorship or a start-up that doesn’t have much revenue yet.

Applying for an American Express business credit card

Amex only issues its business credit cards to customers with good to excellent credit.

Although it’s possible to qualify with a score of 690, aim to have at least a 700 before you apply. Whether you own a small business or manage a company with several employees, you should also have plenty of income to cover your purchases.

Be prepared to provide the following information when you apply for a credit card through Amex:

• Business name
• Tax ID
• Business structure (S-corp, C-corp, LLC, etc.)
• Job title
• Industry
• Mailing address
• Years in business
• Annual revenue
• Annual expenses (estimated)
• Number of employees

Because Amex has stringent credit requirements, it’s a little more difficult to get approved for an Amex credit card than it is to qualify for the cards offered by many other issuers.

How to apply for a credit card offered by Amex

To apply for a credit card, follow these steps:

1. Compare credit cards based on their annual fees, welcome offers, and perks.
2. Pick a credit card that matches your needs.
3. Fill out the application.
4. Review the terms of service.
5. Submit your application.

It can take up to 14 days for Amex to approve or deny your application.

Other Business Amex services & perks

Amex offers many perks in addition to the ones described above.

American Express Global Business Travel

Once you pay your annual fee, you may gain access to American Express Global Business Travel, a platform designed to simplify the travel planning process. American Express Global Business Travel connects you with meeting specialists, business consultants, and other experts who can help you with your business travel needs.

Amex Business Checking

High-value card features aren’t the only reason to apply for an Amex business card. You may also be able to open an Amex Business Checking account, which has no monthly fees and comes with 24/7 support from the company’s banking specialists. Once you open a checking account, you may also qualify for additional bonus offers, allowing you to maximize your American Express benefits.

American Express Global Pay

With Amex Global Payments, it’s possible to pay suppliers in multiple countries. Every time you make a payment, the platform automatically updates certain fields, reducing the risk of data entry errors. American Express Global Pay also allows you to track payments and access delivery confirmations.

Employee Spend Management

If you have employees, you need some way to keep track of their spending. Amex makes it easy with multiple employee spending solutions. For example, you can set up a business travel account to see all air, rail, and hotel transactions in one place. Amex also allows you to use virtual numbers, reducing the risk of fraud. If you qualify for the Corporate Meeting Card, you can use it to simplify the event planning process, increasing efficiency and reducing your meeting costs.

American Express Business Line of Credit

The American Express Small Business Line of Credit is a bit different from a standard Amex card, but it can help you do a better job managing your business expenses. If you’re approved, you can spend up to your limit on anything you need, from a brand-new photocopier to a year’s worth of office supplies. You only pay fees on the credit you use, giving you a little extra breathing room as you work to build your small business.

Which American Express business credit card is the best for your business?

The best credit card for your business depends on your spending habits.

If you travel frequently and love to stay at Hilton hotels, check out the Hilton Honors Business Card. The American Express Platinum Business Card is a great fit if you want to earn 5X bonus points on prepaid flights and hotels, especially if you’re not loyal to just one hotel chain. The Platinum Card also gives you 1.5X points on certain business spending categories, making it a good fit if you want to maximize your American Express benefits.

Blue Business Cash is a credit card with no annual fee, so consider applying if you just started your business and want to earn valuable benefits without having to pay a fee when you’re trying to conserve cash.

Tips for choosing an Amex business credit card

Follow these tips to find the best Amex business credit card for your needs:

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.