Which American Express Business Card Is Best for Your Business?
American Express, Member FDIC, is synonymous with credit cards, having launched its first charge card in the 1950s as a way of giving customers a new and convenient way to make purchases. Today, the company is the world’s largest global payments network, with nearly $190 billion in total assets at the end of 2021.
Not surprisingly, American Express has a full suite of business credit cards, from a no-frills card with no annual fee to premium cards that offer a range of reward points, bonuses and other perks.
Here’s a look at the best American Express business cards, based on the perks they provide to members. Offers and annual percentage rates (APRs) are current as of November 3, 2022, and are subject to change at any time.
American Express Business Cards at a Glance
| CREDIT CARD | ANNUAL FEE | WELCOME OFFER | KEY REWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of Card Membership. | 75,000 bonus points after you use your new card to make $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership; 6X points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program | ||
| $0 | 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening; after that | 2X points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year; 1X points on all other eligible purchases after the first $50,000 spent on your Blue Business Plus Card | |
| $295 | 70,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $10,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of membership | 4X points on top two business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle; 1X points on other select purchases made using your Business Gold Card | |
| 0% introductory APR for 12 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. | 120,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months; 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com |
Best Features of
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is ideal if you spend a lot of time on the road because of the points you can build up at participating hotels, restaurants and gas stations. You can even get free hotel nights if you build up enough points. You also get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with the card.
Here are a few other perks with the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card:
- Each calendar year you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Air+Car Transfer Program lets members redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for flights and car rentals across hundreds of travel partners around the world.
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status that includes priority late checkout when available and 25% bonus points on stays.
- Premium Internet Access while staying at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Best Features of
One of the best features of this card is that there is no annual fee, which sets it apart from the others. Another plus is the 0% introductory APR during the first year after opening an account. You also can earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership, followed by APR.
Another top feature with the Blue Business Plus Credit Card is that it lets you spend beyond your credit limit in case there is some essential purchase you need to make to grow your business. While you don’t get unlimited credit, the limit adjusts with your use of the card, payment history, credit record, financial resources and other factors.
Best Features of
You can pile up points quickly with this card if you use it to pay for a lot of business expenses, so that might make it worth the $295 annual fee. Members get 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of opening the account.
The 4X points reward comes with numerous spending categories, including airfare, advertising, technology, gasoline, dining and shipping. The Business Gold Card also comes with a “Pay Over Time” option that lets you carry a balance with interest on eligible purchases.
Best Features of
The American Express Business Platinum Card has an even bigger annual fee than the Gold Card, at . On the plus side, you can pile up 120,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months, so it’s another great card to have if you charge a lot of business expenses. The 0% introductory APR for 12 months from the date of account opening can help take some of the sting off of the high annual fee, at least during the first year.
Maybe the best feature of the Business Platinum Card is the 5X points you get on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. The card also offers a $200 airline fee statement credit per calendar year from qualifying airlines. The credit can be used when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Business Platinum Card account.
