Best American Express business credit cards of July 2024
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 5:02 a.m. UTC July 1, 2024
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American Express offers a wide range of business credit cards with generous rewards and other perks. Choosing which American Express card is best for your small business will depend on how you plan to use the card, what type of rewards and perks you’d benefit from as well as how much of an annual fee you’re willing to pay.
We did a deep dive into the details to determine the best American Express business credit cards. Here are our top picks, including their rewards structure, welcome offer, annual fee and more. Terms apply to the cards listed on this page.
Best American Express business credit cards
- American Express® Business Gold Card *: Best American Express business card.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express *: Best for introductory APR and no annual fee.
- Amazon Prime Business American Express Card *: Best for Amazon purchases with Prime membership.
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card *: Best for cash back with no annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card *: Best for earning Marriott Bonvoy points/hotel card.
All information about American Express® Business Gold Card, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, Amazon Prime Business American Express Card, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 12+ cards analyzed.
- 5+ data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best American Express business card
American Express® Business Gold Card
*The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for introductory APR and no annual fee
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
*The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for Amazon purchases with Prime membership
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
*The information for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Amazon Business Prime American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for cash back with no annual fee
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
*The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for earning Marriott Bonvoy points/hotel card
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
*The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Compare the best American Express business credit cards
Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Get an Amazon.com Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card.
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Resort fees apply.
All information about Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, American Express® Business Gold Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The American Express® Business Gold Card * The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) offers high rewards potential to business owners seeking a card that earns Membership Rewards® points. The card automatically assigns the highest rewards rate in the top two eligible categories where you spend most each month, up to a combined annual maximum.
The eligible categories include transit purchases, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio), U.S. purchases made directly from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud solutions providers, U.S. purchases at gas stations, U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery and monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S. The card also offers the flexibility of no preset spending limit*, an up to $100 experience credit at participating hotels and insurance coverage for baggage¹, rental cars², and trip delays³. (*No preset spending limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history).
- Annual fee: $375.
- Rewards: 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year on the 2 select categories your business spends the most each month, 3 points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com and 1 point per $1 for other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- APR: 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR.
All information about American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) gives small business owners the chance to earn Amex Membership Rewards points, a coveted travel award currency, for no annual fee. The card also comes with some appealing benefits, including an intro APR offer for purchases, car rental insurance², extended warranty¹ and purchase protections¹.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 Membership Rewards® points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies.
All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
If you’re an Amazon Prime member who spends a lot on Amazon, Whole Foods or Amazon Business, you’ll like the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card * The information for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. ’s (terms apply) rewards structure of 5% back in rewards on the first $120,000 spent each calendar year or 90 Days Terms on eligible U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. Earn 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (excluding Google Fi) and 1% back on other eligible purchases. The ability to choose financing over rewards can be especially helpful in months where you need extra time to pay off a big purchase.
The no-annual-fee card also offers baggage insurance¹, no foreign transaction fees, car rental loss and damage insurance², extended warranty¹ and purchase protections¹. Just know that a Prime membership is required in order to get this card. If you don’t have or want to have a Prime membership, there’s a non-Prime version of the card, too, although the rewards and terms aren’t as generous as with this card.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% back in rewards on the first $120,000 spent each calendar year or 90 Days Terms on eligible U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. Earn 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (excluding Google Fi) and 1% back on other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $125 Amazon.com gift card upon approval.
- APR: 19.49% to 27.49% variable APR on purchases.
All information about Amazon Business Prime American Express Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card * The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is a straightforward cash-back card that earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (automatically rewarded via statement credits), up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%, making it one less thing to keep track of on a busy business owner’s to-do list. Other perks include an intro APR offer, car rental insurance², extended warranty¹ and purchase protections¹.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (automatically rewarded via statement credits), up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
- Welcome bonus: $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a 18.49% to 26.49% variable APR.
All information about The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why this card made the list
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card * The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) rewards frequent Marriott guests with high earnings on stays and a slew of valuable perks including an annual free night award (worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points), a 7% room rate discount on bookings made directly with Marriott for hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, Gold elite status, 15 Elite Night credits towards the next level of status and an additional free night after spending $60,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
- Annual fee: $125.
- Rewards: 6 points per $1 at on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 4 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping and 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: Earn three Free Night Awards (worth up to 150,000 total Marriott Bonvoy points) after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. Resort fees apply.
- APR: 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR.
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered included:
- Annual fees.
- Rewards potential.
- Business benefits like low intro financing offers or discounts.
- Other perks and benefits.
Should you get an American Express business credit card?
An American Express business credit card could be a good fit for your business, but it all depends on your spending patterns and needs. Carefully consider what you’re looking for in terms of rewards points, travel benefits and other perks when selecting a business credit card.
“American Express is proud to offer a wide-ranging Business Card portfolio, with options that can meet the needs of businesses across industries, geographies, stages of growth or whatever financial challenge they’re facing. Our Business Cards are truly built for businesses – with unique capabilities, rewards and benefits, tools and analytics. American Express Business Cards help businesses run their businesses, travel with ease, save money on business expenses, manage cash flow and get business servicing support. In 2022, for the second year in a row, American Express ranked number one in customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power U.S. Small Business Credit Card Satisfaction Study,” said Courtney Kelso, EVP, Global Commercial Cards at American Express in an exclusive statement to USA TODAY Blueprint.
With over a dozen American Express business cards to choose from, there’s no shortage of options at your fingertips. Most of these cards come with valuable benefits, such as purchase protection, extended warranty and car rental loss and damage insurance.
Cards with higher annual fees typically offer a greater number of perks so you should consider which of these benefits are most valuable to you to make sure any annual fees would be worth the cost.
Take a close look at your business expenses, too, to estimate what you could earn back in rewards points. Consider whether you prefer a flat-rate rewards structure or the opportunity to maximize rewards in certain spending categories.
When choosing a business credit card, you want to make sure the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks and make up for any annual fee. In the end, your business credit card should aid the growth of your company, rather than hold it back.
Guide to American Express business credit cards
Pros and cons of Amex business cards
Amex business cards typically come with a variety of solid benefits, including purchase protection, extended warranty and car rental insurance. They also offer rewards points or cash back on your purchases, which you can typically redeem for statement credits, gift cards or travel.
However, some cards have a lower earnings rate than others, and you might encounter hefty annual fees for some of the other high-end, benefit-rich American Express business cards. What’s more, only some cards offer a 0% introductory APR period, while others have fairly high APRs right off the bat.
How to compare and choose the best Amex business card
When comparing Amex business cards, take a close look at the rewards structure, APR, annual fee and welcome bonus offers. Keep an eye out for extra perks, as well, that would benefit your business.
If you’re a frequent traveler, review the card’s travel benefits and make sure it doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. Finally, consider your business needs and expenses to determine which card, if any, would be most valuable for you.
What are Corporate Membership Rewards and how do they work?
American Express offers Corporate Membership Rewards when employees make everyday business purchases on their American Express business credit card. Companies can join the Corporate Membership Rewards program online and redeem points for statement credits or gift cards. You can also use Corporate Membership Rewards points to pay for Amazon.com purchases.
How to apply for an American Express business card
You can apply for an American Express business card online and get a decision in as little as 30 seconds. Start by heading to the American Express website and choosing the card you’d like to apply for.
The application will ask for a number of personal and business details, including:
- Legal business name, address and phone number.
- Industry type, years in business and number of employees.
- Role in company.
- Federal tax ID.
- Home address.
- Where to send your bill (business or home).
You can submit your application right away or save your information and apply later.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You’ll likely need good personal credit to qualify for an Amex business card. Your credit acts as a personal guarantee that you’ll repay your line of credit. It may be possible for a business to secure a line of credit based on its assets and income alone, but that’s up to the credit card issuer and may require a special request.
According to American Express, you can get approval for an Amex business card online in as little as 30 seconds.
American Express does not offer a secured business card.
Business credit cards are issued to businesses, so their benefits are designed to meet the needs of businesses. Business credit cards, for instance, might come with QuickBooks integration and free additional cards for employees. Personal credit cards, on the other hand, are issued to individual consumers and are designed for personal use.
¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
²Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
³Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
*The information for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, American Express® Business Gold Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
