Best Small Business Credit Cards by American Express
By Michael Grace | American Express® Freelance Contributor
6 Min Read | September 14, 2022
Summary
Depending on the industry, the term “small business” can span anywhere from a mom-and-pop deli to companies that earn several million dollars and employ a few hundred people – or even gig workers and the self-employed. Whatever the size of a small business, American Express offers a small business Credit Card to fit. Which one depends on the nature of the business, it’s purchasing needs, and the style of rewards it prefers.
Terms apply to all benefits for the Cards listed below and all offers listed are subject to change.
American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card: 2X Points and No Annual Fee
The Blue Business Plus Card offers a $0 annual fee and includes a 0.0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months of Card Membership.1 You’ll earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent on eligible purchases each calendar year, and 1X points on purchases after that. Importantly, there are no category restrictions. From a new printer to a cell phone or a business lunch, are purchases all eligible. Note that eligible purchases do not include things like fees or interest charges, travelers checks, or gift card purchases.
Further, new Card Members can earn 10,000 extra Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first three months of Card Membership. Consider the Blue Business Plus Card if your company is looking for a simple, straightforward way to earn rewards without an annual fee.
American Express Business Green Rewards Card: Straightforward Travel Rewards
American Express Business Green Card Members earn 1X point for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, plus 2X on eligible purchases at amextravel.com. The Card offers additional benefits like baggage insurance and car rental loss and damage insurance, making it a good fit for business travelers. However, the Card does have foreign transaction fees.
In addition, new Card Members can earn 15,000 points after reaching $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of Card Membership. The Card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 for each year that follows.2 Businesses that tend to do a lot of domestic U.S. travel might wish to consider the American Express Business Green Card.
American Express® Business Gold Card: Maximize Rewards
Membership Rewards points can add up quickly with the American Express Business Gold Card, starting with its welcome offer. New Card Members can earn 70,000 points after spending $10,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first three months of Card Membership. The Card has a $295 annual fee.3
Beyond the welcome offer, businesses earn 4X points on the two categories where they spend the most money each billing cycle. And you don’t have to choose beforehand – American Express automatically does the math for you. The categories include airfare purchases directly from airlines, as well as U.S. purchases at gas stations and restaurants; on computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions; and on online, TV, and radio advertising.
The 4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined eligible purchases in the two categories each calendar year. You’ll also earn 1X points on all other eligible purchases. Overall, businesses that tend to spend in different areas each month might consider the Business Gold Card.
American Express Business Platinum Card®: Make Business Travel a Luxury
The American Express Business Platinum Card carries a $595 annual fee.4 It also offers numerous benefits and perks for Card Members, especially those who travel frequently for work. Start with the welcome offer of 100,000 Membership Rewards points for Card Members who spend $15,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first three months of Card Membership. That can be redeemed for as much as $1,000 in airfare or $700 in prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com, for example.
Plus, earn 5X points on airfare and prepaid hotel bookings on amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases. Business Platinum Card Members also can earn 1.5X points per dollar on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to 1 million additional points per year. For example, one $6,000 purchase yields 9,000 points. If your business has large, recurring monthly expenses in that range, such as rent, server space, or supplies, it could earn additional points that can be used for travel or reinvested into the business.
Additional Platinum benefits5 include but are not limited to:
- Up to $200 in annual statement credits on U.S. purchases from Dell Technologies.
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ fee credit.
- Complimentary benefits at participating hotels.
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounges in 140 countries via the American Express Global Lounge Collection®.
Consider the Business Platinum Card if travel plays a major role in doing business, especially if you or your employees would enjoy luxury travel benefits like airport lounge access and hotel perks.
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Flat Rate Cash Back Rewards
Unlike some other options, the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express focuses on straightforward cash back rewards instead of points. The Card has a $0 annual fee and a 0.0% introductory APR on all purchases for the first 12 months, with a variable APR after that.6 New Card Members can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months, plus another $250 credit on an additional $10,000 spending in the first year.
Blue Business Cash Card Members earn 2% cash back on eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, automatically applied as a statement credit each month. All eligible purchases after that earn 1% cash back. That’s up to $1,000 or more in annual savings, which can be useful especially in those early stages of starting up a business. With the benefits above, the Blue Business Cash Card is worth considering for smaller businesses just starting out – especially those that prefer cash back instead of rewards points.
The Plum Card® from American Express: Financial Flexibility and Early Payment Rewards
The Plum Card can be a great option for businesses with unpredictable cash flow. Specifically, Card Members may carry a balance for up to 60 days with no interest, as long as they make the minimum payment by its due date.
On the other side of the payment spectrum, The Plum Card allows Card Members to get 1.5% cash back on early payments. In other words, you’ll get a 1.5% discount automatically applied as a statement credit for whatever amount of your balance is paid within 10 days of your statement’s closing date, as long as you meet the minimum payment. For example, if you spend $10,000 in a month and pay back $5,000 within the allotted time frame, that’s $75 in statement credits. Such statement credits are unlimited.
There also is $0 annual fee for the first year, then $250 afterward.7
Businesses looking for the flexibility to better manage their cash flow – and hop on the opportunity to earn rewards for early payments – may want to consider The Plum Card.
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From travel benefits to cash flow management, we've got a Card for you.
