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The best Amex business cards: Which card is right for your business?
American Express has many great business card options. Thankfully, ZDNet will help you decide which Amex business card is right for you.
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The pandemic has caused spending to rise and fall, leaving businesses and startups to find creative ways to stay afloat. One option is to get a business credit card, which offers advantages like:
- Building business credit.
- Helping to manage business expenses.
- Gaining business rewards from spending.
One of the best business credit card providers is American Express (or Amex). Here, ZDNet compares some of the benefits you receive with each Amex card to find the right one for your business:
Intro BonusWelcome Offer: 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.*
APR15.74% - 23.74% Variable
Recommended CreditExcellent/Good
Reward Rates
- Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month.
- 1X is earned for other purchases. **
Annual Fee$295
Intro Purchase APRN/A
- Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month.
- 1X is earned for other purchases. **
This card is great for small businesses who require large spending and want rewards across all spending categories.
Card benefits and fees:
- Members can earn a massive amount of reward points, up to 70,000 points, after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months.
- Members can choose to earn up to earn 4X membership rewards points on the 2 categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle from the list below, plus earn 1X on other purchases. Categories include Airfare, advertising, tech purchases like Computer hardware and software, fuel, restaurants, or shipping. Up to the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year.
- The pay-over-time option gives cardholders flexible payment options to pay with interest or pay the balance in full.
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.
Intro BonusWelcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
APR15.74% - 23.74% Variable
Recommended CreditGood, Excellent
Reward Rates
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
- Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year
- 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
Annual Fee$695
Intro Purchase APRSee Pay Over Time APR
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
- Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year
- 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
A great choice for high-spending business owners who want maximum travel rewards.
Card benefits and fees:
- New members can earn up to 120,000 points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months.
- Maximize travel points with 5x points on flights and prepaid hotel stays on amextravel.com; 1.5x points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Up to 1 million points per year.
- Up to $400 Annual Dell Technologies Statement Credit. ($200 semi-annually.)
- In addition to the access of over 1,400 lounges globally, members enjoy perks come vacation time with the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program -- a total value of $550 in perks at more than 1,100 properties.
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.
Intro BonusEarn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
APR14.74% - 22.74% Variable
Recommended CreditExcellent/Good
Reward Rates
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year.
Annual FeeNo annual fee
Intro Purchase APR0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year.
This card offers simple cashback rewards for any business owner.
Card benefits and fees:
- New members can earn up to 2% cashback on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 and thereafter, 1% cashback. Cashback is automatically credited to the payment statement.
- Expanded buying power allows members to spend beyond their credit limit when their business needs it, based on payment history and credit record.
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.
Intro BonusEarn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
APR14.74% - 22.74% Variable
Recommended CreditExcellent, Good
Reward Rates
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners
- 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter
Annual FeeNo annual fee
Intro Purchase APR0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners
- 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter
The Blue Business Plus is great for new small businesses and startups looking for low intro APR and flexible rewards.
Card benefits and fees:
- Cardholders earn points quickly with 2x points on any spending category on the first $50,000 in purchases in the first year; 1x points thereafter.
- Like the Blue Business Cash Card, members may be eligible for expanded buying power beyond their credit limit; based on credit and payment history.
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.
Intro BonusN/A
APRN/A
Recommended CreditGood, Excellent
Reward Rates
- Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.
Annual Fee$250
Intro Purchase APRN/A
- Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.
This flexible card works well for businesses looking for a simple card to help manage cash flow.
Card benefits and fees:
- Business owners get the option of paying the balance in full each month or carrying the balance for 60 days, both with no interest.
- Members can earn unlimited 1.5% cashback on the amount paid back on the balance within 10 days of the closing statement. You get rewarded for paying off the balance early; there is no cap to the reward.
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.
Intro BonusEarn a $100 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
APR15.74% - 23.74% Variable
Recommended CreditExcellent/Good
Reward Rates
- Take advantage of 5% Back or 90 Day Terms on U.S. purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. You will earn 5% Back on the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year, 1% Back thereafter
- 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- 1% Back on other purchases
Annual FeeNo annual fee
Intro Purchase APRN/A
- Take advantage of 5% Back or 90 Day Terms on U.S. purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. You will earn 5% Back on the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year, 1% Back thereafter
- 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- 1% Back on other purchases
Amex offers two options for Amazon business cards: Amazon Business and Amazon Business Prime. Here's a look at the better Business Prime option for business owners who are Amazon shoppers.
Card benefits and fees:
- 2% points back on purchases at participating restaurants, gas stations, service providers and 1% on all other purchases.
- 5% points back on purchases at Amazon Business and Amazon.com up to the first $120,000 in purchases each year (1% thereafter) or 90-day term on payments.
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.
Intro BonusWelcome Offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
APR17.24% - 26.24% Variable
Recommended CreditGood, Excellent
Reward Rates
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. shipping purchases, on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
- Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Annual Fee$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
Intro Purchase APRN/A
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. shipping purchases, on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
- Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Amex offers three options for Delta SkyMiles business cards for those looking to maximize travel miles and rewards. Our top pick is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.
Card benefits and fees:
- New members can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in the first three months on eligible purchases.
- Business owners can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on purchases made with Delta, advertising, dining at restaurants, or shipping purchases; 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
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.
What’s the advantage of a business credit card?
There are many advantages, but here are a few:
- Higher credit limits and more spending power.
- No personal expenditures. This helps come tax time since many of the purchases will often become tax deductions.
- They help build a business credit profile, which is a determining factor in being able to secure loans and lines of credit.
Which is the best for you?
As you can see, American Express offers a card to fit any business; each helps owners manage cash flow while maximizing reward. Still, each has the upper hand in certain categories. However, if we can only choose one, the top spot must go to the Business Gold Card for its customizable rewards that hit the most important business spending categories. In addition, it offers the flexibility that most business owners need for their ever-changing spending needs.
How do you choose the best business card?
That is a question that only you can answer based on your business needs, but here are some tips:
- Compare interest rates. Many credit card companies offer 0% or low introductory interest rates, but eventually, annual percentage rates (APR) will vary. Also, pay close attention to the fees to see if the potential rewards are worth it.
- Determine which rewards are important for you and your business.mSome offer limited cashback rewards to help manage cash flow while others offer points that can be redeemed in various ways.