BEST OF
Best American Express Business Credit Cards of May 2021
American Express business cards are well known for their rewards programs and generous perks, especially when it comes to travel. In addition, AmEx offers a few 0% intro APR cards that can be great small business credit card options for startups and new businesses.
American Express also issues co-branded cards with Delta, Hilton and Marriott, as well as Amazon and Lowe’s.
To qualify for an AmEx business card, you’ll generally need a good personal credit score of 690 or higher.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of our favorite American Express business credit cards.
American Express business cards are well known for their rewards programs and generous perks, especially when it comes to travel. In addition, AmEx offers a few 0% intro APR cards that can be great small business credit card options for startups and new businesses.
American Express also issues co-branded cards with Delta, Hilton and Marriott, as well as Amazon and Lowe’s.
To qualify for an AmEx business card, you’ll generally need a good personal credit score of 690 or higher.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of our favorite American Express business credit cards.
Best American Express Business Credit Cards From Our Partners
Our pick for
Intro APR and rewards points
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1x-2x
Points
Intro offer
Recommended Credit Score
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has solid ongoing rewards and the intro APR offer is great for new businesses and startups looking to finance large purchases.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has solid ongoing rewards and the intro APR offer is great for new businesses and startups looking to finance large purchases.
Pros
This AmEx small business card gives you 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases made every year, and 1 point per dollar after that. (Terms apply.)
The introductory APR offer is great for a business credit card, and the annual fee is $0. Terms apply.
Cons
The $50,000 spending cap on double points reduces this card's value for businesses with high operating expenses. There's no traditional bonus offer for new cardholders, either.
If you’d rather earn cash back card instead of points, check out the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.
- 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.
- Enjoy the flexibility to put more purchases on the Card and earn rewards when you buy above your credit limit*.
- You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
- More buying power for your business means more opportunities to earn points. That’s everyday business with the Blue Business Plus Card.
- *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.24% - 19.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Our pick for
Intro APR and cash back
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
1%-2%
Cashback
Intro offer
Recommended Credit Score
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card earns a solid cash back rate on purchases (up to a point) for an annual fee of $0. This simple cash back card gives you a good introductory APR period, which can be great for newer businesses looking to finance large purchases.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card earns a solid cash back rate on purchases (up to a point) for an annual fee of $0. This simple cash back card gives you a good introductory APR period, which can be great for newer businesses looking to finance large purchases.
Pros
This American Express business credit card offers 2% cash back on the first $50,000 a year in eligible purchases, then 1% back. Terms apply.
Cash back is automatically credited to your statement. This card has a $0 annual fee and an excellent introductory APR offer. Terms apply.
Cons
The $50,000 annual cap on spending that earns 2% cash back makes this card less competitive than some others out there. If you're willing to pay an annual fee, there are other cards that offer unlimited 2% rewards.
There's also no traditional bonus offer for new cardholders, which is a perk you might find with other card options.
- 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.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.24% - 19.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Our pick for
Customized rewards
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$295
Rewards Rate
1x-4x
Points
Intro offer
70,000
Points
Recommended Credit Score
The unique rewards structure on the American Express® Business Gold Card automatically changes with your spending. It can mean big rewards — if your purchases match its 4X categories. 4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year. Terms apply.
The unique rewards structure on the American Express® Business Gold Card automatically changes with your spending. It can mean big rewards — if your purchases match its 4X categories. 4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year. Terms apply.
Pros
You earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar in the two categories where you spend the most each month, applicable to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these two categories each calendar year. All other spending earns 1 point per dollar. The categories: airfare purchased directly from airlines; U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio); U.S. purchases made directly from select technology providers of computer hardware, software and cloud solutions; U.S. gas stations; U.S. restaurants; and U.S. purchases for shipping. Terms apply.
The American Express® Business Gold Card also includes a welcome offer for new cardholders.
Cons
The $295 annual fee is significant. If you don't spend much in the 4X categories, you might find that your business will earn more from a different rewards card.
- Welcome 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.*
- MORE REWARDS: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. 1X is earned for other purchases. **
- **4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year.*
- AIRLINE BONUS: Get 25% points back after you use points for all or part of an eligible flight booked with Amex Travel, up to 250,000 points back per calendar year.*
- PAY OVER TIME OPTION: A flexible payment option with interest to help manage cash flow on purchases of $100 or more.*
- *Terms Apply
Our pick for
Flexible financing
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $250
Rewards Rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$0
Recommended Credit Score
Businesses with high working capital needs but sometimes inconsistent cash flow might find The Plum Card® from American Express a perfect fit. This card allows you to pay early and get a discount, or enjoy up to 60 days without interest. Terms apply.
Businesses with high working capital needs but sometimes inconsistent cash flow might find The Plum Card® from American Express a perfect fit. This card allows you to pay early and get a discount, or enjoy up to 60 days without interest. Terms apply.
Pros
With The Plum Card® from American Express, if you pay your bill within 10 days of your statement closing date, you get an automatic 1.5% discount.
If you need more time, pay the minimum due, and you can get up to 60 days without interest to pay the rest. The card also has no preset spending limit, meaning 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. Terms apply.
Cons
With a sizable annual fee after the first year, this card is designed for businesses that spend big. And although it offers flexible terms, your entire balance is due each billing cycle — you can't spread out the cost of a purchase over several months.
In addition, unlike many of the American Express business credit cards out there, this card does not offer luxury perks or rewards.
- Paying early pays off: get a 1.5% Early Pay Discount, with no cap on what you can earn back.
- Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest, when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.
- Use the power of the Plum Card to buy big for your business.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $250
- Terms & Restrictions Apply.
Our pick for
Luxury travel perks and rewards
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$595
Rewards Rate
1x-5x
Points
Intro offer
100,000
Points
Recommended Credit Score
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is ideal for business owners looking for a luxury travel rewards card who don’t mind paying a high annual fee. This card earns impressive ongoing rewards, includes a great welcome offer and provides a range of luxury perks for frequent travelers.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is ideal for business owners looking for a luxury travel rewards card who don’t mind paying a high annual fee. This card earns impressive ongoing rewards, includes a great welcome offer and provides a range of luxury perks for frequent travelers.
Pros
This card earns 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com; 1.5 points per $1 on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more; and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Terms apply.
In addition, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express includes a welcome offer, airport lounge access, business platinum travel service, and a range of other luxury travel perks. Terms apply.
Cons
The $595 annual fee is high — you’ll want to determine whether the perks are worth the annual cost of this card.
If you don’t want to pay such a high annual fee, there are other travel rewards cards (including some from AmEx) that you can consider.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Platinum Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 50% more Membership Rewards® points. That's an extra half point per dollar, on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more. You can get up to 1 million additional points per year.
- 35% Airline Bonus: Use Membership Rewards® Pay with Points for all or part of a flight with your selected qualifying airline, and you can get 35% of the points back, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year when you book on amextravel.com.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Enroll to get up to $200 in statement credits annually by getting up to $100 semi-annually for U.S. purchases with Dell. Terms apply.
- PAY OVER TIME OPTION: A flexible payment option to help manage cash flow on purchases of $100 or more.
- Terms Apply.
Our pick for
Airline miles
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$550
Rewards Rate
1x-3x
Miles
Intro offer
60,000
Miles
Recommended Credit Score
This AmEx small business credit card is ideal for frequent travelers, offering a range of luxury perks in addition to Delta-specific rewards. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card includes airport lounge access, an annual companion certificate, priority boarding and your first checked bag free. Terms apply.
This AmEx small business credit card is ideal for frequent travelers, offering a range of luxury perks in addition to Delta-specific rewards. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card includes airport lounge access, an annual companion certificate, priority boarding and your first checked bag free. Terms apply.
Pros
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases (rising to 1.5 miles per dollar after you spend $150,000 in a calendar year). The card also has a competitive welcome bonus. Terms apply.
Additionally, this card offers luxury travel perks including Delta Sky Club access, priority boarding and more. Terms apply.
Cons
This luxury travel card has a high annual fee, $550. Your highest-earning miles rate (3 miles per dollar) and other rewards are also Delta-specific — so business owners that aren’t loyal to Delta might find that a more general travel rewards card is a better fit.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles, 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and a $100 statement credit after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to 4x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Plus, throughout 2021 earn an additional 3,750 MQMs after making $30,000 in purchases, up to 4x. That’s in addition to the 15,000 MQMs that you would earn with Status Boost.
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access and complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
- Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Our pick for
Hotel rewards
on American Express's website
on American Express's website
Annual Fee
$125
Rewards Rate
2x-6x
Points
Intro offer
100,000
Points
Recommended Credit Score
Frequent travelers looking to earn Marriott hotel rewards can’t go wrong with the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. This card allows you to earn on your everyday business spending, as well as your eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Plus, you get one free night per year and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
Frequent travelers looking to earn Marriott hotel rewards can’t go wrong with the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. This card allows you to earn on your everyday business spending, as well as your eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Plus, you get one free night per year and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
Pros
This American Express business credit card earns 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 4 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping; and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
In addition, the card gives you access to Marriott-specific perks such as one free night per year and premium on-property internet access. Terms apply.
Cons
You’ll need to stay at the Marriott often to get the most out of this card. You might find a general travel rewards card is more competitive, especially for an annual fee of $125.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn up to $150 back in statement credits on eligible purchases made on your new Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/12/21.
- 6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 4x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status with your Card. Plus, earn Gold Elite status after making $35,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Terms apply.
| Credit Card | NerdWallet Rating | Rewards Rate | Intro Offer | Annual Fee | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express on American Express's website | Best for Intro APR and rewards points | 1x-2x Points | N/A | $0 | on American Express's website |
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card on American Express's website | Best for Intro APR and cash back | 1%-2% Cashback | N/A | $0 | on American Express's website |
American Express® Business Gold Card on American Express's website | Best for Customized rewards | 1x-4x Points | 70,000 Points | $295 | on American Express's website |
The Plum Card® from American Express on American Express's website | Best for Flexible financing | 1.5% Cashback | $0 | $0 intro for the first year, then $250 | on American Express's website |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express on American Express's website | Best for Luxury travel perks and rewards | 1x-5x Points | 100,000 Points | $595 | on American Express's website |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card on American Express's website | Best for Airline miles | 1x-3x Miles | 60,000 Miles | $550 | on American Express's website |
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card on American Express's website | Best for Hotel rewards | 2x-6x Points | 100,000 Points | $125 | on American Express's website |
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS:
BEST AMERICAN EXPRESS BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Intro APR and rewards points
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a near-twin to the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, with one key difference: Rather than cash back, it pays you in AmEx Membership Rewards points. Read our review.
Our pick for: Intro APR and cash back
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card boasts one of the better introductory APR offers among business credit cards. Beyond that, you earn a solid cash-back rate (at least for a while — the rate drops after you hit a spending threshold). There's no annual fee, but there's no new-cardholder bonus offer either. Read our review.
Our pick for: Customized rewards
The rewards on the American Express® Business Gold Card adjust according to your spending: The card has six bonus categories, such as travel, U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations. You automatically earn bonus rewards in the two categories where you spend the most each month. That can translate into outstanding rewards, as long as your business spends money in those categories. If it doesn't, the steep annual fee probably isn't worth it. Read our review.
Our pick for: Flexible financing
Businesses with high working capital needs but sometimes inconsistent cash flow might find The Plum Card® from American Express a perfect fit. Pay early and get a discount, or enjoy up to 60 days without interest. Terms apply. There's a substantial annual fee, but if you're using the card for, say, big inventory purchases, the benefits could far outweigh the costs. Read our review.
Our pick for: Luxury travel perks and rewards
Like the consumer version of this card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a big annual fee. But business travelers who prefer to go in style will find plenty that appeals to them: high rewards on certain travel purchases, bonus rewards on larger non-travel purchases, a superb newcomer bonus offer, extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, hundreds of dollars a year in available credits and a list of perks as long as your arm. It's not cheap, but luxury never is. Terms apply. Read our review.
Our pick for: Airline miles
If your business has you on the road a lot, you'll appreciate the airport lounge access on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, which includes both Delta's own Sky Clubs and American Express's Centurion Lounges when flying Delta. The annual companion certificate — which is good even in first class — and the checked-bag benefit add considerable value, too. Terms apply. Read our review.
Our pick for: Hotel rewards
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card can pay for itself just with the automatic free night's stay every year. Add in automatic elite status, generous rewards, a dandy welcome bonus and more, and it's hard to go wrong. Terms apply. Read our review.
Other business cards issued by American Express:
Learn more about these additional American Express business credit cards by reading the reviews linked below:
Delta business credit cards
Amazon business credit cards
Other business credit cards
Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express
• • • • • • • • •
All information about the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Business Green Rewards Card from American Express is no longer available through NerdWallet.
To view rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Plum Card® from American Express, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Amazon Business American Express Card, see this page.
Last updated on April 29, 2021
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.
Frequently asked questions
You can apply for an American Express business card online, or call 1-877-673-6758 to apply by phone.
You’ll need to provide your business’s contact information, federal tax ID, industry, entity type, number of employees and annual revenue in order to complete and submit your application.
American Express limits the number of business cards you can have to four. In general, we recommend keeping your credit utilization below 30% and ensuring that you can make your existing payments before deciding to open another credit card.
American Express reports only negative business credit card activity to the personal credit card bureaus, such as late payments, returned payments or violations of your cardmember agreement.
Therefore, your personal credit score cannot be improved with responsible spending on your AmEx business card, but it can be damaged by problems with your account.