6 Things You Should Know Before Getting the AmEx Blue Business Plus Credit Card

Erin Hurd
By Erin Hurd 
Published
Edited by Mary M. Flory

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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a card you may not have heard much about because it is not as popular as its AmEx “cousins.” The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Business Gold Card may have some eye-popping welcome offers, but this lesser-known credit card offers solid rewards earning potential for many small businesses with a $0 annual fee. Terms apply.

Here are some key benefits and features that you should consider before you apply.

1. What’s the welcome bonus?

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express offers this welcome bonus: 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. Terms Apply.

2. How many points can I earn?

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express allows you to earn 2x points on every single purchase, on spending up to a total of $50,000 per calendar year. That’s a total potential to earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points per year at their 2x earn rate. Terms apply.

You won’t have to worry about which categories earn bonuses and which don’t, because the card earns a straight 2x on every spending category. After you reach the annual $50,000 threshold, you will earn 1x on all purchases made on the card. Terms apply.

3. How much can I spend on the card?

Since this is a credit card (not a charge card like some American Express cards), you will be given a preset credit limit when you get approved for the card. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express does still make it possible to make a larger purchase for your small business than your credit limit allows with a benefit called expanded buying power. This allows you to go over your credit limit without penalty, as long as you pay the overage back by the due date. You don’t have to jump through any hoops to enroll, and you’ll still earn 2x points for the amount you go over your limit. Terms apply.

You'll also get 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR.

This can be a useful benefit if you have large purchases to make once becoming a cardholder. Terms Apply.

4. What can I do with my points?

American Express Membership Rewards is a versatile rewards program that lets you use your points for travel, gift cards or shopping credit, among other options.

  • Transfer your Membership Rewards directly to 19 different airline partners, including Air Canada, British Airways and Delta.

  • Choose from three different hotel chains to transfer your points (Choice, Hilton and Marriott).

  • Use your points to book travel directly on American Express — 100,000 Membership Rewards would be worth $1,000 in travel when you pay with points.

  • Pay at checkout with stores like Amazon or Best Buy. However, you usually won’t get as much value from your points if you redeem them for shopping.

5. Can I add cards for my employees?

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express will allow you to add up to 99 employee cards for no charge. It’s an easy process you can do once you’re logged into your account, and you can set limits and controls for each employee.

6. Is there a charge for foreign transactions?

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express doesn’t charge an annual fee to hold the card, but when used abroad it will charge a fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. You’d probably want to use a different card if you’re traveling overseas anyway, since it can be harder to find establishments that accept American Express.

To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

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