AmEx Blue Business Cash Review: Straightforward Rewards, No Annual Fee
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Our Take
5.0
Big spenders or those who spend heavily in specific areas can get more value out of other cards, but this is a solid pick for business owners seeking simplicity.
on American Express' website
Quick Facts
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
High rewards rate
Intro APR period
Cash rewards
Cons
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
This card is a near twin of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card except that you earn American Express Membership Rewards points rather than cash back. Specifically, you get 2 points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year, and 1 point per dollar after that. Terms apply.
Compare to Other Cards
Annual fee$0 | Annual fee$95 |
Regular APR21.24%-26.24% Variable APR | |
Intro APR0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening | Intro APRN/A |
Recommended Credit Score |
Recommended Credit Score |
Full Review
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is one of the few small-business credit cards that offers up to 2% cash back without charging an annual fee. Terms apply.
That makes it a great deal for entrepreneurs looking to earn a high flat rate on everyday spending without having to keep track of bonus categories. The card’s 0% intro APR offer on purchases is also useful for those looking to finance upfront expenses.
But this card’s rewards rate falls to 1% after you’ve used it to spend $50,000. If if you're a bigger-spending business owner or you have predictable monthly expenses that fall neatly into specific categories, you can find more lucrative cards. And if it's travel rewards you want, you'll need to look elsewhere.
» MORE: See our picks for best business travel credit cards.
This card has a nearly identical twin: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, which earns Membership Rewards points, rather than cash back. Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for travel, among other things.
Key features of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Card type: Small business.
Annual fee: $0.
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.
Rewards: 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. Terms Apply.
APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%.
Other benefits:
Get more flexibility with the ability to spend a limited amount above your credit limit.
Give a trusted individual access to manage your card account when you're unavailable by designating an account manager.
Get car rental loss and damage insurance if your eligible rental is damaged or stolen and you use The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card to reserve and pay for the vehicle and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental counter.
Terms apply.
Why you might want The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Solid, straightforward rewards
There's no need to track categories or juggle multiple cards. Everything you buy with The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card will net you 2% cash back until you hit that $50,000 annual spending cap. Then, you'll earn an unlimited 1% cash back on spending. Terms apply. If you max out the spending cap, you'll net a whopping $1,000 back. This is impressive, especially since the annual fee is $0.
Credit limit flexibility
If your spending level varies significantly from month to month or you have a period of purchasing in which you need some wiggle room, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card might be able to help. According to the card's terms, you can spend in excess of your credit limit — you’ll just need to pay the balance above your credit limit in full every month or you’ll face penalty fees.
0% intro APR offer
Business credit cards with 0% APR intro periods of a year or longer aren’t especially common. But The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers one:0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR. This can buy you time to pay down a big purchase.
Automatic redemptions
This may count as a drawback for those who want to save up their rewards for specific redemptions. But for time-strapped business owners, there's no need to wait until you've accumulated a certain amount, no remembering to log in to get your rewards. This card takes care of that for you. As long as your account is in good standing, you'll get an automatic statement credit for your rewards without any effort on your end.
No annual fee
For budget-conscious small business owners, avoiding an annual fee is a plus, especially if your spending doesn't justify the rewards that can come from cards that charge annual fees.
Why you might want a different card
Annual spending cap
If your annual expenses aren’t likely to hit that $50,000 limit before the rewards rate drops to 1%, no matter. But businesses that spend much more than that each year would be better off with a cash-back business credit card that offers rewards on unlimited purchases — such as the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card from Chase. While that card has a lower cash-back rate (1.5% cash back on all spending), you’ll come out ahead if you spend more than $100,000 annually on it.
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers 2% cash back with no limit, but it’s a charge card so you’ll need to pay your full balance each month.
Foreign transaction fee and no travel rewards
Frequent overseas travelers will want a business card with no foreign transaction fees. But The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card charges 2.7% of each transaction.
Beyond that, if you’re a frequent traveler, you have plenty of options for travel business credit cards that offer bonus rewards on flights, rental cars and other travel expenses.
Options to consider: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers standout luxury travel perks and no foreign transaction fees — but it also comes with a steep annual fee of $695. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card is a solid no-annual-fee option, but with fewer benefits.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card vs. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
These two cards are identical in every way except for one crucial detail: the kind of rewards they earn.
If you're looking for straight-cash back and you're OK with it as a statement credit, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is the clear winner for its simple rewards structure and automatic redemptions. Earning 2% cash back on the card on up to $50,000 annually means you'll earn 2 cents for every dollar spent. Even when you hit that spending cap and the earning rate drops to 1% cash back, that's still worth 1 cent for every dollar.
With The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (see rates and fees), depending on how you redeem your Membership Rewards points, you can typically get a value between half a cent to one cent per point (and potentially higher for some travel-related redemptions). Redeeming Membership Rewards points for a statement credit is an option, but points are worth only 0.6 cents each when redeemed this way.
Gift cards and merchandise are also options for using your points stash, but their value also tends to be less than a penny per point.
Should you get The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
If your business expenses are varied and less than $50,000 a year, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a straightforward way to earn solid cash back. The card gets an easy-to-understand flat rate on all purchases, and it does the redemption work for you.
Someone who spends heavily in specific categories, like gas or office supplies, may find more benefit from a card that offers elevated earnings in those areas. Or someone who wants greater flexibility with their rewards might find that a card with multiple redemption options is a better fit.
on American Express' website
