Credit Card Insider is an independent, advertising supported website. Credit Card Insider receives compensation from some credit card issuers as advertisers. Advertiser relationships do not affect card ratings or our Editor’s Best Card Picks. Credit Card Insider has not reviewed all available credit card offers in the marketplace. Content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information, though all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on any ‘Apply Now’ button, the most up-to-date terms and conditions, rates, and fee information will be presented by the issuer. Credit Card Insider has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Credit Card Insider and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. A list of these issuers can be found on our Editorial Guidelines.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The American Express Business Gold Card features a unique business-focused rewards program, flexible redemption options, and a handful of benefits, creating one of the more appealing business credit card offers on the market.
Credit Card Insider receives compensation from advertisers whose products may be mentioned on this page. Advertiser relationships do not affect card evaluations. Advertising partners do not edit or endorse our editorial content. Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when it's published. Learn more in our Editorial Guidelines.
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
We gave the American Express® Business Gold Card 5 out of 5 Stars because it’s one of the better high-level options out there for business owners.
The Business Gold is an interesting and flexible card. It’s designed to help fund your business expenses, and is good for making a variety of different purchases.
Most reward cards come with a set of select categories that you have to either take or leave. But the Business Gold gives you six bonus category options. The two categories that your business spends the most in each month will earn 4X Membership Rewards points, which will be retroactively applied to all eligible purchases.
That means you’ll earn more points in the two categories that you spend the most in each month, a good situation for businesses that have a variety of spending. This is a fairly unique offer, customizing the rewards to fit your most frequent business expenses.
You can get a 25% point rebate 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.
You can earn a cash back equivalent of upwards of 8% with this card, if you transfer your points to qualifying airline or hotel loyalty programs. Other redemption methods will provide less value.
Is this a good card to help you pay for business expenses? You may be able to earn a bit back while getting some good value out of the other benefits. Keep reading to find out!
This card can provide the equivalent of 4% cash back when you use the normal redemption methods. Or if you use a point transfer, you can potentially get over 8% cash back.
Spending Rewards |
---|
|
|
|
|
Introductory Bonus Offer |
---|
|
As you can see, this card is pretty versatile. You’ll get more points for the types of purchases you make the most, with 4X points in the two categories that your business spends the most in each month. That makes this a good rewards program for businesses that have a variety of spending throughout the year.
The 4X rate will apply to the first $150,000 spent at that rate in combined purchases per year. After that you’ll earn 1X point.
The Membership Rewards points you earn with this card can be redeemed in a few different ways.
Your basic options are:
Cashing in points for statement credits will only get you 0.6 cents per point, so we don’t recommend that. The other methods can provide up to 1 cent per point, with the exception of point transfers which can yield more.
Airfare booked through Amex Travel will provide a 25% bonus, in the form of 25% of your points back, so that’s a decent option too. It basically means you’re getting 1.25 cents per point, as long as you end up redeeming those returned points for 1 cent each.
So we recommend transferring your points to a loyalty program whenever possible. If you can’t do that, booking airfare and getting the 25% bonus will be your next best option. The statement credit method is the simplest, but it provides the least value per point.
As an example, say you earn a total of 10,000 Membership Rewards points. You can redeem them for flights or certain gift cards at 1 cent per point, which comes to $100. When booking for airfare you’d get 25% of those points back, which would be 2,500 points, so you could value those redemptions at $125. Or you can redeem them for a point transfer, where you may get a value of 2 cents per point or more depending on the details of the transfer, coming to a value of $200. A statement credit, at 0.6 cents per point, would only provide $60.
When redeeming for travel expenses you’ll have several options, but the most valuable is for airline flights because you’ll get 25% of your points back. The main way is to redeem through American Express Travel, though there are a couple other travel services you can use as well. You’ll be able to redeem 10,000 points in the following ways.
Redemption Method | Travel Service | Redemption Value | Point Value (in cents) | Cash Back Equivalent |
---|---|---|---|---|
Find Flights | Amex Travel | $100 | 1.0 | 1.0%–5.0% |
Reserve Prepaid Hotels | Amex Travel | $70 | 0.7 | 0.7%–2.8% |
Plan Vacations | Amex Travel | $70 | 0.7 | 0.7%–2.8% |
Take Cruises | Amex Travel | $70 | 0.7 | 0.7%–2.8% |
Airbnb Bookings | Airbnb | $70 | 0.7 | 0.7%–2.8% |
Flights and Hotels on Expedia | Expedia | $70 | 0.7 | 0.7%–2.8% |
So if you redeem 10,000 points for airfare, at 1 cent per point, you’ll get 2,500 of those points back. That means you’re getting a 5% cash back equivalent when spending in the 4X categories, assuming you went on to redeem those returned points for 1 cent each. This is basically like getting 1.25 cents per point.
You can transfer Membership Rewards points to a variety of different loyalty programs. Some are based in the U.S., while others are not. Many popular airlines and hotels are represented.
Most transfers are at a 1:1 rate, though some are different. And there are also limited-time offers and special deals occasionally. There’s a fee of $0.0006 per point when transferring to US airlines, with no charge for any other transfers. And different programs will allow you to transfer points in different increments, like 500 points at a time or 1,000 points at a time.
Here are some example programs, along with their transfer rates and a point conversion example. Take note that offers may change.
Loyalty Program | Type | Transfer Rate | You Give | You Get |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aer Lingus | Airline | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Aeromexico | Airline | 1:1.6 | 1,000 | 1,600 |
Aeroplan® | Airline | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
ANA Mileage Club | Airline | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Avianca LifeMiles | Airline | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Flying Blue® Award Miles | Airline | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Delta Air Lines | Airline | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Hawaiian Airlines® | Airline | 1:.8 | 1,000 | 800 |
Choice Privileges® | Hotel | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Hilton Honors™ | Hotel | 1:2 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
Marriott Bonvoy | Hotel | 1:1 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
---|---|---|
14.24% - 22.24% Variable | 14.24% - 22.24% Variable | None |
Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee | Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
---|---|---|---|
$295 | None | None | None |
Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
---|---|---|
29.24% Variable | $39 or 2.99% of any past due Pay in Full amount, whichever is greater. | $39 |
This was formerly a charge card, and you typically need to pay the statement balance in full. But if you choose to use the Pay Over Time option for eligible purchases over $100, those expenses will accrue interest at the rate above. We recommend always paying your statement balance in full to avoid interest.
Eligible charges can be included in a Pay Over Time balance, up to the Pay Over Time Limit. Eligible charges include purchases, foreign transaction fees, and annual membership fees. The following are ineligible for Pay Over Time: cash advances, including cash and other cash equivalents, certain insurance premiums, and any other fees owed to American Express. Pay Over Time Limit applies to the total of the Pay Over Time, cash advance, and Plan balances.
All charges not added to a Pay Over Time balance, a monthly payment plan, or a cash advance balance must be paid in full each month by the payment due date.
Otherwise, the terms are very simple for this card. If you always pay your statement balance in full, as long as you don’t make any late or returned payments, you’ll just have an annual fee to pay. If you feel like that fee is too high, check out some no annual fee business credit cards.
The American Express® Business Gold Card is definitely a contender if you’re looking to earn points on your business expenses.
Take a look at the reward categories — do you spend a lot of money in at least a few of these? If you travel often, there are some good options here. You’ll be able to pick the reward category that you spend the most in, and still get points in the others. For frequent business trips, the airfare and gas rewards are especially useful.
The annual fee may seem high at first. But if you take into account the rewards you can earn and the value of the benefits, the cost should seem pretty reasonable. Just make sure that you’ll spend enough with the card each year to make the fee worth it. You can extend your reach by assigning cards to your employees, gaining rewards whenever they spend.
There are many more business credit cards out there. Check out some alternatives to the Business Gold card below.
You can apply now for this card securely by following the link below. You’ll need to be an authorized officer for your business, responsible for managing finances.
The Amex Business Gold card is designed for cardholders with good credit or better, so you’ll likely have a higher chance of being approved with FICO scores of at least 670. With that said, even excellent credit scores won’t guarantee you approval, as the decision is based on several factors.
It’s recommended you have good credit before applying for the American Express Business Gold Card.
That means your credit scores will have to be within the ranges of 670–739 for FICO and 700–749 for VantageScore.
Keep in mind credit card issuers look at more than just credit scores to determine your creditworthiness. There are other factors, like income, that play into card companies’ decisions, so even if you have lower scores than what’s recommended you might make the cut. However, that means occasionally even if you have higher scores, you might not be approved.
The American Express Business Gold comes with some useful benefits including The Hotel Collection and protections like rental car insurance and a baggage insurance plan. Take a look at the complete list of benefits.
Yes, the card is metal. Looking for other metal credit cards? We’ve put together a list.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) is a high-end business card designed for travelers.
It is more expensive, but you’ll get a nice set of benefits that can help save you money while traveling. These include an annual $200 airline fee credit, good for one airline of your choice per year. This credit is for incidental fees only, like checked bags and in-flight refreshments. It doesn’t apply to ticket costs.
Cardholders can access a variety of airport lounges, including American Express Lounges, Priority Pass, and Airspace Lounges. A fee credit is available for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ to speed you through the terminal. And there are a collection of other perks to make your trips more comfortable, like complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status.
So it’s designed to be a more rewarding option for businesspeople who travel pretty regularly.
Spending Rewards |
---|
|
|
|
|
Introductory Bonus Offer |
---|
|
You’ll be able to redeem your Membership Rewards points in all the ways described above. That means at the 5X rate you can get the equivalent of up to 5% cash back with the normal redemption methods. And as much as 10% cash back or more through point transfers.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Review) carries an annual fee of $95, and features more options when it comes time to redeem. But it doesn’t boast as many bonus categories as the Business Gold Card, and isn’t as flexible.
The bonus categories it does carry are similar however, and there may be one or two that would be especially valuable for you. The real value of the Ink Business card lies in earning rewards and redeeming them through Chase Ultimate Rewards, which features a 25% point bonus, or better yet transferring them to partner airlines or hotels. If you can do that, it may be a good low-cost alternative to the Business Gold.
The benefits are pretty comparable to the Business Gold Card, but the Ink Preferred does have a leg up when it comes to protections like rental car insurance. The Ink Preferred features primary rental car insurance, unlike the Gold, and combats Amex Offers with Shop through Chase and Chase Offers.
Spending Rewards |
---|
|
|
|
Introductory Bonus Offer |
---|
|
Some of these spending categories overlap with the Business Gold. But in this case you get 3X points in all of them, rather than choosing just one. That comes out to 3% cash back normally. But with the 25% bonus you’ll end up getting 3.75% cash back if you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Like the Business Gold card, you’ll be able to transfer your points to other loyalty programs with the Ink Business card. Many of the same frequent traveler programs are included by both. And you can transfer at a 1:1 rate, so you’ll get about the same value for both cards per point.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Review) is made for flying with Delta, and has a $250 annual fee.
Besides the rewards, the value of many co-branded travel cards comes from their benefits. With the Delta SkyMiles Platinum you’ll get quite a few.
They include discounted access to the Delta Sky Club airport lounge for you and up to two guests. Entry will cost $39 per person. You’ll also get one free companion ticket per year, good for one economy-class round trip when you buy an eligible adult ticket. Your first checked bag is free too, for you and up to eight companions. And you can skip the wait with Priority Boarding.
And there are even more airline-related benefits included with the card than that!
Spending Rewards |
---|
|
|
|
Introductory Bonus Offer |
---|
|
You can redeem your miles for Delta flights, where they’ll usually be worth about 1.25 cents per mile. Or you can transfer them to a number of airline partners. The Medallion Qualifying Miles you earn can be used to upgrade your status, which comes with better perks.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (Review) is a co-branded hotel rewards card, centered on providing rewards and benefits for businesspeople who prefer to stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts.
Those benefits include some pretty useful things, like an annual free stay at a category 1–5 hotel. You’ll get automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, granting a level of exclusive and complimentary services at Marriott locations. And a fast track to Marriott Rewards Gold Elite status, which comes with even better perks.
There are no foreign transaction fees, so it’s a good card for traveling anywhere in the world. If you’re spending a lot of time at Marriott Bonvoy hotels for business, you might as well take advantage of some of the benefits you can get with a card like this.
Spending Rewards |
---|
|
|
|
Introductory Bonus Offer |
---|
|
So you’ll be able to earn points at the Silver Elite status level at Marriott Bonvoy properties with this card. You’ll be able to redeem for award stays, among other options.
You’ll earn a total of 17X points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy properties, 11X from your membership status and 6X from your card. If your points are worth 0.8–2 cents, you’re looking at a cash back equivalent of 13.6%–34%.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Do you use the Business Gold Card from American Express? How do you like it? Leave your own review below, we’d love to hear from you!
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here.
Brendan has been writing about personal finance for over eight years, and is now taking on the challenge of bringing high quality credit education to the masses. He makes sure that Credit Card Insider is covering the most important credit topics transparently and precisely, and that we have up-to-date reviews of credit cards so you can find cards that are right for you.
Do you have a correction, tip, or suggestion for a new post? Contact us here.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by bank advertisers. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by bank advertisers. It is not the bank advertisers' responsibility to ensure all posts are accurate and/or questions are answered.