Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure
If you are looking for a credit or charge card for your small business, American Express offers one of the largest selections. In fact, you can choose from 11 different products that range from cash-back credit cards with no annual fee to premium travel rewards cards. (Editor’s Note: American Express is a Nav partner, but this doesn’t result in preferential editorial treatment.)
Plus, all of the American Express small business cards include features that can help you manage your company’s finances. For example, the ReceiptMatch app that allows you to add receipts and tag charges using your desktop or mobile device. All American Express small business cards also let you configure alerts to monitor employee spending, notify you to irregular activity, and help you to avoid late payments. These cards also feature an Account Manager function that lets you delegate responsibilities such as reviewing statements, making payments, and disputing charges on your cards.
Finally, all American Express small business cards participate in the OPEN Savings program. This program offers you a 5% discount or two extra Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent at OPEN Savings partners. The current partners are FedEx, Hertz, HP, and 1-800-Flowers. Best of all, you earn these rewards automatically when you and your employees use an American Express small business card at any of these companies.
Choosing an American Express Small Business Card
You can choose the American Express small business card from one of three categories that best meets your needs:
- Cards that offer Membership Rewards points
- Reward cards affiliated with travel partners
- Cash-back cards
Cards That Offer Membership Rewards Points
American Express offers four travel rewards cards that allow you to earn Membership Rewards points for your business spending. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and travel reservations made through American Express Travel. And in most cases, you also have the option of transferring Membership Rewards points to miles with 17 different frequent flyer programs.
Terms and Conditions
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express OPEN
The small business version of American Express’s iconic Green card is a great place to start when you want to earn Membership Rewards points. . It has a annual fee, and a foreign transaction fee of
Terms and Conditions
The Business Gold Rewards Card® from American Express OPEN
This charge card is the next step up from the Green card, and it’s a good choice when you want to earn additional rewards from your purchases. It offers
There is a annual fee for this card. Also, there’s no charge for employee cards during the first year, then $50 afterwards for the first employee card only. There are no foreign transaction fees.
Terms and Conditions
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN
This premium rewards card is designed for the needs of frequent business travelers. Earn an extra 50% more points on charges over $5,000 (up to one million additional points per year).
But in addition to rewards, this card offers numerous travel benefits. You receive a membership to the Delta SkyClub, Priority Pass Select, and American Express Centurion airport lounges. You also get Gold status with both the Starwood Preferred Guest® and Hilton HHonors programs, and elite status with Avis, Hertz, and National car rentals.
In addition, you and any additional cardholders can receive a statement credit if you apply for a Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check every 5 years. This card’s annual fee includes a $200 annual airline fee credit and it has no foreign transaction fees.
Terms and Conditions
The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express
card also offers Membership Rewards points, but points earned from this card can’t be transferred to airline miles unless you hold another American Express personal or business card that offers that feature.
With this card, you There’s no annual fee for this card and no fee for additional employee cards. But it does have a foreign transaction fee of
Reward Cards Affiliated With Travel Partners
If you are looking for both rewards and exclusive travel benefits from your small business card, American Express offers three different Delta SkyMiles credit cards, as well as the Starwood Preferred Guest card.
Terms and Conditions
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
This is the entry-level Delta SkyMiles card for small business users.
Other perks of being a cardmember include early boarding, a free checked bag, and a 20% discount on in-flight purchases. It has an annual fee of . There’s no charge for additional cards for employees. There are also no foreign transaction fees.
Terms and Conditions
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
In the middle of the three Delta SkyMiles® Business credit cards, this card offers increased rewards and benefits compared to the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business card. , which is the same as the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business card , but it also gives you the chance to earn elite status as part of the MilesBoost© program.
You can then earn another 10,000 bonus miles and MQMs if you reach $50,000 in spending that year. In addition to the perks offered by the Gold Delta SkyMiles® card, this card also offers a companion airfare certificate each year upon renewal valid for domestic, round-trip ticket in economy class. The annual fee for this card is , employee cards are free, and there are no foreign transaction fees.
Terms and Conditions
Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN
This is the top-of-the-line Delta SkyMiles card for frequent business travelers who get the most benefits when flying on Delta. Like all other Delta cards, you earn two miles for any purchases directly from Delta and one mile for all other charges. In addition, this card offers a Delta SkyClub membership that offers unlimited access to the primary cardholder when flying on Delta.
This card also offers a companion airfare certificate each year upon renewal valid for domestic, round-trip ticket in economy or first class. Furthermore, cardholders receive upgrade priority over other SkyMiles members in the same elite tier. The annual fee for this card is with no foreign transaction fees.
Terms and Conditions
Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
is a great choice for those who want to earn rewards and benefits from their hotel spending. You earn
Other benefits include access to the Sheraton Club lounge and free in-room premium internet service. You also earn Gold status when you use your card to spend $30,000 in a calendar year. This card has an annual fee of and no foreign transaction fees.
Cash-Back Cards
Small business owners can also choose from three different American Express small business cards that offer cash back or savings at Lowe’s home improvement stores.
Terms and Conditions
The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN
This unique product offers you the choice of either 60 days to pay with no interest charges, or There’s an annual fee of . This card has no foreign transaction fees.
Terms and Conditions
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express
This card features bonus cash back for the purchases that small businesses make most often. There is no annual fee for this card, but it does have a foreign transaction fee of .
Lowe’s Business Rewards Card
(Note: This article was last updated at the time of publication. Terms are subject to change.) Those in the construction business, including contractors and property management companies, will appreciate the savings offered by this card. With this card, you get a 5% discount on Lowe’s purchases. Plus, you also earn 3x points at restaurants and purchases for wireless phone services from U.S. service providers, 2x points at Lowe’s, and 1x on all other purchases.
Lowe’s Business Rewards points can be redeemed for one cent each toward American Express gift cards, gas rewards cards and Lowe’s gift cards. Additionally, this card offers access to Lowe’s ProServices, including bulk rate pricing, a business replenishment program, and discounted delivery. There is no annual fee for the primary cardholder or any additional cards, but there is a foreign transaction fee of 2.7%.
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