American Express Business Credit Cards
- : Best Overall Business Card
- : Best for Big Spenders
- : Best for 0% Intro APR Offer
- : Best for Financing
- : Best for Frequent Flyers
- : Best for Hotel Stays
Benefits of an American Express Business Card
So what makes a business credit card from American Express superior to other brands? A lot, actually. In addition to the typical services you see with most business cards, like cash advance or being able to get employee cards, American Express excels at its rewards program. Each card listed below offers an assortment of ways to earn bonus rewards that you can use for airline and travel expenses, gift cards, and cash back.
Does American Express Report to Credit Bureaus?
If you’re looking to build your business credit, having one or more business credit cards could help you build it, but it depends on whether or not the creditor actually reports your activity to credit bureaus.
American Express only reports only negative activity to Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). They do report to the Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE).
How to Qualify for American Express Business Cards
Business credit card issuers, just like personal credit card issuers, look at several factors to determine whether you are eligible for a card. American Express doesn’t publish its criteria for approving business card applications, but it does take into consideration personal credit and business credit scores, your business revenue, and other factors. Note that if you have a bankruptcy on your credit history, you will likely be turned down.
How to Apply for an American Express Business Credit Card
Once you determine which of the American Express small business credit cards you want to apply for, you’ll start the application process online. Be ready to provide:
- Your company’s legal business name, business address, and phone number
- Type of industry your business is in
- Company structure (limited liability company, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship)
- Number of years your company has been in business
- Number of employees
- Annual business revenue
- Federal Tax ID, or Social Security number (if sole proprietorship)
Choosing The Best American Express Business Card For You
American Express offers a mind-boggling number of business card options, so we’ve done our best to help you understand what each is best for.
: Best Overall Business Card
- Customizable rewards based on your business needs
- Good for business owners with fluctuating spending needs
- No foreign transaction fee
As far as American Express business credit cards go, the card offers the most flexible yet competitive rewards program, something that will likely attract business owners who want to get big rewards on categories that actually matter to them. This is largely due to the customizable rewards program that lets you earn bonus points back on two of your top spending categories.
The points are retroactive and your categories change month-by-month based on a single billing cycle. For example, if your travel expenses are exceptionally high one month, you’ll be able to enjoy max rewards on those qualifying purchases. However, if it’s restaurant visits and client entertaining that accounts for the majority of your spending the next, the rewards program accommodates that change. You won’t be locked into specific categories, which is often the case with other rewards programs. Categories include gas station, restaurant, airfare, shipping, advertising, and technology (software, hardware, etc.) purchases.
This card does come with a rather high annual fee — — but with regular card use, the rewards can quickly outweigh the fee. Plus, members also receive access to Amex Offers for shopping, dining, travel, and more.
: Best for Big Spenders
- Great for business owners with significant travel expenses
- Strong welcome offer
- Annual airline fee credit
- High annual fee
often has one of the best welcome offers, and in many cases, the same is true for the rewards program. It’s easy to see how business owners with travel needs can leverage this card.
Amex business platinum cardholders who don’t do a lot of traveling will have a hard time validating the Annual fee of — understandably so — but for those who do, the statement credits and rewards programs can certainly make it worth it. Plus, though you must book through Amex Travel to get the most points rewards, you aren’t tethered to one airline or hotel group as you would be with a co-branded card.
: Best Card for 0% APR
- Great for earning rewards without paying an annual fee
- Intro APR of
With an introductory APR of and annual fee, is an attractive business credit card for anyone. However, that’s especially true, especially for American Express small business customers who need a simple, no-hassle card.
With this card, you have the opportunity to finance big purchases for well over a year before you have to worry about interest kicking in. Plus, you can still take advantage of a rewards program without worrying about an annual fee, some of which can be pretty lofty.
Speaking of rewards programs, has you covered.
: Best for Financing
- High annual fee
Though this card isn’t brimming with rewards benefits and does come with a hefty annual fee, if you’re looking for a card that offers payment flexibility, may be your answer.
In addition, with , you can choose your billing cycle, opting for the beginning, middle, or end of the month — a great option to help you spread your expenses out over the course of the month.
Though this isn’t marketed as a “reward,” it’s akin to a cash back.
With a annual fee this card won’t always pay off, but if you do need that extra time to pay, and the intro APR and prepayment discount work in your favor, you may find it outweighs the fee and helps you manage cash flow more efficiently.
: Best for Frequent Flyers
- Great for Delta Loyalists
- Annual companion certificate
- Priority boarding
- Relatively high annual fee
While the may be great for business owners who spend a lot on general travel, if you’re a frequent flyer and you like Delta, then you may want to consider one of the three Amex Delta business cards available to consumers, especially the .
This alone doesn’t make it the best card, but the travel perks certainly do. With the , you can earn a generous
Flying with the will save you money and give you and your employees access to a lot of great travel perks. And though this card does have a annual fee, it’s easy to overlook with some of the perks, specifically the rewards miles, companion certificate, and bag-check waivers.
Amex Frequent Flyers Runner Up
If you’re a Delta loyalist, you may also want to check out these American Express Delta business cards:
Like the , this card offers miles per dollar on Delta purchases and a mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Who is it good for? With a , the is a good option for business owners who fly Delta enough to want the rewards and benefits without the high annual fee. In other words, this may be a good supplemental travel rewards card.
The has the same basic rewards structure as the Gold and Platinum cards.
However, one of the primary differences between the and the , aside from slightly elevated bonus earning power, is Sky Club access (enrollment required).
For cardholders that regularly fly Delta and want access to the SkyClub, then this card may worth the annual fee. If not, the may be a better option.
– Best for Hotel Stays
This year, the Starwoods Preferred Guest (SPG) Business card was replaced by the the result of a 2016 acquisition by Marriott of both SPG and Ritz Carlton properties.
And while the SPG card will be phased out, many business owners may find the to a great addition to their wallet.
Earn
Though there is a annual fee, many cardholders will find that this is easily wiped out by the annual free stay.
If you’re a fan of Marriott, SPG, or Ritz Carlton hotels, or your just looking for a hotel rewards card with a lot of potential, this card can certainly fit the bill.
Amex Best for Hotel Stays Runner Up
The thing about hotel cards is that it’s hard to select a “best of” when you factor in brand loyalty. For that reason, we thought it was also important to mention the Hilton Honors American Express Business card.
With the , you can If Hilton is your exclusive travel partner, this can be a great card to boost your earning power
Why wasn’t it number one? The Marriott card currently offers a bit more flexibility. With three different hotel brands under the parent company, there are a lot of options. In addition, the Marriott card also offers a bit more value when it comes to transferring points.
With so many credit card options on the market today, American Express small business credit solutions shine through for a variety of reasons. Many of these cards offer highly competitive rewards programs and numerous small-business minded perks and benefits.
Alternatives to American Express Business Cards
Not everyone qualifies for an American Express business card, or wants to pay the sometimes high annual fee. For small business owners who need capital to grow their companies, business loans for small business, as well as merchant financing, invoice factoring, and lines of credit may also be worth exploring.
Nav’s Verdict: American Express Business Cards
Now that you’ve learned about the plethora of business cards Amex offers, how do you decide which American Express business card is right for you? Consider your needs and spending patterns and how they relate to potential rewards, annual fees, and welcome offers.
Some cards, like the American Express® Business Gold Card and the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, are designed for everyday use, while other cards, like The Plum Card® from American Express and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, are designed to meet specific needs, like flexible payments or extensive travel perks. No matter what you need for your business, there’s a card to suit.