As a small business owner, having the right credit card in your wallet can make a big difference for managing expenses and earning rewards. The American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card is a solid option worth considering, especially for businesses that want to earn flexible travel rewards without dealing with complicated bonus categories.
Overview of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card
The Amex Blue Business Plus is designed for small businesses looking for straightforward rewards earning and redemption. It earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on all purchases up to $50,000 per year, and 1 point per dollar after that. There’s no annual fee, so the rewards you earn aren’t diminished by extra costs.
While the earning structure is simple, the redemption options with American Express Membership Rewards are quite robust. Points can be redeemed for travel by booking flights, hotels, cruises, vacation packages, and car rentals through Amex Travel. Even better, you can transfer points to over 20 airline and hotel partners, often getting outsized value.
Key Features
Welcome Offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Rewards Earning: 2 points per $1 spent on all purchases up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per $1
Annual Fee: $0
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then 18.49% – 26.49% Variable APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7%
Other Benefits: Expanded Buying Power, employee cards, car rental insurance, travel assistance
Earning and Redeeming Rewards with the Amex Blue Business Plus
Straightforward Rewards Earning
One of the biggest advantages of the Amex Blue Business Plus is the simplicity of its rewards program. You earn 2 points per $1 spent, up to $50,000 in purchases each year, and 1 point per $1 after that. No bonus categories to keep track of – just earn a decent flat rate on all your business spending.
This makes it an ideal “everything else” card to pair with other business credit cards that earn bonus rewards in certain categories. Use the Blue Business Plus for expenses that don’t qualify for bonus rewards on your other cards.
Flexible Redemption Options
While earning rewards is simple, how you redeem Membership Rewards points offers plenty of flexibility and potential value. The best options include:
Book Travel Through Amex: Use points to book flights, hotels, cruises, and vacation packages at a value of about 1 cent per point.
Transfer to Travel Partners: American Express has over 20 airline and hotel transfer partners, including Delta, JetBlue, Hilton, and Marriott. Transferring to partners is often the best way to maximize value, sometimes getting 2 cents per point or more for premium cabin flights or luxury hotel stays.
Gift Cards and Shopping: Redeem for gift cards at around 1 cent per point, or use points for purchases on sites like Amazon at 0.7 cents per point.
Statement Credits: Use points for statement credits to erase other charges, albeit at a lower value of around 0.6 cents per point.
The travel flexibility provided by Membership Rewards makes the Amex Blue Business Plus stand out compared to a basic cash back business credit card. If you want to maximize rewards for travel, the transfer partners offer great redemption opportunities.
Other Key Benefits of the Amex Blue Business Plus
No Annual Fee
A major advantage of the Amex Blue Business Plus is the complete lack of an annual fee. This means every dollar you spend earns rewards that aren’t diminished by yearly costs. For businesses on a budget, this helps keep more cash flow available.
Intro 0% APR Period
The card also offers 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months. This can provide flexible financing to cover initial business costs or make large investments without accruing interest right away. Just be sure to pay off balances before the intro period ends and the standard 18.49% – 26.49% Variable APR kicks in.
Expanded Buying Power
With American Express’ Expanded Buying Power feature, you may be allowed to exceed your credit limit for certain purchases. This gives some extra flexibility for big expenses your business needs to cover, though the over-limit amount must be paid off quickly.
Other Benefits and Protections
Some other useful benefits of the Blue Business Plus include:
- Free employee cards with customizable spending limits
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Global Assist Hotline for travel emergencies
- Extended warranty coverage
- Purchase protection against theft or damage
READ ALSO: Chase Ink Business Premier Card Review – A Premium Cash Back Card for Big Spenders
Potential Downsides of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card
While the Amex Blue Business Plus card has some great features, it’s not perfect for every business. A few potential downsides to keep in mind include:
$50,000 Annual Cap on 2X Earning
Once you hit $50,000 in purchases for the year, your earning rate drops from 2 points per $1 down to just 1 point per $1. For businesses with very high annual expenses, this spending cap could limit the total rewards earned. Those on a tighter budget are less likely to reach that cap.
Foreign Transaction Fees
The 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes this a less than ideal card for businesses that make frequent international purchases or travel abroad regularly. Consider getting a card with no foreign transaction fees if that’s a concern.
Limited Bonus Categories
Some other business cards offer higher bonus rewards in certain spending categories like travel, dining, gas, advertising, and more. With the Blue Business Plus, you’ll earn a flat, decent rate on everything – but miss out on those bonus multipliers in your biggest expense categories.
Is the American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card Right for You?
The Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card is a compelling overall option, especially for small businesses that want straightforward travel rewards without an annual fee. Here are a few scenarios where it could be an ideal choice:
New Small Businesses: The lack of an annual fee, simple 2X earning structure, and 0% intro APR period make it appealing for startups and new ventures.
Side Hustles or Solo Entrepreneurs: Freelancers and independent contractors can still qualify and earn rewards for their business spending.
Overall Rewards Strategy: Pair it with other business cards for bonus rewards in certain categories as an “everything else” card.
Flexible Travel Goals: Earn Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for maximum value.
Of course, the Blue Business Plus may not be right for every small business owner’s needs. If you spend significantly more than $50,000 per year, have concentrated expenses in bonus categories offered by other cards, or never plan to redeem for travel, you may find better value in a different business credit card product.
But for the majority of small businesses seeking simple rewards earning and big travel redemption opportunities with no annual fee, the American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card is absolutely worth a look.
FAQs About the Amex Blue Business Plus Card
Is the Blue Business Plus Card worth it?
For small businesses that want straightforward travel rewards without an annual fee, the Blue Business Plus can definitely be worth it. The 2X earning on the first $50,000 spent annually provides solid rewards on your regular expenses. Pair it with other cards for bonus category spending to maximize your strategy.
What credit score is needed for the Blue Business Plus?
While there’s no stated minimum credit score, you’ll generally need at least a good credit score (670+) to qualify for the Amex Blue Business Plus card. Amex will also consider your business revenue, time in business, existing debt, and other factors during the application process.
Can I get the Blue Business Plus if I’m just starting my business?
Yes, even brand new businesses can apply for and get approved for the Blue Business Plus card from American Express. You’ll need to provide details about your business structure, estimated revenue, and employee information – but startups are eligible.
How do I redeem Membership Rewards points from the Blue Business Plus?
You can redeem points earned from the Blue Business Plus in several ways through AmericanExpress.com or by calling into customer service:
- Book travel (flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals) through Amex Travel
- Transfer points to airline and hotel partners
- Redeem for gift cards from popular brands
- Use points for charges on your statement
- Shop with points on Amazon and other merchants
Do the Blue Business Plus points expire?
Membership Rewards points from the Blue Business Plus do not expire as long as you keep the account open and in good standing. If you close or cancel the card, you’ll want to redeem or transfer points before that happens.
How much can the typical business earn in rewards with the Blue Business Plus?
Based on average small business spending data, a business putting around $36,000 in annual expenses on the Blue Business Plus would earn about 72,000 Membership Rewards points per year from the 2X earning rate. Those maxing out the $50,000 cap would earn 100,000 points annually.
In another related article, The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. The Business Platinum Card®: Which Premium Amex Card is Right for You?
