American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Review | Fit Small Business

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Review

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details. The American Express Blue Business® Plus credit card is designed for business owners who prefer to earn points-based rewards on all purchases with no category restrictions. It also allows you to spend over your credit limit through its Expanded Buying Power feature, the…

Aug 6, 2024
9 minute read

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post with regularly updated card details.

The American Express Blue Business® Plus credit card is designed for business owners who prefer to earn points-based rewards on all purchases with no category restrictions. It also allows you to spend over your credit limit through its Expanded Buying Power feature, the amount of which will vary based on your card usage, credit history, payment behavior, and other financial factors.

If you wish to compare one card over another, simply choose a maximum of three cards on this page and click

Add to Compare

to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.

Intro APR0% on purchases
Regular APR16.74% - 28.49% Variable
Annual FeeNo annual fee
Credit NeededExcellent, Good

When evaluating points-based rewards business credit cards like the American Express Blue Business® Plus, we first consider the ongoing and introductory rewards. We also take a look at the annual fee, introductory and ongoing annual percentage rates (APRs), and additional features.

Grading CriteriaCard ScoreHighest Possible Score
Ongoing Rewards2225
Introductory Rewards025
Annual Fee1515
Features1515
Introductory APR1010
Ongoing APR810
Total Score70100

Who the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Is Best For

  • Business owners with up to $50,000 in annual expenses: You can earn 2x points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year and 1x points on all purchases thereafter.
  • Business owners who need to spend over their credit limits: It features Expanded Buying Power, letting you go over your credit limit when you need to.

If this card is not what you’re looking for, head over to our

recommended alternatives

for other more suitable options.

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Rewards

  • 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first three months of Card Membership.
  • 2x points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year.
  • 1x point on all purchases after the cap is met.

Rewards Calculator

Determine how much you can earn from the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card by using our rewards calculator below. Calculate your potential rewards based on your projected annual expenses. Just enter your expected expenditures, and our calculator will do the rest.

The value of American Express Membership Rewards® points varies depending on how they are redeemed. It typically ranges from half a cent to 1 cent per point. For this calculator, we compute points rewards based on the minimum value of half a cent.

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Rewards Calculator

Your potential annual reward earnings are:

Points Earned:0
Rewards Value:$0

American Express lets you redeem your points in several ways. You can use your points to pay for purchases made with American Express Travel, Amazon.com, Ticketmaster, Best Buy, and other retailers. You can also use points for gift cards from a variety of merchants or use them to cover your credit card charges. Additionally, you can transfer points to American Express partner loyalty programs, like those offered by airlines and hotels.

The value of points varies depending on how you redeem them. In general, points are worth around half a cent to 1 cent each. The table below shows the estimated value of points based on how they are redeemed.

Type of RedemptionPoints Value
Pay With Points at Checkout7/10ths of a cent to 1 cent, depending on merchants
Gift CardsHalf a cent to 1 cent, depending on merchants
Statement Credit6/10ths of a cent
Book or Upgrade TravelHalf a cent to 1 cent, depending on the type of transaction
Shop With Membership Rewards PointsHalf a cent
Transfer Points to Frequent Flier ProgramsHalf a cent to 1 cent, depending on the airlines

For a more detailed list of redemption options and their corresponding points value, visit global.americanexpress.com/rewards/calculator.

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American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Additional Features

Expense Management

  • Account management tools: Take advantage of account management tools, including the American Express® Business App and Connect to QuickBooks tool.
  • Expanded buying power: Spend beyond your credit limit whenever you need to—the amount you can spend above your credit limit adjusts with your card usage, payment history, credit record, financial resources, and other factors.
  • Vendor Pay by BILL: Pay your business bills and enhance cash flow management through Vendor Pay by BILL with a $0 monthly fee for the first user and a $0 fee for a second user for six months with the Basic plan. After six months, you’ll only need to pay $15 per month for the second user.

Insurance Protection

  • Car rental loss and damage insurance: Receive car rental loss and damage insurance of up to $50,000 per rental agreement is provided for the first 30 days of a vehicle rental.
  • Purchase protection: Get your purchased items covered up to $1,000 per claim and $50,000 per card member per year in case they’re damaged or stolen within 90 days of the date of purchase.
  • Extended warranty protection: Receive an extended warranty for one additional year on items with original manufacturer warranties of five years or less.

Customer Service

  • Global Assist® hotline: Access a 24/7 hotline when you travel more than 100 miles from home and are in need of medical, legal, financial, and other select emergency assistance and coordination services.
  • Relationship Care® service: Call this 24/7 hotline for any American Express credit card concerns and questions.
  • Dispute resolution: Resolve any issues related to your card, such as fraudulent or incorrect charges on your statement, as soon as possible.
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American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Fees

APR

  • Introductory: 0% on purchases for the first 12 months from the date of account opening
  • Ongoing: 16.74% to 26.74% variable, which adjusts with the Prime rate
  • PenaltyPenalty APR is applied for a minimum of 12 consecutive billing periods. It will continue to apply until you have made timely payments, with no returned payments, for 12 billing periods straight. : 29.99% variable, which adjusts with the Prime rate—will be applied to your account if you:
    • Make two or more late payments in 12 consecutive months
    • Fail to pay the minimum amount due by its due date
    • Make a returned payment

Fees

  • Annual: $0
  • Balance transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to United States dollars
  • Cash advance: Cash advances aren’t allowed
  • Late payment: Up to $39
  • Overlimit: $0
  • Returned payment: $39

  • Mobile app: Download the Amex Android or iOS app and enjoy the convenience of paying your bills on the go, anytime.
  • Online: Make a payment through your American Express online account anytime. Simply choose your payment account and select your bank account and payment date. Note that credit and debit cards cannot be accepted as a form of payment.
  • AutoPay: Enroll in AutoPay through your American Express online account. Note that your first payment may not be applied to your current billing cycle, so you would need to make your usual payments until AutoPay begins.
  • Direct bank payment: Pay bills automatically via direct debits, so you don’t have to worry about missing due dates. Provide your bank account details to American Express and let the company know the amount you’d like to pay every month.
  • Mail: Mail your payment either by check or money order made payable to American Express. Ensure to include your account number at the front of your payment.

Class Mail
American Express
PO Box 650448
Dallas, TX 75265-0448

Express Mail
American Express
Attn: Express Mail Remittance Processing
20500 Belshaw Ave.
Carson, CA 90746

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Alternatives

American Express Blue Business Cash Card

Intro APR0% on purchases
Regular APR16.74% - 28.49% Variable
Annual FeeNo annual fee
Credit NeededExcellent, Good

The card is a great alternative if you prefer to earn automatic cash back instead of points. You can earn up to 2% cash back, which will be automatically credited to your billing statement without the need for manual redemption. Plus, it features Expanded Buying Power, so you can still spend above your credit limit when necessary.

It has $0 annual fees, 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, and a $250 statement credit as a welcome offer when you meet the spending requirements.

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Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard®

Intro APR0%
9 billing cycles
Regular APR17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases
Annual Fee$0.00
Credit NeededExcellent

Earn premium rewards on your chosen spending category, which you can change each month based on your expected expenses. What’s more, you’ll receive up to 75% more cash back if you have an existing business checking account with Bank of America through its Preferred Rewards for Business program.

For more information, read our

Bank of America business checking review

.

U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card

Intro APR0% intro on purchases for 12 billing cycles
Regular APR17.24% - 26.24% Variable
Annual Fee$0
Credit NeededExcellent, Good

This card is known for its ExtendPay Plan, a feature that lets you divide your eligible balance into monthly installments without interest—just pay a small monthly fee. It offers up to 5% cash back, 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, $0 annual fees, and a generous welcome offer of $750 cash back when you meet the spending requirements.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes. You may add employee cards under your American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card at no additional cost. One of the benefits of adding employee cards to your account is that you can earn rewards points on your employees’ eligible purchases on top of the points you earn on your own card.

You can set your employees’ spending limits online or by calling the number on the back of your card. It’s worth noting, however, that the spending limit is not a guarantee that the employee will be able to make purchases up to the limit you set. There are certain purchases, like restaurant tips, where the limit does not apply.

American Express will charge interest on the balance that you did not pay by the due date. For example, if you only paid the minimum payment due, the remaining purchase balance will be charged with ongoing purchase APR.

If you pay your entire balance by the due date each month, you will not be charged interest. Keep in mind that your due date is around 25 days after the end of each billing period. For balance transfer transactions, however, interest is charged on the transaction date.

Bottom Line

The American Express Blue Business® Plus credit card is ideal for those who want to earn points that can be redeemed in various ways. You can spend beyond your credit limit while paying $0 annual fees. Keep in mind that it charges foreign transaction fees and doesn’t allow cash advance transactions.


To see rates & fees for the American Express cardsFit Small Business may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. mentioned in this article, reference the following links below:
American Express Blue Business® Plus
American Express Blue Business® Cash™

Benilyn Formoso

Benilyn Formoso-Suralta is a staff writer at Fit Small Business focusing on finance, accounting, and Small Business Loans. She brings with her 12 years of experience as a banking officer with the Bank of the Philippine Islands with expertise in consumer banking, real estate sales, and foreign exchanges.

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