Amex Business Line of Credit Review 2025: Rates & Terms

American Express is a well-known financial services provider with a variety of products and services available to small business owners. Its line of credit is a popular option that can provide working capital for a wide range of business uses and offers competitive rates and terms.

In this American Express business loan review, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know so that you can determine if it might be a good financing solution for your business.

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Lauren McKinley

Staff Writer - Finance at Fit Small Business

American Express^® Business Line of Credit overview

With its large presence in the credit card industry, Amex is a household name that most businesses will have heard of. However, in addition to credit cards, it offers business loans, which take the form of a business line of credit. It’s especially known for its low starting rates and limited fees, and it’s a favored option among small businesses as its qualification requirements are relatively flexible.

A line of credit gives you flexible access to funds. You can borrow as needed, up to your total credit limit. Each time you request a draw, it works like a separate short-term loan. Some lenders, like American Express, even let you have more than one loan open at a time, as long as you stay within your approved limit.

You can get financing anywhere from $2,000 to $250,000, and your draw request can be accessed in as little as one business day.

• For existing American Express business account holders, you may have benefits such as quicker access to funds and higher credit limits.
• Nonexistent members can still qualify but may be eligible for credit limits of only up to $150,000.

That said, the repayment schedule allows for monthly payments, rather than daily or weekly. As such, it can be suitable if your business is looking to keep track of its budget more efficiently.

It’s worth noting that a personal guarantee is required, as each draw is considered to be its own loan. You’ll also pay a monthly fee based on the amount you borrow, so it’s best suited for short-term financing needs.

Key features & benefits of the American Express Business Line of Credit

Is the Amex Business Line of Credit right for you?

You will need to factor in a few things before determining if it’s the best fit.

• How long you’ve been in business: You’ll need to have been operating for at least a year to be considered eligible. Newer businesses might not be the best fit for this particular offering.
• Your creditworthiness: You’ll need a credit score of at least 660 to qualify. Borrowers with low credit scores will probably not be considered for approval.
• How a loan might impact your budget: You’ll need to have revenue that allows you to keep up with loan payments; otherwise, you may incur expensive late fees if you miss payments.
• How you plan to use the line of credit: With a line of credit comes flexible financing opportunities. However, repayment terms are shorter, so it’s best suited for businesses with short-term financing needs.

Essentially, the line of credit is best suited for short-term expenses. This can be applicable to help cover emergencies or gaps in cash flow, support seasonal businesses, and more.

Pros & cons of the Amex Business Line of Credit

Rates, terms & fees of the Amex Business Line of Credit

Depending on your financing needs and qualifications, Amex Business Line of Credit interest rates and terms are quite competitive when compared with other providers. With loan amounts up to $250,000 for existing customers and $150,000 for nonexisting customers, there’s flexibility in terms of your designated credit limit.

Repayment terms and fees can vary based on whether you utilize an installment or single repayment loan, in addition to varying rates depending on which you choose.

Installment loans

You’ll be expected to make fixed monthly payments on your borrowed funds. For each month you have an outstanding balance, you’ll incur a fee, which can vary based on the loan term.

Installment loan funds can be deposited into a business bank account or sent directly to a US-based vendor. They can be used for a variety of business needs, such as providing working capital to purchase equipment and fund marketing campaigns.

Single repayment loans

With a single repayment loan, you’ll pay both the principal balance and loan fees based on your loan term. While you can save on overall fees with this loan type, it will vary based on your repayment term.

If you’re looking to cover what you know will be short-term expenses, this might be a good fit. Examples of uses can be to cover payroll, stock inventory, and make unplanned purchases. Essentially, this option can offer a level of flexibility to help your business operations as needed.

Keep in mind, this option is only available to borrowers with an existing relationship with American Express.

Amex Business Line of Credit fees

The loan fee is based on a variety of factors, including your creditworthiness and the results of the underwriting review. It falls within a set range, and the exact amount is determined during the approval process.

The way the fee structure works is that the fee is higher in the first months of the loan term and lower in the final months. You’ll only pay fees during the months when you have an outstanding balance. If you want to pay off your loan early, there are no prepayment penalties.

Before you accept a loan, you’ll be able to see your monthly fees and payment schedule upfront, so you can plan your budget with confidence.

Here’s how the fee schedule breaks down by loan term:

• 6-month loan term: Higher fees in the first 2 months, lower in the last 4
• 12-month loan term: Higher fees in the first 6 months, lower in the last 6
• 18-month loan term: Higher fees in the first 9 months, lower in the last 9
• 24-month loan term: Higher fees in the first 12 months, lower in the last 12

Eligibility requirements for the Amex Business Line of Credit

You’ll need to meet the minimum qualification requirements to be considered for an Amex Business Line of Credit. While there might be other various criteria that will play a part in your approval decision, generally, you should have fair to good credit, have been operating for at least a year, be at least 18 years of age, and bring in at least $36,000 a year for the best odds of approval.

How to apply for the Amex Business Line of Credit

You can visit the official website to begin. The application only takes a few minutes, and when you link your business bank accounts to the application, your financial info is reviewed in real time for a quick decision.

You’ll need to be prepared to provide some basic information regarding business details, contact information, and your loan request. If you have an existing Amex account, some of those details can be prefilled based on your profile information. Otherwise, be prepared to provide the following:

• Name of your business
• Business address
• Business contact information
• Personal contact information
• Business EIN
• The industry of your business
• Estimated gross annual revenue

How the Amex Business Line of Credit works

After your American Express Business Line of Credit application is completed and approved and you’ve drawn funds and signed the loan agreement, the money will be sent to the verified business bank account you choose for disbursement. This account might be different from your autopay account, depending on the preferences you set. Once sent, the funds usually take 1 to 3 business days to process and show up in your account, depending on your bank.

Depending on whether you utilize an installment loan or a single repayment loan, you’re still making a separate loan agreement for each draw. Your credit limit will replenish as you pay off your outstanding balance and can be reused as needed. There are no prepayment penalties, and you can actually save on interest paid if you make payments early.

Once you receive funds from your line of credit, you’ll start getting a monthly invoice for repayment. Your first bill could arrive as soon as 21 days after you draw the funds or up to 51 days later, depending on your billing cycle. Each monthly payment will include part of your loan principal, a loan fee, and any other applicable charges, like late fees or unpaid amounts from previous months. You’ll continue to be charged a loan fee for every month that there’s an outstanding balance on your loan.

Amex Business Line of Credit alternatives & comparison

​​If you’re curious about how the American Express Business Line of Credit compares with other providers’ credit lines, I’ve compiled a few other popular options to help you decide what alternatives you may have.

• Comparison
• Use cases

	Est. starting rate	Max. loan amount	Repayment term	Rqd. credit
	Varies	$250,000	6, 12, 18, or 24 months	660+
	Visit American Express
	7.8% and up	$250,000	6 or 12 months	625+
	Visit Bluevine
	Varies	Varies	6 to 24 months	600+
	Visit Lendio

	Best for
	A provider specializing in a line of credit: Bluevine has various loan offerings but is a direct lender for its line of credit. If your business wants to keep things simple and work with a well-known, specialized provider, this might be a worthy option.   Read our Bluevine Line of Credit review for more details.
	Multiple financing options: Lendio is a broker, giving you access to a wide range of lenders through just one application. Compared with Amex, it offers more variety, so you're more likely to find a loan that fits, depending on which lenders you qualify for.   Our roundup of the best small business lines of credit features Lendio.

Fit Small Business ranking

When evaluating the American Express Business Line of Credit, there are a few common factors that I reviewed when determining a rating. Overall, I assessed the line of credit’s general features and product details. Ratings are not based on an individual lending experience, but rather the variety of elements that would impact the lending experience for a typical borrower.