Amex Business Gold Card Review
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Amex Business Gold card review
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American Express® Business Gold Card
Details
Pros & Cons
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Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.The American Express® Business Gold Card is a good choice if your business spends a lot in certain categories and you want to earn Membership Rewards points for travel or other redemptions. It's got a high annual fee, but if you can use the card's benefits to your advantage, it can be well worth it.
Review: Is the Amex Business Gold the best small-business card for you?
If you own a small business — even a part-time venture or side gig — and are looking for a card that earns flexible points you can use for travel and other rewards, the American Express® Business Gold Card is worth considering. It's one of the best small-business cards for folks who spend a lot on common business purchases, because it earns bonus points on your top two spending categories (from a list) each month.
The American Express® Business Gold Card is currently offering a substantial welcome bonus offer of 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership. Based on Insider's points and miles valuations, that's worth around $1,260 in travel.
It also comes with a wide array of travel and shopping benefits that can save you money and help offset the card's $295 annual fee, including a rebate when you redeem points for flights, car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, and purchase protections.
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
You'll earn the most points from the American Express® Business Gold Card if your business purchases are often in the following categories:
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines
- US gas stations
- US restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
- US shipping providers
- US computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers
- US purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
You'll earn 4x American Express Membership Rewards points on the two categories from this list where your business spends the most each billing cycle, up to $150,000 per calendar year (then 1x), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. In this sense, the American Express® Business Gold Card rewards you for where your business spends the most each month — even if that changes periodically.
That said, if you don't spend a lot in bonus categories, you might want to look at other small-business rewards cards that offer a flat rate of return on all purchases. For example, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns 2x points per dollar on all business purchases up to $50,000 per year (then 1x) and doesn't charge an annual fee. It's currently offering a rarely seen welcome bonus offer of 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership — worth about $270 in travel, according to Insider's valuations.
Or consider the no-annual-fee Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, which offers 1.5% back (1.5x points) on all purchases with no cap, and comes with a welcome offer of $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn points with the American Express Business Gold card
The American Express® Business Gold Card is unique in that it earns rewards based on your highest spending categories. You'll earn 4x points on the two categories you spend the most in each billing cycle, from the following list:
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines
- US gas stations
- US restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
- US shipping providers (including courier, postal, and freight shipping services, such as FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service)
- US computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers
- US purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
The 4x bonus is capped at a total of $150,000 in spending per year (then 1x); all other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.
What counts as an eligible purchase in the bonus categories?
Some of the bonus categories are fairly self-explanatory (airfare, US restaurants, US gas stations) but others are a little more specific than you might think.
Shipping providers
Shipping providers include US courier, postal, and freight shipping services, so merchants like FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service are all included. However, you won't earn bonus rewards for shipping costs attached to retail purchases or on moving services, local trucking, or trash removal.
Computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers
Amex will only award bonus points for purchases from US locations of companies on this list:
- Apple
- Intuit
- Lenovo
- Microsoft
- Newegg
- Oracle
- Rackspace
- Sage Software
- Salesforce.com
- Symantec
- Tiger Direct
Keep in mind you won't earn a bonus for purchases made through a third party (including resellers and online marketplaces) or through a third-party payment account.
Advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
With the American Express® Business Gold Card, you can earn bonus points on US purchases of online, television, and radio advertising made directly from media providers in order to promote a business.
Examples of eligible merchants include Google, Facebook, Yahoo, NBC National Broadcasting, and CBS Radio.
How to use Membership Rewards points
The American Express® Business Gold Card earns flexible American Express Membership Rewards points — and while you'll usually squeeze the most value from your rewards when you use them for travel, there are plenty of other ways to redeem your points.
You'll typically get the highest return from your points when you transfer them to Amex's airline and hotel partners, like Delta, Marriott, and British Airways. If you'd rather not mess with award charts and blackout dates, you can also use your points to book airfare, hotels, rental cars, and more through American Express Travel. Cardholders can even get a 25% points rebate when redeeming for select flights through Amex Travel (more on that below).
If you're not interested in traveling, you can still use Amex Membership Rewards points for lots of other redemptions, including:
- Statement credits to cover charges on your account (0.6 cents per point)
- Merchandise — pay at checkout with Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and other merchants (0.7 cents per point)
- Food delivery with GrubHub and Seamless (0.7 cents per point)
- New York City taxi fare (1 cent per point)
- Charity donations (0.7 cents per point)
- Gift cards (1 cent per point)
- Merchandise (point value varies — usually around 0.5 cents per point)
If you have other Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points, like The Platinum Card® from American Express , The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , or American Express® Gold Card , your Membership Rewards points get combined into a single account for redemptions.
Amex Business Gold benefits and features
The American Express® Business Gold Card comes with useful travel and shopping benefits that can save you a lot of money, particularly if things don't go as planned.
25% airline bonus
One American Express® Business Gold Card benefit can be very lucrative for award travelers. Cardholders receive a 25% points rebate when they redeem points for first- or business-class tickets, or for any fare with their selected airline through Amex Travel (up to 250,000 points back per calendar year).
Normally, Amex points are worth 1 cent each toward airfare booked through the Amex portal, so this rebate effectively increases their value to 1.33 cents apiece.
Car rental insurance
If you use your American Express® Business Gold Card to pay for your entire car rental and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll get secondary coverage for damage due to theft and collision. Some vehicle types and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.
Trip delay insurance
You can get reimbursed up to $300 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you've paid for a covered trip with your American Express® Business Gold Card and it's delayed by 12 hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period.
Baggage insurance plan
If you pay for a covered trip with your American Express® Business Gold Card, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $500 per person for checked bags and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage. There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
The Hotel Collection
American Express® Business Gold Card cardholders can also book upscale properties through The Hotel Collection and receive benefits when they stay at least two consecutive nights. These include $100 in property credits to use on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities, and a room upgrade if available.
Purchase protection
When you pay for an eligible item with your American Express® Business Gold Card, purchase protection can cover theft or damage that occurs within 90 days of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per account per calendar year.
Extended warranty
The American Express® Business Gold Card comes with up to one additional year of extended warranty coverage for eligible new purchases in the US or its territories, on manufacturer's warranties of five years or less.
Global Assist Hotline
Cardholders get access to Amex's Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services when they're traveling.
The service itself is complimentary, but you'll be responsible for any third-party costs incurred.
Amex Offers
Like other American Express cards, the American Express® Business Gold Card comes with targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers**. To get in on these deals, just enroll your card in the offer through your online account and make a qualifying purchase.
Small-business benefits
The American Express® Business Gold Card also offers benefits specifically geared toward small-business owners, including:
- Access to the American Express business app, which helps you manage receipts and expenses
- Employee cards with spending limits that you can set up online or by calling American Express
- Expanded buying power, which lets you spend above your credit limit depending on your payment history, credit record, and financial resources
- Flexibility to Pay Over Time with interest, or pay your full balance
American Express® Business Gold Card
Details
Pros & Cons
Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Highlights
Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Additional Reading
Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Fees and costs
The American Express® Business Gold Card has a $295 annual fee, so it's not for everyone — but if you can maximize the card's benefits and bonus earning categories, it can certainly be worth it.
You won't pay foreign transaction fees with the American Express® Business Gold Card, so it's a good choice if your small business makes a lot of international purchases or if you frequently travel abroad.
Like most other cards, there are fees for late or returned payments. And if you choose Amex's Pay Over Time option, there's a 18.49% - 26.49% Variable APR.
Compare Amex Business Gold vs other Amex cards
American Express® Business Gold Card | The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | |
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 4x points in the top two categories you spend the most in each month, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year (then 1x)* 1 point per dollar on all other purchases | 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel 1.5x points on eligible purchases in the US at electronics goods retailers, software, and cloud service providers, shipping providers, and on construction materials and hardware supplies, also on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million in combined purchases per year, then 1x) 1 point per dollar on everything else | 2x points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent on business purchases each year (then 1x) |
Welcome bonus offer | 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership | 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership | 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership |
Card benefits | 25% points rebate on first- and business-class flights (or economy flights on your selected airline) booked through Amex Travel Perks at Amex Hotel Collection properties Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance Trip delay insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Global Assist Hotline Discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | 35% points rebate when you redeem points for first- or business-class tickets, or for any fare with your selected airline, through Amex Travel (up to 500,000 points back per calendar year) Up to $200 in airline fee credits each calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline** Up to $1,000 in annual statement credits on business purchases at Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe and U.S. wireless service providers each calendar year** Up to $189 back per year on CLEAR® memberships** Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Secondary car rental insurance Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Baggage insurance Trip delay insurance Discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Extended warranty Purchase protection Secondary car rental insurance Global Assist Hotline Discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers** |
Review |
*the Amex Business Gold Card 4x categories include airfare purchased directly from airlines, US gas stations, US restaurants, US shipping providers, US computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers, and US purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
Amex Business Gold vs other small-business cards
American Express® Business Gold Card | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Capital One Spark Miles for Business | |
Annual fee | $95, waived the first year | ||
Rewards rate | 4x points in the top two categories you spend the most in each month, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year (then 1x)* 1 point per dollar on all other purchases | 3x points on first $150,000 per year on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, online and social media advertising (then 1x) 1 point per dollar on everything else | 2x miles on every purchase |
Welcome bonus offer | 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership | 100,000 points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
Card benefits | 25% points rebate on first- and business-class flights (or economy flights on your selected airline) booked through Amex Travel Perks at Amex Hotel Collection properties Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance Trip delay insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Global Assist Hotline Discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees | Primary car rental insurance when renting for business purposes in the US (and all rentals internationally) Trip interruption/cancellation Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Extended warranty Cell phone protection No foreign transaction fees | Car rental insurance (primary when renting for business purposes) Up to $100 credit toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee Extended warranty Purchase protection Roadside assistance No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
*the Amex Business Gold Card 4x categories include airfare purchased directly from airlines, US gas stations, US restaurants, US shipping providers, US computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers, and US purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
Amex Business Gold card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
If you spend a lot in the card's 4x categories, the American Express® Business Gold Card is worth it — especially if you redeem points for flights and can take advantage of the 25% Pay With Points rebate.
However, if the bulk of your spending is outside the 4x categories, you may want to look at a different card that matches your spending habits more closely.
Because it's a premium rewards card, the American Express® Business Gold Card can be a little harder to get approved for than other popular cards. Amex will look at your credit score, income, and other factors when it considers your application.
You'll also need to have a business venture to be eligible for a small-business card — but it doesn't have to be a huge corporation or have a formal structure. Freelance work and side gigs like driving for Uber can all qualify you for a small-business card.
Also, be aware you won't be eligible for the welcome offer if you already have, or have had, the American Express® Business Gold Card because of Amex's once-per-lifetime rule. However, if you have/had another version of the Gold, such as the American Express® Gold Card, you're still eligible for the bonus.
Usually, most people who are approved for the American Express® Business Gold Card have a credit score in the good to excellent range. This means a FICO score of at least 670.
If you're still working on getting your score to this level, read our guide to improving your credit score.
Yes, the American Express® Business Gold Card is made of metal.
No, the American Express® Business Gold Card doesn't come with airport lounge access. You'll want to check out The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or The Platinum Card® from American Express if you're looking for an Amex card with a wide variety of lounge options, including Priority Pass** and Centurion Lounge access.
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