The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Review 2024
Updated November 5, 2024 at 3:48 pm
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If you’re looking for a business credit card that earns 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per year (then 1% back), The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a good choice.
Our Methodology Understanding the value of cash back is simple, but valuing airline miles or points redeemable for travel requires digging a bit deeper. At Newsweek, we’ve developed a common language to talk about the value of points and miles: our valuations.
Our valuations translate points into dollars and cents in a way that reflects reality. They are based on actual data across a balance of accessible redemption options, not just the aspirational first and business class redemptions that require a PhD in miles and points to book. The upshot is that our valuations help you understand the actual value you can easily get from your miles and points.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Expert Take
The Amex Blue Business Cash is a solid entry-level business credit card. While it doesn’t come with the business spending rewards that some of its competitors offer, you’ll get flat-rate cash back on every purchase and the opportunity to skip the pricey annual fee that elite business credit cards charge.
Pros and Cons
- No-annual-fee business credit card
- Flat-rate cash back on every purchase
- Cash back automatically applied as statement credit
- No bonus category rewards for travel or other types of business spending
- Intro APR offer is smaller than competing cards
- May need to be combined with another business credit card to maximize rewards
Vault’s Viewpoint on the American Express Blue Business Cash Card
If you’re a freelancer, sole proprietor or small-business owner who wants to earn cash back rewards on everyday business purchases without having to worry about bonus category spending or complicated rewards redemption options, the Blue Business Cash is an excellent option. You’ll get 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per year (then 1% back), plus the chance to earn a welcome bonus—and you won’t get stuck paying an annual fee.
If you make more than $50,000 in business purchases per year, or if you’re looking for a business credit card that specifically rewards travel, shipping, advertising or other common business expenses, the Amex Blue Business Cash may not be the best choice for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the Blue Business Cash has to offer—and how it stacks up to the competition.
Amex Blue Business Cash Highlights
Annual fee: $0
Welcome bonus: Earn $250 statement credit after making $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months
Earning Rewards With the Amex Blue Business Cash
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a flat-rate cash back card. This means you’ll earn the same cash back percentage on every eligible purchase, excluding cash advances, gift cards, prepaid cards, person-to-person payments and other cash equivalents.
Here are the rewards you can earn with the Amex Blue Business Cash:
- 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, for up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1% back)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Redeeming Rewards
All cash back rewards earned with the American Express Blue Business Cash Card are automatically applied as statement credits. This means that any cash back you may earn will go toward reducing your credit card balance—but you’ll still need to make at least the minimum payment on your credit card every month.
Rates and Fees
While the Amex Blue Business Cash Card comes with no annual fee, there are a few other fees you should be aware of before you apply.
Here is a complete list of the Blue Business Cash Card’s fees and rates:
- Annual fee: $0
- Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from the date of account opening (then 17.49% – 25.49% variable APR)
- Regular APR: 17.49% – 25.49% variable
- Late payment fee: Up to $39
- Balance transfer fee: 3% or $5, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%
- (see rates and fees)
Benefits of the Amex Blue Business Cash
In addition to its flat-rate cash back rewards and welcome bonus, the American Express Blue Business Cash offers a number of benefits designed to help busy small-business owners.
Here are some of the benefits you can expect with the Amex Blue Business Cash:
- Car rental loss and damage insurance*
- Global Assist Hotline* for 24/7 emergency assistance
- Extended warranty*
- Purchase protection*
- Employee Cards and Account Manager access
Who Is the American Express Blue Business Cash Card Best For?
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a good choice for freelancers, sole proprietors or small-business owners who want a no-annual-fee, entry-level business card that offers flat-rate cash back on all eligible purchases.
The Blue Business Cash Card is also a good choice for people who operate their businesses from home and don’t do a lot of business travel. If you don’t spend much time in airports or hotels, a flat-rate cash back card is likely to offer more rewards than a business travel credit card or an airline credit card.
Who Should Consider an Alternative to the Amex Blue Business Cash?
If you make more than $50,000 in business purchases per year, you may want to consider an alternative to the American Express Blue Business Cash. You may also want to consider an alternative business credit card if you do a lot of business travel or if the majority of your business expenses fall within a specific spending category, such as shipping or advertising. Many business credit cards offer bonus rewards for certain types of business spending, so look for a credit card that rewards the purchases you make most often.
How Does the American Express Blue Business Cash Card Stack Up to Its Competitors?
If you’re considering the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, it’s important to compare it to some of the other top business credit cards on the market. Many of the best business credit cards offer high-level rewards, after all—and some business cards come with additional perks, such as travel benefits, that might help you and your business save money.
Here’s how three of today’s best business cards stack up to the Amex Blue Business Cash:
Amex Blue Business Cash vs. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Like the Amex Blue Business Cash, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express does not charge an annual fee (see rates and fees) and offers an intro APR on purchases. In fact, the Blue Business Cash and Blue Business Plus cards offer nearly identical rewards and benefits—except the Blue Business Plus allows you to earn 2X points on up to $50,000 in everyday business purchases per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar thereafter) instead of 2% cash back. Terms and limitations apply.
If you would rather earn American Express Membership Rewards points than cash back, consider the Blue Business Plus.
Amex Blue Business Cash vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you’re looking for a travel rewards business credit card, you might want to consider the Chase Ink Business Preferred. This card charges a $95 annual fee, but, depending on your business spending habits, may allow you to earn more rewards than you can with the Blue Business Cash.
The Ink Business Preferred offers 3X points on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year in the following categories (then 1X points): shipping; advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines; internet, cable and phone services; and travel. All other purchases earn 1X points. Plus, points are worth 25% more toward travel booked through Chase Travel℠, making this card a good choice for small-business owners who are planning to take a few trips in the near future.
Amex Blue Business Cash vs. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is similar to the Amex Blue Business Cash. Both are no-annual-fee business credit cards that offer flat-rate cash back on all eligible purchases. However, the Ink Business Unlimited only offers 1.5% cash back on purchases, while the Amex Blue Business Cash offers 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1%).
Since these cards are so similar, it really comes down to whether you prefer Amex or Chase—and whether you would like the flexibility that comes with redeeming your Chase cash back rewards within the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
Is the Amex Blue Business Cash Worth It?
If you’re a freelancer or small-business owner looking for a no-annual-fee business card that offers flat-rate cash back on every purchase, the Amex Blue Business Cash could be a good choice. That said, you might be able to earn higher rewards with another top business credit card—especially if you’re looking for a card that comes with higher travel rewards or a more valuable welcome bonus.
Some small-business owners may want to pair the American Express Blue Business Cash card with another business credit card. If you combine the Amex Blue Business Cash with the Chase Ink Business Preferred, for example, you could use your Chase card for travel, shipping, internet, phone and advertising purchases. That way, you could maximize the rewards value on every business expense—and you might even be able to use the Ink Business Preferred’s welcome bonus to fund your next business trip.
* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Hard Is It To Get the American Express Blue Business Cash Card?
The American Express Blue Business Cash is designed for people with good or excellent credit. This means that if you do not have a FICO Score of at least 670, it might be more difficult to get this card.
What Is the Credit Limit on the American Express Blue Business Cash Card?
Like most credit cards, the credit limit on the American Express Blue Business Cash is determined by your creditworthiness. People with higher credit scores are likely to be offered higher credit limits, and people who have higher incomes may also be offered higher limits. It all depends on how much credit Amex thinks you can manage without having difficulty paying off your debts.
Does American Express Run Your Credit When You Apply for the Blue Business Cash Card?
Every time you apply for a new line of credit, you can expect a credit check. This means that American Express will run your credit when you apply for the Blue Business Cash Card, and the “hard pull” on your credit report could temporarily lower your credit score.
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