The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Review 2024
Updated December 29, 2023 at 11:00 am
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a no-annual-fee business credit card that allows you to earn American Express Membership Rewards points.
Expert take: The Blue Business Plus® Card from American Express allows small-business owners to earn valuable Membership Rewards points without having to worry about an annual fee or spending categories. That said, the Amex Blue Business Plus benefits are fairly limited, and cardholders may find more value from another top business credit card.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Opportunity to combine Membership Rewards points with other American Express credit cards under your name
- Flexible redemption options, including the opportunity to transfer rewards to Amex travel partners
Cons
- Limited benefits, especially compared to other top business credit cards
- Points can be worth less than 1 cent, depending on redemption
- Cardholders who do not have multiple American Express credit cards within the same rewards system won’t be able to combine Membership Rewards points
Vault’s Viewpoint on the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
The American Express Blue Business Plus is a good entry-level business credit card for small-business owners or sole proprietors who want to earn Membership Rewards points on every purchase. The card has no annual fee and offers 2X points on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year (then 1X points). All other purchases receive 1X points, and rewards can be redeemed for everything from statement credits to merchandise.
The Blue Business Plus is a good option for getting your business started with credit card rewards, but if you want to maximize your rewards, you may want to apply for a business card that offers higher rewards rates in the spending categories you use most often. Amex Blue Business Plus rewards are easy to earn, but they may be less valuable than what other business cards offer depending on your spending habits. Any small-business owner who spends more than $50,000 in a calendar year should consider other options.
American Express Blue Business Plus Highlights
Annual fee: $0
Welcome bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after making $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months
Rewards rate: 2X Membership Rewards points on eligible business purchases (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points); 1X points on other eligible purchases
Redeeming Rewards
The Blue Business Plus Card from American Express earns Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for everything from gift cards to statement credits. You can use American Express’s Pay With Points feature when you check out at Amazon.com or with select online retailers, or you can log in to AmexTravel.com and redeem for travel purchases. You can also transfer your points to participating Amex travel partners, giving you the opportunity to use your points with your favorite hotel or airline for heightened value.
You’ll find plenty of flexibility when it comes to redeeming your Blue Business Plus rewards, but be careful—not all redemption options offer the same value per point.Here are the per-point values of a few common redemption options, according to Amex:
- Flights through American Express Travel: 1 cent
- Transfer partner travel: Typically at least 1 cent or more
- Gift cards: 0.5 cents to 1 cent
- Statement credit: 0.6 cents
- Merchandise through MembershipRewards.com: 0.5 cents
- Pay With Points: 0.5 cents
Rates and Fees
The Amex Blue Business Plus is a no-annual-fee business credit card, which could make it one of the more affordable options for your small business. It also offers an intro APR on purchases, allowing you to make a few large purchases up-front and pay them off over time.
- Annual fee: $0
- Introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening (then 18.49% – 26.49% variable APR)
- Regular APR: 18.49% – 26.49% variable
- Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3%, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%
- Late payment fee: Up to $39
- Overlimit fee: $0
- Penalty APR: 29.99%
- (see rates and fees)
Amex Blue Business Plus Benefits
The Blue Business Plus Card doesn’t offer as many extra perks as other top business credit cards, but it does offer a few benefits worth noting—including the opportunity to use Expanded Buying Power to spend beyond your credit limit. As long as you pay off the entire amount of your Expanded Buying Power every month while still making at least the minimum payment on your card, you can take advantage of the extra purchasing power while earning rewards on every purchase.
Here are some other benefits you can receive with the American Express Blue Business Plus Card:
- Free employee cards for up to 99 employees
- Purchase protection* for up to 90 days from the date of purchase ($1,000 per purchase and $50,000 per calendar year)
- Extended warranty* for one extra year on purchases with warranties of five years or less
- Car rental loss and damage insurance* when you pay for a rental with your card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver
- Expense management tools like QuickBooks access and the ability to assign an account manager
- Access to Amex Offers, through which you can earn additional rewards with select partners
Who Is the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express Best For?
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express is best for sole proprietors and small-business owners who want flat-rate rewards on everyday business purchases and specifically want to earn Membership Rewards points.
Cardholders who are already part of the Amex Membership Rewards system can get a lot of value out of the Blue Business Plus, especially since the card comes with no annual fee and an introductory APR on purchases.
Who Should Consider an Alternative to the Amex Blue Business Plus?
If you’re not interested in earning American Express Membership Rewards points, the Blue Business Plus Card may not be your best choice. You may also want to consider an alternative business credit card if you spend more than $50,000 on your business in a calendar year, or if you’re hoping to earn higher-level rewards in a specific spending category like shipping, advertising or telecommunications.
How Does the Blue Business Plus Credit Card From American Express Stack Up to Its Competitors?
If you’re considering the American Express Blue Business Plus, you’re probably researching a few other top business credit cards as well. With that in mind, here’s how the Amex Blue Business Plus stacks up to three of its biggest competitors:
American Express Blue Business Plus vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash is fairly similar to the Blue Business Plus Card. Both are no-annual-fee credit cards (see rates and fees) that offer flat-rate rewards on everyday business purchases. That said, the Blue Business Cash offers cash back rewards instead of Membership Rewards points, and any cash back you earn is automatically credited to your statement balance.
If you want an entry-level business credit card that offers 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year, followed by 1% back on other purchases, the Amex Blue Business Cash could be a good choice. The card also offers an intro APR on purchases for a period of time, which can help you save money on interest as you earn cash back.
American Express Blue Business Plus vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Chase Ink Business Preferred comes with a $95 annual fee, making it a little more expensive for some small-business owners. But if your business needs a higher yearly spending cap, the Ink Business Preferred can help.
This card earns 3X points on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year in the following business spending categories: shipping; internet, cable and phone services; travel; and advertising with social media sites and search engines. You also earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025 and 1X points on other purchases.
Perhaps most notably, the Ink Business Preferred offers a 25% bonus on travel redeemed through the Ultimate Rewards portal, making it a great option for businesses who travel frequently.
American Express Blue Business Plus vs. American Express® Business Gold Card
The American Express Business Gold is a good choice for established small-business owners who are ready to pay a higher annual fee in exchange for premium perks. The Business Gold Card charges an annual fee of $375 (see rates and fees). However, the card comes with numerous opportunities to earn rewards and benefits, including the possibility of earning up to $395 in annual business value. That includes statement credits for purchases at select shipping, food delivery and retail subscription merchants.
In terms of rewards, the American Express Business Gold Card offers 4X Membership Rewards points on up to $150,000 in combined purchases in the two select categories from a list of six that are eligible where your business spends the most money per business cycle (then 1X points). You also earn 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com and 1X points on all other eligible purchases.
While this rewards system might be confusing to some small-business owners, it can yield significant value to business owners who decide to take advantage of it. And when you combine the Business Gold Card’s point-earning opportunities with its statement credits and benefits, you might decide that the card could be a valuable addition to your wallet.
Is the Amex Blue Business Plus Worth It?
If you’re already active within American Express’ Membership Rewards program, adding the Amex Blue Business Plus to your wallet could help you maximize the value of your rewards. The card’s value can increase if you actively seek out redemption opportunities that come with special offers or discounts or take advantage of supplement rewards programs like Amex Offers.
However, if you aren’t already familiar with Membership Rewards or aren’t interested in doing the work required to track special offers and navigate variable redemption options, the card may not be worth it
Valuations by Vault: Our Thoughts on Amex Blue Business Plus’ Value
According to Newsweek’s points and miles valuations, each American Express Membership Rewards point is worth up to 1.19 cents apiece toward transfer partner travel.
While the Membership Rewards system isn’t the lowest-value point system out there, it isn’t the highest, either. Cardholders who want to maximize the value of their rewards may want to consider a card that allows them to access the Chase Ultimate Rewards system.
*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 Do You Qualify for the American Express Blue Business Plus Card?
The American Express Blue Business Plus Card is designed for sole proprietors or small business owners who have good or excellent credit (or a FICO Score of 670 and up). If you meet this criteria, you’re more likely to qualify for this card.
What Is the Credit Limit on the Amex Blue Business Plus?
The credit limit on the American Express Blue Business Plus Card may vary depending on your creditworthiness. Not all people who apply for the Amex Blue Business Plus receive the same credit limit, and people with higher credit scores are more likely to receive higher credit limits.
Your income may also play a role in the credit limit you’re offered. Should your income go up after you receive your Amex Blue Business Plus Card, make sure you let American Express know. You might receive a higher credit limit as a result.
What Credit Score Do You Need for the Amex Blue Business Plus Card?
The American Express Blue Business Plus Card is designed for people with good or excellent credit. If you have a FICO Score of at least 670, you might have a better chance of being approved for the Blue Business Plus Card. People with credit scores in the 700s and 800s are even more likely to be approved.
If your credit score is lower than you’d like it to be, you might want to take a few months to improve your credit before applying for the Amex Blue Business Plus.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
