Amex Blue Business Plus card review: Earn double points with no annual fee

Overview of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express stands out as the top no-annual-fee (see rates and fees) Amex card for small businesses. It provides 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1 point per dollar). Membership Rewards points hold exceptional value as they can be transferred to over 20 airline and hotel partners. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

* Card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.

With the vast selection of business rewards credit cards on the market, it's clear that there's a card with the ideal benefits and perks for any business, regardless of its size.

The Amex Blue Business Plus is often overlooked, yet it stands as the most rewarding Amex business credit card for everyday expenses. With a straightforward rewards structure, this card provides valuable benefits for small businesses — all without an annual fee.

Although you might have come across business cards filled with impressive perks and spending bonuses, like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Business Gold Card, the Blue Business Plus serves as a perfect addition to these cards. This card has no annual fee and allows you to earn double Amex points on purchases that don't qualify for other bonus categories.

To apply for this product, it's advisable to have a credit score of 670 or higher.

Here’s all you need to know about this reliable business credit card.

Welcome offer for Blue Business Plus

With the Blue Business Plus, you can earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after making $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of your card membership.

Keep in mind that American Express follows a once-per-lifetime policy for welcome bonuses. Therefore, if you’ve previously held this card, you might not qualify for any welcome offer now.

Advantages of Blue Business Plus

Although the Blue Business Plus is a no-annual-fee business card, it comes with a variety of benefits that can be incredibly valuable for small businesses:

• Increased purchasing power: This feature allows you to spend beyond your credit limit for larger purchases. Any extra spending must be paid in full by the due date; however, the amount up to your credit limit can be carried over monthly. Note that this doesn’t equate to unlimited spending — the amount adjusts based on factors like your card usage, payment history, and credit profile.
• Employee cards: You can obtain up to 99 employee cards at no extra cost (see rates and fees), making it easy to accumulate rewards through employee spending.
• Amex Offers: These provide statement credits or bonus points with select merchants, potentially saving you hundreds each year.
• Protection: This card includes extended warranty* and purchase protection*.

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for further details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Accumulating points with the Blue Business Plus

Collecting points with the Blue Business Plus is simple — one of its best features. You earn 2 Amex points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent annually (then 1 point per dollar).

This offers the highest earning rate for everyday business purchases — equivalent to a 4% return, according to TPG's August 2024 valuations.

You won't have to track any bonus categories, making it exceptionally straightforward to manage.

Utilizing points with the Blue Business Plus

The Membership Rewards points earned through the Blue Business Plus are identical to those gained with cards like the Business Platinum Card and can be transferred to 21 loyalty program partners.

While the best value for your Amex points usually comes from transferring them to a travel partner, you can also use points for cash back, Amazon purchases, Uber rides, gift cards, and more. However, these options generally provide significantly lower value for your points.

Alternatively, you can redeem points for travel bookings directly through Amex Travel. However, if this is your preferred redemption method, consider pairing the Blue Business Plus with the Business Platinum Card to receive a 35% points rebate on airfare booked with points (up to 1 million points rebated each calendar year on the Business Platinum).

Transferring points from the Blue Business Plus

The Blue Business Plus generates Amex Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to 18 airline partners and three hotel partners, including Delta SkyMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

These points enable you to travel virtually anywhere globally, from economy flights to Hawaii to business-class tickets to Europe and first-class experiences to Japan.

Senior credit cards editor Matt Moffitt advises keeping an eye out for transfer bonuses to important programs, which can potentially lower the cost of a flight or hotel redemption by as much as 50%.

What are the competing cards to the Blue Business Plus?

Numerous small-business credit cards are available that rival the Blue Business Plus. Here are some alternatives you might consider:

• If you lean towards Chase: Consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, which offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase without an annual fee. This card also includes a great welcome bonus, but remember that you can only transfer these rewards if you have a premium Chase card and can consolidate your points in one account. For more details, refer to our complete review of the Ink Business Unlimited.
• If you prefer Capital One: Opt for the Capital One Spark Miles for Business. Similar to the Blue Business Plus, it provides 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, but there are some distinctions. The Capital One card has no limit on that earning rate but does incur a $95 annual fee starting the second year (with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year; see rates and fees). When redeeming miles, you can use them for travel at 1 cent each or transfer Capital One miles to over 15 airline and hotel partners. For further information, see our full review of the Spark Miles for Business.

For more options, explore our complete list of the best business cards.

Is the Blue Business Plus card worth it?

For small business owners seeking to maximize their Membership Rewards points on everyday expenditures, the Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card is a great choice. It offers an impressive 4% return (according to TPG's August 2024 valuation) on the first $50,000 spent annually, all without any annual fee.

Conclusion

The Blue Business Plus card is an excellent selection for small businesses. However, depending on your purchasing habits, it might be beneficial to combine this card with another Amex business card that features bonus categories. A strong companion is the American Express Business Gold Card, which provides 4 Amex points per dollar in your top two spending categories each billing cycle (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar) — all with an annual fee of $375 (see rates and fees).