Elevate your earnings with the Amex Business Gold Card

Many premium credit cards offer statement credits to help mitigate their annual fees, and the American Express® Business Gold Card is no different. By making the most of these statement credits, you can effectively reduce the card's $375 annual fee (see rates and fees). In addition to these credits, familiarizing yourself with the card's bonus categories and knowing the optimal times to use it will maximize your points accumulation.

As an Amex Business Gold cardholder, understanding how to optimize your earning potential is crucial for future rewards. Here are some of our top strategies to help you succeed.

A summary of the benefits of the Amex Business Gold

For business owners who prioritize spending and earning over complex statement credits that require significant effort to utilize (we're looking at you, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express), the Amex Business Gold Card is a great choice.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the benefits available to you as a new or existing cardmember:

• Rewards Rate: Earn 4 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, up to $150,000 in combined spending per calendar year (after that, 1 point per dollar). Current eligible categories include:
• U.S. expenditures on online, TV, and radio advertising
• U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud services from select tech providers, along with purchases from electronics retailers
• U.S. gas stations
• U.S. restaurants
• U.S. wireless service providers
• Transit (including trains, taxis, rideshares, tolls, ferries, buses, and subways)
• Statement Credits: Get up to $240 per year (up to $20 per month) for qualifying purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores. Additionally, receive up to $155 back annually (up to $12.95 per month plus applicable taxes) for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal; Plus Ups excluded). Enrollment is required for certain benefits.
• The Hotel Collection: When you book through The Hotel Collection for at least two consecutive nights, enjoy elite-like perks, such as a hotel credit of up to $100 and room upgrades (based on availability).
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: You won't face foreign transaction fees when using this card internationally (see rates and fees).
• Cellphone Protection*: Receive reimbursement for a damaged or lost cellphone, up to $800 per claim, when your monthly service bill is charged to the Amex Business Gold (limited to two claims per 12-month period; subject to a $50 deductible per claim).

*Eligibility and benefit levels differ by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For more details, visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Tips for maximizing your Amex Business Gold Card

With that in mind, here’s a quick guide on when to use and when to avoid using your new Amex Business Gold Card.

Utilize your Amex Business Gold for key business expenses

Though it may seem obvious, the Amex Business Gold is optimal for your top two business spending categories, allowing you to earn 4 points per dollar on the first $150,000 in combined spending each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). There's no need to activate these bonus categories annually, but it's definitely wise to strategize which two categories will benefit your business the most.

Consider which two categories from the previous list can help you reach the $150,000 spending limit each year. This could lead to earning up to 600,000 Membership Rewards points, equivalent to $12,000 according to TPG's June 2024 valuations. Even if you run a smaller business or are a freelancer unable to meet the $150,000 cap, just $3,700 in spending can generate enough Membership Rewards points to offset the additional $375 annual fee based on our assessments.

Redeem your Amex Business Gold for flight bookings

Once you've gathered a substantial amount of points, your Membership Rewards balance offers various possibilities. Our preferred method at TPG is transferring your points to Amex's airline and hotel partners, which can provide an exceptional value of 2 cents each (or more).

Utilize your Amex Business Gold for significant purchases

Your business will occasionally need to make significant investments for daily operations. While you'll earn only 1 point per dollar on non-bonus purchases, the shopping protections offered by your Amex Business Gold make it worthwhile to use the card.

Purchase protection* safeguards eligible items against damage or theft for up to 90 days from the purchase date, reimbursing you up to $1,000 per item (with an annual limit of $50,000). Additionally, the extended warranty* feature provides an extra year of coverage on an original manufacturer's warranty of five years or less, offering reimbursement of up to $10,000 per item and a yearly cap of $50,000 on the card. Moreover, you also benefit from cellphone protection when you pay your wireless service bill with your Amex Business Gold.

Unforeseen events can occur at any time, making these benefits crucial for protecting your business against potentially high costs.

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For details, visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

When to avoid using the Amex Business Gold

While the Amex Business Gold is beneficial in many situations, there are some important exceptions to keep in mind.

Refrain from using your Amex Business Gold when traveling internationally

Even though the Amex Business Gold does not charge foreign transaction fees, you won't earn the 4 points per dollar rate on most purchases made outside the U.S.—this includes dining and gas. So, if you eat out or fuel up your rental car abroad, you'll only accumulate 1 point per dollar spent.

Avoid using your Amex Business Gold for purchases outside your top two categories

If you strategically use your Amex Business Gold solely for U.S. technology solutions and U.S. advertising purchases, it's wise to complement your card strategy with other options that provide bonus points on the Amex Business Gold's additional potential categories, as well as for other non-bonus expenses.

Keep in mind that only your top two categories each month will earn 4 points per dollar—any other purchases will yield just 1 point per dollar.

You can still optimize your points accumulation

Fortunately, the Amex Business Gold works well alongside other cards in the Membership Rewards program. For example, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar. By maximizing this limit for purchases outside the Amex Business Gold categories, you could add an additional 100,000 Membership Rewards points to your rewards balance annually.

On the other hand, the consumer version of the Amex Business Gold—the American Express® Gold Card—has a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees) but offers fantastic rewards that complement the business card nicely. Amex Gold cardholders can earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 spent each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and at restaurants worldwide (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar). By leveraging the Business Gold for other purchases in its bonus categories, your overall earning potential can significantly increase.

In summary

The Amex Business Gold often goes unnoticed compared to the Amex Business Platinum. However, there are numerous reasons for a business to choose the Business Gold, especially the opportunity to earn 600,000 Membership Rewards points by reaching the $150,000 spending limit. To discover more about the Amex Business Gold, check out the full review. This is an impressive accumulation of points that can help you and your business explore new destinations at a fraction of the usual cost.