Take advantage of rare welcome bonuses on Amex’s no-annual-fee business cards

If you're a small business owner or have a side gig, like driving for Uber or dog walking, paying a credit card annual fee might not be ideal when you're looking to cut costs.

Luckily, American Express is offering two attractive welcome bonuses on its business-focused, no-annual-fee cards: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (see rates and fees) and the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (see rates and fees).

In the past, these cards didn't offer significant welcome bonuses, making this a solid opportunity if you're thinking of applying for either of these cards.

Both cards offer similar earning rates, so your choice will depend on whether you prefer earning Membership Rewards points for travel and various other redemption options, or cash back. In this post, we’ll compare their elevated welcome bonuses and assess their value.

Amex Blue Business Plus

If you’re keen on earning Membership Rewards points, the Blue Business Plus card is the one for you.

Welcome offer: New cardholders can earn 15,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. This is valued at $300, based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations.

Annual fee: $0

Earning rate: Earn 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar on subsequent purchases.

To find out more, check out our full review of the Blue Business Plus card.

Amex Blue Business Cash

If you prefer cash back, the Blue Business Cash card is the right choice for you.

Welcome offer: New cardholders can earn $250 in cash back as a statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first three months of card membership.

Annual fee: $0

Earning rate: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 annually, then 1% cash back; cash back is automatically applied to your statement.

To discover more, check out our full review of the Blue Business Cash card.

Amex Blue Business Plus vs. Amex Blue Business Cash

The Blue Business Plus and Blue Business Cash share many similarities. Both cards offer the same reward rate (2 points per dollar or 2% cash back) on the first $50,000 spent annually, then drop to 1 point or 1% per dollar after that.

If you're unsure which card suits your needs, the first step is to assess both your personal and business requirements.

The Amex Blue Business Plus earns Membership Rewards points, which means you can potentially increase the value of your welcome bonus and future points through various redemption options.

Maximizing the value of your points often means transferring them to one of Amex's 21 airline and hotel partners. However, this option may require more effort compared to straightforward cash-back redemptions.

If you're already holding a Membership Rewards-earning card like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card, you can combine any points earned with your new Blue Business Plus card.

This becomes particularly appealing if you're working towards a business-class award ticket and need to top up your Membership Rewards balance using the new welcome offer or want to boost your earnings with 2 points per dollar spent.

Conversely, the Amex Blue Business Cash is ideal for those who prefer simplicity. With this card, you earn cash back, automatically credited as a statement credit to help reduce your operational expenses.

The downside is the lack of flexibility — your cash-back rewards are exclusively available as statement credits. However, if you value ease over navigating Amex's transfer options, this card is a solid choice, especially with the current welcome bonus.

What additional benefits and perks do these cards offer?

Both cards offer excellent value, with Amex’s travel and shopping protections. Here’s a look at the benefits you’ll get with either card:

• Secondary coverage for car rental loss and damage insurance*
• Global Assist Hotline**
• Extended warranty protection***
• Purchase protection***

You’ll also have access to expense management tools, plus free employee cards available upon request.

Conclusion

Both cards offer a solid 2% rewards rate on the first $50,000 in purchases each year, with 1% back thereafter. For small businesses that don’t hit that threshold, either card is a great choice to earn rewards without worrying about tracking complicated bonus categories.

These cards come with enticing welcome bonuses, which are rare for them. Since they usually don’t offer sign-up rewards, now could be the perfect time to grab one for your travel and other spending needs.