The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express review: a safe choice if you spend small but have big travel dreams.

Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Overview

The Blue Business® Plus Card is a safe choice, like ordering the same dish at your favorite restaurant every time you go, or taking a vacation to the same place every year. Sure, you know you’ll like it, but what if you tried something else? There’s a chance you might find something that suits you even better. The same applies to the Amex Blue Business Plus card — it can get the job done but there are better choices for more adventurous types.

The card earns a simple 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on everything, up to the first $50,000 in spending each year, then 1 point per dollar. Although that elevated and simple rate can be appealing, if your business regularly spends more than that in a year, there are plenty of other options that earn 2X without any limits. In that case, a card like the Capital One Spark Cash Plus or the Chase Ink Business Premier card might be a better fit.

And, unless you have a specific goal of earning Membership Rewards to use for travel, be aware that if you want cash back from the card, a point is only worth 0.6 cents. If you spend less than $50,000 a year and find that the combination of no annual fee, simple earning structure, the intro 0% APR offer on purchases and the ability to occasionally spend beyond your limit is exactly what you need, consider this card’s sibling instead, the American Express Blue Business Cash card. The Blue Business Cash card’s attributes are identical to the Blue Business Plus, but it earns straight cash back which is automatically redeemed for you as a statement credit against your account balance. 

Who is the Blue Business Plus Card from American Express good for? 

The Blue Business Plus Card is best for a business owner who spends less than $50,000 a year on a card and wants to earn Membership Rewards to use towards travel. 

Who shouldn’t get the Blue Business Plus Card from American Express? 

The Blue Business Plus card is not a fit for businesses who spend well above $50,000 a year or those who want cash back on their rewards card.

Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: How to earn rewards

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has a simple rewards structure. You’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year (1x point per dollar thereafter).

The card also offers new cardholders 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

How to redeem Amex Blue Business Membership Rewards points

How to redeem Blue Business Plus Card from American Express rewards 

Membership Rewards points are flexible, meaning they can be redeemed in multiple ways. Here’s what you can do with the rewards earned on the Blue Business Plus card.

Redeem for travel by transferring to airline and hotel partners

One of the best uses of Membership Rewards points is transferring them to one of Amex’s airline partners. Amex has close to 20 airline partners and three hotel partners and in most cases you’ll get more value from your Membership Rewards by transferring points to a partner.

That’s because when you use your rewards to book a flight through Amex Travel, a point is always worth 1 cent. For example, a $300 flight booked this way will cost 30,000 Membership Rewards points. But, transfer 30,000 points to an eligible transfer partner and things get more interesting–and valuable.

Here’s a quick example: We found a one way nonstop flight on Aeromexico from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Mexico City in March 2024 that costs $359.29 for a seat in the main cabin. If you were to redeem Membership Rewards through Amex Travel to book that flight, it would require 35,929 points to cover the cost.

But if you transfer rewards to partner Aeromexico, you can snag a deal on a promotional first class seat for just 36,000 Aeromexico rewards points–just 71 points more than if you booked with Membership Rewards for a coach seat, plus taxes and fees.

Pay with points at checkout

You can use your points to pay at checkout with eligible partners like Amazon, Best Buy and PayPal. Points are typically worth 0.7 cents per point this way.

Redeem for travel with Pay with Points

You can use Membership Rewards to book travel through AmexTravel using the Pay with Points feature. Using points this way will give you a value of 1 cent per point for flights, and 0.7 cents per point for prepaid hotel bookings, cruises, rental cars, and vacation packages.

Redeem for gift cards

You can redeem your rewards to buy gift cards from a variety of options including hotel brands, airlines, restaurant chains, retailers, and more. The value of redeeming your rewards this way is between 0.5 cents and 1 cent per point, depending on the specific gift card.

Redeem for statement credits

Redeeming Membership Rewards for a statement credit is worth just 0.6 cents per point, making this one of the least valuable redemption options.

Amex Blue Business Plus rates and fees

• Intro: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99%–25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
• Purchase: 17.99%–25.99% variable
• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars

To view rates and fees of the , see this page.

Additional benefits

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express provides cardholders with a myriad of valuable perks, including:

• Intro APR offer: Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.99%–25.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%.
• Expanded buying power: The Blue Business Plus card offers the ability to occasionally spend beyond your credit limit, which can be helpful for a business who needs to make an emergency purchase or needs to buy more inventory than usual. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
• No extra charge for employee cards. You can add up to 99 employee cards on your account, all for no additional fee.
• Purchase protections: The card offers extended warranty coverage of up to an additional year on warranties of five years or less and purchase protection for stolen or accidentally damaged items up to $1,000 per item, up to $50,000 per card member per year.
• Amex Offers: Get targeted offers of bonus points or discounts on purchases from various vendors and retailers.
• Dispute resolution: Amex will work with you if you have a fraudulent or incorrect charge on your billing statement.

Credit cards similar to The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

There are several other business credit cards on the market that earn the equivalent or better of 2X rewards per dollar on your spending. Let’s take a look at how some of the competing cards fare against the Blue Business Plus Card.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express	Capital One Spark Cash Plus	American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Annual fee	Annual fee	Annual fee
$0	$150	$0
Rewards	Rewards	Rewards
2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year (1x point per dollar thereafter)	5% unlimited cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2% unlimited cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions	2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1%)
Welcome bonus	Welcome bonus	Welcome bonus
15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership	$2,000 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year	$250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months
Our Take	Our Take	Our Take
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is ideal for business who spend less then $50,000 per year as it earns valuable Membership Rewards points.	The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card rewards you for buying what your business needs every day and booking business travel. Plus, it offers a generous welcome bonus if you can meet the minimum spending requirement.	The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1%), with no annual fee, making it lucrative for small businesses. However, businesses exceeding the $50,000 spending cap per calendar year will earn a reduced cashback rate of 1% on the remainder, and it may offer fewer perks compared to some other business credit cards.
View offer at Bankrate	View offer at Cardratings.com	View offer at Bankrate

To view rates and fees of the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page

To view rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, see this page

Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs. Blue Business Plus Card

Bigger spenders who don’t need to carry a balance will find that the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a better alternative to the Blue Business Plus Card. Although the card has a $150 annual fee, it is waived for businesses that spend $150,000 annually or more. The card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on all spending, plus 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, with no caps to limit your potential.

It also comes with a much bigger welcome bonus too, which can take some of the sting out of the annual fee. New cardholders can earn a $2,000 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year.

Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express vs. Blue Business® Plus Card from American Express

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is nearly identical to the Blue Business Plus Card, but the main difference is in what each card earns. The Blue Business Plus Card earns Membership Rewards, which can be great when booking travel through transfer partners, but not necessarily as valuable when used for other types of redemptions. 

The Blue Business Cash Card however earns straight cash back, which is automatically paid out as a statement credit to your account. If its simplicity and value you’re seeking in a card, the Blue Business Cash card’s earning and redemption structure is as good as it gets, as long as you’re spending under $50,000 a year. Between the two cards it’s a better choice for all except those who know how to wring the most value from their Membership Rewards.

To view rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, see this page.

Is the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express right for you?

The Blue Business Plus Card is right for you if you want straightforward and simple travel rewards and your business spends less than $50,000 a year. If that’s not you, look to another card.

Frequently asked questions

How do you qualify for the Blue Business Plus card?

As an Amex card, you’ll typically need good or better credit to qualify for the Blue Business Plus card. FICO defines good credit at starting around 670, although issuers consider a range of factors including your business income and existing debts along with your credit profile when determining if you qualify for approval.

What is the credit limit on the Blue Business Plus card?

There’s no one set credit limit on the Blue Business Plus card as American Express will determine a different limit for each applicant based on their credit profile. However, the Blue Business Plus card has an expanded buying power feature that allows you to occasionally spend above your limit and that amount will vary based on factors including your payment history, card usage and other financial factors.

What’s the annual fee on the Blue Business Plus?

The Blue Business Plus card has an annual fee of $0.

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Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date but are subject to change at any time at the issuer’s discretion. Before applying, please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits.

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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.