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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Amex Blue Business Plus card review: Double points for no annual fee
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
Stella is a full-time writer with expertise in credit cards, points and miles, and all things travel. She is a journalism graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and previously worked as a copywriter at JetBlue Airways and as a credit cards writer at LendingTree.
also contributed to this story
March 17, 2025 • 9 min read
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Quick summary
A small-business card offers a simple rewards structure and valuable points that can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners.
The card is notable for its straightforward earning rate on everyday business purchases, with no bonus categories to track.
Perks include expanded buying power, employee cards at no extra cost and various purchase protections (terms apply).
Ideal for small businesses seeking flexible rewards without added complexity.
What to consider
Bonus earning is capped annually, after which a lower rate applies.
Eligibility for welcome offers may be restricted by prior card ownership due to a once-per-lifetime rule.
Points are most valuable when transferred to travel partners, but alternative redemptions are available at lower value.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of competing small-business cards and strategies for maximizing point redemptions.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
TPG editor's rating4
TPG editor's rating4
at American Express's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
Rewards rate
Rate
Category
2X
Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
Intro offer
As High As 50,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
No annual fee
Regular APR
16.99% - 28.74% Variable
Recommended credit
Excellent to Good
Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express overview
The is the best no-annual-fee (see rates and fees) Amex small-business card. It offers 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar after that). Membership Rewards points are exceptionally valuable because they transfer to 20 airline and hotel partners. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Given the overwhelming number of business rewards credit cards available, it’s safe to say that there is a business card with the right benefits and perks for your operation — no matter the size.
The is an underrated credit card since it’s the single most rewarding Amex business credit card for everyday spending. In addition to a simple rewards-earning structure, the card offers some valuable benefits for small businesses — all for no annual fee.
You may have heard about business cards stacked with valuable perks and spending bonuses, such as or the . The Blue Business Plus perfectly complements these cards. Not only does it have no annual fee, but you can earn twice as many Amex points for purchases that don’t fall into one of the other cards’ bonus categories.
We recommend you have a good to excellent credit score to increase your chances of being approved for this product.
Here’s everything you need to know about this solid business credit card.
New cardmembers of the can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 50,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
According to TPG's October 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $1,000.
THE POINTS GUY
Remember that American Express has a once-per-lifetime policy for earning welcome bonuses. As a result, if you’ve had this card in the past, you may not be eligible for any welcome offer on it.
Fortunately, Amex will tell you whether you're eligible for a welcome offer before you submit your application. Pay attention to any pop-ups that appear during the application process.
Despite being a no-annual-fee business card, the offers several perks that could be highly valuable for small businesses:
Expanded buying power: This benefit allows you to spend beyond your credit limit to help pay for larger purchases. This additional spending must be paid in full by your due date; the amount up to your credit limit can be carried from month to month. Note that this does not mean that American Express will grant you unlimited spending power — the amount adjusts based on various factors, including your card use, payment history and credit history.
Employee cards: American Express allows you to get up to 99 employee cards at no additional cost (see rates and fees), making it easy to rack up rewards through your employees’ spending.
Amex Offers: These are statement credits or bonus points with specific merchants, which can save you hundreds of dollars over a year.
*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.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Earning points on the is straightforward — one of the greatest merits of the card. You earn 2 points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 spent on the card annually (then 1 point per dollar after that).
This is the best earning rate for everyday purchases on a business card — equal to a 4% return, based on TPG's March 2025 valuations.
MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
There are no bonus categories to keep track of, which makes it very easy to manage.
Though you’ll generally get the most value from your Amex points by transferring them to a travel partner, you can also redeem points for cash back, Amazon purchases, gift cards and more. However, these tend to offer much lower value for your points.
DRAGONIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Alternatively, you can use points to book travel directly through Amex Travel, but if that’s the type of redemption you’re after, you’ll want to pair the Blue Business Plus with the to get a 35% of your points back for eligible flights with your selected qualifying airline (up to 1 million points back per calendar year on the Business Platinum).
If you prefer Capital One: Go for the Capital One Venture Business. It earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, although some differences exist. Capital One’s card doesn’t have a spending cap for that earning rate but carries a $95 annual fee. When using your miles, you can redeem them for travel at 1 cent apiece — or you can transfer them to 15-plus airline and hotel partners.
If you want more benefits: The offers a wide range of statement credits that can help your business offset costs. The card earns 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com. Plus, you'll earn 2 points per dollar in key business category purchases or on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million in purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). It comes with a $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.
If you own a small business and want to earn lucrative Membership Rewards points on your everyday business spending, you should consider Amex’s . Its industry-leading return of 4% (TPG's March 2025 valuation) on the first $50,000 spent each year is fantastic — as is the fact you can earn this many points without paying an annual fee.
Bottom line
The Blue Business Plus card is a fantastic option for small businesses, though depending on the types of purchases your business makes, it may make the most sense for you to pair this card with another Amex business card that offers bonus categories.
A great sibling is the , which earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the two categories in which you spend the most each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) — all for an annual fee of $375 (see rates and fees).
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, click here.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
