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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.
Guides
Is the Amex Business Platinum worth the annual fee?
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
Chris Nelson is a credit cards writer for TPG. He specializes in budget travel, hotels, earning elite status through minimal spending and redeeming points for maximum value.
also contributed to this story
October 17, 2025 • 12 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Quick summary
A premium business card offers a wide range of travel and business perks, including extensive lounge access, hotel and car rental elite status, and multiple statement credits for travel and business purchases.
Cardholders can benefit from annual statement credits for airline fees, hotels, wireless services, and business expenses with select merchants, potentially offsetting the high annual fee if fully utilized.
Additional benefits include reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and Clear+ membership fees, as well as cellphone protection and bonus points for select travel and business categories.
The card is best suited for business owners who travel frequently and can maximize the various credits and elite status perks.
What to consider
Many perks require enrollment and may have specific eligibility criteria or spending thresholds.
Some benefits, such as lounge access and hotel credits, have usage limitations or require bookings through designated channels.
The value of the card depends on your ability to use the statement credits and travel benefits regularly.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of each benefit, including how to enroll, maximize credits, and compare elite status programs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
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.
When you consider adding a card that boasts an annual fee close to $900, it makes sense that you'd want to seriously weigh out its benefits before applying.
Here's what you need to know about whether paying the high annual fee of Amex Business Platinum is worth it for you.
Welcome bonus
New applicants to the Amex Business Platinum can find out their offer and see if they're eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
THE POINTS GUY
According to TPG’s April 2026 valuations, American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents apiece, making this bonus worth up to $6,000.
The potential in this welcome offer could make the card worth adding to your wallet, especially since TPG's valuation deems it worth more than six times the $895 annual fee.
Still, the bonus is a one-time perk, and just how much value you get from it will depend on how you redeem your points.
Delta Sky Club lounges (when flying on a same-day Delta flight; limited to 10 annual visits; unlimited access offered after spending $75,000 in a calendar year)
Escape Lounges
Lufthansa lounges (varying access depending on what airline and cabin you’re flying)
You can consult the Global Lounge Collection's online search function to find lounges accessible on your next trip. Access is limited to eligible cardmembers.
When visiting these lounges, you can enjoy benefits like complimentary snacks, food, drinks (sometimes including complimentary alcohol) and complimentary Wi-Fi. Certain lounges will have better benefits, such as full meals, showers, children’s play areas and more.
These elite statuses can provide multiple benefits such as late checkout, room upgrades and bonus points.
If you're not already loyal to a particular hotel brand, automatically receiving three elite statuses could be seen as a major perk for business owners.
Rental car elite status provides benefits like car upgrades, a free second driver, and the ability to skip the line and go straight to your car at the start of your rental.
One of the best benefits of car rental elite status in any program is the ability to status match with other rental car programs, helping you gain status in numerous programs simultaneously. This is a fantastic perk that can easily help offset the annual fee if you frequently rent cars.
Annual airline statement credits each calendar year
Traveling can sometimes come with costly fees that show up in the form of paying for checked bags or upgrading to a better seat on your flight. Fortunately, Business Platinum cardmembers can offset those fees with up to $200 in statement credits for airline incidental fees per calendar year.
Business Platinum cardmembers can choose one of the following airlines as their preferred airline: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Before using this benefit, you must choose a preferred airline. The benefit can cover change and cancellation fees, seat selection fees, upgrade fees, checked bag fees and more.
This flexible credit can be easy to use and potentially makes the annual fee worth it.
When using points to pay for a flight through Amex Travel, Business Platinum cardmembers can get 35% of their points back. This applies to flights booked with your selected qualifying airline (the same one you choose for your airline incidental credit; up to 1 million points back per calendar year).
Cardmembers can enjoy up to 1 million points refunded through this benefit every year, so it could be a fantastic one to maximize and help offset the $895 annual fee.
Plus, for these bookings, the card offers an up to $600 lodging statement credit per calendar year (up to $300 back in statement credits biannually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings on amextravel.com; minimum two-night stay for THC). Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts will require stays of two nights or more to be eligible for the lodging statement credit.
RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY
FHR stays include benefits like daily breakfast for two, late checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi and room upgrades (if available at check-in). Each stay also includes a unique experience credit worth $100, typically in the form of dining credits or spa credits.
THC stays include room upgrades (if available at check-in) and a $100 property credit (with bookings of two consecutive nights or more) to spend on qualifying dining, spa and resort activities.
Access to this credit and these programs certainly helps offset the $895 annual fee, as long as you travel regularly enough to use the perks.
Bonus points for airfare, hotels and business expenses
When cardmembers play with the Business Platinum, they can earn 5 points per dollar on airfare and prepaid lodging bookings made through American Express Travel.
This earning rate also includes bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection.
Cardmembers can also earn 2 points per dollar on purchases at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, shipping providers*, and software and cloud system providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
If your business frequently spends in these categories or on purchases of at least $5,000, you could rack up valuable Membership Rewards points.
The Business Platinum also features a quarterly statement credit for eligible purchases with Hilton. Cardmembers receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year, split into four up to $50 quarterly credits. (Enrollment is required.)
HILTON
You can earn the credit simply by making a purchase directly with a Hilton portfolio property using your Business Platinum card. Eligible charges include room rates and incidental purchases, like dining, room service, and spa treatments.
It's important to note you'll need to enroll in the Hilton for Business program to be eligible for the statement credit. If you're not a member of Hilton for Business, you'll be registered when you enroll in the card's benefit.
Again, if you will stay with Hilton frequently enough to maximize this credit, it also makes the card's annual fee worth it.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement
Business Platinum cardmembers can receive statement credits to reimburse their application fees for Global Entry ($120) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85). This benefit is available every four years for Global Entry or every 4 1/2 years for TSA PreCheck.
With this perk, you can navigate through airport security in the U.S. faster with PreCheck lanes at certain airports. Even better, Global Entry allows you to enter the U.S. through passport control more quickly with designated lanes.
DAVID TRAN/GETTY IMAGES
Annual Clear+ membership credit
While Clear isn't a government security program, it can help you speed through security checkpoints at airports and select stadiums with biometrics.
Cardmembers can receive reimbursement in statement credits of up to $219 per calendar year for Clear+ membership fees. (Enrollment is required for this benefit. Pay with your Business Platinum card to automatically receive a statement credit; it's subject to auto-renewal.)
These credits can provide fantastic value to frequent travelers, especially if you don't already have a card with these perks.
If you pay your monthly cellphone bill with the Business Platinum, you'll receive cellphone protection to cover your phone against loss or damage. There is a maximum of $800 liability per claim, and each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. There’s also a limit of two claims per eligible account in a 12-month period.
Covered phones are restricted to cellphone lines listed on a mobile phone plan paid with the eligible card during the most recent billing period.*
WESLEY SOARES FERRACINI/GETTY IMAGES
Plus, you'll receive up to $120 per calendar year in statement credits for purchases made directly from any U.S. wireless telephone provider^ (up to $10 per month), which also helps offset the annual fee.
Combining this protection with the monthly wireless credits covered above is a great way to invoke insurance benefits plus a discount on your monthly cellphone bill.
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Finally, depending on their regular spending, business owners could maximize multiple statement credits on the Business Platinum (enrollment required).
These include:
Dell statement credit: Up to $150 per calendar year in statement credits on U.S. purchases made directly at Dell and an additional $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 or more with Dell each calendar year
Indeed credit: Up to $360 statement credit per calendar year (up to $90 per quarter)
ChatGPT Business: Up to $300 statement credit per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business (subject to auto-renewal)
Adobe statement credit: A $250 statement credit after spending $600 or more on U.S. purchases made directly at Adobe each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)
D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES
Plus, after spending $250,000 or more on eligible purchases (spending on your card this year counts toward the requirement), you'll earn up to $1,200 in Amex Travel flight statement credits and up to $2,400 in One AP statement credits (valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the calendar year after meeting the requirement; subject to auto-renewal).
If your business is able to use these credits or spend up to the high-value Amex Travel flight and One AP credits, this could definitely help offset the card's high annual fee.
With so many statement credits and perks to maximize on the Business Platinum, there are many ways that organized business owners can recoup their annual fee.
An $895 annual fee is certainly worth considering. As long as you find the value of the card's benefits to be higher than that, an application could be in order.
Overall, it depends whether your business expenses and travel preferences make the card's high annual fee worth it.
