Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Business Platinum?
Editor's Note
Few cards — across the consumer and business card spectrum — capture the "wow" factor quite like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
A hearty welcome bonus worth more than the card's annual fee several times over? Check. Exceptional rewards on common business expenses, airfare and prepaid hotel bookings? Check. Massive travel perks, including an annual airline fee credit and airport lounge access? Check again.
It's no wonder this is a must-have card for business travelers. Still, that doesn't mean every small-business owner can justify carrying this card. It's a great card, but it's not the right one for everyone.
So, let's look at who should — and shouldn't — get the Amex Business Platinum.
Amex Business Platinum welcome offer
New Amex Business Platinum cardmembers can earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.
Based on TPG's April 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth $4,000.
That spending minimum may be a tall order for many small-business owners. But if you have high inventory turnover or are growing your business, this card may help make your normal business activity much more rewarding.
Amex Business Platinum benefits
The welcome offer is far from the only reason to consider this card. Here are some perks that you can get, including some benefits not available on The Platinum Card® from American Express (the personal version of this card):
- Earn 2 points per dollar on purchases of $5,000 or more and eligible U.S. purchases on electronic goods retailers, software and cloud service providers, construction materials and hardware supplies and shipping providers (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year, then you'll earn 1 point per dollar spent thereafter).
- 35% Pay with Points bonus for eligible flights with your selected airline booked through amextravel.com (up to 1 million points per calendar year).
- Up to $1,150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. Dell purchases: up to $150 each calendar year and an additional $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 on Dell purchases with the same card each calendar year
- A $250 statement credit after spending $600 or more on U.S. purchases with Adobe each calendar year
- Up to $360 each calendar year in Indeed statement credits (up to $90 per quarter)
- Up to $120 each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) in statement credits for spending on wireless plans with U.S. providers
- Up to $209 statement credit per calendar year for a Clear Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal)
(Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.)
Just like the personal version of this card, you'll enjoy these benefits, too:
- 5 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel® (without the annual spend cap that the personal Amex Platinum Card has)
- An up to $200 annual airline fee statement credit each calendar year
- Access to Amex's lounge network for eligible cardmembers, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta*) and Priority Pass™ lounges
- An up to $120 Global Entry statement credit every four years or up to $85 TSA PreCheck statement credit every 4½ years
- Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
- Rental car elite status
*Eligible Platinum cardmembers will receive 10 Visits per eligible Platinum card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
(Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.)
For all of these benefits, you'll pay a $895 annual fee for either card (see Amex Business Platinum rates and fees; see Amex Platinum rates and fees).
Who should get the Amex Business Platinum?
Frequent travelers
This card is a no-brainer for business owners who travel globally.
One perk not mentioned above is no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), meaning you won't get dinged for purchases made outside the U.S. This is especially useful for entrepreneurs who frequently conduct business abroad.
Businesses with large expenses
Most cards offer 1 point per dollar spent on nonbonus spending. However, if your business routinely makes large purchases of $5,000 or more, the elevated 2 points per dollar spent on big purchases is better than you'll find elsewhere.
Plus, if your business makes thousands of dollars in card purchases monthly, the minimum spend requirement needed to achieve the welcome bonus becomes more attainable.
Owners who value flexible points
The most lucrative way to redeem Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to one of Amex's 20 airline or hotel partners. If you're willing to put in the time and research, going the transfer route can increase the value of your points even above our valuations.
Someone who already has the American Express Business Gold Card
If you already have the American Express® Business Gold Card, this could provide a one-two punch when it comes to earning Membership Rewards. Use the Amex Business Gold to fill in the blanks left by the Business Platinum card.
With the Business Gold, you'll earn 4 points per dollar spent on the two categories in which you spend the most each billing cycle from the following list (terms and limitations apply):
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers, plus software and cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service in the U.S.
- Transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, ride-hailing services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses and subways
While you're capped at $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year for this 4 points per dollar earning rate (you only earn 1 point per dollar spent after hitting that ceiling), that 8% return prior to hitting the spending cap (based on TPG's April 2025 valuations) is pretty sweet.
Plus, Amex will even recalculate your top spending categories each month to make sure you earn the highest number of points possible.
Related: American Express Business Gold Card review
Who shouldn't get the Amex Business Platinum?
Businesses with modest operating expenses
If you can't meet the spending requirement for the welcome bonus or justify paying the $895 annual fee, there are better options for you, such as Chase's no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
Someone who already has the personal version of the card
Since there are so many similarities between the business and personal versions of this card, it can be hard to justify having both. First, you'll need to determine if you can spend enough to earn both bonuses.
Outside of the bonus, another key consideration in whether or not to get the business version is keeping your personal and business expenses separate and whether or not you can stomach paying almost $1,800 in annual fees for your cards (see rates and fees for the consumer Amex Platinum).
There are instances in which you could maximize the earning potential of both cards, but that will ultimately depend on your spending habits, business needs and financial capacity.
Businesses that need multiple employee cards
Although you can get up to 99 Amex Business Platinum employee cards, Amex will charge you $400 annually for each additional Business Platinum card you request (see rates and fees).
That's a pretty hefty price to pay, given that other business card options offer free employee cards, like the Capital One Spark Miles for Business.
Bottom line
TPG considers the Amex Business Platinum to be one of the best business cards for a good reason:
- It offers fantastic value for the frequent business traveler.
- It's currently offering one of the most valuable welcome offers on the market.
If you're able to meet the hefty spending requirement within the allotted period, it could be a great addition to your business wallet.
However, if you're a business owner who prioritizes reducing overhead as much as possible, the Amex Business Platinum card may not be a good fit for you, especially when you consider how many other great business cards might also be a good fit for your enterprise.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.
Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Related: 7 reasons you might want the Amex Business Platinum Card instead of the Amex Platinum Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.