A long-term keeper: Why the Blue Business Plus remains firmly in my wallet
I've been collecting points and miles on travel credit cards for nearly two decades, and I hear a common refrain when talking with friends and family members about the topic. "Why would I ever pay an annual fee on a credit card?"
Longtime readers know the answer to this question, but I still find that so many just can't get past the idea of paying for a credit card.
Thankfully, there are plenty of great no-annual-fee cards out there — and for small-business owners, there's one that stands above the rest: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (see rates and fees).
Here's why this card remains firmly in my wallet.
Flexible Membership Rewards points
Many card issuers allow you to pool your points when you have multiple cards in their respective ecosystems. However, this usually means that your no-annual-fee options require higher-end cards to maximize their value. Case in point:
- Rewards from cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) can only be transferred to partner programs if you have a higher-end card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
You're limited to cash-back redemption options if you don't have a higher-tier card.
That is not true for the Blue Business Plus.
Even if it's the only American Express card you have in your wallet, you're earning 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent (on up to $50,000 in spending each year, then 1 point per dollar). And these are fully flexible Membership Rewards points. You can use them for flights, hotels and rental cars via American Express Travel, but my favorite redemption option is transferring them to Amex's 21 airline and hotel partners.
The top options for me include:
- Air Canada Aeroplan, which I've used to book Star Alliance awards
- British Airways Executive Club, which I've used to book short-haul American Airlines flights or Iberia flights in business class to Europe
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which I've used to book a variety of partner airlines
I've even topped up my Delta Air Lines SkyMiles account when I was just a bit shy of a specific redemption, though this did incur Amex's frustrating fee to offset federal excise taxes on the transfer (0.06 cents per point, up to a maximum of $99).
For more suggestions, check out our guide to maximizing Amex Membership Rewards points.
Related: 7 reasons why the Amex Blue Business Plus Card should be in everyone's wallet
No annual fee
As mentioned before, the Blue Business Plus incurs no annual fee (see rates and fees). This means there's no cost to your small business every year. With 2 points per dollar spent (on up to $50,000 per year), you're getting the equivalent of 4% back on purchases (based on TPG's most recent valuations) — that's a fantastic rate of return.
Note that the card does impose foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) when used outside the U.S. As a result, this isn't a good option when traveling abroad.
Read more: 7 reasons you should get (and keep) a no-annual-fee credit card
And the fact that this card doesn't have an annual fee makes this next perk even more noteworthy.
Valuable Amex Offers
I am a huge proponent of regularly checking your credit card accounts for discounts and bonus offers that must be activated before making a purchase. And the Amex Offers platform is among the most valuable on the market.
In 2023, here's just a sampling of the offers I used on my Blue Business Plus:
- $60 back on a monthly YouTube TV subscription ($20 back, up to three times)
- $75 back on a $300 purchase at a Hyatt Centric in New York City
- $10 back on a $75 purchase at Office Depot
- $44 back on a $221 stay at a Residence Inn
- $75 off a $300 purchase at a Kimpton hotel
- $100 off $536 in purchases at Lowe's
- $14 off $137 in purchases at FedEx Office
- $60 off my $120 annual renewal of Dropbox
- 2,500 bonus Amex points for purchases at amazon.com
In all, I received over $645 in statement credits plus an additional 2,500 Amex points (valued at $50). That's nearly $700 of added value, all on purchases I was already making.
How well it plays with others
If you're only looking for a small-business card with no annual fee, the Blue Business Plus is a fantastic option. However, there's something to be said about pairing it with other Amex cards to amplify your earning opportunities.
For example, I also have the personal American Express® Gold Card, which awards 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).. I'll use the Gold card for those purchases, but then the Blue Business Plus can cover a variety of other purchases that don't fall into traditional bonus categories.
And since the Amex Gold does not impose foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), it's a great option for trips outside the U.S.
I also hold The Platinum Card® from American Express, and while I don't use it frequently for spending, I do value the array of perks on the card — including extensive lounge access and luxury hotel perks.
The other great thing is that your Membership Rewards points from multiple Amex cards (including consumer and business cards) get pooled when you add them to a single online account. As a result, there's no need to worry about managing multiple logins and separate balances.
Read more: American Express Membership Rewards: The ultimate guide
Current welcome offer
If you don't currently have the Blue Business Plus, it's worth noting that you can currently earn a welcome bonus of 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on purchases on your card in your first three months. This isn't a wildly lucrative offer, but the card has gone through long stretches in the past with no welcome bonus. As a result, if you've been waiting to apply, now is a great time to do so.
Just be aware of Amex's once-per-lifetime policy on welcome bonuses, and be sure you've read through our guide to application restrictions so you're aware of potential roadblocks. And note that you may not need a formal business to get approved — I was approved years ago using just my Social Security number as a sole proprietor.
Related: How to get a business credit card
Bottom line
I am a huge fan of the Amex Blue Business Plus card. With 2 points per dollar spent on all purchases (up to $50,000 per year) along with an array of lucrative Amex Offers and easy pairability with other Amex cards, the Blue Business Plus has a long-term spot in my wallet.
With the current welcome offer, now could be a fantastic time to add the card to your arsenal — and start earning valuable Membership Rewards points for your small business.
To learn more about the card, read our full review of the Blue Business Plus.
Apply here: Blue Business Plus card with a 15,000-point welcome bonus
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees