The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Quick Verdict

The Blue Business Plus from American Express is the best no-annual-fee business card for earning flexible rewards. You get 2X Membership Rewards points on every purchase up to $50,000 per year — no category restrictions, no rotating bonuses, no activation required. After the $50K cap, you earn 1X on everything else.

What makes this card special is the points currency: Membership Rewards points transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners, where they're worth 1.5-2+ cents each — significantly more than the 1 cent/point you'd get as statement credit. For a $0 annual fee card, access to that transfer ecosystem is exceptional. If you spend under $50K/year on business expenses and want maximum flexibility with your rewards, this is the card.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express offers small business owners a straightforward way to earn rewards on their everyday spending. With its simple earning structure and no annual fee, this card can provide value for businesses looking to maximize their rewards without complex category tracking or additional costs. Terms apply.

Welcome Offer

Rewards Structure

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express features a simple, flat-rate rewards system:

• Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• Earn 1X points on purchases after the $50,000 cap.

This structure is particularly beneficial for businesses with varied expenses or those who prefer not to track bonus categories.

Business Management Features

While not a travel-focused card, the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express offers several valuable business management tools:

• Expanded Buying Power: The ability to spend above your credit limit without over-limit fees. The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited and adjusts depending on your card use, payment history, credit record, and other factors.
• Employee cards: Add employee cards with no additional annual fee.
• Account Manager: Ability to designate an Account Manager to manage your Business Card account.
• Vendor Pay by Bill.com: Earn rewards while automating your vendor payments.
• American Express® Business App: Manage your account on the go.

Travel and Shopping Benefits

While not as extensive as premium cards, the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express still offers some valuable protections:

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Coverage for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle when you use your card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver.
• Global Assist® Hotline: Access 24/7 emergency assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home (third-party service charges may apply).
• Purchase Protection: Coverage for eligible purchases against accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days from the date of purchase.
• Extended Warranty: Up to one additional year added to the original manufacturer's warranty.

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.

Annual Fee and Other Charges

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express Credit Card has no annual fee, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to minimize costs while still earning rewards. However, it does charge a 2.7% foreign transaction (see rates and fees) fee on purchases made outside the U.S. Like any credit product, there are other potential fees, such as late payment fees. Refer to the card's Rates and Fees document for the most up-to-date information.

Who Should Get This Card?

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express is best suited for:

1. Small business owners looking for a no-annual-fee card to earn rewards on everyday purchases.
2. Businesses with varied expenses may not align well with category-specific bonus rewards.
3. Those who value the flexibility of Membership Rewards® points for travel redemptions.

Who Should Consider Other Options?

This card may not be the best fit for:

1. Businesses that spend significantly more than $50,000 annually on the card.
2. Those looking for premium travel perks like airport lounge access or travel credits.
3. Businesses that frequently make purchases outside the U.S. and want to avoid foreign transaction fees.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express offers a straightforward way to earn rewards on business spending without the cost of an annual fee. Its simple earning structure and flexible redemption options make it an attractive choice for many small businesses. However, those seeking premium travel benefits or with high annual spending may want to consider other options.

Understanding 2X Membership Rewards Points

The Blue Business Plus earns 2X Membership Rewards (MR) points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year, then 1X after that. There are no bonus categories — every purchase earns the same flat rate, which simplifies things considerably compared to cards that require you to track rotating categories.

What makes MR points valuable is the transfer partner network. You can transfer points 1:1 to airline partners like Delta SkyMiles, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Avios, ANA Mileage Club, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Hotel partners include Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio) and Marriott Bonvoy (1:1).

When redeemed through transfer partners, MR points are typically worth 1.5-2 cents each — sometimes more for premium cabin awards. That means your 2X earning rate effectively delivers 3-4% return on spending, from a $0 annual fee card. Even at the conservative 1.5 cents/point valuation, the Blue Business Plus delivers a 3% return that beats most cash back cards.

The $50,000 Spending Cap

The 2X earning rate applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year. After that threshold, all purchases earn 1X. For most small businesses and freelancers, $50K/year covers the bulk of operating expenses. If your business spends significantly more, consider pairing the Blue Business Plus with a higher-earning card for specific categories (like the Amex Business Gold for the top 2 spending categories at 4X).

Blue Business Plus vs Blue Business Cash

The most common comparison for the Blue Business Plus is against its sibling, the Blue Business Cash card. Both are $0 annual fee business cards from Amex, but they reward you in fundamentally different currencies.

Blue Business Plus: 2X Membership Rewards points on everything (up to $50K). Points transfer to 20+ airline/hotel partners at 1.5-2+ cents per point. Best for travelers who want maximum flexibility.

Blue Business Cash: 2% cash back on everything (up to $50K). Cash back is straightforward — no transfer partners, no point valuations. Best for business owners who want simple, immediate value.

The math favors the Blue Business Plus if you use transfer partners: 2X MR points at 1.5 cents each = 3% effective return, versus 2% cash back from the Cash card. But if you never transfer points and only redeem as statement credit (1 cent/point), both cards deliver 2% — and the Cash card is simpler. Many business owners carry both and use the Plus for everyday spending while keeping the Cash card for expenses where immediate cash back makes more sense.

Approval Requirements

The Blue Business Plus is accessible to a wide range of business types, including sole proprietors, freelancers, and side hustlers. You don't need an LLC or formal business entity to apply — your Social Security number works as your business tax ID if you're a sole proprietor.

Amex generally looks for a personal credit score of 670+ (good credit), though higher scores improve approval odds and credit limits. Your business revenue, time in business, and existing relationship with Amex also factor in. If you already have an Amex consumer card with a good payment history, that can help your application.

One important note: Amex has a once-per-lifetime welcome bonus rule. If you've ever had the Blue Business Plus before, you typically won't qualify for the sign-up bonus again. Check Amex's pre-qualification tool before applying to see your odds without a hard credit pull.

Frequently Asked Questions

Compare