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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is a match for small business owners seeking travel rewards at no annual fee. It also has a solid intro APR offer on purchases. But if you want robust benefits, look elsewhere. Read more in our full American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card review.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.


The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers small business owners the chance to earn Amex Membership® Rewards points, a coveted travel award currency, for no annual fee.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

While American Express offers other business rewards credit cards with more points multipliers, this card charges no annual fee and offers an introductory APR on new purchases.

The main drawbacks to the Blue Business Plus Card are that it comes with an annual spending cap, after which the reward rate dips, and it has very limited travel benefits. It also charges foreign transaction fees, which is unfortunate on a travel card. Still, it’s a solid rewards card option in the right wallet. 

Blue Business Plus Card basics

  • Annual fee: $0.
  • Welcome bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
  • Rewards: Earn 2 Membership Rewards® points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
  • APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies.
  • Other perks and benefits: Global Assist Hotline¹, Expanded Buying Power program, dispute resolution on The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
  • Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
  • Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 50+ cards analyzed.
  • 8 data points considered.
  • 5-step fact-checking process.

About the Blue Business Plus Card 

If you’re seeking an American Express credit card to help your business earn rewards and manage cash flow, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is worth considering. It earns Membership Rewards points at a competitive flat rate (until you hit the annual spending cap, after which the rate drops). And those points are flexible travel rewards you can use to book travel in the Amex portal or transfer to nearly two dozen airline and hotel partners.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

You can add up to 99 employee cards. And you’ll earn rewards on purchases your employees make, too.

The card also provides a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies. If you need to finance a big-ticket purchase, this gives time to do so without paying interest. 

Pros

  • No annual fee. There is no cost to carry this card.
  • Intro APR on purchases. Not all business rewards cards come with an intro APR period, so this is a useful feature that sets The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. apart. 
  • Rewards. Earn 2 Membership Rewards® points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
  • Expanded Buying Power. This feature allows you to spend over your credit limit with no over-limit fees, as long as you pay off the excess balance each month (it will be due as part of your minimum monthly payment). If you fail to pay that amount, a penalty APR will apply to the balance.
  • Employee cards. You can add up to 99 employees to your primary card account.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Cons

  • Limited travel benefits. The card comes with just the Global Assist Hotline¹ and secondary car rental insurance². Frequent travelers seeking protections like baggage delay insurance won’t find them here.
  • Late payments can impact both business and personal credit. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. requires both joint and several liability. That means both the individual cardholder and the business can be held responsible for balances owed. That said, this is fairly standard. Getting a business credit card will involve a personal guarantee in almost all cases, unless you’re able to qualify for a corporate card.
  • Foreign transaction fees. You’ll be charged 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Blue Business Plus Card rewards

Cardholders earn 2 Membership Rewards® points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. There’s also a welcome offer of 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership on The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

The value of Membership Rewards points depends on how you redeem them. For example, you can book flights through American Express Travel at a value of 1 cent per point. But using your points to cover past charges on your card only nets you a value of 0.6 cents per point. You can also transfer points to nearly two dozen travel partners, many at a 1:1 rate, then book award travel directly with your preferred airline or hotel.

Amex’s list of transfer partners includes popular programs such as Delta SkyMiles® and Marriott Bonvoy®.

Blue Business Plus Card APR

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49% applies. There is no intro APR offer on the card for balance transfers. 

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Cardholders can also take advantage of the Expanded Buying Power feature, which lets you make purchases over your credit limit as long as you pay the amount over your credit limit in full by the statement closing date. If you do not pay the entire minimum payment due by the closing date, you will be subject to the penalty rate. Note, what you can spend isn’t unlimited, but adjusts based on card use, payment history and other factors.

Blue Business Plus Card benefits and perks

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. comes with some basic benefits listed below, but comes up short compared to other business cards, as it doesn’t offer benefits such as return protection, cellphone insurance, lost or stolen baggage protection when traveling nor trip delay/trip interruption protections.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

  • Extended warranty. Your purchases are covered for an additional year, on original warranties of five years or less, up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account³.
  • Purchase protection. Your purchases are covered for up to 90 days against damages or theft up to $1,000 per item and up to $50,000 per account⁴.
  • Car rental damage and theft coverage. This is secondary insurance, meaning you’ll have to file a claim with your primary insurance carrier first².
  • Global Assist Hotline. Get assistance when traveling, from pre-trip arrangements to emergency services. Third-party charges will apply. Note, you must be traveling more than 100 miles from home to take advantage of emergency assistance and coordination services¹.
  • Employee cards. Add up to 99 employees to the account at no additional cost. You can set up spending limits on those cards as well.

How the Blue Business Plus Card compares to other business rewards credit cards

Blue Business Plus Card vs. American Express® Business Gold Card * The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you don’t mind paying a $375 annual fee in exchange for more enhanced benefits and a more generous rewards program, you may want to consider the American Express Business Gold Card (terms apply) instead. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. doesn’t have an annual fee.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Cardholders can earn 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year on the 2 select categories your business spends the most each month, 3 points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com and 1 point per $1 for other purchases. Eligible categories include transit purchases, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio), U.S. purchases made directly from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud solutions providers, U.S. purchases at gas stations, U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery and monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.

There’s a welcome bonus of 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership on the American Express® Business Gold Card * The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .

All information about American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees and the card provides coverage for trip delays⁵ and baggage loss, damage or theft⁶.

Blue Business Plus Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For just a $95 annual fee, the Ink Business Preferred Card offers new cardholders 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening as well as a generous ongoing rewards program. 

Cardholders earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Points are worth 1 cent each if redeemed for cash back, but you can redeem them for travel bookings in the Chase portal for 25% more value or transfer them 1:1 to travel partners.

The Ink Business Preferred does not come with an intro APR offer. However, it does offer robust benefits including trip cancellation and interruption insurance and primary rental car coverage. Those protections, along with earning flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, make this card a great choice for frequent travelers.

Finally, there are no foreign transaction fees.

Blue Business Plus Card vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card * The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Blue Business Cash (terms apply) is another $0-annual-fee American Express business rewards card. 

Cardholders earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (automatically rewarded via statement credits), up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. 

There is a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a 18.49% to 26.49% variable APR.

The cash back you earn is automatically redeemed as a statement credit, but some business owners may prefer that simplicity. And the benefits on the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card * The information for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. are comparable to those offered by The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .

All information about The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Apply Now
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s secure website

Welcome bonus

Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Earn up to $750 bonus cash back

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.49% – 24.49% Variable

Credit score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Editor’s take

Pros
  • No annual fee.
  • Rich rewards rate in areas where businesses are likely to spend the most.
  • Employee cards at no additional cost.
Cons
  • There’s a foreign transaction fee.
  • Bonus categories are capped at $25,000 in spending each account anniversary year.
  • Lackluster rewards outside of bonus categories.
The Ink Business Cash Credit Card earns exceptional cash-back rewards on typical office spending categories and strong rewards in other areas, too. Add in a big welcome bonus, plus travel and purchase coverages and you’ve got a top-notch small business card.

Card details

  • Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
  • Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
  • Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
  • With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC

How do I apply for the Amex Blue Business Plus Card?

You can apply for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. online, or by calling 1-800-223-2670. Be prepared to provide the following information:

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

  1. Business information: Details include your business name, address, industry and DBA if applicable.
  2. Personal information: Provide your address, SSN, role and income information.
  3. Documents: Amex may request bank statements, company financial statements or other documents.

American Express may provide your credit card decision in as little as a few seconds after your application is submitted, unless further information is needed for their application review.

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered include:

  • Annual fees.
  • Rewards rates.
  • Welcome bonuses.
  • Any intro APR offers.
  • Credits for services business owners might find helpful.
  • Any protections and insurances like cellphone coverage, purchase protection or extended warranty coverage.
  • Any other perks that make the card useful to the cardholder.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Both positive and negative account information for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is reported to the Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE) and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). When there’s negative information, it’s also reported to the consumer credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

When you apply for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , American Express may conduct a hard pull, also known as a hard inquiry, on both your business and personal credit reports. When your personal credit reports are pulled, your scores can potentially drop by up to five points for a year.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

American Express doesn’t disclose a maximum credit limit for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , but this card comes with an Expanded Buying Power feature that allows you to spend over your credit card limit without penalties, as long as you pay off the over-limit amount in full each month.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. can help you build your business credit, with account activity reporting to the commercial credit bureaus Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and the Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE). Make sure to practice healthy credit habits with the account, such as staying current with your monthly payments and keeping your balance low.

However, the Amex Blue Business Plus Card is not a good choice for those hoping to build their personal credit scores. Activity on this card will only be reported to the consumer credit bureaus if there’s negative information, such as late payments. If you’re seeking a card to help you improve your personal credit score, take a look instead at our recommendations for credit-building cards.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

²Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

³When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar 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.

⁴When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar 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.

⁵Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

⁶Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

*The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sarah Brady

BLUEPRINT

Sarah Brady is a personal finance writer and educator who's been helping individuals and entrepreneurs improve their financial wellness since 2013. Sarah's other publications include Investopedia, Experian, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), Credit Karma and LendingTree and her work has been syndicated by Yahoo! News and MSN. She is also a former HUD-Certified Housing Counselor and NFCC-Certified Credit Counselor.

Glen Luke Flanagan is a deputy editor on the USA TODAY Blueprint credit cards team. Prior to joining Blueprint, he served as a deputy editor on the credit cards team at Forbes Advisor, and covered credit cards, credit scoring and related topics as a senior writer at LendingTree. He’s passionate about helping people understand personal finance so they can make the best decisions possible for their wallet. Glen holds a master's degree in technical and professional communication from East Carolina University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University.

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