35 Benefits of the American Express® Business Gold Card
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The American Express® Business Gold Card isn’t one of those showy new credit cards with a giant welcome bonus, hotel elite status, and airport lounge access (Priority Pass, Amex Centurion etc) — you’ll have to dig deeper to find the real value your business can use with this card.
Fortunately, for the right business, the value is definitely there. In fact, if your business can use the offered benefits, you can save thousands of dollars during your first year of card membership.
With that said, this card isn’t going to be valuable to all businesses.
Just like any business credit card, spending categories need to align, the benefits offered need to be those you will actually use, and you have to find enough value to offset the annual fee.
But with up to 4X earnings, free recruiting and online services, rebates on airfare, and the ability to transfer points to travel partners, the card does offer plenty.
Could this card offer enough to make it a valued asset to your business?
Let’s take a look at all of benefits offered by the American Express® Business Gold Card and see if it delivers enough value for your particular business to justify applying.
Table of contents
- Earning Valuable Membership Rewards Points
- Free G Suite Services
- Free ZipRecruiter Subscription
- 25% Airline Redemption Bonus
- Transfer Membership Rewards to Travel Partners
- Amex Offers
- The Hotel Collection
- The Travel Collection
- Business Expense Management Tools
- Additional Travel, Entertainment, and Transportation Perks
- Additional Shopping Benefits
- Cash Flow and Finance Benefits
- Final Thoughts
| CREDIT CARD | BENEFITS |
|---|---|
American Express® Business Gold Card |
|
Table of Contents
- Earning Valuable Membership Rewards Points
- Free G Suite Services
- Free ZipRecruiter Subscription
- 25% Airline Redemption Bonus
- Transfer Membership Rewards to Travel Partners
- Amex Offers
- The Hotel Collection
- The Travel Collection
- Business Expense Management Tools
- Additional Travel, Entertainment, and Transportation Perks
- Additional Shopping Benefits
- Cash Flow and Finance Benefits
- Final Thoughts
Earning Valuable Membership Rewards Points
Earning rewards may not be the most important reason to acquire a business credit card, but it’s always near the top of the list of card benefits.
That’s because rewards can help offset bottom line costs such as travel expenses, or even fund an annual vacation you’d otherwise be paying cash for.
Membership Rewards points earned on this card are some of the most flexible and valuable points you can earn — and there are plenty of ways to earn them.
Accelerated Earnings in Business Spending Categories
There are 6 business expense categories that are eligible to earn 4 Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent:
- Airfare purchased from airlines directly
- Online, TV, and radio advertising purchased from U.S. media
- Select technology purchases of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions from U.S. providers
- Purchases at U.S. gas stations
- Purchases at U.S. restaurants
- Purchases for U.S. shipping
Hot Tip: For more information on how this card can earn bonus points on advertising expenses, check out our run-down here – the 6 Best Business Credit Cards for Advertising Purchases.
Customized Business Spending Categories
Cardholders receive bonus earnings on 2 business spending categories from the above list that will receive 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent.
You do not have to pre-select your bonus categories as each month your actual spending determines where the bonus is applied. This ensures your greatest expenses earn the greatest rewards.
$150,000 Bonus Spending Limit
The card comes with a generous $150,000 yearly limit on purchases for combined 4 points/$1 categories. This means you can select 2 bonus rewards-earning business spending categories and earn 4 points/$1 spent on up to $150,000 in total purchases per calendar year.
Elevated Earning on Amex Travel Purchases
Qualifying purchases made on Amex Travel using the card receive 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent.
Unlimited Earnings on Every Purchase
All purchases earn at least 1 Membership Reward point per $1 spent, including bonus category spending that exceeds the annual $150,000 limit. There is no limit to how many points you can earn.
Free G Suite Services
If your business uses video conferencing, online cloud storage, or file sharing, the $200 in reimbursements that come with this card might just help with that expense!
You’ll receive statement credits when using the card to pay for monthly G Suite services (up to $200 total in the first 12 months after card approval).
Free ZipRecruiter Subscription
I frequently utilized online recruiting technology when operating my small business, so I know recruiting can be expensive.
The American Express® Business Gold Card reimburses up to $249/month for a ZipRecruiter subscription, for a maximum of $2,988 in the first 12 months of card membership.
Bottom Line: If your business has hiring needs and could benefit from online recruiting, perhaps $2,988 in statement credits could offset that expense and help your bottom line.
25% Airline Redemption Bonus
Receive 2.5 extra Membership Rewards points for every 10 points you redeem for a first or business class flight on any airline.
Or select 1 qualifying airline, use the Membership Rewards “Pay with Points” option, and get back a 25%-point bonus (up to 250,000 points per year).
Transfer Membership Rewards to Travel Partners
One of the best features of Membership Rewards points is that you can transfer your points to airline and hotel partners.
Transfer to Airline Partners
| Amex Airline Transfer Partner | Min Transfer | Transfer Ratio (Amex > Partner) | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| AeroMexico | 2,000 | 1:1.6 | 2-12 days |
| Air Canada | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Alitalia | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Aer Lingus | 2,000 | 1:1 | Newly launched, collecting data |
| ANA | 1,000 | 1:1 | 3 days |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost instant |
| British Airways | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Cathay Pacific | 2,000 | 1:1 | Up to 1 Week |
| Delta Air Lines | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| EL AL | 2,000 | 50:1 | Almost Instant |
| Emirates | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Etihad Airways | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| FlyingBlue AirFrance/KLM | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Hawaiian | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Iberia | 2,000 | 1.25:1 | 1-3 days |
| JetBlue | 2,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Singapore Airlines | 2,000 | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
| Virgin Atlantic | 2,000 | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
Transfer to Hotel Partners
| Amex Hotel Transfer Partner | Min Transfer | Transfer Ratio (Amex > Partner) | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choice Privileges | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Hilton Honors | 1,000 | 1:2 | Almost Instant |
| Starwood Preferred Guest | 1,000 | 1:2 | Almost Instant |
Transferring Membership Rewards points to airline partners can yield the best redemption value for your Amex points.
While you have the ability to transfer your Membership Rewards points to hotel partners, it’s not the best value for your points. Having the option is a positive however, especially to top off your hotel rewards account for a specific redemption.
Hot Tip: For dozens of creative ways to redeem your Membership Rewards Points for the best value possible, you’ll want to check out this article!
Amex Offers
Too big of a deal to fall under “shopping benefits,” Amex Offers deserve their own heading. You can literally save thousands a year with the Amex Offers that are featured on your online account home page.
Just add the offer to your card and follow the purchasing terms/conditions to receive statement credits or additional Membership Rewards points.
The Hotel Collection
Book a prepaid hotel stay of 2 nights or more through qualifying American Express Travel Providers, pay with your American Express® Business Gold Card, and receive room upgrades, amenities and a credit at checkout for qualifying charges. (Read more about Amex’s Hotel Collection here)
- Receive an upgraded room and other amenities based on availability
- $75 check-out credit — Receive $1 credit for every dollar spent on qualifying expenses. (Taxes, gratuities, fees, and the cost of room are excluded.)
- Bookings made on Amextravel.com receive 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent, or the stay can be paid for with the “Pay with Points” option
The Travel Collection
You would normally have to pay $295 for an annual membership with The Travel Collection by Travel Leaders Group. Fortunately, you’ll enjoy complimentary membership for as long as you have your American Express® Business Gold Card.
- Airfare discounts — Enjoy airfare discounts on several international airlines and on United Airlines. Ticketing fees are currently waived for cardholders.
- Hotel benefits — Room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and a room credit (2 night stay required).
- Travel discounts — Receive discounted pricing on car rentals, vacation packages, cruises, and escorted tours.
- Personalized travel planning — Receive professional assistance before, during, and after your travels.
You must call 877-485-8053 to register, and you’ll get access to The Travel Collection members-only website.
Business Expense Management Tools
- Connect to Quickbooks — Transfer data from your Amex account to your Quickbooks
- Free employee cards — Earn rewards faster and manage every expense with extra cards for your employees
- Online spend manager tool — Add receipts and notes to your transaction via desktop or mobile device
- Online and year-end statements — View you spending history and access reports to help at tax time
- Mobile account management — Access your account from anywhere
- Account alerts — Set up account alerts for unusual spending, payment reminders, or to monitor employee spending
Additional Travel, Entertainment, and Transportation Perks
- Event and entertainment access — Ticket pre-sale privileges, VIP event access, and preferred seating
- No foreign transaction fees — Use your card anywhere in the world with no transaction fees added
- Global assist hotline — General travel, legal, medical, and financial assistance if things go wrong while you’re traveling
- Baggage insurance plan — Coverage for loss, theft, or damaged luggage up to $1,250 per covered person
- Premium roadside assistance — No-cost U.S. roadside assistance up to 4 times/year, plus towing up to 10 times/year
- Travel accident insurance — Covers injury or loss of life due to accident up to $100,000
- Car rental loss and damage insurance — Secondary coverage on eligible rental vehicles for collision damage (up to 30 days)
Additional Shopping Benefits
- Extended warranty — On qualifying items, the manufacturer’s warranty of 2-5 years is extended by 2 years
- Purchase protection — Coverage for eligible items purchased with the card for damage, theft, or loss up to 120 days (90 days for New York residents); up to $1,000/item and $50,000/year
- Return protection — Eligible items that cannot be returned to the original merchant are covered up to 90 days from purchase (maximum $300 per item/$1,000 year)
Cash Flow and Finance Benefits
- Pay Over Time — When this option is on, purchases of $100 or more automatically qualify; interest charges apply
- No pre-set spending limit — Your spending power adjusts as you use your card
- Vendor payment — Have American Express pay your vendors even if they don’t take credit cards, then repay American Express over 30, 60, or 90 days
Terms and conditions apply to all protections/benefits. You can access full descriptions and links to terms/conditions for each protection/benefit mentioned here.
Final Thoughts
The American Express® Business Gold Card is not a card you’ll jump to apply for — but review its benefits and earning potential carefully to determine if it can make a positive impact on your bottom line.
If you’re in need of recruiting technology or have use for free video conferencing, the card is a wise choice. You’ll realize over $3,000 in annual value from those benefits alone.
However, if you won’t find value in these benefits, you’re left with elevated earnings of 4x on select bonus categories, Amex offers, business management tools, and some ancillary travel benefits.
If you’ll spend more than $7,500/year in 4X categories, take advantage of a couple Amex offers, and receive a discount on airfare through The Travel Collection, you will have realized plenty of value from the card.
To check out other business credit cards for comparison, we’ve put together a full line up of the Best Small Business Credit Cards for Maximum Rewards and Cash-Back.
Are you sure about JetBlue and Starwood transfer rates?? They are different on Gold Personal card…
Hi Aleks! Thank you for your insight and pointing out the changes to the transfer partners. The American Express Membership Rewards website still has Starwood listed but soon to change as well. Also, the ratio is now 1:1. We will be updating the airline transfer list to include Virgin Atlantic and jetBlue changes. As always, the Rewards section of your American Express card home page will show the most recent transfer partners and ratios. Thanks again for the information.