Amex Business Gold Card vs. Amex Business Green Card [Detailed Comparison]

If you’re running a business, regardless of its size, you know the importance of having business management tools that can help you organize your expenses, track how your money is being spent, and help your business grow.

Having the right business credit card is just one of those critical business management tools. We frequently discuss business cards and the role these cards play in your business operation but today we’re narrowing our focus to 2 popular business cards issued by American Express.

The American Express^® Business Gold Card and the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express have a lot in common. These Amex business cards earn valuable Membership Rewards points and have travel redemption options that deliver excellent value.

Both cards also come with business management tools that can help you run your business and useful travel/shopping benefits.

However, there are stark differences between the 2 cards that can determine which is the better fit for your specific operation.

We’re all set to investigate those differences here today and in the end, create a clear picture of which card might be more suitable for your specific business profile.

Overview

Welcome Bonus Compared

One of the first benefits you’ll notice on most rewards-earning cards is the welcome bonus offer. You’ll generally earn this bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements within the first 3 months after card approval.

Earning the bonus is significant as it serves to jump-start your earnings account. You’ll rarely have the opportunity to earn as many points in such a short time frame.

Let’s look at a snapshot of each card’s current welcome bonus, and a summary of the card’s pricing and fees.

Amex Business Gold Card

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Business Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

American Express^® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*

100,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$2,200

Annual Fee

$375

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
  • Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
  • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
  • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
  • U.S. purchases at gas stations
  • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
• 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection

Cons

• $375 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.49% to 27.49% variable APR.*
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
• Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
• The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
• *Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 200k points with the Amex Business Gold card. The current public offer is 100,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Amex Business Green Card

Business Green Rewards Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This entry-level business card earns points for your business spending, which you can redeem in a simple-to-use rewards program. Business owners will appreciate the suite of tools designed to simplify finances.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)All information about Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Business Green Rewards Card from American Express

This entry-level business card earns points for your business spending, which you can redeem in a simple-to-use rewards program. Business owners will appreciate the suite of tools designed to simplify finances.

Welcome Offer

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases with the Business Green Rewards Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

15,000 points

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95

Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

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Most people recognize the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express by sight due to its classic green design. Many of you have probably carried that card yourself at one time.

But did you know the familiar Green Card is available for your small business too?

The Amex Business Green card gives you the same great benefits of the personal card with added benefits for business owners!

Card Highlights

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases with the Business Green Rewards Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 2x for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases at amextravel.com
• Earn 1x for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
• Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

While the Amex Business Gold card comes with a higher welcome bonus, it also charges a higher annual fee. Welcome bonuses fluctuate, so be sure to access the current information before applying for any card.

Earning Options

Both of our featured cards earn valuable Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed in a variety of ways, which we’ll discuss shortly.

Next up, however, we look at how the cards compare when it comes to earning potential.

The Amex Business Gold card offers far more bonus-earning categories but the card does come with a higher annual fee. However, if your business spends just $2,272 (that’s $189 per month) in 4x bonus category spending each year, the annual fee could be easily offset, based on our valuations of Amex points at 2.2 cents each.

While earning is a significant component when selecting a business card, redemption options and benefits are also important.

Let’s see how the 2 cards stack up to each other when it’s time to redeem your rewards.

Bottom Line: If you have a business with ongoing expenses falling into the bonus categories of the Amex Business Gold card, the card would be a hands-down winner over the Amex Business Green card. It’s possible, however, that smaller businesses with travel expenses that can be made via AmexTravel.com and a preference for a lower annual fee may fare better with the Amex Business Green card.

Redemption Options

Since both cards earn Membership Rewards points, redemption options are similar. However, the Amex Business Gold card has 1 clear advantage over the Amex Business Green card at redemption time.

Let’s take a look at how these cards compare when it’s time to redeem your rewards.

Both of our featured cards offer the option to redeem points for travel via the AmexTravel.com portal and an additional option to use the Amex transfer partners where your points could receive potentially greater value.

Comparing Travel Benefits and Protections

You probably wouldn’t select a card based solely on the travel benefits and protections it provides, but if your business involves travel, you’ll want a business card that does offer some level of coverage.

Here’s an overview of the coverages that come with our featured cards.

Bottom Line: If your business involves foreign purchases, you’ll save by having the Amex Business Gold card. Add in the trip delay coverage and The Hotel Collection benefits and you’ll find the card may be a better fit for travel over the Amex Business Green card.

Shopping Showdown – Benefits and Protections

If you’ve ever accidentally damaged an item shortly after purchase or had it fail just after the manufacturer’s warranty ran out, you’ll appreciate the protections that come with both of our featured cards when you use the cards to make an eligible purchase. You can even get reimbursed if your items are stolen from you shortly after purchasing them.

Additionally, you’ll find shopping benefits and offers that can save you money:

• Extended Warranty — Manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less, on eligible items purchased with the applicable card, receive 1 additional year of warranty coverage. Maximum coverage is $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• Purchase Protection — Receive coverage for theft and accidental damage for up to 90 days from the date of purchase on eligible items purchased with the card. The maximum coverage limit is $1,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• Amex Offers — Amex Offers can offer significant savings or bonus earnings on purchases made with select merchants. Log into your online card account and scroll down the home page to find a list of offers that can be added to your affiliated card.
• American Express Auto Purchasing Program — Receive guaranteed savings when purchasing a new car and be able to use your Amex card to pay for at least $2,000 of the car’s purchase price.

Business Management Tools Available

Both of our featured cards come with plenty of tools to help you manage your business operation.

• Employee Cards for Authorized Users — For the Amex Business Gold card, the annual fee for employee cards is $95 for the first five cards and then $95 for each card thereafter, up to 99 cards (rates & fees). The Amex Business Green card comes with no additional fee for employee cards, up to 99 cards.
• Pay Over Time Feature — Decide whether you want to pay eligible purchases in full each month or pay over time with interest
• Connect to Quickbooks — Make accounting simpler by loading your receipts and syncing your Amex account information with QuickBooks.
• Year-end Statements Online — Tax time will be easier with organized reports of all your business spending.
• Mobile Account Management — Access and manage your card account anytime, anywhere.
• Custom Account Alerts — Set up alerts for maximum spending limits, payment reminders, and managing employee purchases.

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Business Gold card and Amex Business Green card come with the same shopping benefits and protections. The cards also offer an equal collection of business management tools. 

Which Business Card Is Best For You?

We’ve covered a lot of information on our 2 featured cards. Let’s sum it all up with our take on how the cards compare in each category.

Best for Earning Rewards — With a long list of 4x bonus earning categories on common business purchases (up to $150,000 in purchases each calendar year), the Amex Business Gold card is definitely the winner in the earning category.

Best for Travel Benefits and Protections — The Amex Business Gold card has the edge when comparing travel benefits and protections as the card offers trip delay coverage, no foreign transaction fees, and access to benefits at properties in The Hotel Collection.

Best for Shopping Benefits and Protections — Both cards offer the same shopping protections when using your card to make an eligible purchase. In addition, you’ll find both cards come with Amex Offers and the Amex Auto Purchasing Program.

Best for Business Management Tools and Adding Authorized Users — Both of our featured cards offer the same business management tools.

Bottom Line: The Amex Business Gold card surfaces as having greater earning potential and an edge when using points for eligible flights. It does have a higher annual fee, so your spending in 4x bonus earning categories would need to be nearly $7,500 each year or find additional value in the benefits offered for it to be a fit for your business.

Alternatives for Amex Business Cards

Two cards that are also popular business card choices include The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express and The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.

The cards pair up similarly to our featured cards in that one works better for international business travelers while the other is for smaller businesses that want more simplicity.

Amex Business Platinum Card

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Business Platinum card is highly popular with business travelers due to its unprecedented access to airport lounges worldwide, its elevated earnings on travel, and the ability to receive excellent value when transferring points to affiliated travel partners.

The card comes with plenty of travel and shopping benefits and protections as well.

Amex Blue Business Cash Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Take control of your cash-back with the Amex Blue Business Cash card, and earn 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Take control of your cash-back with the Amex Blue Business Cash card, and earn 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

$250

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Looking for a way to keep tabs on your office supply costs and business travel expenses while earning cash-back? Then The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card could be a good fit.

This card offers expense management solutions that are designed to give companies more control, along with a much clearer picture of their business spending. In doing so, the more you spend, the more cash-back you can earn.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2% cash-back on up to $50,000 in spend, then 1% back thereafter
• No annual fee
• Travel and purchase protection

Cons

• Not ideal for those who spend a lot on a specific category like groceries or gas

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
• 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
• Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
• From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
• The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
• No Annual Fee
• Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Busy startup business owners have little time to keep track of bonus-earning categories and complicated redemption options. The Amex Blue Business Cash card offers a simple solution with its 2% flat cash-back earnings on every purchase the business makes, up to $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1% thereafter.

Bottom Line: American Express offers several business card products suitable for every type and size of business. To learn more, check out all the best Amex business card options overviewed in our article on the topic.

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt that the Amex Business Gold card offers far more earning potential, the edge when it comes to redemption options and greater travel benefits/protections.

You will, however, pay a higher annual fee to receive these added benefits. The better card for your business operation will be the one that allows you to receive greater value than you would pay for an annual fee.

If your operation has a lot of expenses in the bonus categories offered with the Amex Business Gold card, you would fare better with that card. If you are looking for an entry-level business card with a lower annual fee, your business’s expenses are non-bonus category expenses, and travel expenses could be facilitated with AmexTravel.com, there might be a case for the Amex Business Green card.

You might also consider the Amex Business Green card if your primary purpose for getting a card is to start establishing business credit with American Express.

*No Preset Spending Limit on an American Express card means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and Business Green Rewards Card from American Express,  eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. 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.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefits of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the Global Assist Hotline benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by the Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Amex Business Gold card, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility 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.

For Pay Over Time, carrying a balance will incur interest. Eligible charges can be included in the Pay Over Time balance, up to the Pay Over Time Limit. Pay Over Time only applies to eligible charges meeting minimum transaction amounts.