Ink Business Premier Card vs. Amex Business Gold Card [Detailed Comparison]

Key Takeaways

• The Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card earns cash-back of 2.5% on purchases of $5,000 or more and 2% cash-back on all other purchases, while the American Express^® Business Gold Card earns 4x points on your 2 highest eligible purchase categories each month (up to $150,000 in purchases each calendar year).
• Amex Business Gold’s points are more versatile for travel-focused rewards, while the Ink Business Premier’s cash-back focus provides simplicity and predictability.
• Overall, due to redemptions when transferring points to airline and hotel partners, the Amex Business Gold card provides better value.

Regardless of the size of your business, managing business finances with the help of a business credit card can be a prudent move to make.

A business credit card keeps personal and business expenses separated, organizes expenditures by category, helps manage employee purchases, and simplifies filing your business taxes.

Plus, earning rewards on every purchase your business makes can help your bottom line.

Today, we’re comparing 2 popular business credit cards: the Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card and the American Express^® Business Gold Card.

Each card can help you organize your business’ finances, however, one card may have the edge over the other for your specific situation. Below, we’ll sort through all the information you’ll need to help you select the card that is the better match for your business.

Overview

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Immediately after card approval for either the Ink Business Premier card or the Amex Business Gold card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus. The bonus can be earned on either card by completing the minimum spending requirement within the first 3 months after card approval.

These offers can be valued at $1,000 or more depending on how you redeem the earned rewards. Offers vary by card and change periodically, so be sure to check for the most recent offer before applying.

Here are the most current welcome offers for each of our featured cards:

Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Earn up to 5% cash-back for your business without complex bonus earning categories!

Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card

Earn up to 5% cash-back for your business without complex bonus earning categories!

Welcome Offer

Earn $1,000 bonus cash-back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

$1,000

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,000

Annual Fee

$195

APR

Flex for Business Variable APR: 18.49% - 26.49%

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 card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Chase has introduced the Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card to its business credit card lineup. With straightforward cash-back earnings on everyday purchases and large expenses, tools to help you monitor your business, and multiple ways to redeem your rewards, this is a great card option to consider.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 2.5% total cash-back on purchases of $5,000 or more
• Earn 2% cash-back on all other business purchases
• Unlimited 5% total cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Travel

Cons

• $195 annual fee
• Some purchases need to be paid in full each month and don’t qualify for Flex for Business APR

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Flex for Business Variable APR: 18.49% - 26.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

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 ins and outs 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 Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$375

APR

17.99% - 28.74% 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

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.*
• 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 comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
• *Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.99% - 28.74% Variable
• 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 200,000 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.)

Bottom Line: Both the Ink Business Premier card and the Amex Business Gold card come with a generous welcome offer that could be worth more than $1,000 in value after meeting minimum spending requirements within the first 3 months after card approval. 

Ultimate vs Membership Rewards Points

The Ink Business Premier card is marketed as a cash-back card because points earned on the card can easily be redeemed for cash-back. The Amex Business Gold card earns Membership Rewards points.

We’ll talk about the differences in redemption options for these points shortly, but first, let’s look at how you’ll earn rewards on each of our featured cards.

Earning Potential

• 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year
• 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
• 1x points on all other purchases

The Ink Business Premier card offers a simplified earning structure with at least 2% cash-back on every purchase. The Amex Gold card automatically rewards your top 2 highest spending categories with 4x points from a list of common business expenses each statement period.

With either card, you won’t spend time trying to understand complicated earning structures.

Bottom Line: Both the Ink Business Premier card and the Amex Business Gold card have stellar earning potential. The best card for your business operation will be the one that closely matches your business’ spending mix and rewards those specific purchases.

Redemption Options

When using your rewards, you’ll have the option to redeem points to offset the cost of business travel or secure that hard-earned family vacation.

Here’s how the Ink Business Premier card and Amex Business Gold card compare when it’s time to redeem rewards earned on either card.

Receiving good value at redemption time should be a priority. This is an area where the Ink Business Premier card falls short of the flexible options you’ll find with the Amex Business Gold card.

You won’t have the option to transfer points earned on the Ink Business Premier card to airline or hotel partners, leaving you with a fixed value for your points of 1 cent each when redeeming for travel.

With the Amex Business Gold card, you’ll be able to transfer points to travel partners and receive much greater potential value. For example, you could transfer 63,000 Membership Rewards points to Avianca Lifemiles to book a one-way flight in business class from the U.S. to Europe on Star Alliance carriers like United Airlines or Lufthansa — a flight that normally would cost thousands of dollars. Read more on how you can maximize the value of your Amex points when transferring to partners.

Bottom Line: While the Ink Business Premier card and Amex Business Gold card each have robust earning structures, the Amex Business Gold card is superior at redemption time with flexible redemption options that can deliver greater potential value. 

Hotel Program Perks

Ink Business Premier Card

• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection Benefits — Be treated as a VIP when you book a stay at any of the 900 available properties worldwide. Enjoy daily breakfast for 2, an upgraded room (when available), early check-in and late checkout (when available), a $25 food and beverage credit, and free Wi-Fi.

Amex Business Gold Card

• The Hotel Collection Benefits — Book a prepaid stay of 2 days or more and receive an amenity credit of $100 to spend on-site and late checkout when available.

Rental Car Benefits

Ink Business Premier Card

• Primary Car Rental Insurance — Reserve and pay for the entire car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive coverage for damage and theft.

Amex Business Gold Card

• Secondary Car Rental Insurance — While the card does come with secondary rental car coverage versus primary, you will have access to Premium Protection for 1 low price ($12.25 to $24.95) that covers the entire rental period.

Travel Protection Compared

Both the Ink Business Premier card and Amex Business Gold card come with travel protections that can reimburse you when things go wrong during your travels. Travel benefits can save you money and make your travel more comfortable.

Here are the travel protections and benefits you’ll find on both of our featured cards and the additional features you’ll find on each individual card:

• Trip Delay — If your eligible trip is delayed more than 12 hours, you could receive up to $500 per trip with the Ink Business Premier card and up to $300 per trip with the Amex Business Gold card. There is a limit of 2 claims per consecutive 12-month period with the Amex Business Gold card.
• Global Assistance — Make 1 call for assistance during your travel for help arranging emergency transportation, medical or legal referrals, help to replace a lost passport, and much more with Travel and Emergency Assistance that comes with the Ink Business Premier card and the Global Access Hotline that comes with the Amex Business Gold card.

Ink Business Premier Card

• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption — If your eligible trip, paid for with your card and/or points earned on your card, needs to be canceled or is interrupted for a covered reason, you could receive up to $5,000 per trip for qualifying pre-paid nonrefundable expenses.
• Baggage Delay — If your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $100 each day, up to $500 total, for eligible incidentals.
• Roadside Dispatch — Receive roadside service with just 1 call 24/7 and receive limited towing, standard winching, flat tire change with your inflated spare, emergency fuel, lockout service, jumpstart service, and more, for just 1 flat pre-negotiated fee.
• Visa Signature Concierge — Receive assistance securing a ticket to a popular concert or sporting event, finding the perfect birthday gift for a client in an unfamiliar city, or making that hard-to-get dinner reservation, all with one call.

Amex Business Gold Card

• Baggage Insurance — Receive up to $1,250 per covered person for lost, damaged, or stolen carry-on baggage (limit of $500 per person for checked baggage) with the Amex Business Gold card.

Bottom Line: The Ink Business Premier card and Amex Business Gold card each come with several travel protections and benefits including car rental insurance, baggage insurance, and hotel collection benefits. The Ink Business Premier card has the additional benefits of trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage delay, and roadside dispatch service. 

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Shopping protections can provide reimbursement if something goes wrong with a purchase you made with your card. Shopping benefits can save you money or help you earn extra rewards on your purchases with select retailers and service providers.

You’ll find these shopping protections and benefits on both the Ink Business Premier card and Amex Business Gold card:

• Purchase Protection — Purchase an eligible item with your card and receive coverage for accidental damage or theft for 120 days from the date of purchase with the Ink Business Premier card (limit of $10,000 per item, up to $50,000 per card account). The Amex Business Gold card offers coverage for 90 days from the purchase date with a limit of $1,000 per item, up to $50,000 per account.
• Extended Warranty — Eligible items will have the manufacturer’s warranty extended by 1 year for items with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less with the Ink Business Premier card. The Amex Business Gold card extends the manufacturer’s warranties on items with less than 5 years for 1 additional year.

Ink Business Premier Card

• Cell Phone Protection — Pay for your monthly bill, and those of your employees, in full with your card and receive coverage for damage or theft up to $1,000 per claim with a limit of 3 claims each 12-month period. There is a $100 deductible for each claim.
• Chase Offers — Login to your online card account and select from a list of Chase Offers that can earn cash-back in the form of statement credits for purchases with select retailers and service providers.
• Visa Signature Shopping Benefits — Receive benefits such as Fandango rebates on movie ticket purchases, car rental and hotel discounts, and more.
• Early Access and Preferred Seating — Secure that hard-to-get ticket at Madison Square Garden, the Chase Center, Chase Field, and more, with early access and preferred seating.

Amex Business Gold Card

• Amex Offers — After logging in to your online card account, scroll down the page and select from up to 100 Amex Offers. These offers allow you to earn bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credits for purchases made at sponsoring retailers and service providers.
• Preferred Access and Membership Experiences — Receive early and preferred access to purchase tickets to select sporting events, concerts, theatre performances, and invitations to members-only events.

Fees and Authorized Users

Annual Fees

The Ink Business Premier card comes has an annual fee of $195 while the Amex Business Gold card’s annual fee is $375 (rates & fees).

Additional User Fees

There is no extra fee to add employee cards to the Ink Business Premier card. 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).

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Either card makes a good travel companion as neither charges fees on foreign transactions.

Final Thoughts

It’s hard to beat the earning potential of these 2 business credit cards. And, while each card offers rewards for every purchase your business makes, the real value of your rewards becomes prominent at redemption time.

The Amex Business Gold card, with its flexible Membership Rewards points for travel, provides better overall value versus the Ink Business Premier card. We value Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each, mostly due to the potential of greater value when transferring points to airline and hotel partners. Points earned on the Ink Business Premier card can be redeemed for a fixed value of just 1 cent each.

Even no-annual-fee Chase cash-back credit cards allow you to transfer points to premium Chase cards such as the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. This option provides a greater value when redeeming for travel via the Chase travel portal and even greater potential when Ultimate Rewards points are transferred to airline and hotel partners. Transferring rewards points is not an option with the Ink Business Premier card.

If redeeming rewards for travel is a key priority for your business, the Amex Business Gold card may be the better option. If not, and you find more value in earning cash-back that can be reinvested back into your business, the Ink Business Premier card may be better suited for you.

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For the car rental loss & damage insurance benefit of the Amex Business Gold card, 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 Amex Business Gold card, 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 trip delay insurance benefits of the Amex 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 extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of the Amex Business Gold card, 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 Amex Business Gold card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.