Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card vs. Amex Business Gold Card [Detailed Comparison]

Key Takeaways

• The Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ offers strong earnings on travel purchases, including travel booked through Chase Travel and flights booked directly with airlines. The card also includes statement credits for select purchases and excellent travel insurance coverage.
• The American Express® Business Gold Card has strong earnings with a focus on select business categories. The card also offers travel and shopping protections and benefits.
• Both cards allow you to redeem rewards through their travel portals and transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners for potentially greater redemption value.

Selecting the right business credit card is an essential step in effectively managing your business finances. A business card helps keep personal and business purchases separate, makes accounting easier at tax time, and helps manage employee purchases.

The cards we’ve selected for our comparison today offer elevated earnings, flexible redemption options, travel and shopping protections and benefits, and tools to manage your business finances.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card each have strengths that can add value to a business’s bottom line. There are, however, differences that can make one card a better choice than the other for your specific business.

In today’s overview, we’ll compare welcome offers, earning potential, redemption options, and any value-added economic features and benefits. We’ll also include key travel and shopping protections and benefits offered by our featured cards.

Overview

Before we delve into the details of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card, a high-level overview can help compare the cards initially.

Here are the key attributes of our featured cards:

Comparing Welcome Offers

After approval, for either the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card or the Amex Business Gold card, you have the unique opportunity to earn a large number of rewards with welcome offers.

Welcome offers allow you to receive a bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements within a specified period. These rewards can be valuable and worth hundreds of dollars (or more).

Here are the most current offers for our featured cards, along with additional card highlights:

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

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.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

Apply Now

Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.

200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$4,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

18.24% - 26.24% 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.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card is a great pick for business owners who can easily make use of the annual credits for travel, Google Workspace, ZipRecruiter, and more. Plus, it offers helpful bonus categories such as ad spend and offers access to over 1,300 airport lounges — including Chase Sapphire Lounges.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on Chase Travel purchases
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
• 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (uncapped)

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and with more than $2,500 in annual value, there's no competition.
• Earn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ for airline tickets, hotels, including The Edit℠, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours.
• Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• Earn 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct.
• Earn 3x points on social media & search engine advertising.
• Get the most flexible travel credit compared to any other card, with up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year on travel purchases.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club network and Priority Pass™ Select membership. Two guests may accompany the Primary Cardmember to the lounges free of charge.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.24% - 26.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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

Earning Potential

One of the key reasons to select a specific business credit card is earning potential. Choosing the right card ensures that your highest business purchases earn the most rewards.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card each have robust earning structures that make it easy to accumulate rewards quickly.

Here’s how each card earns rewards on specific purchases:

The better card for your business depends on the type of purchases your company makes. Each of our featured cards offers generous bonus earnings on specific expense categories.

Here is a breakdown of earning rates by category for each card:

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card offers elevated rewards earning on select travel purchases, as well as on eligible advertising. Here’s how those earnings break down:

• 8x points on travel purchased via Chase Travel
• 4x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or hotel
• 5x points on eligible Lyft rides via the Lyft app through September 30, 2027
• 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
• 1x points on all other purchases

Amex Business Gold Card

Each calendar year, up to $150,000 in select purchases on the Amex Business Gold card earns 4 points per $1 spent. Rewards are calculated each statement period based on your highest 2 purchase categories:

• Transit purchases, including trains, taxis, ride-sharing, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• Purchases from U.S. electronics goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
• Monthly wireless charges from U.S. wireless telephone service providers
• Purchases at U.S. gas stations
• Purchases at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Purchases with U.S. media providers for online, radio, and TV advertising

Additionally, the card earns 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com.

Hot Tip:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card earns 3x points on select advertising with social media and search engines, with no cap on the amount you can earn. The Amex Business Gold card earns 4x points for qualifying media advertising expenses when this category is one of your 2 highest expenses during a statement period, up to a maximum of $150,000 in purchases each calendar year.

If your business spends a significant amount on travel and you’re willing to use Chase Travel for your purchases, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card may offer an edge with its elevated 8x earnings.

Suppose your business has spending that falls more into the elevated earning business categories for the Amex Business Gold card and totals less than $150,000 each calendar year. In that case, you may fare better with that card.

Redemptions

When it’s time to redeem the rewards earned on your card, you want to receive the best value.

Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card earn flexible and valuable rewards currencies. The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card earns Ultimate Rewards points, while the American Express Business Gold card earns Membership Rewards points.

These reward currencies can have different values at redemption time.

To illustrate, let’s look at some of the redemption options you’ll have on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold Card:

Redeeming via the Travel Portal

When using the associated travel portals, redemption values may differ from transferring points to travel partners. The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card can deliver up to 2 cents per point in value with Points Boost when redeeming points for select premium flights and hotels via Chase Travel and 1 cent each for all other travel. The Amex Business Gold card offers a redemption value of 1 cent per point for travel booked through AmexTravel.com.

Transferring Points to Airline or Hotel Partners

Transferring points to airline or hotel partners can maximize the potential value of the points earned on either of our featured cards. While American Express Membership Rewards has strong international airline partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards may have the edge in terms of domestic partners, including United Airlines.

Both Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Membership Rewards points transfer to airline and hotel partners. However, you should review the list of partners with each program to ensure your frequently used airline (or its associated alliance partner) and hotel brand are among those listed for the card you select.

Redeeming for a Statement Credit

If you redeem points for a general statement credit, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card has the edge, as points are worth 1 cent each when used this way. Points redeemed with the Amex Business Gold card this way are just 0.6 cents each.

All other redemptions on either card may result in a lower value than 1 cent each.

Bottom Line:

The best potential value for rewards earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and Amex Business Gold card is to transfer points to airline or hotel partners. Using the associated travel portal, you can redeem points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card for up to 2 cents each or 1 cent each in value for the Amex Business Gold card. For general statement credits, you can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at the rate of 1 cent each and Amex Membership Rewards points for 0.6 cents each.

Air Travel Benefits

If your business involves frequent air travel, consider any associated benefits that can provide value to your operation.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card

• Airport lounge access: As a cardmember, you and up to 2 guests have access to over 1,300 lounge properties worldwide. These include the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges.
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit: Receive up to $120 as a statement credit every 4 years for application or renewal fees.
• Southwest Airlines A-List status and a $500 Southwest Airlines credit: After spending $120,000 on the card in a calendar year, receive A-List status and up to $500 in statement credits for Southwest bookings made through Chase Travel.

Hotel Benefits

If you frequently travel for business, you may find value in the hotel perks and benefits that come with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the American Express Business Gold card.

While both of our featured cards earn well on travel booked via the associated portals, hotel-specific benefits can help you save money and add on-site amenities during your hotel stay.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card

• $500 annual hotel credit: Receive up to $500 in statement credits for The Edit by Chase Travel
  • 2025: $500 in annual statement credits: $250 statement credit January through June, and $250 July through December (2-night minimum stay required)
  • 2026: $500 annual statement credit that can be used throughout the year (2 separate transactions of $250 are required)
• The Edit by Chase Travel benefits: Book a prepaid 2-night stay or longer and receive daily breakfast for 2, a $100 on-site property credit, room upgrade at check-in (if available), early check-in/late checkout (when available), and complimentary Wi-Fi.
• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status: Platinum Elite status is complimentary as long as you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card.
• IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status: After spending $120,000 on the card in a calendar year, cardmembers receive top IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status.

Amex Business Gold Card

• The Hotel Collection benefits: When you book a 2-night stay or longer, you receive late checkout and a $100 on-site amenity.

Bottom Line:

If you prefer high-end hotels, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card has the edge with hotel credits and benefits for The Edit. The card also comes with complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status. The Amex Business Gold card offers on-site benefits at The Hotel Collection.

Dining Benefits

Those client dinner meetings, road-trip dining, and office lunches can add up financially.

Here’s how our featured cards can provide some economic relief for those office lunches, help you make a good first impression with your client, or earn elevated earnings on dining out expenses.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card

• Up to $300 in DoorDash monthly promotions and DashPass membership: Receive monthly DoorDash promos ($5 restaurant credit and 2 $10 non-restaurant credits) and a complimentary DashPass membership worth $120 annually through December 31, 2027
• Access to Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables: Cardmembers can make reservations at top restaurants nationwide via OpenTable.

Amex Business Gold Card

• Flexible business spending credit: Receive up to $20 in monthly statement credits, up to $240 annually, for FedEx, Grubhub, or office supply store purchases. Enrollment required.

Travel Protection, Insurance, and Additional Travel Benefits

Travel protection and insurance can provide financial benefits in the event of an incident during a covered trip. Travel benefits can save you money on trip-related expenses.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card

• Auto rental coverage: Primary coverage for commercial and/or business purposes is included. Primary coverage means that you do not have to file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage applies. If you are renting for personal reasons, the coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance: You may receive reimbursement of up to $10,000 per covered traveler and up to $20,000 per trip for a covered event for nonrefundable, eligible expenses.
• Trip delay insurance: For delayed trips, more than 6 hours or overnight, you could receive up to $500 per covered traveler for unreimbursed expenses, including meals and lodging.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: You could receive up to $3,000 per covered traveler to repair or replace lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. Bags delayed for more than 6 hours may qualify for up to $100 per day for up to 5 days for essentials.
• Emergency evacuation: Medical emergency evacuation and transportation for trips 100 miles or more from home are included, up to $100,000. You may also receive reimbursement, up to $2,500, for medical expenses and transport, which is subject to a $50 deductible.

Amex Business Gold Card

• Car rental loss and damage insurance: Secondary coverage is included. Secondary coverage means you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage is applied. You also have the option to select Amex Premium Protection, which includes primary coverage (no other insurance claim is necessary) for a single low price ($12.95 to $24.95) that covers the entire rental period. Limits apply.
• Trip delay insurance: If your eligible trip is delayed more than 12 hours, you could receive up to $300 per trip for qualifying expenses. There is a limit of 2 claims per 12-month consecutive period.
• Baggage insurance: You could receive up to $1,250 per covered person for lost, damaged, or stolen carry-ons, and up to $500 per person for checked baggage, per trip.

Bottom Line:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card offers a more extensive collection of travel insurance benefits than the Amex Business Gold card. For a complete list of travel insurance benefits on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card, our article has all the information.

Shopping Protections

Shopping protections can provide coverage should you experience a covered loss to an item purchased with your card.

Here are the shopping protections you’ll find on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card:

Shopping Benefits and Statement Credits

Shopping benefits can provide complimentary shopping memberships, save you money, or allow you to earn extra rewards on your purchases. Statement credits can offset the expense of select purchases.

Here are the key shopping benefits and statement credits offered on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card, as well as those unique to each card:

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card

• $500 The Shops at Chase credit: The Shops at Chase is an online shopping experience designed exclusively for cardmembers. Cardmembers spending $120,000 in a calendar year receive up to $500 in credits for qualifying purchases.
• $100 Giftcards.com credit: Credits are delivered in 2 separate $50 biannual statement credits.
• Chase Offers: Check your online card account and select offers from retailers and service providers that can save you money or provide elevated earnings.

Amex Business Gold Card

• Walmart+ membership credit: Pay for your monthly membership with your card and receive up to $12.95 (plus taxes and fees) as a statement credit.
• Amex Offers: Select the offers in your online card account and add them to your card to receive elevated earnings or statement credits when making certain purchases. Enrollment required.

Additional Business Features and Statement Credits

The list of business benefits for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card continues.

In addition to all the previously mentioned attributes, we conclude with these business benefits of our featured cards.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card offer no-fee employee cards and expense management tools, such as options to pay off card balances over time.

Both of our featured cards also come with financial management tools, such as year-end statements for analyzing annual spending, mobile account management, and the ability to set alerts for specific types of purchases to help prevent fraud.

Here are some of the additional business features and benefits unique to each card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card

The $400 annual ZipRecruiter credit is delivered in 2 separate $200 biannual credits and can help your business offset hiring expenses.

If you use Google Workspace or have been considering it, the $200 annual Google Workspace statement credit could help offset some of the expense.

Cardholders receive $120 in annual Lyft in-app credits, up to $10 monthly, through September 30, 2027. The credits can be used on Standard, Extra Comfort, XL, Black, and Black SUV bookings.

Amex Business Gold Card

Receive a flexible business statement credit of up to $20 per month, up to $240 annually, for purchases made with FedEx, Grubhub, or office supply stores.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

A key consideration when selecting a business card is the cost of holding the card. Knowing the annual fees and the fees for adding additional card users can be important for determining the card’s value for your business.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card has an annual fee of $795 and charges $0 for each additional authorized user/employee card.

The Amex Business Gold card has an annual fee of $375. The yearly fee for employee cards on the Amex Business Gold card is $95 each for the first 5 cards and then $95 for each additional card, up to 99 cards.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card and the Amex Business Gold card are both potentially good business cards. Determining which card is better for your business involves closely examining your highest business expenses and performing some calculations.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card leans more toward being a business travel rewards card than the Amex Business Gold card does. This difference is its elevated earnings on some travel, strong Chase Travel redemptions, airline and hotel transfer partners, air travel and hotel benefits, worldwide lounge access, expedited security program credits, and excellent travel insurance benefits. For the added benefits, however, you pay a higher annual fee.

With a lower annual fee, the Amex Business Gold card may better suit your business needs and provide plenty of value, offering up to $240 in flexible business credits, cell phone protection, and 4x earnings on select business category purchases.

Either card has the potential to deliver outsize bottom-line value, depending on how your business operates and its expenses.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, up to $300 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive 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 the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. 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.

For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, when 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.

For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, when 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.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the American Express^® 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.