Amex Business Gold Card: 4x Bonus Categories [Explained]

The American Express^® Business Gold Card earns 4x Membership Rewards points on two of 6 eligible categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, up to the first $150,000 in combined eligible purchases each calendar year.

This guide covers which purchases qualify for each category.

Quick Overview

The Amex Business Gold card automatically earns 4x points on the top 2 categories your business spends the most on each billing cycle in 6 eligible categories: U.S. advertising and media, U.S. electronic goods and software and cloud providers, U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, transit, and U.S. wireless on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases (then 1x). The card also earns 3x on flights and prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com. It has an annual fee of $375 (rates & fees) (Source: American Express).

Amex Business Gold Card at a Glance

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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

As High As 200,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 200,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $4,400

Annual Fee

$375

APR

17.74% - 28.49% 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 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

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Card Highlights

• As High As 200,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
• 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 up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx (through 10/01/2026), Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
• Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Gold Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
• Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. purchases with Squarespace. Subscription purchases subject to auto-renewal.
• 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.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
• 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: 17.74% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Here is a quick look at what the Amex Business Gold card offers to cardholders:

• 4 points per $1 in your top 2 categories each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in spend each calendar year (1 per $1 thereafter):
  • Purchases with U.S. media providers for advertising in certain media (online, TV, radio)
  • Purchases in the U.S. from electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
  • U.S. purchases from restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • U.S. purchases at gas stations
  • Transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, ride-share services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
  • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
• 3 points per $1 spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked at AmexTravel.com with the Amex Business Gold card

Amex Business Gold Card 4x Bonus Categories

To understand which of your purchases qualify for 4x rewards, see the examples below of purchases that do and do not qualify (Source: American Express).

Amex Business Gold Card 4x Categories: What Qualifies

Electronic Goods Retailers

To qualify for 4x rewards in this category, purchases must be made directly from U.S. electronic goods retailers or software and cloud system providers (Source: American Express). This includes merchants such as:

Examples of merchants you do not earn additional rewards with include:

• Application purchases via aggregator platforms
• Consulting and management services
• Online marketplaces that provide products outside of electronic goods, like Amazon
• Superstores like Target and Walmart
• Wireless telephone and cellular service providers, such as AT&T and Verizon

Gas Stations

American Express considers gas stations to be stores that primarily sell gas, not grocery or warehouse stores that also sell gas.

Eligible merchants include:

This means you don’t earn 4x rewards from larger retailers that also sell gas, like Costco and Kroger, but you would earn 4x rewards at gas stations that also sell food and drinks, gift cards, and other convenience items.

Restaurants

Cardholders can earn 4x rewards from most restaurants in the U.S., including on takeout and delivery orders.

But 4x restaurant rewards do not apply at:

• Any restaurant outside of the U.S. (even if it is an American chain)
• Bakeries
• Bars, breweries, and nightclubs
• Caterers
• Convenience stores
• Meeting venues
• Restaurants inside another venue (e.g., casino, hotel, food court, etc.)
• Supermarkets and grocery stores
• Theater clubs

Strategies To Earn Maximum Points With Your Card

Since 4x rewards are limited to your 2 highest eligible categories per billing cycle, you can earn more points by setting up automated payments or planning expenses.

The easiest strategy is to set and forget, making your Amex Business Gold card your default card for your 2 largest monthly expenses that qualify for 4x points. For example, a landscaping business could use the Amex Business Gold card for advertising and gas and use another card for all other expenses.

Expense planning works better for businesses with more variable expenses. For example, you could choose an annual plan for a software or cloud provider instead of paying monthly. You typically get an annual plan discount, and you can make software purchases one of your highest 4x categories for that month, pivoting your card spending to other expense categories in other months.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Business Gold card rewards businesses with concentrated U.S. spending in two of the 6 eligible categories. Maximizing your rewards means directing spending on your top 2 categories to the card and using another card for other purchases. The 4x applies to the first $150,000 in combined spending each year, and businesses that hit the $150,000 annual 4x threshold can earn 600,000 Amex points annually. We value Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each, making 600,000 points worth about $13,200.