Is the Amex Business Gold card worth it?

The Amex Business Gold card is worth it if the value you receive for your business more than offsets the annual fee. If your business cannot utilize these benefits, you would need to earn rewards with a value great enough to offset the annual fee. For example, if your business spends $20,000 per year for advertising and gas, or other 4x earning categories, then you’ll earn at least $800 in rewards value using a very conservative valuation of 1 cent per Membership Reward point.

How do I redeem Membership Rewards points?

Start by signing in to your American Express online account. As soon as your Membership Rewards points show up in your account there, they are ready to use. At the top of the page, you’ll see options such as account services, benefits, and rewards. Click on Rewards. On the next page you’ll see the total number of points in your account, and below the total is a drop-down menu with several options. You’ll be able to select an option to redeem your points for travel, shopping, or to redeem your points for gift cards, and much more. This is also where you can select Transfer Your Points if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to an airline or hotel travel partner.

How do Amex Offers work?

You’ll find Amex Offers listed when you log in to your online credit card account. Offers are added frequently, so it’s good to check often. The offers are located below your account information under Amex Offers and Benefits. Click on Select all to view the complete list of offers. Once you find an offer you like, you should read the terms and conditions, then add the offer to your card by clicking on the Add to card button. Be sure to review the offer carefully to ensure you’re making the purchase correctly. For example, an offer can be good at samsclub.com but not at the physical store, or at walmart.com but not at the Walmart store.

16 Benefits of the Amex Business Gold Credit Card [2022]

The American Express® Business Gold Card isn’t necessarily one of those showy new credit cards with a giant welcome bonus. It doesn’t offer flashy benefits like hotel elite status or airport lounge access, so you’ll have to dig deeper to find the real value of this card.

Fortunately, though, the value is there for the right business. If your business can use the offered benefits, you can save thousands of dollars during your first year of card membership. That said, this Amex business card isn’t going to be valuable to all businesses.

Just like any business credit card, your spending categories need to align with the bonus categories, you’ll need to utilize the offered benefits, and you have to find enough value in the benefits to offset the annual fee. But with up to 4x earnings, rebates on airfare, and the ability to transfer points to travel partners, the card still offers plenty of value.

So that begs the question: does this card offer enough to be a valuable asset to your business?

Today, we’ll try to answer that question. We’ll look at all of the Amex Business Gold card’s benefits and help you see if it delivers enough value for your business to justify applying. Let’s get started!

Amex Business Gold Card

Earning Valuable Membership Rewards Points

Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Business Gold card are some of the most flexible and valuable points you can earn — and there are plenty of ways to earn them.

Earning rewards may not be the only reason you decided 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 like travel expenses, or even fund an annual vacation you’d otherwise pay cash for.

1. A Generous Welcome Offer — [$1,540]

You can earn the bonus by meeting minimum spending requirements within the first 3 months after card approval. With the current offer valued at $1,540, this is an imperative benefit to consider when evaluating the card.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! (The current public offer is 70,000 points.)

2. Accelerated Earnings in 2 Business Spending Categories — [$4,400]

There are 6 business expense categories that are eligible to earn 4x Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent up to the first $150,000 per year. Earnings are applied automatically each statement period based on your 2 highest expenses.

Airfare purchased directly from airlines
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

If your business spends $50,000 in 4x bonus categories in a year, you’ll earn 200,000 Membership Rewards points worth approximately $4,400.

3. Elevated Earnings on Amex Travel Purchases — [$440]

Qualifying purchases made with Amex Travel using the card receive 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent. If you were to spend $10,000 on travel, you would earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points on your purchases.

4. Unlimited Earnings on Every Purchase — [$440]

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 on how many points you can earn. If your business spent just $10,000 in non-bonus category spending or in 4x bonus purchases above $150,000 in a calendar year, you would earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points.

Hot Tip: From how to qualify, to benefits and perks, our guide will walk you through all the frequently asked questions about the Amex Business Gold card.

Receive Big Value on Membership Rewards Redemptions

5. Transfer to Airline and Hotel Partners

ANA's New 777-300ER Business Class "The Room" — ANA’s new business class seating is unparalleled. Image Credit: ANA

One of the best features of Membership Rewards points is that you can transfer your points to airline and hotel partners. You can use these transfer partners to redeem for luxurious travel experiences like ANA first class to Tokyo or a long weekend in Hawaii.

Below you’ll find all of the Membership Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners:

Amex Airline Transfer Partner	Min Transfer	Transfer Ratio (Amex > Partner)	Transfer Time
Aer Lingus	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
AeroMexico	1,000	1:1.6	2-12 days
Air Canada	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
ANA	1,000	1:1	3 days
Avianca LifeMiles	1,000	1:1	Almost instant
British Airways	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Cathay Pacific	1,000	1:1	Up to 1 Week
Delta Air Lines	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Emirates	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Etihad Airways	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Flying Blue Air France/KLM	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Hawaiian	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Iberia	1,000	1:1	1-3 days
JetBlue	250	1:0.8	Almost Instant
Qantas	500	1:1	Almost Instant
Singapore Airlines	1,000	1:1	1-2 days
Virgin Atlantic	1,000	1:1	1-2 days

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
Marriott Bonvoy	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant

While you can transfer your Membership Rewards points to hotel partners, it’s not the best value for your points. Having the option is a positive, though — especially if you need to top off your hotel rewards account for a specific redemption.

6. 25% Airline Redemption Rebate on Amex Travel

You can redeem Membership Rewards points at 1 cent per point on Amex Travel. Using this booking portal, you can book airfare, hotels, cruises, and more with your Membership Rewards points.

Further, Amex Business Gold cardmembers will receive a 25% points rebate when redeeming points for first or business class airfare through Amex Travel. This means you can effectively redeem Membership Rewards at 1.25 cents per point through Amex Travel.

Generally, though, you’ll still find better value when transferring your Membership Rewards points to the transfer partners we mentioned earlier.

Hot Tip: Amex Travel purchases covered with points are still paid tickets. This means that you’ll earn airline miles on your Amex Travel airfare, so make sure to add your frequent flyer number after booking.

Travel Protections and Benefits [$375]

7. Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Secondary coverage on eligible rental vehicles with the option to purchase Premium Protection for 1 low fee that covers the entire rental period. Prices range from $12.95 to $24.95 depending on the location and level of coverages selected. For example, on a 10-day rental, you could save ~$200 by not having to select the agency’s LDW coverage (at $20 per day).

8. Global Assist Hotline

Receive general travel, legal, medical, and financial assistance if things go wrong while you’re traveling.

9. Baggage Insurance Plan

You’re covered for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage up to $1,250 per covered person.

10. The Hotel Collection

Book a prepaid hotel stay of 2 nights or more through qualifying American Express Travel providers, pay with your Amex Business Gold card and receive room upgrades and credit at checkout for select charges.

Receive an upgraded room and other amenities based on availability
$100 hotel credit on all stays for use on dining, spa, or other on-site resort purchases
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

Hot Tip: You can learn more about The Hotel Collection in our detailed guide.

Shopping Benefits and Protections [$400]

11. Extended Warranty

On qualifying items purchased with your card, the manufacturer’s warranty of fewer than 5 years is extended by 1 year.

12. Purchase Protection

Receive coverage for eligible items purchased with the Amex Business Gold card for accidental damage or theft, up to 90 days from the date of purchase; coverage is up to $1,000 per item and $50,000 per year.

13. Amex Offers

Amex Offers 2022 — Image Credit: American Express

Too big of a deal to miss out on, Amex Offers can literally save you thousands a year. You’ll find these offers listed on your account home page; just scroll down the page and select the offers that interest you.

Add the offer to your card and follow the purchasing terms and conditions to receive statement credits or additional Membership Rewards points.

14. Business Expense Management Tools

If time is money, having the right business management tools can deliver economic value.

Connect to Quickbooks —Transfer data from your Amex account to your Quickbooks account.
No-Additional-Fee Employee Cards — Earn rewards faster and manage every expense with extra cards for your employees (rates and fees).
American Express Business App — Add receipts and notes to your transaction via desktop or mobile device.
Online and Year-end Statements —View your 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.

Hot Tip: Wondering how this card stacks up against The Business Platinum Card® from American Express? Check out our comparison here: Amex Business Platinum card vs. Amex Business Gold card.

15. Additional Travel and Entertainment Perks

Your business could realize additional savings if it makes foreign purchases, as the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

No Foreign Transaction Fees — Use your card anywhere in the world with no transaction fees added (rates and fees).
Event and Entertainment Access — Ticket presale privileges, VIP event access, and preferred seating.

16. Cash Flow and Finance Benefits

Pay Over Time — When you elect to use this benefit, you get to decide whether you want to pay eligible purchases in full each month or pay over time with interest.
No Preset 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 within 30, 60, or 90 days.

Terms and conditions apply to all protections/benefits. You can access full descriptions and links to terms and conditions for each protection and benefit mentioned here.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Business Gold card is one of the most feature-packed business cards on the market, but you should still review its benefits and earning potential carefully to see if it makes sense for your business.

You’ll find benefits 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 a year in 4x categories, take advantage of a few Amex Offers, and use the points you earn for high-end travel experiences, you’ll find plenty of value in the card.

Obviously, our value estimates are based on theoretical business spending scenarios. The value you actually receive will depend on how you utilize the card.

To check out other business credit cards for comparison, we’ve put together a full lineup of the best small business cards for maximum rewards and cash-back.

For the Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, the benefit 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 Global Assist benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the Baggage Insurance Plan benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, 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 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 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 rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.

4 comments

Aleks January 13, 2019

Are you sure about JetBlue and Starwood transfer rates?? They are different on Gold Personal card…

- Christine Krzyszton January 14, 2019
  
  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.
  
Tanya Jain October 23, 2022

Can you please confirn if this is still valid “If your business spent just $10,000 in non-bonus category spending or in 4x bonus purchases above $150,000 in a calendar year, you would earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points.”

I could not find this benefit anyware elese. Can you please validate? Thank you!

- Christine Krzyszton October 24, 2022
  
  Hi Tanya. This is not a special benefit, this is just a calculation of how many points are earned. Since the Amex Business Gold card earns 2 points per dollar spent on the card, a $10,000 purchase (non-bonus spending) earns 20,0000 Membership Rewards points.

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16 Benefits of the Amex Business Gold Credit Card [$7,500+ Value]

Amex Business Gold Card