Amex Business Platinum Card’s Annual Fee History: 1995 to 2026

After decades with little competition, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express now faces serious challengers, even as its annual fee hits a new high.

Even amid strong competition, the Amex Business Platinum card continues to hold its position with unrivaled lounge access and strong rewards potential. Let’s take a look at how the card’s annual fee has evolved over the past 30 years.

As of 2026

The Amex Business Platinum card is one of the priciest business cards on the market, with a $895 annual fee (rates & fees) that rolled out in September 2025, along with a major refresh of the card.

Still, for the right cardholder — a high-spending business owner who travels frequently — the depth of benefits can easily justify the cost. Combined with new benefits and existing value (prior enrollment may be required), they add up to more than $3,500 in annual value (Source: American Express).

Amex Business Platinum Card’s Annual Fee Changes

The consumer Platinum Card^® from American Express launched in 1984, and the Amex Business Platinum card was later launched for small business owners in the mid-1990s. Here’s a look at how the annual fee on the Amex Business Platinum card has evolved since its launch over the past 30 years or so:

By 2008, the annual fees for the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Business Platinum card had largely aligned. While the 2 products share many core benefits, including Platinum Concierge service, Fine Hotels + Resorts, and transfer partners, their statement credits have consistently been tailored to their respective audiences: consumers on one side and business owners on the other.

However, the headline benefit of both cards is airport lounge access, with the first Centurion Lounge featuring complimentary food and drink and elevated spaces opening in 2013 (Source: American Express).

Amex Business Platinum Card Employee Card Fee Changes

The Amex Business Platinum card isn’t just a strong card for the business owner, but for sharing perks with employees. However, the price to add additional cardholders to your account has increased:

Compared with the additional cardholder fee increases on the consumer Amex Platinum card, these changes aren’t as drastic. Until 2023, you could have added up to 3 cards on the personal card for a flat $175 fee, which was one of the most cost-effective ways to share Amex Platinum card benefits among family members or friends.

Adding an additional cardholder to either the Amex Platinum card or the Amex Business Platinum card is more expensive than ever. With this fee, employee cardholders on the Amex Business Platinum card enjoy these limited benefits (some of which require enrollment):

• Enroll in their own hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton
• Enjoy their own access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (10 annual visits per year), Priority Pass lounges, and more
• Receive their own Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit

They don’t receive their own CLEAR^® Plus credit, prepaid hotel credit, or other perks, as these benefits are shared with (and pooled under) the primary account holder.

You can add up to 99 employee cardholders to your Amex Business Platinum card account. Though the $400 annual fee per card is steep, it may be more realistic than spending $75,000 on the primary card each year to unlock guest access.

Is the Amex Business Platinum Card Worth It?

Business owners can jumpstart their Membership Rewards balance by qualifying for a huge welcome offer:

• As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

NEW 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 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.

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

As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 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 300,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $6,600

Annual Fee

$895

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 Amex Business Platinum Card is a premium travel rewards card tailored for business owners who are frequent travelers with high annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers, like the best airport lounge access at over 1,550 lounges and numerous annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible travel purchases like flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid short-term rentals booked through AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,550 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Earn 2x Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
• Generous statement credits on select purchases with your card (including credits for airline incidentals, prepaid hotels, CLEAR, Dell, and Hilton)
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
• Hotel elite status with Hilton, Marriott, and Leading Hotels of the World upon enrollment

 

Cons

• High annual fee of $895 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

 

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $20,000 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.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
• See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
• Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
• Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
• Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
• Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
• Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
• Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
• Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
• 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.74% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

 

The Amex Business Platinum card offers the most generous welcome offer of any American Express card. Membership Rewards points transfer to 2 dozen airline and hotel partners, which is why we estimate their value to be 2.2 cents apiece.

Redeeming 300,000 Membership Rewards points can be the equivalent of scoring up to $6,600 in travel, based on these valuations — more than 7 times the annual fee.

Business owners will enjoy the following benefits as part of their card membership:

• No preset spending limit: Unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend on the Amex Business Platinum card adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history, which is crucial for high-spending business owners.
• Valuable credits, including up to $600 in eligible prepaid hotel bookings, up to $200 in Hilton for Business, up to $200 airline fee incidental fees, up to $209 on CLEAR+ membership, and up to $150 in eligible U.S. Dell Technologies purchases (some of these benefits require enrollment).
• 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 2x points on purchases at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.

Final Thoughts

The annual fee on the Amex Business Platinum card has reached a new high, but it offers more value than ever before. With key travel benefits and access to more than 30 Centurion Lounges and hundreds of other airport lounges through affiliated networks, the Amex Business Platinum card is a strong option for frequent business travelers.