American Express Business Gold Card – Full Review [2024]

Great Card If

• Your business spends a lot of money on 1 or more of the card’s bonus categories, such as Google or Facebook Ads
• You want a card that earns transferable rewards
• You want a card that offers purchase protection and warranty protection

Don’t Get If

• You want a card with a lower or no annual fee
• You prefer a card that offers cash-back rewards
• The bonus categories don’t fit your business needs

Amex Business Gold Card — Is It Worth It?

The Amex Business Gold card is a perfect fit for small business owners who have significant spending in 1 or more of the card’s 6 bonus categories, and want a card that will help them rack up the points on those purchases.

Since the 4x point earnings apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year, those who are able to meet this spend threshold can earn a whopping 600,000 Amex Membership Rewards points per year — worth $13,200 based on our valuations of Membership Rewards points.

Using your Amex Business Gold card, you’ll also earn 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.

Further, the card is a great option for traveling business owners as it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

There is plenty to love about the Amex Business Gold card, and the card is a popular choice among Upgraded Points team members like Compliance Editor and Content Contributor Juan Ruiz:

“The Amex Business Gold card is my preferred gas card. It earns one of the highest gas station purchase rates with the potential to earn 4x points per dollar at U.S. stations, among other popular business categories. While the annual fee on the card has recently increased, Amex has added up to $395 in new statement credits. Because I maximize these monthly statement credits, the annual fee increase doesn’t bother me too much. Living in South Florida and driving daily means that gas is one of my biggest weekly expenses. This also means that I am able to earn a significant amount of Membership Rewards points each year just by filling up my tank.”

Juan Ruiz, compliance editor and content contributor

Juan is correct that the Amex Business Gold card is a workhorse for earning Amex Membership Rewards points. In fact, if you are a business owner with a large amount of spend in 1 or more of the card’s 6 bonus categories, then it is likely that the Amex Business Gold card would be worth it for you.

Amex Business Gold Card Top Benefits

Annual Credits

Annual credits are one of the best ways to get value from your Amex Business Gold card every year. Among these credits are:

• Up to $20 in monthly credits for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores
• Up to $155 Walmart+ credit (offers free same-day delivery and free shipping on orders)

Note that some credits require enrollment, so be sure to explore your American Express account to make the most of your card.

Bonus Categories

We love the Amex Business Gold card thanks to its ability to help you rack up Amex Membership Rewards points faster than most cards on the market.

Cardholders receive 4x points per dollar spent on their 2 highest purchase categories each month, on up to $150,000 spent each calendar year; from the following categories:

• Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software and 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)

Plus, you’ll earn 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com using your Amex Business Gold card.

The Hotel Collection Access

When you book your hotel through Amex’s The Hotel Collection, you’ll get a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities, plus a room upgrade when available.

Card Protections

Your card offers protections to keep you covered when things go wrong:

• Baggage Insurance: If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, you can be covered up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.
• Rental Car Insurance: Get secondary rental car coverage against theft or damage to the vehicle when you pay for your rental with your card.
• Trip Delay Insurance: When you purchase a round-trip flight with your card and it is delayed by more than 12 hours, you can receive up to $500 in coverage toward eligible expenses.
• Extended Warranty Protection: This coverage adds an additional year of warranty coverage to your purchased items with coverage of 5 years or less.
• Purchase Protection: If an item purchased with your card is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase, you can receive up to $1,000 in coverage per occurrence, up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• Cell Phone Insurance: Receive coverage for accidental damage caused to your cell phone, with up to $800 in coverage, up to 2 times per year, with a $50 deductible.

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Amex Points

It’s no secret that Amex Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable points out there. While the Amex Business Gold card is great at earning them, there are many other options out there for you to earn even more Membership Rewards points.

Once you’re sitting on a large balance of points, you’ll want to learn the best ways to redeem your Membership Rewards points so that you can make sure you’re getting great value out of each redemption.

If you’re hoping to redeem your points for first and business class airline tickets for pennies on the dollar, by far, the best way to do that is by making strategic use of Amex transfer partners.

Amex Membership Rewards points are one of our favorite points to earn here at Upgraded Points, and writers have used their points to fly experiences like ANA “The Suite” first class, Cathay Pacific business class, Lufthansa first class, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, and more.

Alternative Cards to the Amex Business Gold Card

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

This card is a great choice for those looking for a more well-rounded option. While it doesn’t earn 4x points like the Amex Business Gold card, it does earn 3x points on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on travel, shipping, ad purchases made with social media sites or search engines, internet, cable, and phone services. You’ll earn those points on every category — instead of 2 with the Amex Business Gold card.

See how these cards compare: Amex Business Gold card vs. Ink Business Preferred card.

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

If you prefer a cash-back credit card, then the Amex Blue Business Cash card could be a great option for you. The card offers 2% cash-back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.

We’ve also compared the Amex Business Gold card with some other credit cards:

• Amex Business Gold card vs American Express^® Gold Card
• Amex Business Gold card vs. The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Amex Business Gold card vs. Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card
• Amex Business Gold card vs. The Plum Card^® from American Express

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 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 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 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.