The Amex Card That Quietly Delivers: Why I Love the Blue Business Plus Card

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express is one of the most underrated Amex cards that I have in my wallet. It offers simplicity and a great earning structure for small business owners — all with a $0 annual fee (rates & fees).

If you’re tired of jumping through hoops to get value from your credit card and are looking for a way to earn lots of American Express points, the Amex Blue Business Plus card is one you’ll want to consider. Let’s take a closer look to see why I love this card.

The Amex Blue Business Plus Card Is for Everyone

The Amex Blue Business Plus card is a simple card that packs a powerful punch for small business owners. It’s no wonder why it’s one of our favorite no-annual-fee business cards.

The most significant benefit of the Amex Blue Business Plus card is that it earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent, up to $50,000 each calendar year. That’s not something even the most high-end Amex cards can claim, and I’ve been able to earn 100,000 points thanks to this powerful earning rate every year.

We value Amex points at 2.2 cents each, which means that the Amex Blue Business Plus card gives you an effective 4.4% return on spending.

Yes, some other business cards offer a greater return on spending in some categories. The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express earns 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, while the American Express^® Business Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar on the top 2 eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 per calendar year).

However, both of those cards only earn 1 point per dollar on spending outside of these bonus categories.

Each of those cards is a fantastic option for many businesses, but the Amex Blue Business Plus card is an easy choice for nearly all businesses. Plus, if you already have an Amex Business Platinum card or an Amex Business Gold card, the Amex Blue Business Plus is an excellent addition to your wallet. It can fill in the gaps, so you’re earning at least 2 points per dollar on all of your spending.

Additional Benefits of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card

On top of being a powerhouse points earner, the Amex Blue Business Plus card comes with some additional benefits.

• Access to Amex Offers (upon enrollment)
• Connect to QuickBooks
• Complimentary employee cards
• Extended warranty and purchase protection
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Vendor pay by Bill.com

Is There Any Reason Not To Get an Amex Blue Business Plus Card?

The Amex Blue Business Plus card should work for most business owners. Since it doesn’t have an annual fee and earns 2 points per dollar on every purchase, it’s a valuable addition to just about any wallet.

The only real downside to the Amex Blue Business Plus card is that it charges a foreign transaction fee. So, when I travel internationally for business, I make sure to leave this card at home.

Amex Blue Business Plus Welcome Bonus Offer

The Amex Blue Business Plus card is a smart choice for businesses that simply can’t meet the minimum spending requirement to earn the huge welcome bonus offers available on the Amex Business Platinum card or the Amex Business Gold card.

Here’s the current Amex Blue Business card’s welcome bonus:

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

15,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$330

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-840)

Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).

The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.

Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
• Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
• No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost

Cons

• No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
• No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
• Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
• You’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
• No Annual Fee
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Earning that welcome bonus on a card with a $0 annual fee is fantastic. Those points can be transferred to hotel and airline partners and redeemed for incredible travel experiences.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Blue Business Plus card is among the most underrated American Express cards. It’s a $0-annual-fee card that earns 2 points per dollar on all purchases — that combination is a compelling reason to add it to your wallet.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Amex Blue Business Plus card, 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 Amex Blue Business Plus card, 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 Amex Blue Business Plus card, 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.