[Expired] Why You Should Get the Amex Business Platinum Now Before the Annual Fee Increases

We know for certain that The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express will get an update by the end of the year, but all we really know right now is that the $895 annual fee (rates & fees) will go up.

Until we know an exact date and the official benefits, we can only speculate about the new annual fee. While we wait, there’s a unique window to apply for the card and lock in the current annual fee for your first year of card membership — all while “double dipping” on a few perks.

Let’s talk more about why applying for the Amex Business Platinum card before the changes roll out could be a strategic move.

1. Lock in the $695 Annual Fee for a Year

American Express confirmed recently that it will refresh the perks on the Platinum Card^® from American Express and the Amex Business Platinum card. We can expect a larger annual fee and more benefits and credits, though each cardmember will have to decide for themselves whether this added value is worth paying a higher cost.

American Express tends to refresh its most premium cards every 5 years or so. With the 2025 version, we don’t know what to expect just yet.

However, based on previous overhauls of the cards, it can be a smart idea to apply before the updates are officially made public. If you apply for the Amex Business Platinum card now, you’ll pay the current $895 annual fee and lock in that membership rate for the next 365 days or so.

That’s because annual fees are charged yearly on the date you applied for the card, not by calendar year.

2. Test Out New Perks (Without a Higher Annual Fee)

When Amex rolls out new card benefits, they are typically available to all cardholders immediately — including existing cardholders. By applying now, you’ll lock in the current lower annual fee and still gain access to new perks immediately, without paying the higher fee for at least a year.

The annual fee is charged to your first statement upon opening the account, and paying that membership fee will lock in that rate for the first year of card membership. For example, applying now (in August 2025) will mean that you won’t have to pay the higher annual fee until August 2026 — giving you plenty of time to assess whether the card is worth keeping once the fee is hiked.

3. Double-Dip on Some Card Benefits

While the annual fees are based on your specific card membership year, some card benefits are based on the calendar year. By applying for the Amex Business Platinum card now, you can actually get twice the perks within your same card membership year.

With the airline incidental fee statement credit, cardmembers earn up to $200 back annually for one qualifying airline of their choice (enrollment required). For example, I chose Delta, and eligible charges throughout the calendar year, like baggage fees and seat selection, will be eligible for this credit.

By applying for the Amex Business Platinum card now, you’ll get up to $200 back to use before the end of 2025, and a fresh new credit valued at up to $200 at the start of 2026.

Not only that, but the Amex Business Platinum card comes with a Dell credit (enrollment required). Each calendar year, you receive up to a $150 statement credit on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on your Amex Business Platinum card and an additional $1,000 in Dell statement credits after you spend $5,000 or more on Dell Technology purchases on your card per calendar year.

Even if you don’t reach the spending threshold for the second part of the credit, that still means you’ll get up to a $150 statement credit on eligible Dell purchases to use by the end of 2025. Then, on January 1, 2026, you’ll receive a second, up to $150 Dell statement credit.

4. Secure the Current Welcome Offer

Another thing that’s uncertain is the welcome bonus offer that new applicants are eligible for. Any card refresh could be subject to new application rules that make it harder to qualify for a welcome bonus offer, so applying now allows you to score the current bonus offer.

By applying now, you can take advantage of the current welcome bonus offer while it’s still available. The Amex Business Platinum card’s current offer is:

• Earn 150,000 200,000 points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months.

While the minimum spend requirements are pretty high, the Amex Business Platinum card targets business owners who have a lot to spend.

Amex Membership Rewards points are best used for travel — specifically with its airline and hotel transfer partners — which is why we value them at 2.2 cents apiece. In other words, this bonus offer is worth up to $4,400 for travel.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been considering the Amex Business Platinum card, now might be the best time to apply. While the exact launch date of the refresh is still unknown, the window to lock in the current lower annual fee before it increases is closing quickly.