How I Maximize the Amex Business Gold’s Monthly Business Credit

The American Express^® Business Gold Card is one of a handful of cards I use for business purchases. Specifically, I use it for my side hustle selling internet domains, thanks to its excellent return when purchasing services from software and cloud system providers. But that’s not the only reason I keep the card in my wallet.

The Amex Business Gold card has some other tricks up its sleeve, too. One of these is its up to $240 flexible business credit every year, which is divided up into $20 monthly credits (enrollment required). I can use it at a handful of U.S. merchants like FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores. But there’s a way to make the credit even more flexible.

I’ll show you how I redeem my Amex Business Gold card’s monthly flexible business credit for gift cards from Apple, Uber, and other popular merchants.

Amex Business Gold Card: Overview

The Amex Business Gold card is American Express’ midtier business card and earns Membership Rewards points. It has a $375 annual fee (rates & fees), but this can be offset by the flexible annual business credit and the points you earn with the card.

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Business Gold Card

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.

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

American Express^® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$375

APR

17.99% - 28.74% 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 American Express^® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
  • Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
  • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & 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)
• 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection

Cons

• $375 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status

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Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.*
• Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
• The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
• *Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.99% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The card has a unique earning structure where it rewards you with 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on your top 2 purchase categories (up to a combined $150,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per $1) if they fall into the following:

• U.S. media providers for advertising
• U.S. electronic goods retailers, software, and cloud system providers
• U.S. restaurants
• U.S. gas stations
• Transit purchases (including taxis, ride-sharing, parking, ferries, subways, tolls, etc.)
• Monthly wireless telephone service charges from service providers in the U.S.

American Express calculates your top 2 purchase categories and automatically awards bonus points at the end of the month. You also earn 3 points per $1 spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent.

Other Amex Business Gold card benefits include a monthly Walmart+ membership credit, Hotel Collection access, and a handful of travel protections, though some perks require prior enrollment.

Redeeming the Business Credit for Gift Cards

The Amex Business Gold card’s flexible business credit is divided into up to $20 monthly statement credits, which are triggered when you make an eligible U.S. purchase purchase at Grubhub, FedEx, or an office supply store like Staples or Office Depot.

But as luck would have it, I found a way to make this credit much more useful.

Office supply stores are the key to doing this. If you’ve ever been inside a Staples or other major office supply store, you’ve probably seen a rack of gift cards to various merchants near the checkout counter. I go to the Staples near my apartment every month and purchase a $20 Uber or Target gift card. The credit posts within a few days of purchase.

I’ve also had success doing this on Staples’ website, but proceed with caution if you go this route. Some stores that sell third-party gift cards online use a third-party service like GiftCards.com to process the transaction. If this happens, the purchase might not trigger the credit.

That said, I’ve had luck buying Target gift cards at Staples.com. The credit triggers the same as it does on a gift card purchased at a brick-and-mortar Staples store, so it’s worth a shot if you don’t have an office supply store near you.

It’s worth noting that Staples offers shipping and printing services and sells drinks, snacks, computer accessories, and even suitcases at some stores. These are other ways to use your monthly flexible business credit if you are near a Staples store already.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Business Gold card is an excellent card for small businesses whose spending habits align with the card’s bonus categories. And as a bonus, the card’s monthly flexible business credit can be used for $20 back at U.S. purchases at Grubhub, FedEx, or any office supply store.

An easy way to use this credit is to buy a $20 gift card at Staples, Office Depot, or another office supply store every month. These stores sell gift cards to dozens of merchants, often including Amazon, so you should be able to use this to redeem the flexible business credit on a purchase you’d make anyway.