Why This Amex 3-Card Setup Works So Well for Business Owners

The American Express suite of business cards is excellent, but with 13 different credit and charge cards to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. As a business owner, I’ve ultimately kept the 3 cards that earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards.

Of course, there will be exceptions here depending on the size of your business, your most common expenses, and what you’re hoping to optimize for. Let me explain further why these cards add value to my company and wallet.

1. The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

While the Amex Business Platinum card won’t be a fit for every business owner, if your business requires regular travel, then this premium card becomes a must-have for most — myself included.

ELEVATED WELCOME 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

Earn 150,000 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $4,400

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)

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

• Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 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^® Plus 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.
• Enhanced! 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
• $895 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

If the $895 annual fee (rates & fees) is off-putting, remember that the card comes with over $3,500 in annual credits and perks that help offset the sting (enrollment required for some benefits).

This amounts to more than 3 times the card’s annual fee. Plus, high-spending business owners have the opportunity to unlock up to $3,600 in additional credits when you spend $250,000 on your card in a calendar year, and these credits include a $1,200 credit for flights booked online directly through AmexTravel.com and up to $2,400 in statement credits toward American Express One AP monthly fees.

While not all of these credits may be very useful to you, there is a reasonable chance that at least a handful of them can provide you with excellent value each year. Personally, I always utilize the annual prepaid hotel credits, airline incidental credit, Dell credit, Hilton credit, and the wireless phone service credit, which add up to $1,320 in annual value.

Airport Lounge Access

For business owners who travel frequently and want airport lounge access, there is no better card on the market than the Amex Business Platinum card.

With it, you receive complimentary access to:

• Amex Centurion Lounges (in the U.S. and international Amex Centurion lounges) and Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner
• 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs annually (when flying with Delta the same day)
• Priority Pass Select Lounges (enrollment required)
• Aspire Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, select Virgin Clubhouses, and select Lufthansa lounges (when flying with Lufthansa Group the same day)

With over 1,550 airport lounges to choose from worldwide, you should have a comfortable place to relax and get work done before your flight, no matter where your business travels take you.

Excellent Protections

If your Amex Business Platinum card ends up being your go-to card for all of your business expenses, take solace in knowing that the card offers a wide variety of travel and purchase protections that can really help you out of a pinch.

As a business owner, I’m so glad this card offers cell phone protection, return protection, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. However, the card also comes with baggage insurance, extended warranty coverage, car rental loss and damage insurance, and trip delay insurance.

2. American Express^® Business Gold Card

The Amex Business Gold card pairs extremely well with the Amex Business Platinum card. In fact, the Amex Business Gold card is a real powerhouse to earn a large number of Amex Membership Rewards points across your business expenses.

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

17.74% - 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 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

Read Full Review

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

You’ll earn 4 points per $1 spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases. The categories include:

• Transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, ride-sharing 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)

If you operate a business that frequently spends in one or more of the 4x categories and would easily meet the $150,000 spend threshold, you could earn a whopping 600,000 Amex Membership Rewards points per year, which is worth $13,200, based on our valuations of Membership Rewards points.

Personally, I love using my Amex Business Gold card for advertising purchases, as no other business credit card offers a higher rewards rate. Since I travel often, my secondary category is usually transit purchases, as there is a wide range of purchases that apply, such as public transit, trains, taxis, ferries, and more.

Better yet, you don’t have to choose 2 categories and stick with them throughout the year, as the card automatically adjusts to your 2 largest eligible spending categories each month — and that additional flexibility can be extremely helpful. As a bonus, the Amex Business Gold card also offers 3 points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.

Annual Statement Credits

As with the Amex Business Platinum card, the Amex Business Gold card comes with a small variety of annual statement credits to help offset the annual fee that you pay, including:

• Up to $20 in monthly credits for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ credit (offers free same-day delivery and free shipping on orders)
• Up to $150 in Squarespace credit (U.S. purchases only)

All together, these add up to $545 in potential annual credits, which can be quite valuable, especially if you’re already paying for services like Squarespace for your website, FedEx for your shipping needs, Grubhub for lunch orders, or for office supply stores and Walmart for products you need to run your business. Note that some credits require enrollment, so be sure to explore your American Express account to make the most of your card.

3. The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you can easily maximize every dollar spent on your business — without holding a card with an expensive annual fee or complicated bonus categories.

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 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.

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 Offer Valuation*:

Up to $330

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

16.74% - 26.74% 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

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

Read Full Review

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, 16.74% - 26.74%, 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: 16.74% - 26.74% 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

The Amex Blue Business Plus card is the perfect catch-all business card that helps me maximize every transaction I make, since it earns 2 Amex Membership Rewards points per $1 on all purchases on up to $50,000 in annual spending, and 1x thereafter. The $0 annual fee (rates & fees) is also approachable for new business owners.

This way, you can ensure that you’re always earning a strong rewards rate, regardless of the business expenses. That said, since the 2x rate is capped at $50,000 in spending each year, if your business spends many multiples of that, this might not be the best card for you.

My strategy is to use my Amex Blue Business Plus card for any purchases that don’t fall into the bonus categories of my Amex Business Platinum or Amex Business Gold cards. That way, no matter what I’m buying, I’m always earning between 2x and 5x points.

Benefits With No Annual Fee

In addition to the rewards you earn with the card, you also receive perks like purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and car rental loss and damage insurance, all with a $0 annual fee (rates & fees).

This makes the Amex Blue Business Plus card great for newer business owners who want a card that provides benefits and rewards but can’t yet justify having a card that charges a large annual fee.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Business Platinum card, the Amex Business Gold card, and the Amex Blue Business Plus card provide me with a strong 3-card setup. I can take advantage of the premium perks of the Amex Business Platinum card, strong rewards on my most expensive business purchases with the Amex Business Gold card, and elevated rewards on all other eligible purchases with the $0-annual-fee Amex Blue Business Plus card.

That said, depending on your needs, you could just as easily use a 2-card setup of the 3, or even select a single business card that suits you best. After all, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to earning ongoing rewards.