What credit score do you need for an American Express Blue Business Plus card?

There is no specific minimum credit score requirement for the card, but applicants with good or excellent credit (preferably 700 or higher) will have a better chance of approval. In addition to your credit score, American Express will also consider your business's annual revenue and other credit factors.

Do you have to pay your Amex Blue Business Card balance in full every month?

Since it isn’t a charge card, you don’t have to pay off your American Express Blue Business Plus card balance every month. You can pay the minimum amount due each month, but you will face interest charges on the remaining balance after the intro APR period has ended.

Do you need to own a business to get the American Express Blue Business Plus?

Yes, you need to own a business to apply for the American Express Blue Business Plus. The card’s application requires your business’s federal tax ID, legal business name, business structure, and other related information.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express review: A sturdy middle ground for small businesses and startups

This card works well for business owners whose spending budgets aren’t too high just yet.

Written by

India Davis

Edited by

Courtney Mihocik

Reviewed by

Cathleen McCarthy

Mar 25, 2024 / 11 min

The Bankrate promise

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

Snapshot

4.1

Bankrate rating

Bottom line

Small business and mid-size startup owners may find a nice pairing of affordability and perks with this business card. You’ll want to keep your budget in check to avoid hitting a spending cap on your reward earnings, but you can get a lot out of this card as you establish your business.

Best for business perks with no annual fee

Rewards value

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

3 / 5

APR

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

4 / 5

Rewards flexibility

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

4 / 5

Features

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

3 / 5

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Recommended Credit

Intro 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.

$300

Offer valuation

We calculate this number by multiplying the card's intro offer by Bankrate's valuation of this issuer's rewards program, showing you how much your points or miles are worth in dollars.

1X - 2X

Rewards Rate

Earn 2X Membership Rewards® 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.

Annual fee

Regular APR

On This Page

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Overview

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express can be an ideal card for small-business owners with an annual budget in this range. It has good features like no annual fee and a decent rewards rate on up to $50,000 in purchases per year. However, it may also stand out as a great choice for startup owners who don’t have predictable budgets yet.

As your business develops, the Blue Business Plus pairs especially well with other American Express cards as a flat-rate business rewards card, so it can remain a key partner in your rewards strategy well into the future.

Rewards
2X points on up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points thereafter

2X points on prepaid rental cars booked through AmexTravel.com

1X points on all other purchases

Rewards value: 2.0 cents

Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis
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 membership.

Expert Appraisal: Typical
Rates and fees
No annual fee

2.7 foreign transaction fees

0 percent intro purchase APR for 12 months

18.49 percent to 26.49 percent variable

Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis
Other cardholder perks
Expanded Buying Power gives cardholders a higher credit limit

Card has a quick and easy online application process in as little as 30 seconds

Free employee cards with customizable spending limits

Account manager feature to monitor finances

Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis

Amex Blue Business Plus Card pros and cons

Pros

There’s no annual fee to eat into reward earnings
It has an intro APR on purchases that is on-par with other business credit cards
The Expanded Buying Power feature may allow you to spend a limited amount beyond your regular credit limit

Cons

The 2X bonus category on general business purchases has a $50,000 spending cap, then the rewards rate drops to 1X points
No intro APR on balance transfers, so it may not be an ideal option for managing high-interest debt on your other cards
There is a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee for purchases from international merchants

Why you might want the American Express Blue Business Plus

The American Express Blue Business Plus card has features that allow for flexible budgets and timelines, giving cardholders a grace period that’s rare among no-annual-fee business cards. If you plan ahead, you could get the upper hand in balancing your venture's finances while growing for the future.

Credit limit: Expanded Buying Power lives by its name

If you need to make a large purchase worth more than your credit limit, you can do it with Expanded Buying Power. Based on your creditworthiness, American Express may allow you to go over your credit limit to cover business expenses like equipment and inventory, but it’s not unlimited.

Instead, it adjusts with your card use, payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express and more to accommodate the purchase. This flexibility can be especially handy for business owners who may worry that their credit limit won’t completely cover everything they need to purchase with the card in a month. However, be aware that you must pay off the over-limit portion at the end of each billing period as part of your minimum payment.

You can find out how much you may exceed your credit limit by using the “Check Spending Power” tool in your American Express account.

Rates and fees: A rare intro APR offer for business cards

This is a standout feature on the Blue Business Plus because several popular business cards don’t have intro APR offers. The Amex Blue Business Plus has a combination that will appeal to many business owners, especially those just starting out: No annual fee and a 0 percent intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, enabling you to finance large business expenses for one year without paying interest. This intro offer is especially worthwhile for new cardholders who need to finance large purchases in their first year with the card.

After the intro period, your regular APR will be 18.49 percent to 26.49 percent (variable), depending on your creditworthiness. If you spend over your limit, the Expanded Buying Power feature means you won’t face an over-limit fee but be aware that other fees and rates could apply to your balance.

Perks: Decent for a no-annual-fee card

Like many business credit cards, the Blue Business Cash lets you request free employee cards, which come with alerts and spending summaries so you can track their purchases with the company cards. If you travel somewhat regularly, you’ll be happy to know this card comes with secondary car rental loss and damage insurance and a Global Assist Hotline. The hotline can help you if you need a solution for emergencies such as a lost passport or missing luggage. Amex also offers translation services and emergency legal and medical referrals if you travel more than 100 miles from your home.

Why you might not want the American Blue Business Plus

While this card is a great choice for startups, freelancers, and contractors, it may not be the best for larger, more established companies. Between drawbacks like low redemption value for points and spending caps that limit rewards earnings, those with more expensive business needs won’t see this card’s worth.

Rewards rate: Low redemption value outside of travel

Each reward point could be worth between 0.5 and 2.0 cents, depending on your redemption option.

Paying with points and redeeming them for merchandise, gift cards (value varies by merchant, but up to a 1:1 value), or statement credits are the worst ways to use your points since you’ll only get 0.5 cents to 0.7 cents per point in most cases. If you’re in a pinch and need to use points, you can reserve prepaid hotel rooms, cars, cruises and planned vacations. However, this will only net 0.7 cents per point.

If you want a fair value for your points, you should redeem them for air travel through the Amex Travel portal. The best way to maximize your points is to use them for travel, especially for transfers to a partner airline or hotel. Bankrate’s latest valuation estimates that finding the right American Express transfer partner can bump each point to around 2.0 cents on average. You’ll want to plan your redemption with your chosen transfer partner ahead of time since it is the best way to squeeze more value out of your credit card rewards.

Rewards: Spending cap only suits small businesses

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card by American Express earns points on eligible everyday purchases with the flexible American Express Membership Rewards program. You’ll earn 2X points on up to $50,000 in purchases each year and 1X points after that as well as unlimited 2X points on prepaid rental cars booked through the American Express Travel portal.

This card can offer solid value to small-business owners because it is one of the few cards with no annual fee that offers rewards at a generous flat rate. However, companies with higher budgets or with a preference for higher rewards rates may find this card restricting. If your company’s annual budget goes over $50,000, the rewards on this card can be limited. This is especially true when considering the most you can earn is 2 points per dollar, and the highest redemptions are for travel.

We tried it: Here’s what our experts say

Here’s Bankrate credit cards writer Ryan Flanigan uses The Blue Business Plus Credit Card to keep his Membership Rewards points from expiring.

This card is the best way to ensure your Amex points never expire. With no annual fee, there’s no reason to get rid of it, which lets you keep the Membership Rewards points you earn on high-annual-fee cards. I put my high initial credit line and intro APR offer to use to finance needed expenses and get good value from Amex offers. With a solid flat 2X earning rate, this card is always a good choice for any purchase, especially for things that won’t get bonus earning rates with other cards.
— Ryan Flanigan, Writer, Credit Cards

How the Blue Business Plus compares with other business credit cards

The Blue Business Plus credit card is ideal for small business owners looking for a card with a simple rewards structure, no annual fee and an intro APR period. This card would not be a good fit for business owners operating large companies — at least not as a primary business card.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Bankrate Score

4.1

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Apply now

on American Express's secure site

Annual fee

No annual fee

Intro offer

15,000 Membership Rewards® points

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.

Rewards rate

1X - 2X

Earn 2X Membership Rewards® 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.

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Bankrate Score

4.7

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Apply now

on Capital One's secure site

Annual fee

$150

Intro offer

$1,200 cash back

$1,200 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months

Rewards rate

2% - 5%

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent (740 – 850)

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Bankrate Score

4.3

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Apply now

on American Express's secure site

Annual fee

No annual fee

Intro offer

$250 statement credit

Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.

Rewards rate

1% - 2%

Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year.

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers unlimited 2 percent cash back without a spending cap on the card’s highest rewards rate, meaning big spenders may earn more with the Spark Cash Plus card than they could with the Blue Business Plus card. The catch is that it has a $150 annual fee (See Rates & Fees), but you can offset this fee with cash back earnings if you spend about $625 per month.

This is a charge card, so it doesn’t have a spending limit. The one caveat is that you can’t carry a balance with a charge card. If you are hoping to finance expenses, you could risk missing a payment with the Spark Cash Plus, especially if your business is new and cash flow is unpredictable.

Businesses that don’t have expansive budgets and that won’t blow through the $50,000 annual spending cap on 2X rewards may be better off with the Blue Business Plus card. Since the Spark Cash Plus is a charge card, it may be more challenging to build credit with the requirement to pay off balances in full each billing cycle. As a result, the Blue Business Plus is the better option for building your business credit over time.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is very similar to its sibling, the Blue Business Plus Card. You’ll earn 2 percent cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases per year and 1 percent after that. It has a nearly identical rewards system, no annual fee, Expanded Buying Power and the same intro APR offer. The biggest difference is the lack of rewards on rental cars like the Blue Business Plus.

Because of this, the Blue Business Plus Card could give more value to small business owners who want to use strategic redemptions to maximize the points they earn. Anyone looking for a simpler rewards program may be more satisfied with the American Express Blue Business Cash Card. It’s also important to note that while travel purchases can be the most lucrative redemption option for these cards, you will have to pay a foreign transaction fee for any international purchase you make with either card.

Best cards to pair with the Blue Business Plus Credit Card

The best pairing for the Blue Business Plus will depend on your unique business needs. The best way to take advantage of the card’s flat rate is to pair it with another card that matches your spending. This could be another business card or even a travel card that picks up the slack for the Amex Blue Business Plus.

You might consider pairing the Blue Business Cash with the other two cards in the Amex Trifecta or another American Express business card. If you combine the Blue Business Plus card with The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card, you will complete the Amex Trifecta.

This trio is the definitive combination for earning maximum Membership Rewards points for your spending. While the Amex Platinum rewards your travel purchases, the Amex Gold rakes in boosted rewards on everyday expenses like dining and purchases at U.S. supermarkets. However, the annual fees included in this trifecta are $695 for the Platinum card and $250 for the Gold card. These fees can put this card stack out of reach for cost-conscious cardholders.
If you’re opening a business that requires office space, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card could have a lot of potential. You can earn 5 percent on office supply, internet, cable and phone services (up to $25,000 on combined purchases per year) as well as 2 percent cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 on combined purchases per year). It also comes with a similar intro APR offer with a slightly lower interest rate and no annual fee. This is a great value, as it essentially doubles the cash back rate for the business while giving the cardholder time to pay down any large purchases before interest is due.

Who is the Blue Business Plus Credit Card right for?

For those just starting out, it’s best to keep costs low until you know what you need to invest. While it can be tempting to get a credit card with a familiar name, those cards aren’t one-size-fits-all. For example, despite the Amex Business Platinum being a top tier card, it won't be as useful to a business owner who doesn’t travel often. Plus, the annual fee could be an unnecessary burden to take on, especially early in building your business.

Meanwhile, the Blue Business Plus Credit Card saves business owners a lot of the headache that can come from annual fees and rewards categories. Instead, you earn on all your purchases up to $50,000 annually (lowers from 2X points to 1X points thereafter) without having to compensate for an annual fee. This allows you to focus on the basics.
Not every business calls for a huge amount of capital. If you find that your costs have stayed relatively low month-to-month, it may be better to get a card that is the same. The Blue Business Plus card has low fees and an intro APR offer that will temporarily not charge interest on your purchases. That’s useful if you need time to get a handle on new expenses or are looking to make a larger purchase.

The Extended Buying Power can also be a great feature for larger-than-expected purchases, since it gives you and your business some potential added flexibility.

Bankrate’s take — Is the Blue Business Plus Credit Card worth it?

This is a great card to add to your arsenal if you’re a small-business owner who wants to rack up rewards without worrying about rewards categories. It has an interest-free period, no annual fee and expanded buying power that can give you the capital you need to grow your business. You can also squeeze fantastic long-term value out of the Blue Business Plus because it pairs nicely with premium Amex cards.

However, if you’re a big spender, there may be better options than getting a Blue Business Plus Credit Card. Although you can switch to another card when you hit the rewards cap, you may want to avoid the hassle of dealing with multiple credit cards.

For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash card, please click here.

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.

Frequently asked questions

There is no specific minimum credit score requirement for the card, but applicants with good or excellent credit (preferably 700 or higher) will have a better chance of approval. In addition to your credit score, American Express will also consider your business's annual revenue and other credit factors.
Since it isn’t a charge card, you don’t have to pay off your American Express Blue Business Plus card balance every month. You can pay the minimum amount due each month, but you will face interest charges on the remaining balance after the intro APR period has ended.
Yes, you need to own a business to apply for the American Express Blue Business Plus. The card’s application requires your business’s federal tax ID, legal business name, business structure, and other related information.