Our take: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express makes earning Membership Rewards simple, but it’s best for those who spend under $50,000 annually on their business card and understand how to make the most out of the travel rewards.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Intro Bonus
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
| 0% intro offer | 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening (then a variable APR of 18.49%–26.49%) |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Regular APR | 18.49%–26.49% variable |
To view rates and fees of the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.
Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Overview
The Blue Business® Plus Card is a safe choice, like ordering the same dish at your favorite restaurant every time you go, or taking a vacation to the same place every year. Sure, you know you’ll like it, but what if you tried something else? There’s a chance you might find something that suits you even better. The same applies to the Amex Blue Business Plus card, it can get the job done but there are better choices for more adventurous types.
The card earns a simple 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on everything, up to the first $50,000 in spending each year, then 1 point per dollar. Although that elevated and simple rate can be appealing, if you’re a business who spends more than that, there are plenty of other options that earn 2X without any limits, like the Capital One Spark Cash Plus and the Chase Ink Business Premier card.
And, unless you have a specific goal of earning Membership Rewards to use for travel, be aware that if you want cash back from the card, a point is only worth 0.6 cents. If you spend less than $50,000 a year and find that the combination of no annual fee, simple earning structure, the intro 0% APR offer on purchases and the ability to occasionally spend beyond your limit is exactly what you need, consider this card’s sibling instead, the American Express Blue Business Cash card. The Blue Business Cash card’s attributes are identical to the Blue Business Plus, but it earns straight cash back, which you can use any way you’d like.
Who is the Blue Business Plus Card from American Express good for?
The Blue Business Plus Card is best for a business owner who spends less than $50,000 a year on a card and wants to earn Membership Rewards to use towards travel.
Who shouldn’t get the Blue Business Plus Card from American Express?
The Blue Business Plus card is not a fit for businesses who spend well above $50,000 a year or those who want cash-back on their rewards card.
Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: How to earn rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has a simple rewards structure. You’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases for the first $50,000 in purchases per year (1x point per dollar thereafter).
The card also offers new cardholders 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
How to redeem Amex Blue Business Membership Rewards points
How to redeem Blue Business Plus Card from American Express rewards
Membership Rewards points are flexible, meaning they can be redeemed in multiple ways. Here’s what you can do with the rewards earned on the Blue Business Plus card.
Redeem for travel by transferring to airline and hotel partners
One of the best uses of Membership Rewards points is transferring them to one of Amex’s airline partners. Amex has close to 20 airline partners and three hotel partners and in most cases you’ll get more value from your Membership Rewards by transferring points to a partner.
That’s because when you use your rewards to book a flight through Amex Travel, a point is always worth one cent. For example, a $300 flight booked this way will cost 30,000 Membership Rewards points. But, transfer 30,000 points to an eligible transfer partner and things get more interesting–and valuable.
Here’s a quick example: We found a one way nonstop flight on Aeromexico from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Mexico City in March 2024 that costs $359.29 for a seat in the main cabin. If you were to redeem Membership Rewards through Amex Travel to book that flight, it would require 35,929 points to cover the cost.
But if you transfer rewards to partner Aeromexico, you can snag a deal on a promotional first class seat for just 36,000 Aeromexico rewards points–just 71 points more than if you booked with Membership Rewards for a coach seat, plus taxes and fees.
Pay with points at checkout
You can use your points to pay at checkout with eligible partners like Amazon, Best Buy and PayPal. Points are typically worth 0.7 cents per point this way.
Redeem for travel with Pay with Points
You can use Membership Rewards to book travel through AmexTravel using the Pay with Points feature. Using points this way will give you a value of 1 cent per point for flights, and 0.7 cents per point for prepaid hotel bookings, cruises, rental cars, and vacation packages.
Redeem for gift cards
You can redeem your rewards to buy gift cards from a variety of options including hotel brands, airlines, restaurant chains, retailers, and more. The value of redeeming your rewards this way is between 0.5 cents and 1 cent per point, depending on the specific gift card.
Redeem for statement credits
Redeeming Membership Rewards for a statement credit is worth just 0.6 cents per point, making this the least valuable redemption option.
Amex Blue Business Plus rates and fees
- Intro: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening (then a variable APR of 18.49%–26.49%)
- Purchase: 18.49%–26.49% variable
- Annual fee: $0
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Additional benefits
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express provides cardholders with a myriad of valuable perks, including:
- Intro APR offer: Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening (then a variable APR of 18.49%–26.49%).
- Expanded buying power: The Blue Business Plus card offers the ability to occasionally spend beyond your credit limit, which can be helpful for a business who needs to make an emergency purchase or needs to buy more inventory than usual.
- No extra charge for employee cards. You can add up to 99 employee cards on your account, all for no additional fee.
- Purchase protections: The card offers extended warranty coverage of up to an additional year on warranties of five years or less and purchase protection for stolen or accidentally damaged items up to $1,000 per item, up to $50,000 per card member per year.
- Amex Offers: Get targeted offers of bonus points or discounts on purchases from various vendors and retailers.
- Dispute resolution: Amex will work with you if you have a fraudulent or incorrect charge on your billing statement.
Credit cards similar to Blue Business Plus Card from American Express
There are several other business credit cards on the market that earn the equivalent or better of 2X rewards per dollar on your spending. Let’s take a look at how some of the competing cards fare against the Blue Business Plus Card.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs. Blue Business Plus Card
Bigger spenders who don’t need to carry a balance will find that the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a better alternative to the Blue Business Plus Card. Although the card has a $150 annual fee, it is waived for businesses that spend $150,000 annually or more. The card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on all spending, plus 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, with no caps to limit your potential.
It also comes with a much bigger welcome bonus too, which can take some of the sting out of the annual fee. New cardholders can $3,000 cash bonus: $1,500 once you spend $20,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional $1,500 once you spend $100,000 in the first 6 months.
Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express vs. Blue Business® Plus Card from American Express
The Blue Business Cash Card is nearly identical to the Blue Business Plus Card, but the main difference is in what each card earns. The Blue Business Plus Card earns Membership Rewards, which can be great when booking travel through transfer partners, but not necessarily as valuable when used for other types of redemptions.
The Blue Business Cash Card however earns straight cash back, which is automatically paid out as a statement credit to your account. If its simplicity and value you’re seeking in a card, the Blue Business Cash card’s earning and redemption structure is as good as it gets, as long as you’re spending under $50,000 a year. Between the two cards it’s a better choice for all except those who know how to wring the most value from their Membership Rewards.
Is the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express right for you?
The Blue Business Plus Card is right for you if you want straightforward and simple travel rewards and your business spends less than $50,000 a year. If that’s not you, look to another card.
Frequently asked questions
How do you qualify for the Blue Business Plus card?
As an Amex card, you’ll typically need good or better credit to qualify for the Blue Business Plus card. FICO defines good credit at starting around 670, although issuers consider a range of factors including your business income and existing debts along with your credit profile when determining if you qualify for approval.
What is the credit limit on the Blue Business Plus card?
There’s no one set credit limit on the Blue Business Plus card as American Express will determine a different limit for each applicant based on their credit profile. However, the Blue Business Plus card has an expanded buying power feature that allows you to occasionally spend above your limit and that amount will vary based on factors including your payment history, card usage and other financial factors.
What’s the annual fee on the Blue Business Plus?
The Blue Business Plus card has an annual fee of $0.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date but are subject to change at any time at the issuer’s discretion. Before applying, please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
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.
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