Our Take
4.7
NerdWallet rating
The bottom line:
The AmEx Blue Business Cash is a solid pick for business owners seeking simplicity. But big spenders or those who spend heavily in specific areas can get more value out of other cards.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Apply now
on American Express' website
More details from American Express
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% – 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why 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
View Rates & Fees
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Compare to Other Cards
at American Express | at Chase | at Chase |
Annual fee $0 | Annual fee $95 | Annual fee $0 |
Regular APR 17.74%-25.74% Variable APR | Regular APR 20.74%-26.74% Variable APR | Regular APR 17.99%-23.99% Variable APR |
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening | Intro APR N/A | Intro APR 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months |
Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent | Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent | Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent |
Full Review
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
is an excellent business credit card, especially for new businesses, thanks to its combination of high cash-back rate, intro APR period and no annual fee. You’ll get
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
. And it has one of the best cash-back rates available for a card without an annual fee: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. Terms Apply.
But businesses with large operating budgets, and those that spend a lot on things like shipping, office supplies and telecom expenses, can get all that and more with other cash-back business credit cards.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is best for small-business owners who:
- Expect to spend less than $50,000 annually on their business credit card.
- Need an intro APR period to finance startup costs or larger purchases.
- Prefer the simplicity of a flat cash-back rate.
- Don’t want to pay an annual fee.
If you anticipate spending more than $50,000 on your card annually, opt for a card that gives top-rate rewards for all of your spending:
- Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card: Like the AmEx Blue Business Cash, this card has no annual fee and earns a flat2%cash back. But Wells Fargo’s card has no caps or limits. It also has a more substantial welcome offer:Earn a $500 cash rewards bonus when you spend $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
If your business spending is concentrated in areas like shipping, office supplies, gas or advertising, you could earn more rewards if you opt for a cash-back card with bonus categories:
- U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®:Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs). Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.This card also offers an intro APR period, no annual fee and a solid welcome offer.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
has a nearly identical twin: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
, which earns Membership Rewards points, rather than cash back. Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for travel, among other things.Key features of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
View rates and fees of
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
.Card type: Small business.
Annual fee:
$0
.Welcome offer:
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.
Rewards:
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. Terms Apply.
APR:
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
.Foreign transaction fee:
2.7
%.Other benefits:
- Flexibility to spend a limited amount above your credit limit with AmEx’s Extended Buying Power. Terms apply.
- Can add up to 99 employee cards to your account for no additional fee. Limits for each employee card can be set online or by phone.
- Secondary rental car coverage in the U.S. and abroad if you pay for the vehicle with your American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental counter. Terms and exclusions apply.
Why you might want The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Solid, straightforward rewards
There's no need to track categories or juggle multiple cards. Everything you buy with
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
will net you 2% cash back until you hit that $50,000 annual spending cap. Then, you'll earn an unlimited 1% cash back on spending. Terms apply. If you max out the spending cap, you'll net $1,000 back. Other cards may offer greater potential earnings — but not many with an annual fee of $0
.Credit limit flexibility
If your spending level varies significantly from month to month or you have a period of purchasing in which you need some wiggle room,
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
might be able to help. According to the card's terms, you can spend in excess of your credit limit. You’ll just need to pay the balance above your credit limit in full every month or you’ll face penalty fees.0% intro APR offer
Business credit cards with 0% APR intro periods of a year or longer aren’t especially common. But
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
offers one:0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.74%-25.74% Variable APR
. This can buy you time to pay down a big purchase.Automatic redemptions
As long as your account is in good standing, you'll get an automatic statement credit for your rewards without any effort on your end. This may count as a drawback for those who want to save up their rewards for specific redemptions. But for time-strapped business owners, there's no need to wait until you've accumulated a certain amount and no remembering to log in to get your rewards. This card takes care of that for you.
No annual fee
For budget-conscious small-business owners, avoiding an annual fee is a plus, especially if your spending doesn't justify the rewards that can come from cards that charge annual fees.
Why you might want a different card
Annual spending cap
Businesses that spend much more than $50,000 each year would likely be better off with a cash-back business card that offers unlimited rewards. The
Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card
, for example, earns 2%
back on all purchases, with no limit on how much you can earn and no annual fee. It also offers a better sign-up bonus and matches the Blue Business Cash’s intro APR period. The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
from Chase is another solid alternative. It has a slightly lower cash-back rate (1.5
% cash back on all spending), but you’ll come out ahead compared to The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
if you spend more than $100,000 annually on it. The welcome offer is a big selling point, too: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
No bonus categories
If your spending easily falls into common business categories, a card with bonus categories like the
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
may make sense. This no-annual-fee option offers the following rewards: Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs). Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
Foreign transaction fee and no travel rewards
If your business purchases inventory overseas or employees regularly travel abroad, opt for a business card with no foreign transaction fees.
The
Capital One Spark Cash Select
is one of the few cash-back cards to also offer no foreign transaction fees. It has no annual fee, a great welcome offer and flat-rate rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
(See rates and fees.)You can also opt for a business travel card to avoid foreign transaction fees, like the
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year, Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases - with no limit to the amount you can earn
. As with most travel cards, there is an annual fee ($95
) but there’s also a huge welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
. And Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed for cash — 1 point is worth 1 cent — but they are worth even more when redeemed for travel via the Chase Travel℠ portal.» MORE: See our picks for best business travel credit cards
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card vs. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
is another card to consider if you're interested in domestic travel. This card is identical in every way to The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
(including the foreign transaction fee) except for one crucial detail: the kind of rewards they earn.If you're looking for straight-cash back and you're OK with it as a statement credit,
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
is the clear winner for its simple rewards structure and automatic redemptions. Earning 2% cash back on the card on up to $50,000 annually means you'll earn 2 cents for every dollar spent. Even when you hit that spending cap and the earning rate drops to 1% cash back, that's still worth 1 cent for every dollar.With
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
(see rates and fees), depending on how you redeem your Membership Rewards points, you can typically get a value between half a cent to one cent per point (and potentially two cents or more for some travel-related redemptions). Redeeming Membership Rewards points for a statement credit is an option, but points are worth only 0.6 cents each when redeemed this way.Gift cards and merchandise are also options for using your points stash, but their value also tends to be less than a penny per point.
Should you get The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
If your business expenses are varied and less than $50,000 a year,
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
is a straightforward way to earn solid cash back. The card gets an easy-to-understand flat rate on all purchases, and it does the redemption work for you.Someone who spends heavily in specific categories, like gas or office supplies, may find more benefit from a card that offers elevated earnings in those areas. Or someone who wants greater flexibility with their rewards might find that a card with multiple redemption options is a better fit.
To view rates and fees of
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
, see this page.The information related to the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash℠ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
View rates and fees of
Capital One Spark Cash Select
.Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
- 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Apply now
on American Express' website
Frequently Asked Questions
You earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year. All other purchases earn 1%. Terms apply.
The 2% cash back rate is capped at $50,000 in spending each year, but you still earn 1% cash back after that (terms apply), so there is not a cap on total rewards.
The expanded buying power benefit on
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
allows you to exceed your credit limit up to a certain amount. Your expanded buying power is determined by your spending habits, payment history, credit record and other factors. The portion in excess of your credit limit is required to be paid in full every billing cycle, and it's included in your minimum payment. If you don ’t pay the total minimum payment due, you’re charged interest and a penalty rate for the entire balance.The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
lets you carry a balance like a typical credit card. Keep in mind, though, that if you use the card’s expanded buying power benefit — an option that allows you to exceed your credit limit up to a certain amount — you will have to pay off the balance above your credit limit in full at the end of each billing cycle.It's fine for domestic travel, but
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
isn't ideal for taking abroad. As an American Express card, it isn’t as widely accepted by international merchants as Visa and Mastercard. Perhaps more important, it charges a 2.7% foreign transaction fee. Terms apply.The key difference is the rewards they earn.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
is a cash-back card, while The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
earns Membership Rewards points. Other features are mostly comparable. So the decision comes down to whether you prefer cash back (which, since it's cash, has a set value) or points (whose value depends on how you redeem them — travel, gift cards, statement credit, point transfers and so on).New elevated offer
