Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express review: 12-month 0% intro APR

To view rates and fees for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card: Overview

annual interest rate

• introduce: Enjoy 0% introductory interest rate on purchases within 12 months from the date of account opening (then the variable annual interest rate is 18.49%–26.49%)
• Buy: 18.49%–26.49% variable
• Balance referral: 18.49%–26.49% Variable, fee is greater of $5 or 3% of each transfer amount
• punish: 29.99%

annual fee: $0

Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% after conversion to USD per transaction

Late payment fee: Up to $39

Refund payment fees: $39

Account reopening fee: $25

Returned check fee: $38 (plus value of outstanding checks)

Typically, business credit cards that offer rewards come with an annual fee. However, the Blue Business® Plus Card is an exception to this standard.

You can use Enjoy 0% introductory interest rate on purchases within 12 months from the date of account opening (then the variable annual interest rate is 18.49%–26.49%) In doing so, earn up to 2x points on all qualifying business-related purchases, terms and conditions apply. So if you need financing for a big business purchase next year, this card will look great in your wallet. If you pay off your balance before the promotional period ends, you’ll avoid interest charges and earn double points.

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card: Rewards

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card There is a simple reward structure. You’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on your first $50,000 in daily business purchases per year (and 1x points on every $1 spent thereafter).

You’ll earn points on most of your spending on this business rewards credit card. However, there are some exceptions, including:

• Gift card purchase
• person-to-person payments
• Traveler’s Check Purchase
• Account fees and interest charges
• Prepaid card purchases or prepaid card stored-value transactions

If you don’t want to worry about special spending categories or rotating rewards to maximize your points earning potential, the Blue Business® Plus Card is for you.

Does the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card offer bonuses?

Unfortunately, the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express does not currently offer a welcome bonus to new customers.

How to Redeem American Express Points for the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card

There are many ways to redeem Membership Rewards points earned with the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card. However, some redemption methods are better at earning points than others, so choose wisely.

Pay with points

You can use your points to shop online at MembershipRewards.com. There you can browse thousands of items for sale from American Express partner merchants. Each point is worth half a penny on this platform.

Some retailers also allow you to link your card’s rewards account to their checkout page. This way, you can use your points toward those purchases. You can also connect your rewards account to your PayPal account, which gives you access to many merchants willing to accept your points as payment. When you use points during the checkout process at participating merchants, each point can be worth up to one cent.

Redeem travel expenses

When you book a flight through American Express Travel, you’ll enjoy an exchange rate of 1 cent to 1 point. For other travel booked through the platform, such as hotel stays or cruises, the exchange rate is one-half or two-thirds cents per point.

American Express also partners with many hotels and airlines. When you link a frequent flyer or hotel loyalty account to a credit card rewards account, you can use Membership Rewards points to pay for travel. Generally speaking, when you redeem points through a partner program, each point is worth one cent. However, you can extend your rewards through the Hilton Honors program, where each Membership Rewards Point is equivalent to two Hilton Honors Points.

Redeem bill points

American Express lets you use Membership Rewards points to pay for charges on your current bill. While you may be tempted to reduce your balance, be aware that you’ll only earn 0.60 cents per point (or six-tenths of a cent) when using this redemption method. Additionally, you must have enough points to eliminate the entire charge, and points do not count toward the minimum payment for that billing cycle.

Redeem gift card

You can use Membership Rewards points to purchase a variety of gift cards through the American Express Membership Rewards Gift Card Portal. The exchange rate for some restaurant and retail gift cards can be closer to a penny. However, others may cut the value of your rewards, offering as little as half a cent per point.

extra benefits

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Provide cardholders with a variety of value-for-money benefits, including:

• Annual interest rate discount introduction: enjoy Enjoy 0% introductory interest rate on purchases within 12 months from the date of account opening (then the variable annual interest rate is 18.49%–26.49%).
• Expand purchasing power: You may be able to exceed your credit limit if needed. American Express will adjust your spending limit based on your known ability to repay debt, credit profile, account activity and other factors.
• Relationship Care® Services: If you have any questions or concerns about your account, get 24/7 phone support.
• Global Assistance® Line: If you are more than 100 miles from home and have a travel emergency, such as a medical crisis or lost luggage, this hotline may provide assistance.
• Car rental loss and damage insurance: When you pay your rental with a card and decline the rental company’s Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), you may be covered if your vehicle is stolen or damaged.
• Extended warranty: When you make a purchase with your card, you can extend the original manufacturer’s warranty on the item for up to one year.
• Purchase protection: You may make a claim if an item purchased with your card is lost or accidentally damaged within 90 days of purchase. If your claim is approved, you can receive up to $1,000 to offset your losses.
• Staff Card: You can give free cards to employees. When they make qualifying purchases, they’ll earn points for your business.
• QuickBooks integration: When you link your American Express account to QuickBooks, your purchases will automatically flow into your accounting system and be classified under the appropriate expense category.
• Account management: You can designate a trusted party, such as your business partner or accountant, to manage your credit card account on your behalf.
• Account reminder: Get automated notifications related to your account, such as payment reminders and unusual purchase warnings.
• Bill.com Vendor Payments: Sign up for the Basic plan through Bill.com and pay your business bills for free.
• Mobile App: Manage your account with the American Express® mobile app (available for Android and iOS).
• Account statements and year-end summary: Use reports from your card issuer to understand and manage your company’s charges.

Is the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card right for you?

American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card Offers a generous rewards program and many impressive cardholder benefits. Users can enjoy all the benefits of the card without paying an annual fee.

If you want to earn rewards for everyday purchases for your business and want to have a variety of points redemption options, the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card will be a great addition to your financial tool belt.

However, let’s say you’re purely interested in earning cash back, or prefer the spending that a higher rewards card with rotating bonus categories might offer. In this case, another card may be better suited for your business spending needs.Some cards, e.g. American Express Business Platinum Card®enjoy 5x Membership Rewards points for flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com.

Credit cards like the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card

If the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express isn’t right for you, you may also consider other options, such as:

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and American Express Blue Business® Plus Card

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, like the Blue Business® Plus Card, has no annual fee and offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases for 12 months, subject to terms. It also comes with many of the same benefits, such as expanded purchasing power, purchase protection, and 24/7 customer service.

However, there are differences when it comes to rewards. The Blue Business® Plus Card gives you 2x Membership Rewards points on purchases, while the Blue Business Cash™ Card gives you 2% cash back. The cash back you receive will be applied directly to your account statement, making this card perfect for you if you want to reduce your monthly bill.

frequently asked questions

How do you qualify for the American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card?

American Express does not post eligibility requirements online. However, you can increase your chances of being approved for the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card by having a good to excellent credit score (670+).

Does Blue Business® Plus have a credit limit?

The Blue Business® Plus credit card from American Express does assign a credit limit to the cardholder. However, you can exceed your limit without penalty through the card’s expanded purchasing power feature. The amount you can pay is determined based on your credit profile, account activity history, financial resources and other criteria.

What happens if you don’t pay in full for your American Express business card?

If you don’t pay your Blue Business® Plus Card in full every month, American Express will charge interest unless you’re in the 0% APR introductory period (which comes with certain terms). Carrying a balance long-term increases your overall borrowing costs.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the date of publication, but may be changed by the card issuer at any time. Before applying, contact your card issuer to verify rates, fees and benefits.

Terms apply to American Express card offers and offers. Certain American Express offers and offers may require registration. Please visit americanexpress.com for more information.

Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by American Express Insurance Company.