American Express Blue Business Cash Card Review

American Express Blue Business Cash Card Full Review

Card type

The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a business credit card, which means it is suitable for small business owners and the self-employed, or anyone with a side business. He earns cash rewards on business expenses.

Annual subscription

There is no annual fee for carrying the American Express Blue Business Cash card, which is one of its biggest advantages.

Welcome offer

With the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, you can earn a $ 250 cash bonus after spending $ 3,000 on purchases within three months of opening the account. This bonus isn’t the biggest you’ll find among business credit cards with no annual fee, but it’s a solid offer if you spend at least $ 1,000 a month on your card.

Introductory offer

New American Express Blue Business Cash cardholders get an APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months, followed by an APR varying from 13.24% to 19.24%. If you need to invest in inventory, supplies, or equipment and want the ability to cut costs over time, this can be a great option. Plus, you’ll earn 2% on all major purchases you use to cover the 0% APR period.

Awards

The rewards structure for this card is simple, but there can be a lot of savings each year. You will earn a 2% fixed cash back on all business expenses up to $ 50,000 per year, and a 1% cash back on all expenses above that amount. This means that you can earn up to $ 1,000 in cash back per year before maximizing the 2% reward rate.

Costs

The American Express Blue Business Cash card is relatively inexpensive. There is no annual fee and no charge if you exceed your credit limit.

Fees you should watch out for include late and return payment fees, both of $ 39, and overseas transaction fees of 2.7% if you use it for overseas purchases. . Business owners who transfer a balance to this card will also pay a 3% balance transfer fee (minimum $ 5) – but since the 0% APR offer does not apply to balance transfers, you should look elsewhere for options to pay off any outstanding debt. .

Other benefits

This business credit card has many advantages over similar business cards with no annual fee. For starters, you get secondary rental car coverage when you use your card to pay for a rental car and access to a Global Assist hotline for 24-hour emergency assistance when you are in at least 100 miles from your home.

You’ll also get automatic extended warranty coverage on items with a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less, and protection against damage or theft, valid for up to 90 days after the date of purchase. purchase. This coverage is worth up to $ 1,000 per covered purchase and up to $ 50,000 per eligible card.

Benefits of the Amex Blue Business Cash card

There are many reasons to consider the American Express Blue Business Cash Card with no annual fee for your business, starting with a flat 2% discount on business expenses of up to $ 50,000 per year.

Several other business cards offer cash back, but most with no annual fee have a flat reward rate of less than 2%. This makes the American Express Blue Business Cash card a good option, at least as long as you don’t plan to charge more than $ 50,000 per year (or $ 4,166 per month) in business expenses on your card. Once this threshold is reached, you will only earn 1% cash back.

Another big advantage of this card is its introductory price for purchases. With 0% APR on anything you buy for 12 months, you can use this card as a no-charge, short-term loan to start your business, finance new infrastructure, or other costs you may have to come.

Finally, this card comes with some consumer protections for purchases, including protection against damage or theft and extended warranties. These benefits are offered free of charge and can help you recover costs if your business-related purchases are damaged for a covered cause.

Disadvantages of the Amex Blue Business Cash card

There are two major drawbacks to be aware of with the American Express Blue Business Cash card. First, the 2% reward rate is capped at $ 50,000 in spending per year. If your business spends significantly more than that every 12 months, you probably want to consider other options.

Another big downside is that you can’t redeem your American Express Blue Business Cash rewards for anything other than statement credits. You cannot convert them into Amex membership rewards or choose another redemption option; statement credits are automatically applied to your account as you earn cash back.

How to use the Amex Blue Business Cash card

To maximize the value of this card, sign up when you have a big business expense coming up. You can get ahead of the Welcome Bonus offer – a $ 250 credit after spending $ 3,000 in the first three months – and enjoy 0% APR for 12 months.

Just make sure you have a plan to pay off your balance in full by the end of 12 months. You’ll then have to pay the high Variable APR on the remaining balances, and the interest charges you pay can wipe out any rewards you’ve earned very quickly.

Over time, use this card for all of your business expenses, at least until you hit $ 50,000 in spending each year to earn the 2% cash back rate. After that, you might want to switch to another business credit card that offers over 1% cashback on all your purchases.

American Express Blue Business Cash Card compared to other cards

Is the Amex Blue Business Cash Card Right For You?

For cash back on your business expenses with no annual fee, the American Express Blue Business Cash card may be a good choice, especially if you can take advantage of the card’s 0% APR on new purchases for 12 months.

Just keep in mind the limits of the map. Your 2% rewards are capped after spending $ 50,000 each year, and the only redemption option is statement credits on your account.

If your business spends significantly more than $ 50,000 a year, but you like the simplicity of a lump sum cash back and no annual fee, consider a card like the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card. You’ll earn 1.5% less cash back on every purchase, but there’s no spending limit. Evaluate your business’s annual expenses before you apply to determine which option might be best for you.

If you want more rewards options, you may want to consider another American Express card option, like the Blue Business Plus credit card from American Express. This card offers 2x American Express Membership Rewards points up to $ 50,000 spent per year, then 1x points. Like the American Express Blue Business Cash card, it also does not charge an annual fee.

Since the Blue Business Plus credit card earns Amex Membership Rewards points instead of cash back, you can redeem them for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, travel on AmexTravel.com or transfer points to American Express airline and hotel partners.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)