American Express Business Edge Card review

The basics

• Earn Membership Rewards. Earn 10x the points for every $1 spent on eligible business essentials including office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks within 6 months of Cardmembership (up to a maximum of 10,000 points). Earn 3 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible business essentials including office supplies, electronics, rides, gas, eats and drinks (up to an annual earn of 75,000 Membership Rewards), and earn 1 Membership Reward point for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Welcome bonus. Earn up to 67,000 Membership Rewards points in your first year. Earn 45,000 Welcome Bonus points when you charge $5,000 in purchases to your Card in your first three months, and earn 1,000 Membership Rewards points each month (a total of 12,000 annually) when you spend a minimum of $3,000 on eligible purchases. Plus, earn 10x the points for every $1 spent on eligible business essentials including office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks within 6 months of Cardmembership (up to a maximum of 10,000 points).
• Refer a friend. Earn more by referring a friend. For each approved referral you could earn a referral bonus of 5,000 points.
• Purchase assurance. Protect your eligible purchases against accidental physical damage and theft for up to 90 days with Purchase Protection Plan. Double the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year with Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan.
• Business features. Make the most of a suite of business and expense management tools, including access to specially trained small business service specialists.
• Exclusive offers. Get special offers for entertainment, dining and once-in-a-lifetime experiences with American Express Invites.

The perks

• Car rental insurance. Get complimentary Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance (MSRP of up to $85,000). Terms apply.
• Employee Card Misuse Protection. Get coverage of up to $100,000 per basic cardmember in the event an employee misuses their supplementary card for unauthorized purchases.
• Fraud protection. Avoid paying for fraudulent charges on your account with a fraud protection guarantee.
• Flexible rewards. Use points to offset business expenses by covering the cost of purchases made on your Card (in full or in part). Redeem points for statement credits or to book flights, hotels, and car rentals. Redeem points for flight purchases on AirCanada.com and even transfer to frequent flier and hotel programs.
• Free additional cards. Order up to 99 extra cards without paying an additional fee.
• Travel perks. Redeem points for statement credits and to book flights, hotels, and car rentals. Plus, transfer points to frequent flyer and hotel programs, including one-to-one to Aeroplan and Avios.

What to watch out for

• Annual fee. It costs $99 per year to keep your account in good standing.
• No travel insurance. There’s no coverage for travel medical or other forms of insurance when you travel out of province.

American Express Business Edge Card interest rates

What should I know before I apply

• Eligibility requirements

  To apply for an American Express Business Edge Card, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old (19 in some provinces).
  • Own a business in Canada
  • Have a line of credit and a credit file in Canada

• Required documents and information

  • Your name, residential status and contact information.
  • Your social insurance number and date of birth.
  • Your email address and phone number.

How to apply

1. Click “Go to site” on this page to be directed to the American Express Business Edge Card Card application.
2. Complete the application, which includes providing your name, email address, social insurance number and birth date.
3. Review and submit your application.

Bottom line

If you own a small business and you want to start earning a high return on points for every purchase you make, you might like to consider the American Express Business Edge Card. This card offers a generous welcome bonus and a full suite of business perks for a reasonable annual fee.