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American Express® Blue Business Cash Card review
An excellent business card with cash back on purchases.
- Get this card if you like a cash back card with no annual fee for your business.
- Pick something else if you want more extensive perks and benefits or you need a longer 0% intro APR period.
- Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
Up to 2%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
0%
Intro Purchase APR
for the first 12 months (then 14.99% to 20.99% variable)
0%
Intro Balance Transfer
for the first 12 months (then 14.99% - 20.99% variable)
Details
| Product Name | American Express® Blue Business Cash Card |
|---|---|
| Card type | American Express |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 14.99% to 20.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 14.99% - 20.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer fee | $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Penalty APR | 29.99% variable |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.7% of the transaction value |
| Interest free period | Up to 25 days |
| Late payment fee | Up to $39 |
| Returned payment fee | Up to $39 |
| Rates & fees | rates & fees |
The basics
American Express has refreshed the SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card, reintroducing the card with a new name, a shiny new design and sizeable tweak to rewards.
The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card now features a solid 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1%. This remains a strong reward for small businesses and startups, and the change to a flat cashback rate will make maximizing rewards for the average business that much simpler. All with no annual fee!
Another perk among similar cards: a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers valid for the first 12 months your account is open, reverting to a variable rate of 14.99% to 20.99% depending on your creditworthiness (see rates & fees).
With this card, Amex also allows you to spend above your credit limit by an amount that’s subject to eligibility.
The perks
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Cash back: 2% on all eligible purchases up to $50,000. You’ll earn 1% cashback on all eligible purchases after that.
The changes to this card’s reward structure mean that it’ll be much easier for the average small or mid-sized business to reap the maximum rewards. You’ll earn rewards on your purchases no matter what your business needs for growth.
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Intro APR: Save with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months your account is open. After, your APR reverts to 14.99% to 20.99% variable.
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Annual fee: $0.
Pay no annual fee to reap rewards for as long as you own the card.
You’ll also like
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Automatic cash back.
Amex credits all earned rewards to your statement automatically.
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Spend over your limit.
Take advantage of expanded buying power on large purchases, spending over your stated limit without penalty and repaying the difference with the next month. The specific amount you’re able to spend over you limit depends on how you use your account and your overall credit.
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Complimentary travel benefits.
Pay for airfare with the card and get baggage insurance. You’ll also get complimentary car rental and travel accident insurance of up to $100,000.
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American Express perks.
Cardmembers enjoy access to Amex Offers, with some purchases qualifying for purchase protection and extended warranties.
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$0 annual fee on employee cards.
Get a card for every employee that needs one.
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Management tools.
Manage business expenses across multiple cards through the American Express® Business App, including a year-end summary and QuickBooks integration.
What to watch out for
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Cash back categories.
With the change to the cash back structure of this card, some businesses might prefer a business card with targeted, higher earning categories.
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Fees on foreign transactions.
If you use this card abroad, you’ll pay a fee of 2.7% on your purchases.
Compare business credit cards
Who is the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card good for?
Bonus cashback limits on this card means that midsize and larger businesses could quickly find their purchases stuck at the fallback 1% rate.
Smaller businesses might make the most of this card’s cash back constraints, not to mention no annual fee.
What to know before you apply
To apply for the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card, you must be a permanent resident of the US who’s at least 18 years old. Your business must also be headquartered in the US.
Required documents and information
To apply you must be:
- Legal business name, business address and income details
- Federal Tax ID number
- Your name, home address and income details
- Your Social Security number and date of birth
What credit score do I need?
You’ll have a better chance of approval with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
What do customers say about the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card?
This card previously earned a 4.5 out of 5 stars on American Express website, on par with other Amex business cards. Customers praised the generous cash back but cautioned that merchants must bill to specific categories, or you miss out on bonus rates.
That American Express isn’t always accepted at your local stores or wireless providers is also something to keep in mind.
As for American Express on the whole, the company earns a 3.1 out of 10 on Trustpilot. Customers cite customer services issues that range from delays in opening an account to frustrations with refunded transactions. Others love easy access to customer service and the overall benefits that come with Amex.
How to apply for the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card
- Click apply now.
- Enter details about your business, including your Federal Tax ID.
- Enter personal contact information, your Social Security number and your income.
- Review and submit your application.
How long will it take to be approved?
American Express automates online approvals, which means that many applicants can see a decision in minutes. If your application requires a manual review, you might need to wait a few weeks.
I got the card. Now what?
- Pay on time. Enroll in autopay to avoid the fee of up to $39 on late payments.
- Avoid interest. You get 25 days after the close of each billing cycle to pay off your purchases without interest.
- Manage your finances. Install the Spend Manager app to organize transactions, upload receipts and make notes. Or integrate your account with QuickBooks.
Bottom line
With no annual fee and generous cash back, the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card can earn big rewards for small and medium-size businesses.
Compare this card to the many other business credit cards to find the card that best fits your business needs.
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Rates and fees
Images: americanexpress.com