The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card
- Best for: Business owners and freelancers who charge less than $50,000 a year and want flat cash back
- What Sets It Apart: 2% back on up to $50,000 a year with no annual fee; cash back credited automatically
- Welcome Offer: Statement credit of up to $500 after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months; exact amount shown before you accept
- Rewards: 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year; 1% after that; paid as a statement credit
- Features: Expanded Buying Power above your credit limit; employee cards earn cash back; purchase protection up to $1,000 per item; extended warranty up to 1 extra year; secondary car rental coverage
- Annual Fee: $0
- Intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases
- APR: 16.99% to 28.74% variable
- Cost: 2.7% foreign transaction fee
- Pros: Full 2% with no categories to track; no annual fee; welcome offer shown before you accept
- Cons: 1% past $50,000 a year; 2.7% foreign transaction fee; no points to transfer
Get The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card for business spending under $50,000 a year, since it pays 2% on that spending with no annual fee or categories to track. Past $50,000 it pays 1%, so if you’ll spend more than about $80,000 a year, an uncapped 2% card earns more than this one, even after a $295 fee.
A freelance practice or side business is enough to apply. American Express says you can apply as a sole proprietor, using your Social Security number if you have no employer identification number (EIN).
Key Features
- 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year, then 1%
- Cash back credited to your statement automatically, within two statements after the one showing the purchase
- Welcome offer of up to $500 in statement credit after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- $0 annual fee, and an intro annual percentage rate (APR) of 0% for 12 months on purchases, then 16.99% to 28.74% variable
- Employee cards whose purchases earn cash back on your account
Pros
- A full 2% on up to $50,000 a year, with no categories to track
- No annual fee to earn back
- Expanded Buying Power, which lets you charge above your credit limit with no over-limit fee, though each month’s minimum payment then includes everything over the limit
- Your exact welcome offer shown before you accept the card
Cons
- Only 1% on purchases past $50,000 in a calendar year
- 2.7% fee on purchases made in another currency
- Welcome offer that needs $5,000 in purchases in 3 months, with an amount that varies by applicant
- No American Express Membership Rewards points, which the Blue Business Plus earns at 2 per dollar on the first $50,000 a year
- No cash back for a billing period whose minimum payment isn’t paid by the next closing date
Owners who put less than $50,000 a year on the card get 2% on every eligible purchase with no annual fee. By our math at standard rates, owners spending more than $79,500 a year earn more with the Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card than with this one, even after its $295 fee, because its 2% has no cap.
Learn more about The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card or see how it compares to the best small-business credit cards.
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