The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Review [2024]: 2% Back to Your Bottom Line

Selecting a business credit card can be a challenge, as there are so many business credit cards to choose from. And while it can be tempting to simply use your personal credit cards for your business expenses, that could lead to an accounting nightmare — and you’d be missing out on the major advantages of a business credit card. As such, it’s worth your while to consider a business credit card that can earn you valuable cash back like The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.

Card basics

Card type	Business
Credit card issuer	American Express
FinanceBuzz star rating	5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
FinanceBuzz valuation1	Year one: $756 Year two: $506
Annual fee	$0
Welcome offer	Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Reward rate	2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that
Recommended credit score	Excellent, Good
Intro APR	0% for 12 months from date of account opening on purchases, then 17.74% - 25.74% Variable
Foreign transaction fee	2.70%

American Express Blue Business Cash Card benefits and perks

• Welcome bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership. This is somewhat low, as some business cashback cards offer up to $1,000, but it is still a decent welcome offer.
• Solid cashback earnings: With the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, you can earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that. One thing that stands out to me with this card is the simplicity of the cashback rewards system. All the cash back you earn will automatically post to your statements as statement credits, so you don’t need to worry about how to manage redemptions. Many other cards require you to periodically log into an app to access your earnings and redeem them.
• Expanded buying power: If you need to make purchases beyond your designated credit limit, you can do so. I like that with the Blue Business Cash Card, you can spend above your credit limit. However, the amount you can spend isn’t unlimited. You’ll still have a ceiling on these purchases, which will be determined based on your use of the card, payment history, credit record, and other factors. This could be a big perk if you anticipate occasionally needing to make large purchases.
• Travel coverage: The Blue Business Cash Card offers coverage for car rental loss and damage,² along with access to the Global Assist Hotline.³ This hotline can provide access to medical, legal, financial, or other emergency needs while on the road. This perk is available when you’re traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Intro APR: Cardholders have an intro 0% APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. Some business cards only offer six months of 0% APR, so this is an attractive offer. After the introductory APR period, the regular APR is 17.74% - 25.74% Variable, which is about average.
• No annual fee: The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a $0-annual-fee card. While there are several business cards that do not charge an annual fee, there are just as many that charge a fee in the hundreds of dollars. I appreciate the simplicity factor with this card and the fact that an annual fee is one last cost to worry about.
• Extended warranty protection: When you use your card for eligible purchases, you could get up to one year of additional warranty coverage.⁴
• Purchase protection: Get up to $1,000 purchase protection if a covered item you bought with your card is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase.⁵

Drawbacks

• Annual spending cap: The American Express Blue Business Cash Card comes with a spending cap for bonus cash back. If you're a business owner who typically spends more than that each calendar year, another card might be a better option. Alternatively, you could also get a second card and strategically use each to maximize your rewards.
• Has foreign transaction fee: This card has a foreign transaction fee of 2.70%, so I may not recommend getting this card if you plan to use it abroad frequently.
• No intro APR on balance transfers: There's no intro APR on balance transfers with the American Express Blue Business Cash Card. If you want to transfer a balance from a high interest rate card and pay it off over time, a 0% APR credit card with a balance transfer offer would likely be a better bet.

Earning and redeeming cash back

Best ways to earn

To make the best of your earnings with the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, consider maximizing the 2% cash back. You earn 2% on eligible purchases on up to $50,000 spent each year, after that 1%. This bonus cash back amounts to a sizable $1,000 in earnings in the form of statement credits if you meet that spending threshold.

However, once you reach that threshold, you might want to consider switching credit cards. After you hit that limit, you’ll be reduced to 1% cash back on everything else until the next year of card ownership. That isn’t a great rate, and there are plenty of business credit cards that could get you more.

Maximizing your redemptions

If you reach the $50,000-per-year spending threshold for the 2% cash back, you’d net $1,000 in cashback rewards in the form of statement credits. But if you continue to spend beyond that, you’ll earn only 1% cash back. For that reason, you may want to add another business credit card to your collection to use in conjunction with the Amex Blue Business Cash Card to keep maximizing your cash back.

For example, you could get a business credit card that offers a higher percentage cash back in a particular category in which you spend a high amount. Let’s say you get another card that offers 5% cash back on business travel, your highest spending category. You can use that card for all business travel expenses, and then the American Express Blue Business Cash Card for everything else. That way you would earn a high percentage on your highest spending category while minimizing your chance of going over the spending threshold associated with this card.

Who should get the American Express Blue Business Cash Card?

If you’re a small business owner looking to reduce your bottom line, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card could be a great start. If you value simplicity and convenience, this card has exactly that — you can earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that. With cash back on all purchases, you could lower your bottom line with ease, as the rewards you earn will post automatically to your statement.

Additionally, if you make large purchases for your business, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card is extremely handy, since you can buy above your credit limit with no phone calls needed. Plus, it comes with an intro 0% annual percentage rate (APR) for 12 months from date of account opening on purchases, then 17.74% - 25.74% Variable.

Lastly, if you travel for work, this card comes with car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary coverage) in case something goes awry during your trips.

Other cards to consider

If the American Express Blue Business Cash Card isn’t the best credit card for your wallet, there are plenty of other options to consider. Here are two cards to keep in mind for your business expenses.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is very similar to the American Express Blue Business Cash Card. This rewards credit card offers an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers a more generous welcome offer. You can earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months.

Read our full Capital One Spark Cash Plus review.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card is another similar small business credit card. With this card, you can earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. However, the rewards rate on this card works a bit differently — 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. This cash back card also offers an intro 0% APR for 12 months on purchases (then 17.99% - 25.99% Variable).

Read our full Ink Business Cash Credit Card review.

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The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Apply Now

Why We Like It

Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

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See how these cards compare:

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

• No cap on rewards
• Bonus rewards on travel booked through Capital One
• Rates and fees

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

• $0 annual fee
• Elevated flat-rate rewards structure
• Generous welcome offer
• Intro APR offer on purchases
• Free employee cards

FAQs

Get 2% Back Automatically

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Apply Now

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $0 annual fee
• 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that
• Flexible spending limit

Drawbacks

• Cash back drops after you hit annual spending limit
• 2.70% foreign transaction fee

Card Details

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
• 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% – 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
• Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
• From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
• The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
• No Annual Fee
• Terms Apply