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The Blue Business Plus Credit Card review: Straightforward rewards for business travelers
Many business owners want to earn rewards on their business expenses, but complex reward programs can be too much of a hassle. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express offers a simplified earning structure that doesn’t require memorizing bonus categories or activating limited-time promotions. Learn more about this business rewards credit cards, including how to earn and redeem points, what fees it charges and alternative cards to consider before applying.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offer15,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $3,000 in first 3 months
- Card type(s)Business
- Introductory Purchases APR0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
- Ongoing Purchases APR17.74% - 25.74% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent, Good
- Rewards rate2x points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners (applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1x after that). Terms and limitations apply.
- Benefits
- $0 annual fee
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then variable rate 17.74% - 25.74% based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening; APR will not exceed 29.99%)
Additional benefits
In addition to earning rewards, the Blue Business Plus Credit Card offers numerous benefits to add even more value. Here are a few of the benefits you should know about.
Free employee cards
Earn additional rewards on your business purchases by adding free employee cards to your account. You can set individual spending limits for each card, and then create customized reports to track each card’s transactions.
Rental car insurance*
When you book rental cars with the Blue Business Plus Credit Card, pay for the whole reservation, and decline the collision damage waiver, you can receive secondary rental car insurance. This coverage protects you against claims for damage or theft to the vehicle and related charges. Secondary insurance supplements your personal auto insurance policy benefits. Keep in mind that this coverage does not include liability insurance.
Purchase protection
Eligible purchases are protected against loss or accidental damage for up to 90 days after the purchase date. Coverage is up to $1,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per card per calendar year.
Extended warranty coverage
You’ll receive up to one additional year on top of the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible products. The extended warranty coverage is available for U.S. purchases with warranties of five years or less.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Related: Check out the best business credit cards
How to earn rewards
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card offers a simplified rewards program that offers 2x points on every purchase without having to memorize bonus categories. The bonus points apply to all purchases without requiring activation.
The 2x bonus points are awarded on the first $50,000 you spend each year. When you reach the annual spending cap, you’ll earn unlimited 1x points on all other purchases.
Amex Offers are limited-time offers personalized to each cardholder based on their spending, profile, and other factors. When you manually activate these offers, you can earn statement credits, bonus points, or higher reward rates on eligible purchases.
How to redeem rewards
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card earns flexible rewards points that can be redeemed for travel, statement credits, gift cards, online shopping, and points transfers.
Booking flights through Amex Travel and transferring points to airline and hotel partners tend to yield the highest value redemptions. You’ll receive 1 cent per point toward your flight cost when you book flights. The value from transfer partners varies depending on how they are used. Unlike the Ink Business Unlimited, it can transfer to airline and hotel partners without pairing it with another card that charges an annual fee.
Other redemption options offer substandard value. Generally, they offer less than 1 cent per point in value. For example, booking hotels through Amex Travel provides 0.7 cents per point and statement credits are only 0.6 cents per point.
Who is the Blue Business Plus Credit Card best for?
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card is best for business owners who want a simple rewards structure without an annual fee. With 2x points on every purchase (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x points), you can earn bonus points on every purchase without needing to remember bonus categories.
This card is also ideal for business owners who want to maximize rewards. Combining the flat rewards structure with another American Express card offering bonus categories will give you more than 1x points on every purchase.
Blue Business Plus Credit Card pros
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2x points on the first $50,000 you spend each year (then 1x)
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Intro APR offer on purchases
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No annual fee
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Free employee cards
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Complimentary purchase protection and extended warranty
Blue Business Plus Credit Card cons
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No bonus categories to earn higher rewards
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Low earning rate after the first $50,000 each year
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Foreign transaction fees of 2.7%
Where can you use the Blue Business Plus Credit Card?
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card is an American Express card, which is widely accepted within the U.S. Amex cards are accepted at 99% of the retailers that allow customers to pay by credit card. However, the ability to use the card when traveling internationally is not as good as Visa or Mastercard. For this reason, having another credit card as a backup is helpful in case the store does not accept Amex.
When making purchases outside the U.S., the Blue Business Plus charges a 2.7% foreign transaction fee. This fee increases the cost of your purchases and is reflected on your card statement. Using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees will save money on international trips.
How to make a Blue Business Plus Credit Card payment
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Make payment online
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Set up recurring payments
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Call (800) 472-9297 to make a payment by phone
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Mail payment to American Express, P.O. Box 96001, Los Angeles, CA, 90096–8000
Blue Business Plus Credit Card customer service info
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Customer service is available 24/7
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Phone number: (800) 492-3344
Alternative cards to consider
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express offers straightforward rewards without an annual fee. However, it lacks benefits and has an annual spending cap on bonus points. With that in mind, consider these alternative business credit cards.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months
- Card type(s)Business, Cash-Back
- Introductory Purchases APR0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
- Ongoing Purchases APR17.74% - 25.74% Variable
- Rewards rate
- 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%
- 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year (cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement)
- Benefits0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening (then 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%)
Why we like it: Business owners who like the simplified earning structure of the Blue Business Plus may prefer the cash-back rewards of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Carda. It also earns 2% back on the first $50,000 you spend each year (then 1%) without an annual fee (see rates and fees, terms apply). However, the Blue Business Cash Plus Card has a better redemption rate for cash back than the Blue Business Plus.
- Annual fee$0 for the first year, then $95
- Welcome offerEarn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 within the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Business, Travel
- Purchase APR25.74% variable
- Rewards rate
- 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Get a statement credit of up to $120 to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
- Transfer your miles to more than 15 travel partners
- Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad
Why we like it: The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is an excellent choice for big-spending business owners. It earns unlimited 2x miles on every purchase and 5x miles when booking hotels or rental cars through Capital One Travel. These miles have flexible redemption options like the Blue Business Plus, but there isn’t an annual spending cap. However, there is a $95 annual fee after the first year.
Read our full Capital One Spark Miles for Business review
This article was edited by Ben Walker (CEPF, CFEI®)
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
