AmEx Blue Business Plus Card: Valuable Rewards Without Spending Categories or Annual Fee

Do you run a small business and need a credit card that offers solid rewards with no annual fee? In that case, you might want to check out the Amex Blue Business Plus Card, which allows you to rack up membership points on your day-to-day business expenses. While it might not be the best as a standalone option for businesses with hefty spending volumes, it can be of value as a smart addition to your wallet, especially when paired with other cards.

Keep reading this American Express Blue Business Plus review to get the lowdown on its features, reward program, and significant advantages.

Amex Blue Business Plus Review: Key Features and Rewards

Let’s kick off the review of the Blue Business Plus Card from Amex, by diving into the card’s main features and how its reward structure works. Here’s what you need to know before you get started:

No Annual Fee

A strong point of the Amex Blue Business Plus Card is that it doesn’t charge an annual fee. This is a big win, especially compared to many popular business cards that do. For example, the Ink Business Preferred Card charges $95, and the Amex Business Platinum Card has a whopping $695 annual fee.

Reward Program

With the American Express BBP Plus, you’ll earn Membership Rewards points, which you can redeem to cover bill charges, purchase gift cards, or spend at partner stores like Amazon and Walmart. You can also use the points for travel-related expenses.

Here’s the breakdown of how cardholders earn rewards:

• 2x Membership Rewards points per dollar on everyday business expenses (no category limits). This reward rate applies to purchases up to $50,000 a year.
• After you hit the $50,000 mark, you’ll still earn 1x point per dollar on all purchases. 

The redemption rate depends on how you choose to use your points, ranging from 0.5 to 1 cent per point. If you decide to use points to cover bill charges, 1 point will equal 0.6, which is far from impressive.

Shopping on Amazon, however, will allow you to get 0.7 cent per point.

Points are most valuable when you transfer them to select airline partners or book your travels via the Amex Travel service. When you buy tickets from a partner airline for points, you can get 1 cent per 1 rewards point.

Welcome Bonus

In addition to earning points normally, you also grab a nice welcome bonus when you open your account. You’ll snag 15,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.

0% Intro APR

Another attractive feature of this card is that you get 0% APR for the first 12 months on purchases after you open your account. Keep in mind that after the intro period, the card’s APR beсomes variable, ranging from 18.49 to 26.49%, depending on your creditworthiness.

Additional Perks

In addition to the main features, the card comes with a few extra perks to sweeten the deal:

• Purchase Protection: If something you bought with the card gets stolen or damaged within 90 days, you’re covered for up to $1,000 per single incident and up to $50,000 per account annually.
• Expended Buying Power: With this feature, small businesses can qualify for an increased credit limit based on their payment and credit history.
• Extended Warranty: Another excellent feature of the card is that you can also get an extension of the manufacturer’s warranty for eligible purchases for up to one year.
• Global Assist Hotline: If you are a frequent traveler, you can benefit from 24/7 global customer support assistance. The representatives can give you recommendations in emergencies.

Foreign Transaction Fee

The list of features wouldn’t be complete without discussing the main downside of this credit card. The current Amex Blue Business Plus foreign transaction fee is 2.7% per transaction, which is charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

This creates a contradiction: while the card offers travel-related rewards, it’s not ideal for shopping abroad due to its foreign transaction fee.

Other Benefits of American Express Blue Business Plus

Still undecided and want to know if the card might be a good fit for your small business? Here are a few more reasons that you should know about:

American Express Offers

Cardholders can take advantage of various statement credits and receive bonus points when shopping at eligible merchants. Just make sure to enroll in these offers to get an opportunity to earn rewards when shopping from favorite vendors. Once you register, you can easily track all the rewards you earn in your account.

Employee Cards at No Extra Cost

A fantastic perk for small business owners with a lot of employees is the option to issue additional Blue Business Cards at no extra cost. You can request and receive up to 99 cards under a single account.

What is more, adding an employee card to your existing account works in your favor. Every time an employee makes a purchase using their card, the Membership Rewards points they rack up get combined with yours, helping you accumulate points even faster. This can really boost your overall rewards, making it an even smarter choice for business owners.

Vehicle Rental Insurance

Suppose you rent a car and decide to pass on the collision damage waiver, the Blue Business Plus credit card can still have your back with secondary vehicle coverage, provided you pay for the rental using the card. Just be aware that the specific terms of this coverage might shift based on where you are and other factors. So, it's a good idea to double-check the details before you hit the road.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Blue Business Card can be a real game-changer for small business owners. It lets you rack up Membership Rewards points and everyday expenses and shines if you spend up to $50,000 annually. If your spending exceeds that, pairing it with another rewards card could boost your benefits even further.

Considering that Amex BBP doesn’t have an annual fee and has a decent rewards system, it's a smart addition to your business credit card lineup. However, don’t forget about the steep foreign transaction fee—so if you're planning to shop internationally, you might want to have a different card in addition to this one ready for those purchases.