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Introduction: Decoding the Amex Business Card Landscape

As a small business owner and travel enthusiast, I understand the importance of maximizing every dollar and every point. That’s why I’m constantly evaluating credit cards, especially those geared toward businesses. American Express offers two standout options in this arena: the Amex Business Gold Card and the Amex Business Platinum Card. Both cards offer fantastic rewards and benefits, but they cater to different needs. So, which one should you choose? Let’s dive into a detailed comparison.

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First Impressions: Amex Business Gold vs. Platinum at a Glance

Let’s start with a head-to-head comparison. I’ve compiled a table that highlights the key differences between these two premium cards.

| Feature | Amex Business Gold | Amex Business Platinum | |—|—|—| | Welcome Bonus | 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in 3 months; 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time | 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 in 3 months; $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights in 3 months | | Annual Fee | $375 | $695 | | Earning Rates | 4x points on top two spending categories (up to $150,000/year), 3x on flights and prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com, 1x on everything else | 5x on flights and prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com, 1.5x on purchases of $5,000+ and select business categories (up to $2 million/year), 1x on everything else | | Statement Credits | Up to $240/year (up to $20/month) at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores; Up to $155/year for Walmart+ membership | Up to $400/year (up to $200 biannually) at Dell Technologies, Up to $360/year (up to $90 quarterly) at Indeed, Up to $150/year at Adobe, Up to $120/year (up to $10 monthly) for U.S. wireless telephone service providers, Up to $200 airline fee credit, Up to $199 Clear Plus credit, Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit | | Travel Benefits | Travel protections, Cellphone protection, No foreign transaction fees | Global Lounge Collection access, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, Hilton Honors Gold Status, Travel protections, Purchase protection, Cellphone protection, No foreign transaction fees | | Redemption Bonus | None | 35% points back on Pay with Points flight redemptions (up to 1,000,000 points back per year) |

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Welcome Offers: Is Bigger Always Better?

The Amex Business Platinum’s welcome offer is objectively larger, offering 150,000 points after spending $20,000 in the first three months, plus a $500 statement credit for qualifying flight purchases. I find this appealing because those bonus points can be extremely valuable when redeemed strategically.

However, the Amex Business Gold’s offer of 100,000 points after spending $15,000, coupled with a 0% introductory APR, can be a more manageable and attractive option, especially if you’re looking for some financial flexibility in the first six months.

My Take: If you can confidently meet the higher spending requirement, the Amex Business Platinum’s welcome offer is tough to beat. However, don’t underestimate the value of the Business Gold’s more accessible bonus and the introductory APR.

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Earning Points: Where Do Your Business Dollars Go?

The earning structures are where these cards truly diverge. The Amex Business Gold shines with its flexible bonus categories. You earn 4x points on the two categories where you spend the most each billing cycle (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year). The eligible categories are:

* U.S. advertising in select media * U.S. gas stations * U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) * Transit (including trains, taxis, ride-hailing services, tolls, ferries, buses, parking, and subways) * U.S. electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers * U.S. wireless telephone services

I love this dynamic approach! It adapts to your business’s spending patterns. I find this card particularly valuable for businesses with significant spending in advertising, dining, or transit, as these categories tend to offer excellent point-earning potential. The card also earns 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com.

The Amex Business Platinum, in contrast, offers a more straightforward earning structure. You’ll earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com. Additionally, you’ll receive 1.5x points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, as well as in select business categories. These categories include U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers. This 1.5x bonus applies to up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year. All other eligible purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

My Take: The Amex Business Gold’s flexible bonus categories make it the clear winner for everyday business spending. However, the Business Platinum’s 5x on AmexTravel.com and 1.5x on large purchases can be valuable if you frequently book travel through Amex or make substantial purchases in the bonus categories.

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Statement Credits and Benefits: Maximizing Value Beyond Points

Both cards offer a range of statement credits designed to offset their annual fees. The Amex Business Gold provides up to $240 per year (up to $20 per month) in statement credits for purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores. Additionally, it provides up to $155 per year in statement credits for a Walmart+ membership.

The Amex Business Platinum, however, boasts a more extensive suite of statement credits. These include up to $400 per year (up to $200 biannually) for purchases with Dell Technologies, up to $360 per year (up to $90 quarterly) for purchases with Indeed, up to $150 per year for purchases with Adobe, and up to $120 per year (up to $10 monthly) for U.S. wireless telephone service providers.

Beyond statement credits, the Business Platinum also includes an array of travel benefits, such as an up to $200 airline fee credit per year, an up to $199 Clear Plus credit per year, and an up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry (every four years) or up to $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years).

Perhaps, the most valuable benefit of the Amex Business Platinum is access to the Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Lufthansa lounges, and Delta Sky Club access (limited visits unless you spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year). Moreover, it offers complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status.

My Take: The Amex Business Platinum’s benefits are significantly more robust, particularly if you can utilize the statement credits and travel perks. The lounge access alone can be worth hundreds of dollars per year. The statement credits on the Gold card are useful if you are already using those services.

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Redeeming Points: Unlocking Travel Rewards

Both cards earn Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed for various options, including statement credits, travel purchases through AmexTravel.com, and transfers to airline and hotel partners. However, the Amex Business Platinum offers a significant advantage: a 35% points back rebate on Pay with Points redemptions for select flights booked through American Express Travel. This means you can effectively get more value out of your points when booking flights, especially first-class or business-class tickets. This is the reason I love the Amex Business Platinum card. I often use Pay With Points to book Business Class flights and then get 35% of the points back.

My Take: The Amex Business Platinum’s Pay with Points rebate provides a compelling reason to choose this card if you frequently redeem points for flights.

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Making the Decision: Which Card is Right for You?

So, which card is the better choice for your business? Here’s a summary to help you decide:

Choose the Amex Business Gold if:

* Your business has diverse spending across the bonus categories. * You prefer a lower annual fee and a more manageable welcome bonus spending requirement. * You want the flexibility of automatically earning bonus points on your top two spending categories each month.

Choose the Amex Business Platinum if:

* You are a frequent traveler who values lounge access and travel benefits. * Your business can utilize the extensive statement credits. * You book a significant amount of travel through AmexTravel.com and can take advantage of the 5x earning rate and the Pay with Points rebate.

Ultimately, the best card depends on your business’s unique spending habits and travel needs. By carefully evaluating the earning structures, benefits, and redemption options, you can make an informed decision that maximizes your rewards and enhances your business travel experience.