The American Express® Business Gold Card stands out for several reasons. It allows you to earn 4X points (on up to $150,000 per year) in two categories chosen from a list of six that align with your business’s highest spending each billing cycle. Additionally, this card lets you accumulate points in the highly versatile and rewarding American Express Membership Rewards program, widely regarded as one of the best travel rewards programs available today.

Despite its $375 annual fee, the first-year welcome offer and ongoing rewards rate often justify this cost. Coupled with the benefits offered by the Amex Business Gold, it becomes clear why many consider this card to be a comprehensive solution for business credit needs.

Here are the card’s key features at a glance:

Category highlightsAmex Business Gold details
Welcome offerEarn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards rateEarn 4X points on purchases in your business’s top two spending categories selected from a list of six (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year).
Earn 3X points on eligible travel purchases, including prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
Earn 1X points on all other general purchases.
Annual fee$375
Regular APR19.49 percent to 28.49 percent (variable Pay Over Time APR)

The categories eligible for the Amex Business Gold card’s 4X rewards rate include:

  • Advertising in select media (purchased from U.S. media providers for promoting your business online, on TV, or on the radio)
  • U.S. gas station purchases
  • U.S. restaurant purchases, including takeout and delivery
  • U.S. computer software, hardware, and cloud data purchases directly from select providers
  • Select transit purchases, such as trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
  • Wireless phone service from a U.S. wireless telephone service provider

The American Express Business Gold card offers travel benefits that enhance safety and ease of booking. Cardholders receive the following benefits:

  • Global Assist Hotline: Access assistance when more than 100 miles from home, including medical or legal referrals, lost passport replacement, help with lost luggage, and translation services.
  • Baggage Insurance Plan: Receive up to $1,250 in coverage for carry-on luggage per covered person when paying for a trip with the card. Up to $500 in coverage per covered person is provided for lost checked baggage on common carrier vehicles. Certain restrictions apply.
  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Receive secondary coverage for car rentals when paying for the entire rental with the card. Coverage applies for rental periods up to 30 days, with a maximum of $50,000 per eligible rental agreement. Certain restrictions apply.
  • Trip Delay Insurance: Provides up to $300 per covered trip, with a limit of two claims per 12-month period. Coverage is applicable when paying for a trip with the card and experiencing a delay of 12 hours or more with a common carrier. This insurance can be used for incidental expenses like meals, hotel stays, or toiletries due to the delay.

Cardholders also benefit from protections that safeguard their purchases:

  • Purchase Protection: American Express purchase protection covers eligible items that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage includes up to $1,000 per covered purchase, with a maximum of $50,000 per account per calendar year. Additionally, cardholders receive $500 in coverage for natural disasters.
  • Extended Warranties: Enjoy an additional year of warranty protection on eligible purchases with manufacturer warranties of five years or less. This coverage applies up to $10,000 per eligible purchase and up to $50,000 per card per calendar year.

The Amex Business Gold offers several benefits that enhance your next event, dining experience, or hotel stay:

  • The Hotel Collection Perks: Book a stay of two consecutive nights or more at an eligible property through Amex Travel’s The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 experience credit. This credit can be used for various hotel activities such as spa visits or dining. Additionally, you may qualify for room upgrades upon check-in.
  • American Express Preferred Seating: Enjoy American Express Preferred Seating, which provides complimentary access to preferred seating at concerts, performances, and sporting events. Cardholders also receive presale access to select events before tickets are available to the public.
  • American Express Experiences: Access invitation-only and early-access events through American Express Experiences. Events cover a wide range of categories including music, theater, sports, dining, fashion, and more.

The Amex Business Gold card also offers several perks to help you effectively manage your business expenses:

  • Access to Year-End Summary: Cardholders receive a year-end summary accessible at the beginning of each new year. Simply log in to your online account to view and download the summary in either Excel or PDF format.
  • Integration with QuickBooks: Easily connect your Amex Business Gold account to your Intuit QuickBooks account for automated transaction categorization and more streamlined financial management.
  • Vendor Pay by Bill.com: Enroll your Amex Business Gold card with Vendor Pay by Bill.com to earn Membership Rewards points on bills paid through the platform. With the Basic plan, the first user pays no monthly fee, and the second user enjoys six months without a monthly fee. After the initial six months, the second user incurs a $15 monthly fee.

To make the most of your Amex Business Gold card, maximize its use for all your business-related expenses throughout the year, particularly in bonus categories where you earn 4X points (up to $150,000 in combined purchases annually).

Here are additional strategies to enhance your rewards:

  • Combine with Other Amex Cards: Pair your Amex Business Gold with other American Express credit cards to boost your points accumulation. Consider The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, which has no annual fee and earns 2X Membership Rewards points on up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points thereafter. You can also explore pairing options with consumer Amex cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card.
  • Utilize Amex Offers: Regularly check your account for Amex Offers to earn extra rewards on eligible purchases from participating retailers, restaurants, and travel brands. This free program requires activation for each offer, so stay updated on promotions and add them to your card before making purchases.

The benefits of the Amex Business Gold card can justify its annual fee, especially when considering the rewards potential. Utilizing the 4X bonus categories up to the annual spending limit could yield 600,000 American Express Membership Rewards points annually.

According to Bankrate valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are valued at approximately 2.0 cents each when redeemed with high-value transfer partners. This translates to an annual redemption value of about $12,000 from these bonus categories alone.

However, it’s important not to rush into signing up for the first credit card you encounter. Before making a decision, compare all the business credit cards offered by American Express and other issuers to ensure you find the best fit for your business needs.