The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card review: Ideal for new business owners
A strong pick for budding business owners.
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Snapshot
4.3
Bottom line
Small business owners who want to earn rewards on everyday purchases will find the American Express Blue Business Cash Card to be an excellent choice. However, if you’re seeking more flexibility with how you use your rewards and prefer not to be tied to a spending cap, a card with multiple spending categories and redemption options could be a better option.
Best for business startups
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees, Terms ApplyIntro offer
$250 statement credit
Rewards Rate
1% - 2%
Annual fee
No annual fee
APR
17.49% - 27.49% Variable
4.4
Cardholder rating
Extra perks
Meets needs
Online tools
Customer service
4.3
Bankrate score
Rewards value
APR
Rewards flexibility
Features
Why you'll like this: The ability to earn low-fuss cash back rewards makes it easy to focus on growing your business.
Reward Details
Card Details
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American Express Blue Business Cash overview
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card’s no annual fee and intro APR period on purchases, as well as its low ongoing APR, makes it one of the best cash back cards for startup businesses. However, the American Express Blue Business Cash card’s cap on flat-rate cash back alongside its thin list of features mean it may fall short compared to other business credit cards.
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Rewards
- 2 percent cash back on all eligible purchases (up to $50,000 per year, then 1 percent)
Expert Appraisal: Good
See our expert analysis -
Welcome offer
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months.
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis -
0% APR offer
- 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
- No intro APR for balance transfers
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17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis -
Rates and fees
- No annual fee
- No over-limit fee
- 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
- 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee
Expert Appraisal: Typical
See our expert analysis -
Other cardholder perks
- Expanded Buying Power feature
- Shopping and travel protections
- Amex offers
Expert Appraisal: Unimpressive
See our expert analysis
American Express Blue Business Cash pros and cons
Pros
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For a no-annual-fee business card, it has one of the highest flat rewards rates in the market.
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The Expanded Buying Power feature gives business owners more flexibility if they need to go over their credit limit for an unexpected expense.
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It has a decent introductory APR period for new purchases.
Cons
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The $50,000 yearly spending cap on the 2 percent category limits reward earning potential.
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Besides the Expanded Buying Power feature, there are limited cardholder perks compared to other business reward cards.
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The card's 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee can cut into your rewards earnings if you often make business purchases abroad or online in a foreign currency.
First-year value vs. ongoing value
Because the Blue Business Cash is a flat-rate card that doesn’t have many additional perks, it’s easy to guess how much value you’ll get from it year after year. Here’s what you can expect, assuming that you max out the card’s spending cap of $50,000 each year:
| First-year value | Ongoing value | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | +$250 (After spending $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card in first 3 months) | – |
| Yearly rewards | +$1,000 | +$1,000 |
| Annual fee | -$0 | -$0 |
| Total value | $1,250 | $1,250 |
Why you might want the American Express Blue Business Cash Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is a fantastic choice for new or small business owners who know their budget and want a rewards card to help with business spending. Here are its top features:
Rewards: A high flat cash back rate
As far as no-annual-fee business cards go, a flat rate of 2 percent cash back is one of the highest rates available. Although you only earn 2 percent back on your first $50,000 in combined purchases each year (after which your rate drops to 1 percent), the average small business owner should still have plenty of room to earn rewards
On the other hand, plenty of competing business cards offer unlimited cash back at a slightly lower flat rate of 1.5 percent for no annual fee and no spending cap. If you maximize the Blue Business Cash’s 2 percent rate and spend $50,000, you’ll earn $1,000 in cash back. With a card that has an unlimited 1.5 percent cash back rate, you’ll have to spend a little more than $66,600 to earn the same amount back.
Money tip: Review your business spending and run a little match to determine if you’ll earn more with unlimited 1.5 percent back or the Blue Business Cash’s capped 2 percent rate.
Fees: No annual fee
If you’re looking for a card that’s light on ongoing costs, the Amex Blue Business Cash could be a good option. It charges no annual fee. Plus, the Expanded Buying Power feature lets you go over your credit limit without an over-limit fee (depending on payment history, credit record and financial resources).
However, the card does come with a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee. While foreign transaction fees are fairly common, a cash back card with no foreign transaction fee can save you from added costs.
Intro APR offer: A decent offer that could help with new purchases
The card comes with a 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, followed by a 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. That could help you pay off large business expenses over time.
Just be careful to pay the over-limit amount and your minimum payment due each month to avoid the 29.99 percent variable penalty APR.
Expanded Buying Power: A stellar feature for sudden expenses
The benefits on this card aren’t particularly robust, but it does offer Expanded Buying Power. If you’re faced with a sudden expense or a terrific business opportunity, you can spend beyond your credit limit with no over-limit fee.
While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn’t unlimited, it adjusts with your card use, payment history, credit record and other factors. This can play well with your wallet so long as you manage your money responsibly and adjust to the higher demand placed on top of your regular expenses.
Keep in mind: Purchases eligible for Expanded Buying Power are approved on a case-by-case basis, so you might not necessarily get to use this feature.
Why you might want a different business card
If you want more flexible redemption options, outstanding cardholder perks and no spending cap on your rewards rates, you'll be out of luck with this card.
Redemption options: Not flexible compared to similar cards
You won’t have any flexible cash back redemption options, such as a direct deposit or check. The Blue Business Cash card only redeems cash back as an automatic statement credit. While a statement credit is nothing to shrug at, other cards offer more flexible redemption options.
This can be a little discouraging, especially if you want to use your rewards toward future travel. If flexible redemption is important to you, another option would be better for you.
Spending cap: Limits how much you can earn in rewards
The Blue Business Cash card is a competitive, no-frills cash back card, and its rewards are easy to earn and redeem — until you cross the $50,000 yearly rewards spending cap. Though an annual spending cap is expected on a card that earns in this high rewards bracket, and $50,000 is still a healthy chunk of money to spend in one year, it’s still very limiting to the cardholder.
Let’s do the math
If you reach the $50,000 spending cap, you’ll earn a combined total of $1,000 in statement credits for the year. All spending beyond $50,000 will reward you with 1 percent back. If you spend an additional $50,000 over the spending cap, you’ll receive $500 more in statement credits, totaling your yearly rewards at $1,500 with a $100,000 spend. This is effectively a combined rate of 1.5 percent back.
Cardholder perks: Disappointing besides the Expanded Buying Power feature
The Blue Business Cash doesn’t have any features that really standout compared to other similar business reward cards. It comes with Amex Offers, which is an activation-based program that lets you earn rewards on limited-time promotions from participating merchants. Plus, it has basic shopping and travel protections, such as car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty and purchase protection.
These basic safety features might help you rest easier, but beyond that you won’t get significant perks like airport lounge access or cardholder credits toward entertainment, restaurants or airlines.
How the Blue Business Cash card compares to other business cards
The Blue Business Cash delivers one of the highest cash back rates for no-annual-fee business cards, but the $50,000 yearly spending cap on the 2 percent cash back rate might be a drawback. This card suits small businesses that spend at least $50,000, but not a significant amount more.
If the Blue Business Cash yearly rewards rate spending cap is a dealbreaker, here are a few alternatives:
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
Rewards rate
Earn 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.
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Rewards rate
Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards rate
2 miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere. 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.
Recommended Credit Score
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Best cards to pair with the Blue Business Cash Card
Ultimately, other cash back cards that earn higher rates on your key bonus categories are the best partners for the flat-rate Blue Business Cash card.
Is the Amex Blue Business Cash Card right for me?
The American Express Blue Business Cash is not the best choice for people with larger, more established businesses — especially ones where travel is a key component. However, this card is great for:
- New small business owners: You likely won’t go over the spending cap, and you can focus on growing your business without worrying about whether you’re maximizing the card’s full potential.
- Small business owners who don’t travel often: This card doesn’t come with many travel related perks, meaning you won’t be missing out on value if you or your employees don’t need to travel for business.
- Small business owners seeking a simple rewards system: As long as you keep up with your spending to ensure you don’t go over the spending cap, you can earn a high rewards rate on any purchases you make toward business expenses.
See Rates & Fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.
See Rates & Fees for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
Alternative picks
Business credit cards can do more than just give you buying power. If you want a card with some extra features to help you manage your business, consider these alternatives:
Frequently asked questions
How we rated this card
Our proprietary card rating system takes into account a mix of factors when scoring business credit cards, including each card’s rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more.
We analyzed over 50 of the most popular business credit cards and scored each based on how its key features stacked up compared to those of other cards in its category.
Here are some of the key factors that gave this card its score:
What cardholders think
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
In May 2024 and March 2025, Bankrate collaborated with a third-party vendor to survey 8170 cardholders nationwide. Bankrate and our vendor collected, averaged and presented website analytics and cardholder responses to six questions on a 5-point scale. Responses are based on individual cardholder's product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Users received an incentive for their feedback. User ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by credit card issuers, nor do these ratings reflect Bankrate's own reviews of these cards.
Community Reviews
* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
