Best American Express® Business Credit Cards
If you’re a small business owner or operator, a business credit card can be a helpful tool for managing cash flow and expenses. American Express offers a range of business credit cards with varying benefits — including travel insurance, Membership Rewards® points, and cashback.
What are the best business cards from Amex?
There are five American Express Credit and Charge Cards available for small businesses. We’ve compiled a round-up of what we believe are the best to suit a variety of purposes. You will find more details in our methodology section, below.
Bear in mind that you will need to meet some stringent criteria and have an excellent credit score to be accepted.
BEST FOR REWARDS
The American Express® Business Gold Card
Representative APR (variable)
N/A (charge card)
Annual fee
Free for first 12 months, then £195
Perks
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point per eligible £1 spent
2 Membership Rewards® points per £1 spent in your first 3 months, up to 20,000 points (T&Cs apply)
Representative APR (variable)
N/A (charge card)
Annual fee
Free for first 12 months, then £195
Perks
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point per eligible £1 spent
2 Membership Rewards® points per £1 spent in your first 3 months, up to 20,000 points (T&Cs apply)
If you want to claim rewards for your business spending, The American Express® Business Gold Card is more than worthy of consideration.
For every eligible £1 spent on the card, you’ll earn one Membership Rewards® point. You’ll also earn an additional 10,000 points in each quarter you spend at least £20,000.
Once earned, points can be traded for rewards such as shopping gift cards, flights and upgrades, or dining out.
You’ll also earn two points per £1 spent for your first three months of Cardmembership, up to the value of 20,000 points (18+ T&Cs apply).
You can request additional complimentary Cards for your employees at no extra cost.
As a charge card, there’s no set spending limit or interest rate, but you’ll need to pay off your balance in full every month to avoid being hit with fees.
The card comes with an annual fee of £195, but it’s waived for the first 12 months.
- Collect 1 Membership Reward® point for every eligible £1 spent
- Membership Rewards® points bonus every quarter
- Additional Cards for employees at no extra cost
- Up to 54 days interest-free on spending
- £195 annual fee
- Balance must be paid off in full every month
- Late payment fees
BEST FOR POINTS
The American Express® Business Platinum Card
Representative APR (variable)
N/A (charge card)
Annual fee
£650
Perks
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point per £1 spent
50,000 extra Membership Rewards® points when you spend £6,000 in your first three months (T&Cs apply)
Representative APR (variable)
N/A (charge card)
Annual fee
£650
Perks
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point per £1 spent
50,000 extra Membership Rewards® points when you spend £6,000 in your first three months (T&Cs apply)
The Business Platinum card comes with worldwide travel insurance, access to over 1,400 airport lounges and the 24-hour Global Assist® emergency helpline, making it a good option if you regularly travel for business.
You’ll also collect Membership Rewards® points, which can be traded for perks such as shopping gift cards, flights and upgrades, or dining out. For every eligible £1 spent, you’ll collect one point, which doubles to two points per £1 on spending above £10,000 each month.
Cardmembers also receive one £200 Annual Travel Credit each year, which can be redeemed with American Express Travel Online.
You can request additional complimentary Cards for your employees at no extra cost.
This card comes with a hefty £650 annual fee, so consider carefully whether the perks outweigh what you’ll pay to maintain your account.
Bear in mind that, as a charge card, you’ll need to pay off the balance in full every month or face late payment fees. Although it’s a good option for frequent travellers, there’s a 2.99% fee for non-sterling transactions.
There’s also a welcome bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend at least £6,000 in your first three months of membership (18+, T&Cs apply).
- Collect 1 Membership Reward® point for every eligible £1 spent
- Worldwide travel insurance included
- Up to 54 days interest-free on spending
- £650 annual fee
- Charge card, so balance must be paid off in full every month
- Late payment fees
BEST FOR TRAVEL
British Airways American Express® Accelerating Business Card
Representative APR (variable)
107.8%
Annual fee
£250
Perks
1.5 Avios for every eligible £1 spent
10,000 bonus Avios every £20,000 spent (up to 3 times per year)
Representative Example
At an assumed credit limit of £1,200, at a purchase rate of 28.2% p.a. (variable), the representative APR is 107.8% (variable). Credit available subject to status.
Representative APR (variable)
107.8%
Annual fee
£250
Perks
1.5 Avios for every eligible £1 spent
10,000 bonus Avios every £20,000 spent (up to 3 times per year)
Representative Example
At an assumed credit limit of £1,200, at a purchase rate of 28.2% p.a. (variable), the representative APR is 107.8% (variable). Credit available subject to status.
If you regularly travel for business, the British Airways American Express® Accelerating Business Card could help you recoup some of the costs. Every time you spend on the Card, you’ll receive Avios — reward points offered by British Airways — that can be spent on flights, hotels, car hire, and other travel expenses.
For every eligible £1 spent, you earn 1.5 Avios. For each £1 spent with British Airways, you’ll earn two On Business Points, which can be redeemed for flights and upgrades. Meanwhile, spending £20,000 earns you a bonus 10,000 Avios. This bonus can be earned up to three times each year.
New customers, who have not been an American Express cardmember in the last 12 months, can also earn a welcome bonus of 30,000 Avios when they’re approved for the card and spend at least £5,000 within the first three months.
Elsewhere, cardmembers have access to the American Express Global Assist® helpline when they travel, which offers 24-hour support including tracking down lost luggage or securing an interpreter.
Although travel perks abound, you’ll be charged the standard American Express fee of 2.99% when you make non-sterling transactions.
This Card offers a payment period of up to 56 days, so long as you pay your balance in full every month. If you don’t pay off the full balance, the Card charges 28.2% (variable) on purchases and an overall APR (including the annual fee) of 107.8%.
Bear in mind this card comes with an annual fee of £250.
You can request additional complimentary Cards for your employees at no extra cost.
- Collect 1.5 Avios per £1 spent
- Collect 2 On Business Points per £1 spent with British Airways
- Collect 10,000 bonus Avios for every £20,000 spent (up to 30,000 Avios)
- Access to Global Assist®
- £250 annual fee
- High representative APR
BEST FOR BASIC
The American Express® Business Basic Card
Representative APR (variable)
N/A (charge card)
Annual fee
£0
Perks
No pre-set spending limit
Representative APR (variable)
N/A (charge card)
Annual fee
£0
Perks
No pre-set spending limit
This no-frills card comes with no annual fee, and no pre-set spending limit. You’ll also get a payment period of up to 42 days, which could be helpful when it comes to managing cash flow.
You can request additional complimentary Cards for employees at no extra cost.
Since it’s a charge card, you’ll need to pay off your balance in full every month or be hit with late payment fees. If you’re likely to head overseas for business, bear in mind that the card charges a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee.
- No annual fee
- No pre-set spending limit
- Limited perks
- Charge card so balance must be cleared monthly
- Late payment fees
BEST FOR AMAZON
Amazon Business Prime American Express® Card
Representative APR (variable)
39.7%
Annual fee
£50 (waived if you spend £8,000 or more per year)
Perks
Up to 2% Amazon Rewards points for every £1 spent
Welcome bonus of £100 Amazon voucher
Representative Example
At an assumed credit limit of £1,200, at a purchase rate of 28.3% p.a. (variable), the representative APR is 39.7% (variable). Credit available subject to status.
Representative APR (variable)
39.7%
Annual fee
£50 (waived if you spend £8,000 or more per year)
Perks
Up to 2% Amazon Rewards points for every £1 spent
Welcome bonus of £100 Amazon voucher
Representative Example
At an assumed credit limit of £1,200, at a purchase rate of 28.3% p.a. (variable), the representative APR is 39.7% (variable). Credit available subject to status.
If you’re a Business Prime customer who regularly makes purchases through Amazon, this card could help you get the most out of your membership.
Although it comes with a £50 annual fee, this is waived in your first year, and each subsequent year so long as you spend at least £8,000 on the card each year. You’ll also get a welcome bonus of a £100 Amazon voucher if your application is accepted.
The card offers 0.5% cashback on all spending — and 2% for spending with Amazon — in the form of Amazon Rewards points. Whenever you spend, you’ll receive points worth 0.5% (or 2%) the value of your transaction.
Each point is worth 1p, and can either be credited to your account, or redeemed as a shopping voucher.
With each Amazon purchase, you’ll also have the option to forfeit the points you’d earn in exchange for a 90 day payment period.
You can request additional complimentary Cards for your employees at no extra cost.
If you plan to travel with this card, bear in mind you’ll be charged the standard American Express fee of 2.99% when you make non-sterling transactions.
- Up to 2% cashback as Amazon Rewards points
- Up to 90 days interest-free on spending
- Welcome offer of £100 Amazon voucher
- £50 annual fee (waived in fisrt year and if you spend £8,000 a year)
- Must be an Amazon Prime Business customer to be eligible
BEST FOR CASHBACK
Amazon Business American Express® Card
Representative APR (variable)
39.7%
Annual fee
£50 (waived in first year)
Perks
Up to 1.5% Amazon Rewards points for every £1 spent
£25 Amazon voucher welcome bonus
Representative Example
At an assumed credit limit of £1,200, at a purchase rate of 28.3% p.a. (variable), the representative APR is 39.7% (variable). Credit available subject to status.
Representative APR (variable)
39.7%
Annual fee
£50 (waived in first year)
Perks
Up to 1.5% Amazon Rewards points for every £1 spent
£25 Amazon voucher welcome bonus
Representative Example
At an assumed credit limit of £1,200, at a purchase rate of 28.3% p.a. (variable), the representative APR is 39.7% (variable). Credit available subject to status.
If you regularly use Amazon for business purchases but are not interested in Business Prime membership, this card could help you get more value out of your Amazon spending.
Use your card to shop at Amazon and you’ll be rewarded with 1.5% cashback in the form of Amazon Rewards points. This offer is available on spending up to £120,000 per year. Spending above this threshold earns a reduced rate of 1% Amazon Rewards points.
You’ll also earn 0.5% Amazon Rewards cashback when you shop elsewhere.
Worth 1p each, these points can be either credited to your account, or swapped for Amazon shopping vouchers. Alternatively, you can forfeit your points in exchange for a 60 day payment period whenever you make a purchase at Amazon.
American Express is currently offering a welcome offer of £25 in Amazon vouchers for newly approved members. You’ll receive an additional £75 statement credit when you spend at least £1,000 on the card within your first three months.
You can request additional complimentary Cards for your employees at no extra cost.
If you plan to use the card overseas, bear in mind that it comes with a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee.
This account has an annual fee of £50, but it’s waived in your first year.
- Up to 1.5% cashback as Amazon Rewards points
- Up to 60 days interest-free on spending
- £25 Amazon voucher welcome offer
- £50 annual fee (waived for first 12 months)
- Higher cash back rate available for Business Prime customers
What’s our methodology?
We’ve considered all five business cards that American Express currently offers in the UK, noting their perks, fees and interest rates (APRs), where applicable.
While the card information was correct on the date of publication, deals and rates can change, while some welcome bonuses are time limited offers.
What's the difference between a charge card and a credit card?
American Express offers both credit cards and charge cards. Although they appear similar, there are some key differences.
Charge cards do not technically offer credit. They don’t charge interest on your spending, but come with the expectation that you pay off your balance in full and on time every month.
If you do not pay off the full balance you’ll be charged late fees, which are likely to far outweigh any perks offered by the card.
Unlike credit cards, charge cards do not have a pre-set spending limit. This doesn’t mean you can spend on a charge card indefinitely however — just that your spending limit is updated regularly in line with your card use and personal circumstances.
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