Offer status
The information for the Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express has been collected independently by The Ascent. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you're a business owner with low-to-moderate spending who is looking for a starter business card, the Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express could be a good choice. It has a competitive cash back program. There are, however, some popular perks that this card lacks. Explore all its pros and cons in this Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express review.
Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. 3.50/5
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With generous cash back rewards, an intro APR offer, and free employee cards, this no annual fee card is great for businesses that don't spend too much every year.
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- High cash back rate
- No annual fee
- Spending limits on employee cards
- No welcome bonus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Cash back spending cap
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- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.24% - 19.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Full Amex Blue Business Cash review
This credit card is a good fit for: Business owners who want a great cash back rate on purchases and spend up to $50,000 per year.
Top perks
This American Express card has several valuable features, starting with its cash back rate.
Cash back rewards
The Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express earns 2% back on purchases, up to a spending cap of $50,000 per calendar year. After you reach that cap, it earns 1% back. For a no annual fee card, 2% is an excellent cash back rate. Unfortunately, the $50,000 yearly limit could be a problem if your business spends more than $4,000 to $5,000 per month. Terms apply.
No annual fee
There's no annual fee to carry this card, so it's ideal if you want to keep extra costs to a minimum. (See rates and fees)
Employee cards
Employee cards are free of charge. A useful and under-appreciated perk of American Express cards is that you can set spending limits for authorized users. This includes employee cards, and you can also get spending alerts and summary reports. Terms apply.
0% intro APR
The Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. The go-to rate of 13.24% - 19.24%, variable applies after the promotional period expires. If you have any major business expenses, such as opening a new location, you could use your card to finance the costs interest free for a year. (See rates and fees)
Expanded buying power
American Express lets you exceed your credit limit to make purchases without paying an over-the-limit fee. The amount you can spend beyond your credit limit depends on a variety of factors, including your use of the card and payment history. With most credit cards, you either can't exceed your credit limit or will be charged a fee if you do. Terms apply.
If you do go over your limit, you'll have to pay that extra money back in full along with your minimum payment at the end of your billing cycle. Otherwise, the penalty APR will apply to your entire balance. While expanded buying power can be helpful, you should be cautious about how you use it to avoid costly interest charges.
Consumer and travel protections
This card offers the following protections and coverages (terms apply):
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty coverage
Automatic redemptions:
You don't have to spend any time redeeming your cash back as it will be automatically applied as a statement credit each month. Terms apply.
What could be improved
There are a couple flaws to know about with this business credit card.
No welcome bonus
You won't get any bonus cash back after opening the Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express. This is the main area where the card is lacking. Many other cards offer large sign-up bonuses that boost their upfront value.
Foreign transaction fee:
This card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars. If you or your employees will be traveling and need to make purchases abroad, you're better off picking a card without this type of fee. (See rates and fees)
Cash back spending cap
Since this card earns 2% on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year and 1% on spending past that, it's only suitable for businesses that spend up to that amount. If your business expenses are greater than that, then you should compare credit cards with higher spending caps. Terms apply.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Suggested credit score
You should have a good credit score or better, which means a FICO® Score of at least 670, to apply for the Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express. There's more to a credit card application than your credit score -- but a higher score will give you much better approval odds.
Since this is a business credit card, it's intended for business owners. Card issuers aren't too strict about who's eligible for a business credit card, though. You can get one based on your personal credit score and income even if your business isn't yet making money or is just a small side gig.
Alternatives to consider
- If you want to earn an unlimited 2% back: The Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus earns 2% on purchases with no spending cap. It does charge an annual fee that's waived the first year, but the unlimited cash back could be a better deal for big spenders. Capital One's card will provide more value if your business spends over $59,500 per year, which is just under $5,000 per month.
- If you want a big sign-up bonus: Check out the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, which is currently offering a $750 bonus when you spend $7,500 in the first three months. This no annual fee card can also get you lots of cash back on your regular business expenses, as it earns up to 5% back in select bonus categories.
As of Jun. 21, 2022
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Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
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Apply Now for Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Credit Rating Requirement: |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
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$1,000 |
$750 |
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Rewards Program: 2% cash back |
1% - 5% back |
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Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 12 months Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: Pay in full, 2.99% monthly late fee otherwise |
Regular APR: 13.99% - 19.99% Variable |
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Annual Fee: $150 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently from the issuer. Some items may be out of date.
The Amex Blue Business Cash is right for you if:
The Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express is worth a look if you want a simple, no-fuss business credit card and your business spends $50,000 per year or less.
This card's 2% cash back rate is excellent, and your rewards won't depend on spending lots of money in specific bonus categories. American Express handles cash back redemptions automatically to make them more convenient, and the 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases can be a money-saver if you need to finance big expenses. Terms apply (see rates and fees)
If your business spends more than $5,000 per month, the Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express likely isn't a match. With that type of spending, you could earn more from business credit cards with bonus categories or unlimited flat-rate cash back.
Like This Card? Check out The Ascent's Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards review.
FAQs
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The credit limit for the Amex Blue Business Cash generally ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 or more depending on creditworthiness. This card also offers expanded buying power that lets you exceed your credit limit. The amount you can exceed your credit limit isn't unlimited though, and it's based on several factors, including your use of the card and payment history.
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American Express cards like the Amex Blue Business Cash have a 99% acceptance rate among U.S. merchants that accept credit cards. While American Express is widely accepted in the U.S., it lags behind Visa and Mastercard in terms of international acceptance.
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The most notable perks of the Amex Blue Business Cash are:
- 2% cash back on eligible purchases for up to $50,000 per calendar year
- A 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months
- No annual fee
Its main drawbacks are the $50,000 annual limit on its 2% cash back rate and a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.
About the Author
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned.
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